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The saga of Chic began with the first disco song written by Nile and Nard "Everybody dance" (video), tested at clubs in the Village in New York it became a club favorite among the locals. According to Nile the 10 1/2 minute song was written so that you could hold on to a new acquaintance for at least 10 minutes instead of the regular 3 min. span of the songs of the time. The first hit was"Dance, dance, dance" however.
Chic was originally a group of studio musicians formed around Nile & Nard. On songs they used a variety of singers and musicians, most notably Luther Vandross. The lead female vocal on the early hits were Norma Jean Wright, but she was contractually forced to go for a solo career, (produced by Nile & Nard) which spawned the dancefloor hits "Saturday" and "Sorcerer". All this resulted in the very anonymous cover for the first album. Fans and the record company wanted Chic to tour, but for that they had to have a defined band. Nile, Nard and former Labelle drummer Tony Thompson formed the musical nucleus and Luci Martin and Alfa Anderson the vocal. The group was formalised and on "C'est CHIC" they're on the front cover.
In 1979 also came what is considered the best CHIC album ever "Risque," (review), (my fav' is 1980's Real People however). With songs so captivatingly funky and indeed chic! that I wore the album out, and had to get a new one. Many was the "Good Times" I and my friends had at party's playing that record. The innovative bass lines of Bernard Edwards on Good Times was sampled by Queen on "Another One Bites The Dust" and the first rap hit in history Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight."
In 1980 Nile and Nard did Diana Ross, (review). This team up was originally intended for Aretha Franklin. During her years at Motown Aretha Franklin was offered to be produced by Nile and Nard, but she turned it down and Diana Ross wound up with the song "Upside Down" instead. Aretha said in a recent Swedish Television interview; I like disco and many disco artists, but I am not a disco artist! Diana Ross was looking for a more modern sound than that of Ashford and Simpson, who had written a string of hits for her in the seventies.
Their sound was now beginning to sound a bit dated. Enter CHIC who had a fresh funky sound, and a string of hits to boot. The finished product is rumored to have been to modern for Dianas audience, so Motown remixed it. Despite the compromises made, the album produced two hit singles "Upside down" which spent 4 weeks at no. 1, and "I'm coming out". It is again rumored that Nile and Nard wasn't to happy with what was made of their creation. The "diana" album is Ross' biggest seller to date. Chic then went on to produce Sister Sledge a second time. I remember walking about frustrated because the album which I had preordered from the US never seemed to arrive. "Love Somebody Today" was not the commercial success of the previous album, however I think it is a better overall effort.
About the same time or perhaps a year earlier Brooke Shields had made headlines portraying a child prostitute in Louis Malle's film "Pretty Baby" of course I thought that Nile and Nards song with the same name off the Sledge album were the title song of the movie (I didn't see it until years later)...how stupid is youth!
In 1980 they also produced "French disco robot" (as one reviewer put it), Sheila and B. Devotion. The album "King Of The World" is, I think, apart from "We Are Family" their best producer effort. It has several great dance hits "Spacer" (video) being the most known (re-released and remixed in 1998). "Charge Plates And Credit Cards," with great tongue in cheek lyrics and a funky groove. "Don't Go" reminds us of Chic in early years. Had this album arrived a year earlier it would have gotten the attention it deserved.
Later in 1980, CHIC released their best album: "Real People," (review). The cover portrayed the group in even slicker outfits (Wow!!), and enhanced their polished sound even further. The album opens with an instrumental tune named "Open Up" in which Nile and Nard get to show off their guitar playing. However being a commercial disappointment (the first CHIC album that didn't go gold), it still contains several great songs; "Rebels are we", "26".
Nile Rodgers & Chic continues to tour today (2001), and are recieving rave reviews every time they perform. The current setting of the band is;
Nile Rodgers-guitar, vocals
Sylver Logan Sharp-vocals
Audra Lomax-vocals
Jerry Barnes-bass
Omar Hakim-drums
Richard Hilton-keyboards
Gerardo Velez-percussion
Merlene Nelson-piano, vocals
Bill Holloman-sax
Mac Gollehon-trumpet
Chic has influenced dozens of other artists among them: Duran Duran and Change. The importance of a band can be determined by their emulators, and Chic has had more than their share of those.
Apart from sampling Chic songs which seems particularly popular at the moment, with artists like: Beverly Knight "Made it back", Notorious BIG, Will Smith "Gettin' jiggy wit it", and Faith Evans "Love like this", Navigators "Superstar", Modjo "Lady", Alcazar "Cryin' at the discoteque", Tony Touch "I wonder why", and many more. Covers of songs written by Nile'nNard has had and is having a renaissance with acts like: Robert Wyatt, Andrew Ridgely of Wham fame, Paul Rutherford of FGtH, RuPaul, Zhané, Roger Sanchez, Blacknuss Allstars, Joey Negro, Curtis Lynch JNR with "Thinking of you" and many more.
Many artists have had help from Nile and Nard, many have had music written for them, or been produced by them or simply used CHIC songs to further their career, among these are : Odyssey, Carly Simon, as well as Queen.
The true impact of CHIC's work can't be measured, the group has had a decisive impact on rap-history as well as large parts of British pop. To dance music it is a formula of greatness which has yet to be surpassed!
CHIC LIVES FOREVER
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