After burning up the pop and R&B charts in 1975, 1976, and 1977,
KC & the Sunshine Band were disappointed when 1978's decent, if unremarkable,
Who Do Ya Love failed to provide any major hits. But 1979 turned out to be a better year for the South Florida disco/funk/soul band, who returned to the top of the singles charts that year. Released in 1979,
Do You Wanna Go Party boasts two major singles: the infectious title track song (a number eight R&B hit) and the ballad "Please Don't Go," which soared to number one on Billboard's pop singles chart. Other noteworthy tracks on this good to excellent LP include the Latin-tinged "Hooked on Your Love," the Motown-drenched "Ooh, I Like It," and a cover of Frederick Knight's "I Betcha Didn't Know That." Meanwhile, "Que Pasa" is catchy even if it does sound like
KC is trying to recycle "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" or "That's the Way (I Like It)."
Do You Wanna Go Party isn't quite in a class with 1975's
KC & the Sunshine Band or 1976's
Part 3, but the album is impressive more often than not and is a definite improvement over
Who Do Ya Love. ~ Alex Henderson