music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Hollywood Swinging" is a 1974 song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang from their album Wild and Peaceful. It was written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George M. Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis R. Thomas and Rick A. Westfield.

"Hollywood Swinging"
One of side-A labels of US single
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Wild and Peaceful
B-side	"Dujii"
Released	April 6, 1974[1]
Recorded	1973
Genre	Funk[2]
Length	4:35
Label	De-Lite Records
Songwriter(s)	Bell, Bell, Brown, Mickens, Smith, Thomas, Westfield
Producer(s)	Kool and the Gang Gene Redd
Kool and the Gang singles chronology
"Jungle Boogie" (1973) "Hollywood Swinging" (1974) "Higher Plane" (1974)

"Hollywood Swinging" was the group's first number one R&B single, reaching that position in June 1974. The single was a successful crossover hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart as well.[3]

In a 2015 interview Nile Rodgers stated that Chic's 1979 song "Good Times" was partly inspired by "Hollywood Swinging". Rodgers also stated he is the cousin of Robert Mickens.[4]

Track listing

De-Lite Records – DE-561:[5]

Critical reception

Daryl Easlea of the BBC wrote "Hollywood Swinging packs appropriate punch".[6] Andrew Hamilton of Allmusic called Hollywood Swinging "a slightly faster than mid-tempo song with whistles, festive ambiance and lead vocals by keyboardist Ricky West."[7]

Charts

Chart (1974)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notable appearances in other media

"Hollywood Swinging" appears in the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as well as the game's soundtrack during the dance sequences in the mission "Life's a Beach".[11] It also appears in the Academy Award-winning documentary O.J.: Made in America in a montage detailing Simpson's rise to fame in the late 1970s.[12]

Covers and samples

The song has been sampled in several rap songs, including:

• "Let Me Clear My Throat" by DJ Kool
• "Another Slob Bites the Dust" by Bloods & Crips
• "Compton Swangin'" by B.G. Knocc Out & Dresta
• "Feel So Good" by Mase
• "Money in the Ghetto" by Too $hort
• "Inglewood Swangin'" by Mack 10
• "Got 2 Go" by Redhead Kingpin featuring Kwame
• "Bag of Glue" by the Rubberbandits[13]

Brian Culbertson featuring Musiq Soulchild and Gerald Albright covered "Hollywood Swinging" on Culbertson's 2008 album Bringing Back the Funk.[14] In 1993 Touch & Go's released an album by Big Boys, Fat Elvis, with a cover of "Hollywood Swinging".

The group Brockhampton covered "Hollywood Swinging" in 2022 for the soundtrack of the animated film Minions: The Rise of Gru, which consisted mainly of covers of 1970's music by contemporary performers. [15]

Jamiroquai versions

"Hollywood Swinging"
Single by Kool & the Gang featuring Jamiroquai
from the album In Store Jam and The Hits: Reloaded
B-side	"Cherish" "Get Down on It" "Ladies Night"
Released	November 6, 1997 (Jamiroquai) December 8, 2005 (Kool & the Gang featuring Jamiroquai)
Recorded	1997 (Jamiroquai) 2004 (Kool & the Gang featuring Jamiroquai)
Genre	Funk disco pop alternative rock
Length	4:47 4:28
Label	Edel Records
Songwriter(s)	Bell, Bell, Brown, Mickens, Smith, Thomas, Westfield
Producer(s)	Jason Kay
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"(Don't) Give Hate a Chance" (2005) "Hollywood Swinging" (1997) "Runaway" (2006)

A version of "Hollywood Swinging" was originally recorded by British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai in 1997. The group released the recording, alongside three other tracks, on an exclusive Japanese MiniDisc entitled "Hollywood Swinging", which was available from November 6, 1997. This version also appeared on the group's compilation album, In Store Jam, which was only available for purchase in the US. In 2004, Kool & the Gang re-recorded "Hollywood Swinging" as a collaboration with the group, releasing it on December 8, 2005, having recorded it in 2004. The song was released as a single from their album of re-recorded songs, The Hits: Reloaded, and was released on several different formats. Despite strong radio airplay, the song failed to chart anywhere.

Track listing

1997

Japanese mini single

1. "Virtual Insanity" (Radio Edit) – 3:54
2. "When You Gonna Learn" (Didgeridoo) – 3:48
3. "Too Young to Die" (Radio Edit) – 3:19
4. "Hollywood Swinging" – 4:47

2005

Spanish CD single

1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) – 4:28

European CD single

1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Old School Vocal) – 7:30
2. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Hollywood Rock Dub) – 9:10

UK CD single

1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) – 4:28
2. "Cherish" (feat. Ashanti)
3. "Get Down on It" (feat. Blue & Lil' Kim)
4. "Ladies Night" (feat. Sean Paul & Spanner Banner)

UK 12" vinyl

1. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) – 4:28
2. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Old School Vocal) – 7:30
3. "Hollywood Swinging" (feat. Jamiroquai) (Ralphi Rosario's Hollywood Rock Dub) – 9:10

References

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