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From the Vault...
09/30/2018
#1640 |
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info
Chic
"Risque"
© Atlantic Records
Year of Release: 1979
Rating:
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track listing
Good Times
A Warm Summer Night
My Feet Keep Dancing
My Forbidden Lover
Can't Stand To Love You
Will You Cry
(When You Hear
This Song)
What About Me
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Chic
"Risque"
Chic was a popular act from the late-1970s Disco era. Risque is their debut here, as the biggest hit from this album was "Good Times."
(For those who might have heard this song elsewhere, it's probably from another huge Disco hit, which sammple this song - the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's
Delight." "Good Times" was one of those great Disco songs that defined the Disco sound. And the rest of the album, surely defines Disco;
as it makes you want to dance, and enjoy it's R&B soul sound.
"Good Times" leads the album off, with it's long version, clocking just over eight minutes in length. "A Warm Summer Night" is more
soulful and R&B, and has a slight similarity to a future song of the 1980s, Wham!'s "Careless Whisper." Returning back to the Disco dancing
beats is "My Feet Keep Dancing" -- and dancing, it certainly is. This song was the second hit of the album, and although I dodn't remember hearing
this song on the radio, I'm sure it was played in the many Disco clubs, and attracting many to dance along with it.
"My Forbidden Lover" was the third hit from the album, and just as "My Feet Keep Dancing," it was another not-well-remembered radio hit,
yet probably another dance club favorite. "Can't Stand To Love You" is funky, it even has some Jazz overtones. "Will You Cry (When You Hear
This Song)" It's as soulful as "A Warm Summer Night"; it could easily fit the New Age Jazz format. The last track, "What About Me"
is another good funky Disco tune.
Chic's Risque has the perfect ingredients of Disco, and New Age Jazz. Their music was best well-known as Disco, with hits as "Good Times,"
"Le Freak," and their song that started it all - "Dance, Dance, Dance." All of the songs on Risque are extended; most being 4 minutes or
more; the shortest being a bit under 3. This album gets the repeated listening, especially the two soulful R&B tracks that would most likely get more
airplay in today's music. Defining Disco music, back in 1979, Chic was at it's peak, having Risque being their third album released. In the 1980s,
Chic never really achieved more hit songs as they did from their Disco period. The 1980s resulted in 4 studio albums, one in the 1990s, and most recently,
an album from 2018, and one from 2019.
Chic was founded by Bernard Edwards and Niles Rodgers. Rodgers would make a name for himself, not just from Chic, but being a popular overall
musician. He was also involved with other Disco acts (along with Edwards). He wrote/produced such songs as Sister Sledge's "We Are Family,"
"I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross. Rodgers produced David Bowie's Let's Dance album, the song "Original Sin" by INXS, Duran Duran's
"The Reflex" and "Notorious," and Madonna's Like a Virgin album. His other credits were working with such artists as The B-52's,
Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, The Vaughan Brothers, Bryan Ferry, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Daft Punk. He has included winning Grammys.
Unfortunately, Bernard Edwards passed away of pneumonia. He was to perform with Rodgers with Chic in Japan, April, 1996. He fell ill before the
show, and felt he needed rest. When Rodgers came back to his hotel room, he was found dead. Like Rodgers, Edwards was an accomplished all-around
musician, and also multi-Grammy winner, and was a producer of many well-known music artists.
Which leaves us with the female singers of Chic, Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin. They were from the famous years of Chic. After leaving Chic, she
worked with Luther Vandross the most. She had also sang backup for artists such as Bryan Adams, Gregory Hines, Mick Jagger, Teddy Pendergrass, Jennifer
Holliday, Billy Squier, Sheena Easton, Jody Watley, Bryan Ferry, and Jonathan Butler. In the 1990s, she formed and produced with her husband Tinkr
Barfield the group Voices of Shalom, a spiritual group. For more info, visit her website.
Luci Martin would devote herself to the education of healthcare after leaving Chic. SHe would work alongside physicians and surgeons, and caring for
others. Musically, she co-write the song "Let's Bounce," with the Japan group GTS. She would also write songs and sing with several gospel groups.
Both she and Anderson would work together again, along with other female singers. For more info, visit
here.
Chic's music defined the age of Disco music. Their peak years from the late 1970s decade was indeed their prime. Their first three albums
(Risque was their third) were the peak of their career. The Disco dance beats as well as their Soul/R&B-flavored tracks were their most
enjoyable. "Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah..."
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