Nile Rodgers – Radio Documentary

[ashley_k]

A bit of advance warning on a radio show that I’ve been waiting to be broadcast for a while, it’s about Nile Rodgers at work - which should be interesting for Chic and disco fans.

Monday 1 January 2007
7.00-8.00pm (19:00-20:00 GMT) BBC Radio 2

The Record Producers - Nile Rodgers

Richard Allinson and producer Steve Levine present an occasional series celebrating maverick music producers. They continue with unusually successful and influential producer/arranger Nile Rodgers, who transformed the sound of David Bowie (Let’s Dance), Diana Ross (Diana) and Madonna (Like a Virgin). But he remains best known for his disco-era work with dance-funk act Chic, and Rodgers demonstrates his art in creating their two most famous hits – Le Freak and Good Times.


Never tried it, but apparently you can listen to it live via the BBC Radio 2 website – link below.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/

The radio show should also be available for 7 days after the broadcast date - in the listen again section.

[neonlights]

Thanks for letting us all know, I'll definitely be listening to this!

[ashley_k]

The Record Producers: Nile Rodgers

This show has finally been broadcast and it did not disappoint, having the chance to listen to snippets of the 24 track multi-track masters of “Le Freak” and “Good Times” as they tell you how the track was constructed was excellent.
Listening to just the bass and drums of “Le Freak” even with someone talking over it was great not to mention the strings and piano, etc.
I would now kill for a copy of the multi-track master tapes of “Le Freak” and “Good Times”!

A very interesting show and definitely worth making the effort to listen to, its online in the listen again section (under more shows) I think at least for the next seven days.

The Record Producers: Nile Rodgers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/


… and them telling Diana Ross she’s under the track!


NOW all I want is expanded Chic albums CD’s with new instrumentals and vocal sub-mixes of the tracks to play with.

[rjt]

Great documentary and so interesting, it is amazing to have an insight into the production methods and skills involved.

However, I missed about 10 mins from the start and the BBC don't seem to have put it online yet :( does anyone know if it will be repeated or if there is an alternative download somewhere?

Cheers

Richard

[ashley_k]

Originally Posted by rjt

Great documentary and so interesting, it is amazing to have an insight into the production methods and skills involved.

However, I missed about 10 mins from the start and the BBC don't seem to have put it online yet :( does anyone know if it will be repeated or if there is an alternative download somewhere?

Cheers

Richard

I checked just after the show was broadcast to see if it was in Listen Again section, which it was, but it now looks like it has been removed for some reason, this is a great shame as the documentary was very interesting.

Hopefully the whole series will be re-broadcast at some point, I’ve missed a couple of the previously broadcast shows (Nile Rodgers was I think the fifth show in The Record Producers series), the shows have been randomly scheduled for broadcast seemingly when they have a gap in the schedule, I had been checking the schedules every week for months waiting for the Nile Rodgers show to be broadcast and it was worth effort.

In first 10 minutes you would have missed this fantastic gem of a fact: before choosing to call themselves Chic they briefly called themselves “Allah and the Knife-Welding Punks”!

[neonlights]

I checked yesterday and the listen again link is finally up and working!

Really enjoyed the program.. I loved hearing them analyze and deconstruct those multitracks as well as Nile's commentary. Very interesting hearing how they created some of those unique elements in their sound.. As ashley_k said, just being able to listen to the bass and drums of Le Freak alone was worth it. Gives me an even greater appreciation for their musicianship.

It was nice that they even mentioned Sheila & B. Devotion, Nile's 1st solo album (briefly), not to mention that cute Miss Ross story lol. Hearing Nile talk about the genesis of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" was pretty funny too.

Thanks again for posting the link!

[rjt]

Yes it's active on the BBC website now, great programme indeed :)

Cheers

Richard

[QUINNY]

Absolutely essential listening.

The magic moments for me?

Hearing the congas on Good Times (whoever played those was exceptionally gifted IMO) and the short collage of tracks directly paying homage to Good Times. I had a tingling sensation. Plus, although I never liked her vocals on the track, the confirmation from others that Sheila & B Devotion's Spacer was a sublime piece of Disco/pop music. So well written and crafted by Rodgers & Edwards. There's something about the track that was soooo deceptively effortless.

BTW: Nile also mentioned the word SWING, something they had in bucket loads. Good on ya!

[ashley_k]

Good to see the listen again link is now available on the BBC website.

I’ve only managed to hear two of the four previously broadcast Record Producers shows, these focused on Bob Clearmountain and Tony Visconti at work and also proved to be very interesting, if you have an interest in the production side of music that is.

I think one more Record Producers show is still to be broadcast, I’ll post info on it if I see it in scheduled, just incase anyone is interested, although it may not be a producer who is known for working on disco/soul/funk.


Also if anyone is interested in the studio work of Bruce Swedien then checkout the Bruce Swedien Q&A Forum at:
http://gearslutz.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=20

It deals mostly with questions about the technical side of his work on recording records like “Thriller” and “Off the Wall” etc.

But just check out his discography to see how many great records he’s worked on!