The Force is the ninth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1977. The album peaked at No. 142 on the Billboard 200. Critical reception The Globe and Mail wrote that "it's strange that to this day, black soul musicians are trying to say it better than Sly [Stone] did a decade ago and failing miserably." The Bay State Banner wrote that the album "lacked the excellent jive vocals, hot horn lines and boogie beat arrangements Kool made famous." Track listing Personnel Ronald Bell – vocals, keyboards, clavinet, ARP synthesizer, percussion, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, alto flute Kevin Lassiter – vocals, keyboards, clavinet, Minimoog, percussion George Brown – vocals, keyboards, clavinet, drums, percussion Dennis Thomas – vocals, keyboards, congas, percussion, alto saxophone Claydes Smith – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion Robert "Kool" Bell – vocals, bass guitar, percussion Otha Nash – vocals, valve and slide trombones, tuba, percussion Robert Mickens – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion Additional Personnel Jimmy J. Jordan – special effects Donald Boyce – voice (1, 4) Cynthia Huggins – lead vocals (6) Female vocals – Renee Connel, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley and Beverly Owens Arthur Capehart – trumpet (7) Strings on 6 & 7 – MFSB; arranged by John Davis Production Producer – K&G Productions Arrangements – Kool and The Gang Co-Producer – George Brown Executive Producers – Ronald Bell and Claydes Smith Engineers – Terry Rosiello and Nils Salminen Mixing – Ronald Bell, Terry Rosiello and Nils Salminen. Recorded at De-Lite Recorded Sound Studio (Philadelphia, PA). Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York, NY). Cover Painting – DeEs Schwertberger References External links Kool & the Gang albums 1977 albums De-Lite Records albums