Disco followers who keep in mind the halcyon days of the early Nineteen Eighties would immediately recognise the decision to arms of one of many period’s greatest hits. Kool & the Gang‘s lead singer James “J.T.” Taylor asked succinctly: “How you gonna do it if you really don’t wish to dance, by standing on the wall?”
The tune, after all, was “Get Down On It,” one in every of many soulful dance tunes that helped give the New Jersey outfit a superb run of singles successes — particularly within the UK, the place that they had now solid an in depth relationship with followers of their slick model. A lot so, in reality, that the brand new tune was rush-released there because the second single from their new One thing Particular album, even with the primary, “Steppin’ Out,” nonetheless widespread. It could be two months earlier than “Get Down On It” would present on the Billboard Sizzling 100.
Kool & the Gang have been on a run that had given them 4 Prime 20 British singles in simply over a 12 months and 6 Prime 30s in simply over two. That sequence included two extra of their greatest signature tracks in “Ladies Night” and “Celebration.” Now got here “Get Down On It,” which entered the UK bestsellers on the final chart of 1981, dated December 26, and went on to be the group’s greatest hit so far there, peaking at No.3.
The tune carried a collective writing credit score for the entire band and their producer, Brazilian Eumir Deodato. Like “Celebration,” it received silver certification within the UK and in addition turned a Prime 10 hit in Holland, Belgium, after which in America. It went to No.1 on South Africa’s Springbok Radio.
British audiences might have been gradual to choose up on Kool and the Gang, whose early US hits made no headway there. However the group’s love affair with the UK has now lasted greater than 40 years, and burned brightly all through the Nineteen Eighties, with 11 extra chart entries there till 1987. 4 of them have been Prime 10 favorites: “Ooh La La La (Let’s Go Dancin’),” the double-sided “Joanna”/“Tonight,” “(When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart,” and “Cherish.”
Take heed to the most effective of Kool & the Gang on Apple Music and Spotify.
