This, one of a bunch of recent Kool & The Gang re-issues from Mercury Records (and originally, the second Kool & The Gang record released), is actually the strongest and funkiest record they ever made, if you don't include the hard- to- find Live at PJ's

Live at the Sex Machine is largely instrumental, and more of a groove than a funk thing. Immediately, the wah-wah organ sounds and bass draw you in and thwack! You can feel the love tonight. Sex Machine takes you on an all-nite joyride through tunnels of love and the dark alleys of the soul. It's an experience you'll neither forget nor regret. As an added surprise, the previously unreleased "Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz)," a trumpet-laden, jumpy soul number gets even the whitest of us on the good foot. Don't put these guys down for "Celebration." All they wanna do is take you higher.

-Ryan Schreiber