Something Special (Kool & the Gang album)

Something Special is the thirteenth studio album by American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1981. It was the group's third consecutive Platinum-certified album.

Reception
It continued the level of success that the band's previous two albums brought, contained several hit singles including: "Take My Heart" went to No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 17 on the Pop chart. "Get Down on It" reached No. 4 on the R&B chart and No. 10 on the Pop chart. In addition, "Steppin' Out" ended up at No. 12 on the R&B chart and No. 89 on the Pop chart. In the UK, the album reached #10, becoming their first hit album there and most successful studio album of all, largely due to the success of the "Get Down On It" single.

"Stand Up and Sing" was featured in 1982's The Pirate Movie.

Personnel

 * Bass, backing vocals – Robert "Kool" Bell
 * Lead guitar – Charles Smith
 * Saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals – Ronald Bell
 * Drums, backing vocals – George Brown
 * Lead and backing vocals – James "J.T." Taylor
 * Alto saxophone – Dennis Thomas
 * Alto saxophone, flute, backing vocals – Steve Greenfield
 * Trombone – Clifford Adams
 * Trumpet, backing vocals – Michael Ray, Robert Mickens
 * Keyboards – Brian Jackson
 * Keyboards – Eumir Deodato
 * Additional percussion – Jimmy Maelen
 * Additional handclaps – Platinum Hook
 * Backing vocals – Clifford Adams, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley, Kelly Barretto


 * Production
 * Engineer – Jim Bonnefond
 * Assistant engineers – Bobby Scott Cohen, Cliff Hodson, Joe DeAngelis, Julian Robertson
 * Overdubs engineers – Bob "Ziggy" Winard, Mallory Earl
 * Mixed by – Eumir Deodato, Jim Bonnefond, Gabe Vigorito
 * Mastered by – Tom Coyne, Stephan Galfas (Assistant)
 * Producer – Eumir Deodato
 * Associate producer – Kool & The Gang
 * CD Mastering - Joe Gastwirt