The Force is the ninth studio album by the funk band Kool and the Gang, released in 1977 on De-Lite Records. The album peaked at No. 33 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Contents
Critical reception
The Globe and Mail wrote that "it's strange that to this day, black soul musicians are trying to say it better than Sly [Stone] did a decade ago and failing miserably." The Bay State Banner wrote that the album "lacked the excellent jive vocals, hot horn lines and boogie beat arrangements Kool made famous."
Singles
"Slick Superchick" peaked at No. 19 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Personnel
Ronald Bell – vocals, keyboards, clavinet, ARP synthesizer, percussion, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, alto flute
Kevin Lassiter – vocals, keyboards, clavinet, Minimoog, percussion
George Brown – vocals, keyboards, clavinet, drums, percussion
Dennis Thomas – vocals, keyboards, congas, percussion, alto saxophone
Claydes Smith – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion
Robert "Kool" Bell – vocals, bass guitar, percussion
Otha Nash – vocals, valve and slide trombones, tuba, percussion
Robert Mickens – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
Additional personnel
Jimmy J. Jordan – special effects
Donald Boyce – voice (1, 4)
Cynthia Huggins – lead vocals (6)
Female vocals – Renee Connel, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley and Beverly Owens
Arthur Capehart – trumpet (7)
Strings on 6 & 7 – MFSB; arranged by John Davis
Production
Producer – K&G Productions
Arrangements – Kool and The Gang
Co-Producer – George Brown
Executive Producers – Ronald Bell and Claydes Smith
Engineers – Terry Rosiello and Nils Salminen
Mixing – Ronald Bell, Terry Rosiello and Nils Salminen.
Recorded at De-Lite Recorded Sound Studio (Philadelphia, PA).
Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
Cover Painting – DeEs Schwertberger