Customer Reviews

The Best Of Chic Volume 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Any disc that delves further into the rich vaults of Chic albums, past the chart hits, is a worthwhile project. The aim is to provide a representation of the "rest" of their oeuvre. There is so much to select from, given that Volume One, edited by Rodgers and Edwards, was crammed with the popularly known stuff. Volume Two does the job, although with this great opportunity I differ with many of the selections.

Some are obvious choices. "At Last I am Free," "What About Me," and "Will You Cry" made the cut. However, given that C'est Chic and Risque remain in print as CD's, valuable space might ought to have been offered to tracks from lesser known lp's. At the time Volume Two was released, the Real People and Take It Off albums were available on CD. Anticipating that they might not always be available because of lacking chart hits, "Open Up," a terrifically innovative instrumental from the former album, might have been paired with "Real People," a superlative track that is found here. From the latter album, "Would You Be My Baby," an addictive pop song, "Take It Off," a sexily arranged (and worded) humor piece, and "Baby Doll," a steaming instrumental groove, would have sat well with "Just Out Of Reach." Surely better than "Your Love Is Cancelled."

More disappointing was the selection of tracks from Chic's final two albums of the 80's, which have never been released on CD. The last, Believer, was a failed experimental foray into electronic instruments, and one song from this project would have sufficed. The other album, Tongue In Chic, contained some bravura performances in both the arrangement and vocal departments. Rather than include the non-hit "Hangin," coordinator Ken Barnes would have been better to add the infectious, brief, wonderfully sung "Hey Fool." The production/arrangement of "I Feel Your Love Comin' On" is the closest thing to an aural representation of the sexual act I have ever heard. It deserves to be heard on CD players. Fortunately, "When You Love Someone," a song as good as "I Want Your Love," is included.

Chic was berated and dismissed even during their successful career as only a "disco" act. This album puts the lie to that assertion.

Listen to "Will You Cry?," and "Stage Fright," to get a taste of just how talented an ensemble this was. Absolutely superb musicianship and transcendant arrangements make this a first-rate collection, and a must for anyone who appreciates great jazz/pop/dance music. Awesome!

Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards thrived during disco's heyday but on tunes such as the catchy "Stage Fright","Rebels
Are We" and the ultra-grooving funk of "Flashback" point to the
good points of this band.But as I've found Chic can actually strech good quality across whole sides of an album so albums
like "Take It Off","Tounge In Chic" and "Believer" (whitch I have on a cassette tape) are worth the hunt.

This is a fair collection of some of Chic's lesser known 80-83 stuff. The best stuff off here is from Risque. This is not for the biggest fan, but you will like some of this set.

My dear friend Eric Wolf worshiped the skills of Nile Rogers. He was a German/Spanish, recent MIT grad, destined for aeronautical engineering, but only wanted to emulate his guitar hero. Many a cold Paris night in a tiny apartment, we spent in darkness with Eric's JVC stereo, listening to the genius of the musical tracks on passed over songs like "When You Love Someone".

He would take me to sessions in Clingancourt where he'd jam with homies from Gabon, Seychelles, Cameroon, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and let them me know that Rogers grooves were as relevant as Sunny Ade's, BB King, even Hendrix.

Eric gave me a whole new prospective and a deep appreciation for the genius of Nile's work, and I thank him, sincerely for the enlightenment.