One of the many groups that drew inspiration from Sly Stone's material of the late '60s, Kool and the Gang took Sly's Funk template and added a touch of deep James Brown soul into their mix throughout the '70s. A party band by any standard, their horn section could only be upped by the JB's in terms of locking into a groove. Songs like "Funky Stuff," the Tarantino-appropriated "Jungle Boogie," and the mellower "North, East, South and West" were all heavy with thick bass and squelchi...  [+]