Chic

Chic | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002IHJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,113 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)

2. Sao Paulo

3. You Can Get By

4. Everybody Dance

5. Est-Ce Que C'Est Chic

6. Falling In Love With You

7. Strike Up The Band

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The precursor to the Chic Funk, February 8, 2000

By 

Funky D "FunkyD" (Heart of Dixie) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chic (Audio CD)

Mention the name "Chic" and the most common response is "Le Freak". True, this monster track had the public getting down on disco floors all across the USA, but it was not the 1st Chic tune to make it big.

Step back to the year before (1977) and you will find "Dance, Dance, Dance" on this album, which started it all.

This album is unique in the Chic catalog as it shows us the Chic sound as it is being fine-tuned into the precision, airy funk that characterized their next pair of (and 2 biggest) albums. It also happens to be the sole appearance by original vocalist Norma Jean Wright, who was later replaced by the equally capable Alfa Anderson.

The star of this album is definately Bernard Edwards bass tracks, which show off several facets of his playing style, from the hi-energy loping of "Dance, Dance, Dance", to the mellow jazzy flavor of "Sao Paulo" to virtuoso feel of "Everybody Dance". Bernard knew exactly what to put into a track to give it the proper feel, and, as usual, does this thoroughly on this album.

Guitarist Nile Rodgers' is rather subdued on this record (with the possible exception of "You Can Get By", but provides solid support throughout. If you are looking for some of Nile's more prominent guitar work, you should check out the "Real People" album instead.

Drummer Tony Thompson holds up the rythmic foundation with a solid, albeit unremarkable, groove which locks everything in place. As Chic's most underutilized member, you won't see a whole lot more than this until after Chic ventures away from disco in the "Take it Off" album.

As far as the tunes themselves go, "Chic" is their most stylistically varied album made until the aforementioned "Take it Off". "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Everybody Dance" are your get-down stompers, "Sao Paulo" is one of thost jazz-wannabe tracks that occasionally pop up on Chic records, but differs from all the others in the fact that sax and flute are featured. The flute also appears on the funkier instrumental "Strike Up the Band". "You Can Get By" and "Est-ce Que C'est Chic" are rhythmic tracks where at least some attempt was made at delivering some meaningful lyrics. Chic also reveals a little soul in "Falling in Love with You".

Although it doesn't stand quite as tall as "C'est Chic" or "Risqué", Chic's debut effort stands on its own in the Chic catalogue, and is a much-have for understanding this band's musical origins.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime Disco., June 21, 2004

By 

Arif (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chic (Audio CD)

Sure, there's the critically acclaimed Risque. And C'est Chic is probably the best selling album in Chic's illustrious career. But there's something dark and deep about Chic's self-titled debut that separates this album from subsequent Chic productions. Take the two hits Dance, Dance, Dance and Everybody Dance. Despite their earnest call to boogie, the melodies work harder, taking you to darker corners of the club. A certain sadness prevails, as if predicting the Death of Disco. Est Ce Que C'est Chic is similarly melancholic - Norma Jean's childish vocals weave gothic stories around the cryptic lyrics. And Sao Paulo is a gem - one of the best and the most underrated Chic compositions ever - jazzy, chilled out and way ahead of its time. Sophisticated, sultry and sad, 'Chic' is Chic's best album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Auspicious Beginnings, July 25, 2001

By 

disco75 "disco75" (State College, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chic (Audio CD)

The eponymous album from Chic is not an especially strong lp, nor does it contain any must-have tracks (although the sensuous and sexy warm weather instrumental "Sao Paulo" comes close). It has two fairly good dance tracks, the singles "Dance Dance Dance" and "Everybody Dance." It is the only Chic album in which a third producer was involved with Rodgers and Edwards. It also appears to have been a fairly hasty affair, cobbled together after the surprise success of "Dance Dance Dance." It is worthwhile, however, from the point of view that it represents in chrysalis stage the talents of one of the most incredible bands in popular music since the big band era. The first single showed them showcasing the bassline in ways that didn't electronically alter it, as had been the practice in pop music. The second single, written by just the duo of Rodgers and Edwards, showed a leap forward in arrangement and songwriting. It represents the springboard into their stronger subsequent work, first with departing vocalist Norma Jean Wright on her self titled album, and then on the classic C'est Chic and Sister Sledge albums.