Fresh (Kool & the Gang song)

"Fresh" is a song by the American group Kool & the Gang. Released as a single in 1984 from the album Emergency, the song peaked at #11 on the UK chart, #9 on the U.S. Hot 100 charts, and was number one on both the U.S. R&B and dance charts.[1][2] The song introduced a new meaning to the word "fresh", meaning "good".[3]

"Fresh"
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Emergency
B-side	"In the Heart"
Released	November 24, 1984
Recorded	1984
Genre	Funk R&B
Length	4:27
Label	De-Lite, Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Robert Earl Bell Ronald Nathan Bell James L Bonnefond George Melvin Brown Claydes Charles Smith James "J.T." Taylor Curtis "Fitz" Williams Sandy Linzer
Producer(s)	Kool & The Gang Jim Bonnefond
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Misled" (1984) "Fresh" (1984) "Cherish" (1985)

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts Chart (1985) Peak position Canada (RPM) 10 France (SNEP)[4] 28 Ireland (IRMA)[5] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] 27 United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[7] 11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] 9 U.S. Billboard Dance 1 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 5 U.S. Billboard R&B 1 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 10

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Rank Canada [9] 84 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [10] 89 U.S. Cash Box [11] 95

Music video

The action in the music video references the fairy tale Cinderella with the band performing the song at the ball. The two overweight women, the Ugly Sisters, are seen eating sandwiches, and a girl, Cinderella, cleaning the floor. Then suddenly Marilyn-lookalike Fairy appears and saves the day.

Popular culture

This song was played on the 5733rd episode of the American television soap "General Hospital" on August 14, 1985, when Terri (Robyn Bernard) was going wild at the bar.

In Edward Yang's 1986 film Terrorizers this song is played in a dance club when the young woman wants to attract a man so she and a criminal gang can steal his money.

Track listing

12" Maxi De-Lite 881 564-1

1. "Fresh" - 4:22
2. "Home Is Where The Heart Is" - 3:51
3. "Take My Heart" - 4:01

12" Maxi De-Lite 311122

1. "Fresh" - 4:20
2. "Rollin'" - 3:11
3. "You Can Do It" - 4:08

7" Single De-Lite 881 564-7

1. "Fresh" - 3:20
2. "Home Is Where The Heart Is" - 3:51

Beat System version

"Fresh"
Single by Beat System
from the album Refreshinator
Released	April 21, 1996
Recorded	1995
Length	3:42
Label	Intercord
Songwriter(s)	JT Taylor, Sandy Linzer
Producer(s)	Black Nero
Beat System singles chronology
"Stay with Me" (1995) "Fresh" (1996) "Reggae Night" (1996)

In 1996 Beat System released their version of Fresh, which is in contrast to the original backed by rap passages.

Track listing

Maxi-CD

1. Fresh (Radio Mix) 3:42
2. Fresh (Extended DJ Mix) 5:32
3. Fresh (Crazy Z. Version) 3:33
4. Call My Name 6:08

Maxi-CD

1. Fresh (Summer Mix) 3:07
2. Fresh (Summer Classic Club Version) 5:05
3. Fresh (Original Schnitzelmorph Cut) 5:49

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
German Singles Chart	32
Austria Singles Chart[12]	29
French SNEP Singles Chart	15
Belgian VRT Top 30	18

2004 version

"Fresh"
Single by Kool & the Gang featuring Liberty X
from the album Being Somebody and The Hits: Reloaded
Released	April 14, 2004
Recorded	2004
Genre	Dance-pop disco
Length	3:14
Label	Edel, V2
Songwriter(s)	JT Taylor, Sandy Linzer
Producer(s)	Tony Lundon
Liberty X singles chronology
"Everybody Cries" (2004) "Fresh" (2004) "Song 4 Lovers" (2005)

"Fresh" was re-recorded with English-Irish pop group Liberty X in 2004, to feature on Kool & the Gang's re-recorded greatest hits compilation, The Hits: Reloaded. The new version of the song features Liberty X on vocals, with Kool & the Gang merely playing the instruments. Thus, due to the popularity of this version, it was released as a single in certain European countries on April 14, 2004. Despite its success across Europe, the single was never released in Liberty X's home country, the United Kingdom.

Background

Subsequently, "Fresh" appeared as a bonus track on the Liberty X album Being Somebody in Japan, as well as appearing on certain European editions. At the time of the single's release, the band were in a dispute with their British record label, V2 Records, and thus, it was decided that the single would not be released in the band's home country. The band's version of "Fresh" was produced by band member Tony Lundon, who also went on to produce the band's follow-up hit single, "Song 4 Lovers". Despite this, "Fresh" was regarded as one of the band's best cover versions. The track peaked at number three in Germany, number 12 in France and number 55 in Spain.

Music video

The music video for the single was recorded in late 2003, and features Liberty X playing to an audience in a club, all supported by mics and surrounded by a crowd of the group's fans. Although the video does not feature a vocal appearance from Kool & The Gang, they appear as guests inside the club, charming a woman who has arrived in search of a man. The video received a small amount of airplay on British music channels, but was often, as is with its upload to the band's official YouTube channel, credited to Liberty X featuring Kool & The Gang, whereas the official release credits the two artists the other way around.[13]

Track listing

[14]

• German CD single

1. "Fresh" (Album Version) - 3:14
2. "Fresh" (Bimbo Jones Remix) - 5:58

• German Maxi CD single

1. "Fresh" (Album Version) - 3:14
2. "Fresh" (Brad Gilderman Remix) - 4:12
3. "Fresh" (Motivo Pop Mix) - 4:28
4. "Fresh" (Bimbo Jones Remix) - 5:58

• French CD single

1. "Fresh" (Album Version) - 3:14
2. "Fresh" (Motivo Pop Mix) - 4:28

• Spanish CD single

1. "Fresh" (Album Version) - 3:14
2. "Fresh" (Brad Gilderman Remix) - 4:12
3. "Fresh" (Motivo Pop Mix) - 4:28
4. "Fresh" (Bimbo Jones Remix) - 5:58
5. "Ladies Night" (featuring Sean Paul and Spanner Banner) - 3:28

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1985 (U.S.)
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1985 (U.S.)

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 333.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 148.
3. Rettenmund, Matthew (15 October 1996). Totally awesome 80s - Matthew Rettenmund - Google Boeken. ISBN 9780312144364. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
4. "Lescharts.com – Kool & The Gang – Fresh" (in French). Les classement single.
5. "Chart Track: Week 33, 1984". Irish Singles Chart.
6. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kool & The Gang" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
7. "Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
8. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1940-10-14). "Kool & The Gang | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
9. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0619&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062
10. http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1985.htm
11. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1985". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
12. Austriancharts.ch
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoMPMPmC4YU
14. "Kool & The Gang Featuring Liberty X - Fresh (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-16.