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 #9 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart, and #11 on the UK chart. It also reached number one on both the U.S. R&B chart and U.S. Dance chart.^[1][2]

"Fresh"
Artwork for US 7-inch single
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Emergency
B-side	"In the Heart"
Released	November 24, 1984
Recorded	1984
Genre	Post-disco funk dance-pop 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)
Music video
"Kool & the Gang – Fresh" on YouTube

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.

Track listings

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

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1984–1985) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 8 Canada (RPM) Top Singles 10 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[4] 18 France (SNEP)[5] 28 West Germany (GfK)[6] 26 Ireland (IRMA)[7] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 27 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 34 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[11] 9 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[13] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 1 US Cash Box Top 100 10

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Rank Canada [15] 84 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 89 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 15 US Cash Box[18] 95

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]	Silver	250,000^
United States (RIAA)[21]	Gold	500,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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)	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)	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 samples the original with added vocals and rapping.

Track listings

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
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23]	37
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24]	18
France (SNEP)[25]	15
Germany (GfK)[26]	32

2004 version

"Fresh"
Single by Kool & the Gang featuring Liberty X
from the album The Hits: Reloaded
Released	2004
Genre	Dance-pop disco
Length	3:14
Label	Edel V2
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)	Khalis Bayyan Leigh Guest George Brown
Liberty X singles chronology
"Everybody Cries" (2004) "Fresh" (2004) "Song 4 Lovers" (2005)
Audio
Fresh (feat. Liberty X) on YouTube

"Fresh" was re-recorded with the 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, and Kool & the Gang on instruments. It was released as a single in France where it peaked at number 35 in June 2004.^[27]

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. Kool & the Gang appear as guests inside the club, charming a woman who has arrived in search of a man.

Track listings

1. "Fresh" (album version) - 3:14
2. "Fresh" (Motivo Pop mix) - 4:28

See also

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