Acetate [Level 1]
In the past year, I've discovered Chic and Edwards' and Rogers' outstanding production talent. Among the greats of course are:
Diana Ross' "Diana" album
Sister Sledge 1979 and 1980 albums
Sheila and B. Devotion "King of the World"
Norma Jean's self-titled album
Did the Chic organization have any other projects like these? I'm also trying to find "Chic-like" music from the time period.
Alcazar and Modjo have done some OK work with sampled Chic material, so if anyone knows others like this, I'd appreciate it.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
I would highly recommend Kleeer's "I Love To Dance" LP. While Chic had no involvement in this production, it has the classy arrangements, great performing and sophistication of Edwards/Rogers. The tunes aren't quite as immediately catchy, but they're less disposeable too. I've found Kleeer to be more solid and satisfying in the long run. Kleeer were also much better at ballads and mid-tempo numbers...
It's a great album. Brilliant from start to finish.
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
As far as Chic organization goes I think you may have covered most of the albums, except for.
Soup For One - soundtrack from the movie (1982)
But as far as Bernard and Nile as producers here are few of their solo projects:
Nile Rodgers:
Nile Rodgers - Adventures In The Land Of The Good Groove (1983)
David Bowie - Let's Dance (1983)
Madonna - Like A Virgin (1984)
Inxs - The Swing (1984)
Nile Rodgers - B-Movie Matinee (1985)
Grace Jones - Inside Story (1986)
Diana Ross - Workin' Overtime (1989)
Bernard Edwards:
Bernard Edwards - Glad To Be Here (1983)
Robert Palmer - Riptide (1985)
The Power Station - The Power Station (1985)
The Power Station - Living In Fear (1996)
As far as finding chic-like music from that time period, I don't think you'll do any better then with the disco group Change. They emulated the Chic sound so well that most people had a tough time figuring out who was Chic and who was Change.
Just check out these songs by Change and see what I mean:
A Lover's Holiday (1980)
Paradise (1981)
Hold Tight (1981)
Change Of Heart (1984) sounds a little like "My Forbidden Lover" by Chic
Let's Go Together
If you wish to do some more research on Chic just go to the fan site www.chictribute.com. Hope this helps.
DevP
No Longer Charting
I always felt Kenny Lehman managed to ape the chic sound really well. Check out Lemon's, A-Freak-A , one of the very best disco records IMO and Manhattan Fever (Hut Sa, Hut Sa) by Sugar. The latter is fairly rare though.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Well, Lehman was originally in Chic, so that explains part of it :)Originally Written by QUINNY
But thanks for the reminder. Lehman's output is generally quite light-hearted (or silly, depending on your point of view). I quite like Lemon's "Freak On" single on Salsoul. Roundtree's "Roller Disco" LP is uneven, but has the gems "Get On Up (Get On Down)" and "Manhattan Fever" -- the latter of which actually uses the bass track from one of Chic's early tunes. BTW Quinny, is this a different version of the same song as the one you're referring to, or another number entirely?
Gold Record [Level 7]
There's a 12" on Canadian Black Sun by Chad, featuring GG Gibson called 'C'Est Si Bon' from 1981. It's basically 'My Forbbiden Lover'. You may also want to look out for 'Easy Money' by She, it's a version of the Dee Dee Sharp Gamble favourite and sounds tres Chic.
The other way to approach this is to think about the bucketloads of records that ripped off 'Good Times' for the following few years - so many incorporated that '1-2-3' style bass riff. It probably changed the face of disco a little more than we realise.
What would you do without your muesli...where would you be without a bowl?
No Longer Charting
Roundtree's "Roller Disco" LP is uneven, but has the gems "Get On Up (Get On Down)" and "Manhattan Fever" -- the latter of which actually uses the bass track from one of Chic's early tunes. BTW Quinny, is this a different version of the same song as the one you're referring to, or another number entirely?[/quote]
(Forrrce:) ahem, obviously got my wires crossed Graham. We've been down this road before and I think we came to the conclusion that it was probably the Roundtree track but under a different name for legal/contractural reasons at the time. I have it on a 7" on UK Power Exchange, although I believe 12's do exist. The B side was 'Ochos Rios' BTW.
Indie Release [Level 4]
There's also the CHIC-produced solo album by Blondie's Deborah Harry from 1980. This collaboration is not very successful; however, the first single and 12-inch , "Backfired", is pure CHIC!
Platinum Record [Level 8]
It's a big surprise and it's true. Norma Jean was produced by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards and the album's hit was "Saturday" (Bernard Edwards/Nile Rodgers/Bobby Carter).
...
Gold Record [Level 7]
I believe Heaven Of My Life by Change also from the Miracles LP (1981) sounds like a Chic Song :)
Underground Hit [Level 5]
As Chic were one of the most successfull and distinctive disco acts and were copied / ripped off many times. As far as there own productions Carly Simon's "Why" is a good if poppy Chic classic - it from the Soup for One sountrack. Also Norma Jean did a another 12" not on her LP called "High Society" - this was sampled by Stella Browne on "Every Woman Needs Love".
Change sound just like Chic for the first 2 LP's. Latter they copied the Jam and Lewis sound.
Narada Micheal Walden sounds pretty Chic-y on his Dance of Life/Victory LP's. They drafted him in to replace Chic to produce Sister Sledge on All American Girls.
Leather is the way forward!
Indie Release [Level 4]
Later in their career, Change did not copy the Jam/Lewis sound - the group was actually produced by Jam/Lewis, starting with "Change of Heart".
Test Pressing [Level 2]
Of course Lemon has the Chic sound, since Kenny Lehman was the producer. Kenny Lehman produced the first Chic album, from 1977. Kenny Lehman also produced Roundtree/Sugar (I think Roundtree was the name for the american market, and Sugar for the UK/European market, this because of the pressings I've seen). Actually, on the tune "Manhattan Fever", which has the same bass line as Chic's "Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)", it is Bernard Edwards that plays bass! No wonder it's similar... and also Kenny Lehman has produced both records...
Apart from Chic's own tunes, and the Chic produced stuff, I think there is only one tune that really sounds chic-ish: Joe Thomas "Plato's Retreat"! It has the typicall Chic female voices, and the chicy bass line, as well as the overall sexy, funky disco sound of 1978...
No Longer Charting
MPS: Can't really agree with you on this one. It's just plain old slick '78 disco music Where's the hallmark bass (I can't hear it) or guitar sounds of Chic?
One thing has struck me. Maybe Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers stole the Chic sound from Kenny Lehman and not the other way around. What do you guys think?
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
. 
. 
Metropole:" Miss Manhattan". It is on P.B.I. Rec. (they also released "Love Rescue" from The Project). It can also be found on Studio 54 Vol 3 Compilation on Derby Rec. Italy.
Bustin\' lights all around me ..
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