Ladies' Night is the eleventh studio album by the American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1979. It became their first Platinum success, spurred on by two million selling Top Ten singles: the title track "Ladies' Night," (No. 4 in Cash Box; No. 8 in Billboard) and "Too Hot" (No. 5 in Billboard).

The album returned them to the mainstream after a lull in their popularity. Ladies' Night hit number one on the U.S. R&B chart. All the cuts from the album reached number five on the disco chart.

With Ladies' Night, Kool & the Gang made their funk style more mainstream by incorporating some pop and light R&B into the sound. The result was that this album was not only popular during the 1970s black-oriented funk era where the band started, but also during the more popular and diverse disco era. Ladies' Night became their first million selling LP. It also marked the debut of lead vocalist James "J.T." Taylor.

Critical reception

The Bay State Banner noted the "lighter sound, one that places the once prominent horns in the background and depends on softer, more implied rhythms but wisely emphasizes the boogie ethic."

Track listing

Personnel

Musical

James "J.T." Taylor – lead and backing vocals Ronald Bell – tenor saxophone, backing vocals, keyboards, bass Dennis "D.T." Thomas – alto saxophone, backing vocals Claydes Smith – guitars Eumir Deodato – keyboards Adam Ippolito – keyboards Robert "Kool" Bell – bass, backing vocals George "Funky" Brown – drums, backing vocals

Clifford Adams – trombone Christine Albert – trumpet Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet Jon Faddis – trumpet Cedric Toon – backing vocals Earl Toon – backing vocals Something Sweet (Diane Cameron, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley) – backing vocals

Technical Mike Doud – art direction Joe Kotleba – cover design Raul Vega – photography Joe Gastwirt – CD mastering and CD digital remastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1979) Peakposition

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position US Billboard 200 11

Singles Year Title Chart Peakposition 1979 Ladies' Night US Billboard R&B 1 US Billboard Hot 100 8 UK Singles Chart 9 1980 "Too Hot" US Billboard R&B 3 US Billboard Hot 100 5 UK Singles Chart 23 1980 Hangin' Out US Billboard R&B 36 UK Singles Chart 52

Certifications

See also List of number-one R&B albums of 1979 (U.S.)

References

External links Official Kool & the Gang site