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

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

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.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.