In the Heart

In the Heart is the fifteenth studio album by the funk/R&B band Kool & the Gang, released on November 21, 1983. Four singles were released from the album, with two singles becoming major hits on the US Hot 100. The first single, "Straight Ahead", failed to chart on the Hot 100, but the second single, "Joanna", soared to number two on the charts in the US and UK, and hit number one on the US R&B chart as well. The third single, "Tonight", brought another major hit as it peaked at #13 on the US Hot 100. The fourth single "(When You Say You Love Somebody) In the Heart" did not chart on the Hot 100, but became a moderate hit on the US R&B chart.^[3][4]

In the Heart
Studio album by Kool & the Gang
Released	November 21, 1983
Studio	House of Music (West Orange, New Jersey)
Genre	R&B post-disco adult contemporary
Length	34:55
Label	De-Lite
Producer	Jim Bonnefond, Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang chronology
As One (1982) In the Heart (1983) Emergency (1984)
Singles from In the Heart
"Joanna" Released: December 17, 1983 "Tonight" Released: January 1984

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[2]

Track listing

Side 1

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"In the Heart"	James "J.T." Taylor, Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang	4:03
2.	"Joanna"	Claydes Smith, Taylor, Kool & the Gang	4:20
3.	"Tonight"	Curtis Williams, Taylor, Kool & the Gang	3:53
4.	"Rollin'"	Taylor, Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang	3:10
5.	"Place for Us"	Williams, Taylor, Kool & the Gang	3:42

Side 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Straight Ahead"	Taylor, Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang	3:31
2.	"Home Is Where the Heart Is"	Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang	3:51
3.	"You Can Do It"	Williams, Taylor, Ronald Bell, Kool & the Gang	4:39
4.	"September Love"	George Brown, Taylor, Kool & the Gang	4:39

Personnel

Kool & The Gang

• James "J.T." Taylor – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Curtis "Fitz" Williams – keyboards, Memorymoog, Minimoog, Oberheim OB-X, alto saxophone, backing vocals
• Ronald "Khalis" Bell – Oberheim OB-X, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
• Claydes Charles Smith – guitars
• Robert "Kool" Bell – bass
• George Brown – drums
• Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas – alto saxophone
• Clifford Adams – trombone, backing vocals
• Robert "Spike" Mickens – trumpet
• Michael Ray – trumpet
• Kool & The Gang – horn arrangements

Additional musicians

• Rick Iantosca – guitars (2, 3, 7)
• Brenden Harkin – guitars (3, 5, 9)
• Leslie Reil – guitars (6)
• Will Lee – bass (1, 6)
• Jeff Davis – trumpet (6)
• Greg Poree – string arrangements
• Joe Malin – string contractor
• Gene Orloff – concertmaster

Production

• Kool & The Gang – producers
• Ronald Bell – producer, mixing
• Jim Bonnefond – producer, chief engineer, mixing
• Nelson Ayres – engineer
• Cliff Hodsdon – engineer
• Gabe Vigorito – mixing
• Jose Rodriguez – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
• Joe Gastwirt – CD mastering
• Sydney Collier – cover concept
• Y. Bell – cover concept
• Don Lynn – back cover group photography
• Ron Slenzak – cover phototography
• Gerald Delet – management

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[5]	Silver	60,000^
United States (RIAA)[6]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Hanson, Amy. "Kool & the Gang: In the Heart" at AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
2. Somay, Errol (2 February 1984). "Kool & the Gang: In the Heart". Rolling Stone. No. RS 414. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16.
3. "In the Heart > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
4. "Kool and the Gang". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
5. "British album certifications – Kool & the Gang – In the Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
6. "American album certifications – Kool & the Gang – In the Heart". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• In the Heart at Discogs