The Coolest Summer Groove EVER

#bass #basshistory #analysis #transcription #paulthompson
Breaking down one of the most iconic tracks from the last 50 years: Kool & the Gang's R&B-meets-Jazz masterpiece, "Summer Madness" from the 1974 LIGHT OF WORLDS album (De-Lite). I'll get into where the song actually came from, the magic of each individual part, and what exactly makes up those solos that they play. I'll also introduce you to Ronald 'Khalis' Bell and Robert 'Kool' Bell and how they crafted a timeless track.
This is one of the most sampled songs in history (including lifts by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Snoop Dog, Nas, Slum Village, 2pac, and even Kid Rock). Wanna find out why? Check out this video.
Website: www.paulthompson.us
Instagram @pdbass74
Twitter @pdbass74
Spotify playlist covering the music I've analyzed on the channel: open.spotify.com/playlist/76j...

[@matthw633]

Bro…….. you got me with tears in my eyes from the flood of memories….. this song is in the soundtrack of my life……17 year old fledgling guitarist……I heard this and life changed forever……I know each note of every solo of every instrument……and Kools bass ……..the unmistakable tone of a Fender P Bass……..I’m going to cue this up right now. Thanks buddy !

[@TheYokeOfFaith]

Such is the gift of music, friend.

[@hanselmansell7555]

Mate I saw them at Glastonbury in I think 2016... tears all the way... they still had it in spades and I've never felt such a pure love vibe from any croud ever! Damn.. you got me welling up again.. shucks.. 🥹

[@matthw633]

I was in the studio working with a female rap group in the very early 80’s. They wrote an original song, no samples. A buddy called me in for the gig. After our time there was another group using the same room. Kool and the Gang. Nicest bunch of guys you could ever meet. We sat around for about 20 minutes just talking, us listening to them and soaking up knowledge. Great memory

[@YOULOOTWESHOOT101]

Putain frère, tu m’as ému parce que je ressens la même chose soundtrack de ma vie

[@elihanperalta4451]

I love your passion. You're not alone. I know EXACTLY how you feel. Proud of you!

[@bigtimelakersfan5836]

Yes summer madness is one of those jams that sounds good any season of the year. And also any weather conditions, blazing hot in a park at summer time. Or in the winter when the rain is coming down. Summer Madness just soothes the soul!!!! Thanks again Paul, stay healthy and blessed ❤️

[@jacknathaniel5203]

When autumn leaves fall to the ground And their colors change red and brown The smell of chestnuts roasting in the air That lets us know she's almost here Winter sadness Winter sadness

[@Riccardo_Silva]

As an european musician i missed many of the tracks you are mentioning in your vids. And i thought i knew (and loved) Kool and The Gang music pretty well...i was wrong! Thank you Maestro!!!

[@rootsoriginals7087]

This tune as well as Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine are my two top tracks for summer,thanks pdbass love your uploads.

[@engineer6250]

Donald Byrd and Blackbyrds, walking in Rhythm has to be in that list. Roy Ayers, everybody loves the sunshine…. Love that tune.

[@rootsoriginals7087]

Agreed walking in rhythm as to be on the list ,top tune, and Faze-O - Riding High as to be another,as well as the obvious Summer Breeze - The Isley Brothers.

[@pdbass]

This sounds like a great video topic! Gimme 9 months. “Top 10 Summer Grooves”!

[@rootsoriginals7087]

@@pdbass Will look out for that one.

[@pdbass]

@@rootsoriginals7087 I'll try to ask for some suggestions on my community board next spring. I think I'm a little late on summer topics for now.

[@dagobertkrikelin1587]

The Rhodes sound is so smooth I'm sure it could be used to cure people. And remember - let's celebrate!

[@tokatv6713]

This song instantly transports you to another dimension 🎼

[@sirjer73]

WORD!!!

[@williamperri3437]

100%

[@BeastNationXIV]

Especially when driving around in twilight of the evening or around sunrise heading to work...or if you're up before sunrise anyway because you work those artist/producer/night shift hours like me. lol Just helps you zone out.

[@dcthomas8959]

I love Winter Sadness too.💯❤

[@gtizzle7606]

the Kool Jazz remastered album from 97 is a nice pre 77 jazz compilation of early kool tracks including Winter Sadness. Such a great song.@@dcthomas8959

[@edjwise]

Summer Madness possibly my favorite song of all time.

[@rocketreindeer]

There is something weird about this song... weird in a good way. I found it by accident here on KZbin a few years ago. I was bedridden for the better part of a year after a terrible, terrible concussion. For some reason an extended play version turned up when my account was set on autoplay and I never got tired of it. It made me both think, and not think/relax, all at the same time. Under the video in the comments, some dude said Summer Madness helped him recover from a brain injury in the hospital as he listened to some long play of it. There's something soothing, spiritual, and healing about it for me. I'm still healing from my injury a few years later and still not tired of this song. Thanks to Kool, the Gang, and the Creator for it.

[@BrothaSubjek]

This song gets me every time. Thanks for dropping the knowledge on this timeless masterpiece. Much appreciated Paul

[@bassfiddlesteve]

I’ve been checking out some Kool & The Gang recently. Robert “Kool” Bell was an underrated bassist. It bugged me when they pretty much replaced his parts with synth bass in the 80s, but I’m glad to see that he’s still at it.

[@PharaohLawLess1]

Another great lesson , professor. That song is a perfect instrumental

[@guylr7390]

Summer Madness gets me every time, headphones on and replay over and over til I’m back in those summers of my youth. Love it.

[@RealROI]

"they're figuring it out, as they go along" damn brother - exactly. I always felt that way about this song...and that the tension that rises, always felt organic by them being mesmerized by the compilation going on as its own. Excellent descriptions - old bass player here from the 80s. And with acknowledging props to Nick Beggs - writing the too shy bass line when he was 21 (wth!) subbed! And yes how they left in that bass fret noise - man, this sound was only possible from the early 70s.

[@esahm373]

Maybe they were indeed figuring out the final formula as they went along. Remember that those records were recorded in sessions with all the band members jamming and not on some computer with someone drawing MIDI notes. So chances are that they started with the rough idea and refined it as they went along. Once the overall idea has been established, they went on to record the song, still leaving some room for improvisation.

[@troubleondemand7703]

This track and Sun Goddess by Earth, Wind & Fire + Ramsey Lewis are two of my favorite summer tracks!

[@jc5112]

Agree … Real Classic Soul ✌🏼

[@halcop]

I didn't appreciate the musicality of Kool and the Gang initially. When you're young its all about groove. When I started playing music in my late teens and through college I realized that these men were great musicians. Thanks for doing this video. I did a lot of slow dancing to this song in my teens just like everybody else.🔥

[@Kittygacha_playz]

They dont make music like this anymore. Thank you for providing your unique insights into this timeless piece of music.

[@Seanbo88]

It blew my mind when I found out this groove was much older than the Fresh Prince. This track was so ahead of its time with its thick ambiance. Sidenote, I love your breakdowns, pdbass. Very easy to follow, and your enthusiasm is infectious :)

[@africkinamerican]

Oh yeah, when I hear the JJ & FP version, I'm instantly transported back to 1991, high school... I can almost smell the Drakkar Noir! Over 10 years later, I worked with the producer of that single, Hula Malone, on a film that was shot at his crib

[@altowatts1325]

I mean this is another brilliant breakdown 🎓 🦉. I had the honor of meeting Robert "Kool" Bell back in the early 90's. Just listening to him talk about music and some of his accomplishments was like listening to a talking book 📖. Thank you for this walk down memory lane 👍🏾.

[@paulochavarin3168]

That's my hp to song when I have a headache or if I'm stressed out. Its like a drug that soothes your soul.

[@Glonnyhathaway]

Can't wait for the video on the live 1976 version 🔥🔥🔥

[@matthw633]

KZbin is wonderful. Just search Summer Madness “ Live “. Great music !

[@unsolicited577]

One of my favorite intros ever!

[@johnmartinez7440]

Summer Madness is one of those fire tracks to play on your speaker as you chill in your back garden in the sunshine.

[@jmarcguy]

Outstanding breakdown!! What makes 70’s bands like Kool & EWF so amazing to me is their strong foundation in jazz. They could play anything! As has been mentioned, the song is featured in the first Rocky. Listen to “Gonna Fly Now” & hear the synthesizer part. I always think this track influenced what became the “Rocky theme.”

[@B_Rye15]

Paul, this was so FIRE! 🔥 And what's cool is you made all the theory so relatable. Excellent job my man. 🤘

[@jacqueslapidieux3182]

Superb, your teaching inspires me greatly Sir!

[@mv11000]

And AGAIN I get to know a great song that I'd never heard of before, thanks to this channel. Thanks, mate!

[@rahhinton8527]

One of the greatest songs ever made, Still kicking after 50yrs!❤

[@BuddhaBites]

This jam IS summer to me. Especially the live version.

[@rain.faded.]

That pbass tone was so formative to me. Insanely up front and "noisy".

[@perrygibson8419]

One of the best tracks of all time

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

A very cool track indeed. And all the samples? No wonder I thought I'd heard it before.

[@eazlacfam]

Man, this channel has the best content. Another inspiring video.

[@Sublette217]

Us deejays at WSBF-FM Clemson absolutely fell in love with this track. I still air it on my show.

[@sirfizz6518]

This channel is so educational, kinda like if Rick Beato just stuck to bass. Thought of you yesterday when i was in a store and Too Shy came on. I gotta start pulling up these lessons during practice sesh. 😊 Thx for the education and keeping great music from many eras and styles alive and with us all 🎉❤

[@waynewright5023]

❤❤❤.. Oh the memories!!! When I was a teenager, *THIS* was the song that got me interested in fusion jazz!!! 👏👏👏

[@davidangeron3365]

I GOT THIS ALBUM UPON RELEASE!!!! And, this is the Greatest Song amongst the Great Songs on this album!!! They never returned to these themes again!!! They went in other great directions!!! This Groove and #HollywoodSwingin' are irreplaceable!!!

[@edwinstovall3334]

Dude, you're JEALOUS of me! I was around when this album was released, and I had the world's coolest dad: A bebop jazz sax player who bought nearly all the best music available in the day! He bought this album. I LOVED IT! He did, too! When I want to pretend I have jazz chops (I play guitar.), I'll cue this up.

[@danielpalmersofficial]

Everything about this song is magic, it’s top of my list for sure. ✌️😙

[@garcher5742]

THE smoothest cut EVER!! Takes me back to NYC 1974 in deep memory.

[@RajiBongo]

Great to come across this video. There is a divinity in this song and it moves me every time. It's the highly-talented masterful and creative musicians collectively expressing themselves through improvising, and we can feel their emotion. With your deconstruction you made me remember that I first found the song on the B-side of a very famous 7" A-Side** that when I I bought when I was at school. I remember that when I first heard it, I kept lifting the tonearm of my record player once I played it, then set the arm down again and repeated this again, again and again ..... (**Get Down On It)

[@zhangke1350]

thanks! My day get just better with your soulful recommendation! Please keep doing this!

[@TDProduction58]

It's amazing how great this 50 song is. Never seems to get old. Another less known but equally great song from this Kool and Gang era is "Whisper Softly". They were so smooth.

[@LowEndLobster]

I looooove that groove. Khraungbin's cover is awesome

[@valmonbelgrave3018]

This may well be my favorite song of all time!

[@charlescdt6509]

Dang, you keep dropping that knowledge. Will Smith even put the title in the lyrics to "Summer Time". Any plans on making a playlist for different genres?

[@Legomanfred]

Great video. I learned something today, Cool And The Gang did this song first, I never knew. I love your channel, keep up the good work. Loved your Summer Breeze video. 👍❤️💪

[@PianoDentist]

I knew from the title, you were going to cover this track. You keep mentioning all my favourite tracks recently!

[@Threlgar]

That IS Jazz, y'all!! & you bring it to life in a really FUN way!!

[@victorhawkins3461]

"That's jazz, y'all..." And that's why, when I worked what was then called "progressive FM" radio back in the mid-70s to mid-80s, we were allowed to play damn near anything we wanted...including Kool & The Gang and Jaco and Herbie and The Stones and Hendrix ("Up From the Skies" is jazz, too, y'all...) and practically anything else. Great Kool track, great video. Now, about your take on that '76 live version...

[@bullet1218]

Master Class on bass and bass history..💯👍

[@thomastaylor1217]

Summer doesn't start until Fresh Prince's "Summer Time" plays....thanks Kool n the Gang

[@ztazon]

Great pick! Awesome Lesson! since my schooldays, I've never been able to skip this song, wherever it appears: radio, home made tape, playlist. It's real funk magic. Never realized the dep way mixed modes open the canvas. Thanks once more, professor

[@ViewtifulSam]

Absolute banger of a track, thanks for talking about it! Great video

[@gil3green]

Aaahh yeah, this cut never gets old…triggers my emotions and a feeling every time! The comments on this video say a lot about how this cut touches people in so many diff ways, pretty amazing!

[@wilfredgon64]

I love how you explain this Kool and the gang masterpiece. Based on that alone I gave you a big thumbs up 👍 and I subscribed to your jazzy and funky channel.

[@mikebassy]

Loved when Rocky Balboa is alone at home and this track comes on , Rocky wasn’t a bad guy .

[@RonSmith472]

Masterpiece 🤌🏾

[@leroywilliams6380]

Paul your bassline breakdowns help me to appreciate the complexity that is involved in music. I'm a sucker for a good bassline and your breakdown of the notes, scales, and terminology humbles a non-musician like me who hears the completed work. I often wonder, how do musicians come up with their respective parts of these masterpieces?

[@kwamezulushabazz]

I was thinking this but you said it better ✔️

[@leroywilliams6380]

Thank you@@kwamezulushabazz

[@zennjimm]

you a bad man PD. Love this track. Well done.

[@thomwest1724]

This commentary and analysis on this timeless classic is long overdue. Thank you for opening our eyes👍

[@sethbrown8912]

I remember this song from my parents having the record when I was a kid.

[@ramyzialor6354]

Word!..I heard this classic jam on Vinyl around '76..remember my late mum *RIP* say if the cows were grazing close by when the Arp Solo was playing...😂..this is a jam for all time..laid back groove that gets your stress levels down..relaxes your mind,body &soul..one of my fav Kool n the Gang jams....just like they holler " Can't get enuff of that Funky jam"✌🏾love how Paul dissects the groove..Shout out to our Host..keep giving us the Best Bass grooves👍🏽

[@mrmartywaring]

This is that song you listen to while riding down the coast, downtown, sitting in the park or loungin' in the crib on a summer night. Classic!!!

[@manchesterunitedno7]

This song lowkey laid the foundation of modern chill-out/downtempo/lo-fi hip-hop genres out there. It has that organic feel that makes you at peace with everything. Imagine sitting on a lazy chair, over a beautiful beach, drink of your choice, while mezmerised at gorgeous sunset, while this song gently playing in the background. What a song.

[@mitchmitchell9588]

Amazing groove that was everywhere in the summer air back in the 70s. But it always reminds me of that scene from Rocky when he wakes up early and drinks a few eggs. EDIT: I got it wrong! Sorry. It was the scene where he's talking to the turtles and reminiscing...

[@konrdchristensen2111]

My best friends father was successful and he would buy a new Cadillac every year but he kept some of the older ones and let his son drive them to school. We were on the track team together and my friend says "we gotta do this, this is amazing" . He gets the Caddy, 1971 convertible and tells me to get in. He says we are just going to drive. Then he puts in the new Light of the Worlds tape and cues it to Summer Madness. My jaw dropped. I had never heard anything like it before or since. Cruising around the valley, looking up and seeing the stars and hearing this music i cannot tell you what it was like. Just amazing. It was like we had just begun to understand how great life was.

[@BigheadGenius]

Please, please, please do a video about the ‘76 version! It’s THE version! By the time the vocals start, Kool has gone beast mode and is in the pocket so deep you’d think he was born there!

[@fdee6998]

Thanks for covering music the way you do. Appreciate the way you’ve made me curious to explore familiar and unfamiliar music. I’ve heard this song but had no clue it was Kool and the Gang - and I love them! I will be checking this album out. 👍

[@popnfresh2928]

Yep yep yep….the LIVE VERSION from 1976 is my favorite version…..PURE FIRE🔥 …another amazing breakdown….like always, your talking way over my head musically & loving it…..thanks like always giving us your listeners a new way to listen to these very important compositions

[@CrazyBxDon]

DAMN! I smiling ear to ear from Your analysis. K&TG’s music was a introduction into music listening since my early early elementary school years -Who’s gonna take the weight, The Penguin, Funky Granny, Funky Man, X-Rated, Love the life you live). My favorite band for all time. I wish you could dedicate an entire show to their contribution to soul-funk genre.

[@OlandoMcCall]

Excellent feature, thank you Paul!

[@aricshuford9095]

Summer, summer, summer time. Time to sit back and unwind. KATG were PAID very well for this superb piece of musical genius.

[@Apemopo]

such a great track. brings memories of a weird (you guessed it) summer!

[@jc5112]

My brother, you hit it on the nail “EVER” I’ve been following Kool and the Gang for many, many years and got to see them perform a few times. They electrified the audiences but when they played this song, the crowd went wild as I did myself; thank you for sharing this masterpiece… peace ✌🏼

[@Drtoe2ner]

As a previous Detroiter, I got to here this track every night at 11PM on WNIC closing out a show called Pillow Talk. I miss those days, and I love this instrumental. Thanks Paul.

[@xxphactor]

I still jam to the older pre-Taylor pop days.Their instrumentals always put me in a nice mood. I was just going to mention the live version, but you beat me to the punch! LOL If I remember correctly, this song was also played on the original Rocky.

[@gtizzle7606]

it was played in the movie. but was not on the soundtrack as Bill Conti replayed(rearranged) it for inclusion on the soundtrack. i don't think K&TG got any writing credit for it although i could be wrong. Reflections was the rearranged version.

[@WertheimConsulting]

High praise to the author of this video.

[@stevencsmith7644]

That song and that time. Perfection. Thanks for covering this. I’m gonna go shopping for the vinyl of this album.

[@etiennecfourie777]

Awesome presentation dude thanx!

[@angelaheighton8041]

Heaven!!!! I have loved this song since it 1st came out the year I Graduated HS 1974

[@johnnolan5801]

Yo, "That's jazz y'all" Sounds crazy but so often you highlight tunes from my playlist. Thank you!

[@efunkyman6853]

It's one of my favorite songs ever. Ever! A group with jams in multiple genres. Can you cover Johnny Guitar Watson?

[@mariosimas]

this song is so entralling so adictive!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pure bliss!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joshuadoliveiro]

A P Bass never felt so tight, a perfect demonstration of why it’s the most famous bass.

[@SoundHypnotic]

It's no coincidence that my summer playlist opens with Summer Madness...it's the ultimate summer jam for the grown and sexy! Great breakdown!

[@JustTheBass1966]

Thanks for yet another great music lesson. I love the way you take what would otherwise be a simple experience listening to music, and explain what is happening musically. You deconstruct the song and turn it into a lesson, and give us a different musical perspective. Thanks for enriching our lives with knowledge.

[@auleschay180]

At this time I didn't know anything about Kool & the Gang. But I heard this song in the soundtrack of the first Rocky movie. It transported so perfectly the mood of the scene. It flashed me and since that this song is a part of my life.

[@KMO325]

This song is THE definitive smooth R&B song for just driving.

[@dawsonian2000]

Oh my goodness!, Oh my goodness!, Oh my goodness!, Oh my goodness!, Oh my goodness!!!!!!! Paul!!!!! How in the world..., and who gave you permission..., to penetrate my skull, and make a video that exposes my vintage thoughts I have regarding Kool and the Gang!!!!! What the hell is going on!!!! Young brother, I am not gone from this world yet, but the perception that you possess in funk is frightening!!!! Wow!!!! I can recall back in 1974 when Summer Madness was out, and I first heard it on my best friend's brother's Sansui 881 with a pair of Cerwin Vega 25's after he came out of the service (a.k.a. military)!!!! Man!!!! I am still feeling the vibes from that song to this day!!! I am at a loss for words, my young brother!!! Brother, you are so articulate in this music genre! I will definitely be firing up my Kenwood KA-7100 and Cerwin Vega 24's for this revisit! Thanks, and God bless you, young man! BTW - Though I initially heard Summer Madness for the first time back in 1974, I followed up and purchased and still have possession of the 1976 Love and Understanding album, which has the live re-recorded version!

[@raymaiden958]

The first time I heard this song ~'74 it was on a Delco GM Bose Music System Demonstration Cassette for Cadillac.

[@khalos]

Terrific video. This song has always been so special for me and to be analyzed in your knowledgeable yet simple way by you it's priceless. Thanks

[@miguelpujols4456]

was raised in NYC hearing Summer Madness for the first time when I was 12, fishing in Coney Island & I still have the soundtrack in vinyl & CD but the cassette was eaten by the radio. I always say that they don't make music like this anymore. When the Bose 901s came out I saved up for those speakers & the first sound I put on the turntable was Summer Madness!

[@tjsmith3741]

Always loved this timeless groove. The fret noise is also apparent. That said, there’s one little thing my ear can’t help but notice. The tightness of the groove seems ever so slightly off at times. I don’t know if this adds or takes away a bit. Regardless, it’s a great tune.

[@user-cn2ds2ok1b]

What fo you mean by the tightness of the groove? Just wondering

[@matthewgaines10]

Summer Madness is a music masterpiece.

[@latonyahemingway3752]

Tabs would be great for those of us that dont read music. Love this track. Such an underrated bassist and band as a whole.

[@TonyVainosky]

Fantastic breakdown of one of the best tracks ever recorded 👏👏👏

[@GregorioLonewolf]

Thanks once again for such a wonderful break down of 1 of my all time favorite songs. 1974 I was headed into basic training and would listen to this song each chance that I had. And, in 1976 as I was stationed in Korea of course I got the new album and with the hipnotising vocals I was any place but where I was. Thanks for the break down and memories this has brought back. Oh, lest I forget another classic and favorite, Winter Sadness- so Kool. And one of my favorite albums is- Kool Jazz. Check it out. Kool & The Gang is definitely Kool in every sense of the word and soul.

[@cavery1261]

Nice one! Kool and the Gang is a serious favorite band mine and this is one of the songs I felt introduced me to approachable jazz in the 70's. A kind of R & B Jazz. Thanks!

[@TanksFaves]

Sounds like fresh prince and dj jazzy jeff used this song for their Summertime song. I didn't know that was Kool and the gang....pretty cool

[@Phil_Trujeque]

Man, this track reminds me of my older brother’s playlist from back in the 80s when I was a wee lad, absorbing everything he was listening to… Another track that he used to blast (alongside “Summer Madness”) was “Sun Goddess” by Earth, Wind & Fire and Ramsey Lewis. Oh man… you definitely took me way back today! Time for the neighbors to appreciate some Sun Goddess… “Hey! I want a solo!”

[@allanploth6031]

LOVE that band.