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Perfect Union
Studio album by Kool & the Gang
Released	August 20, 2021 (2021-08-20)
Genre	Disco, funk
Length	36:12
Label	Omnivore
Producer	Ronald Bell, with several co-producers on select tracks
Kool & the Gang chronology
Kool for the Holidays (2012) Perfect Union (2021) People Just Wanna Have Fun (2023)

Perfect Union is a 2021 studio album by American disco and funk band Kool & the Gang. The album was the first new music from the group in over a decade and was last to feature founding member Ronald Bell before his death.

Reception

Editors at AllMusic rated this album 2.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Mark Deming writing that the band's music suffered from the loss of Ronald Bell, but also writing that "the interplay among the musicians is lively".

Singles

"Sexy" peaked at No. 16 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart in October 2016.

Track listing

1. "Pursuit of Happiness" (Walter Anderson, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, Celina Gray, Balewa Muhammad, Jahqae Muhammad, Keith Murray, and Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas) – 5:13
2. "The Weekend" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, B. Muhammad, and J. Muhammad) – 3:08
3. "Leave It on the Dance Floor" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Gabriele Falanga) – 3:18
4. "High" (Anderson and Ronald Bell) – 4:46
5. "Sexy (Where’d You Get Yours)" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Alessandro Calemme) – 2:48
6. "All to Myself" (Anderson, Ronald Bell, and Calemme) – 3:34
7. "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang mix) (Anderson, Shaun Bass, Hakim Bell, Ronald Bell, and Hamza Lee) – 3:11
8. "Hold On" (Anderson, Robert "Kool" Bell, and Ronald Bell) – 3:35
9. "Good Time" (Anderson, Bass, H. Bell, Ronald Bell, Akene Dunkley, and Saint) – 3:21
10. "Pursuit of Happiness" (rap version) (Walter, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, Gray, B. Muhammad, J. Muhammad, Murray, and Thomas) – 3:18

Personnel

Kool & the Gang

• Robert "Kool" Bell – bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboard, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
• Ronald Bell – mixing, production, executive production
• George "Funky" Brown – percussion
• Timothy Horton – drums, percussion
• Shawn McQuiller – vocals
• Michael Ray – trumpet, vocals
• Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas – alto saxophone

Additional personnel

• Eddie Allen – trumpet
• Greg Allen – project assistance
• Walt Anderson – vocals, vocal arrangement, production on "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)"
• Shaun Bass – bass guitar
• Amir Bayyan – electric guitar
• Royal Bayyan – electric guitar
• Hakim Bell – production on "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang Mix)
• Ravi Best – trumpet
• Audrey Bilger – project assistance
• Mark Bowers – electric guitar
• Jermaine Bryson – trombone
• Alessandro Calemme – bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, organ, production on "All to Myself" and "Sexy (Where'd You Get Yours)"
• Dutch Cramblitt – project assistance
• Akene Dunkley – guitar, keyboards, production on "Good Time"
• Lavell Evans – backing vocals
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Joy Graves – project assistance
• Gabri Hell – production on "Leave It On the Dancefloor"
• Steve Lavell – vocals
• Diego Leanza – bass guitar, electric guitar
• Hamza Lee – production on "R.O.Y.A.L.T.Y." (Kool & the Gang Mix)
• Lee Lodyga – project assistance
• Balewa Muhammad – vocals
• Rashad Muhammad – engineering, mixing
• Keith Murray – rapping on "Pursuit of Happiness" (rap version)
• Cheryl Pawelski – project assistance
• Jacqueline Reilly – backing vocals
• Brad Rosenberger – project assistance
• Saint – guitar, keyboards, production
• Mark Smith – production on "Good Time"
• Robert Stringer – trombone
• Kendal Stubbs – engineering, mixing

Charts

References

1. Blistein, Jon (July 6, 2021). "Kool & the Gang Preview New Album 'Perfect Union' With 'Pursuit of Happiness'". Music. Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
2. Daniel, Christopher A. (August 20, 2021). "50 Years Later, Kool & The Gang Are Still Celebrating The "Pursuit Of Happiness" On New Album 'Perfect Union'". News. Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
3. Deming, Mark (n.d.). "Kool & the Gang – Perfect Union". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
4. "Kool & the Gang Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. n.d. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
5. ^ Blistein, Jon (July 6, 2021). "Kool & the Gang Preview New Album 'Perfect Union' With 'Pursuit of Happiness'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
6. "Kool & the Gang: Perfect Union" (in Swiss High German). Hitparade. August 9, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2023.

External links

• Perfect Union at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
• Review from mxdwn
• Review from Soultracks

• 2021 albums
• Kool & the Gang albums
• Omnivore Recordings albums