Too Hot

Album: Ladies Night (1979)
Charted: 23 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is somewhat different from the band's usual sound, a soulful ballad of a couple who married young - perhaps too young - and now the passion that brought the couple together is taking a serious toll on their marriage. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • The Gang's drummer, George Brown, was the main songwriter on this track; he also helmed the band's hit "Ladies Night." In an interview with Gary James, group leader Robert "Kool" Bell explained how they handled songwriting credits: "The person who comes up with the basic concept of the song is the fifty percent writer of the song, and the group involved, we might make changes here and there, would share in the other fifty percent. A song like 'Too Hot' was written by George Brown and he is the writer of the song, getting 100%, unless George wants to split it 50/50. It's his decision. Anything where the group is in total collaboration becomes a Kool and the Gang song."

Comments: 4

  • Bob from IndianaThis Ladies Night album was released in September of 1979 it wasn't released in 1978.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 22nd 1980, Kool and the Gang performed "Too Hot" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #9 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eight days later on March 30th, 1980 it would peak at #5 {for 2 weeks} and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #3 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    And on the same 'Bandstand' show they also performed "Ladies Night"; the week before was its 24th and last week on the Top 100; two months earlier on January 6th, 1980 it had peaked at #8 {for 2 weeks}.
  • Steve from Bradford, United KingdomI love this song I met a girl at school verything I wanted in a girl we rifted apart thenwe were both working on the same ward ~ the spark was there ~ But somehow she was not the same girl ? I love all those years ago ~ this song says everyhing I felt when we eventualy divorced ~ were we imature? should we have had kiddies? should we have tried harder ? But it's alovely song & unless you've been there You cannot understand it's beauty ~ I also like the version where Lisa Stanfield took over the vocal s from JT~ Her motherly strained voice as if was her situation she's singing about & the Gang playing their funky soulful music behind her ~ It's one of the best collaberations EVER !
  • John from Nashville, TnOn the heels of Kool and the Gang's comeback hit "Ladies Night" came this pleasant surprise. The title "Too Hot" suggests how a lady looks on the dancefloor. However, the song is about the stormy breakup of a marriage. Brilliant title, great story.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.