KOOL & THE GANG - HOLLYWOOD SWINGING 'CD' ''USA''

As you might be able to tell from the title, Hollywood Swinging covers Kool & the Gang's earlier years, before the likes of "Ladies Night" and "Celebration," and chooses to cut off around 1975. The odd thing is that it avoids most of the group's biggest singles from this period -- "Jungle Boogie," "Funky Man," "Kool and the Gang," "Let the Music Take Your Mind," "Love the Life You Live," and "Higher Plane" are missing. It's a bizarre set, possibly intended to act as a disc that complements a compilation of the obvious hits. While most of the selections here deserve to be heard by more than the fanatics, it's lacking the bait required to draw in the casual listeners who only want the singles.