Celebrate! is the twelfth studio album by American band Kool & the Gang. Released on September 29, 1980, the album reached No. 1 on the US R&B chart and #10 on the Billboard 200. The album produced perhaps Kool & the Gang's most recognizable hit song, the #1 chart-topper, "Celebration", which still receives heavy play today over four decades later. Critical reception Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times called Celebration "the band's mostly excellent new album." Robert Christgau of the Village Voice gave a C- grade saying "It says something for these funk pioneers that unlike James Brown, George Clinton, and the Ohio Players they've adapted painlessly, nay profitably, to disco: a number-one single leads their Deodato-produced album into the top ten. What it says is that their funk was as bland as you suspected." With a 3 out of 5 stars review Amy Hanson of Allmusic found that "Celebrate itself marked the end of an era for Kool & the Gang, as the band would slip even farther from their funk roots and adopted dance grooves into the realms of smooth soul. But what a way to go!" Record World said that the follow-up single to "Celebration", "Take It to the Top" was appropriately named and that it has "wonderful harmonies, vigorous strings & a snappy beat." Track listing Personnel Bass – Robert "Kool" Bell Lead guitar – Charles Smith Keyboards, saxophone, backing vocals – Ronald Bell Drums, percussion, backing vocals – George Brown Lead and backing vocals – James "J.T." Taylor Alto saxophone – Dennis Thomas Trumpet, backing vocals – Robert Mickens Keyboards, backing vocals – Earl Toon, Jr. Keyboards – Kevin Bell Additional keyboards – Adam Epolito Backing vocals – Cedric Toon, Meekaeel Muhammad, Robert Bell, Coffee, Something Sweet Orchestra arranged and conducted by – Eumir Deodato Production Recording engineer – Jim Bonnefond Assistant engineers – Bobby Cohen, Clif Hodsdon, Jeff Kawalex, Joe DeAngelis, Jullian Robertson, Kenny Robb Mixed by – Eumir Deodato, Jim Bonnefond, Gabe Vigorito Mastered by – Tom Coyne Producer – Eumir Deodato Associate producer – Kool & The Gang CD Mastering - Joe Gastwirt CD Remastering - Joe Gastwirt Certifications References Kool & the Gang albums 1980 albums De-Lite Records albums Albums produced by Eumir Deodato