Customer Reviews

Live at the Budokan

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember reading about Bernard Edwards passing away in a copy of Jet Magazine. I was stunned and just about in shock. I still can't believe it. I was 17 years old when the first Chic album hit the stores, and for the next 8 years I danced my butt off to Chic's soulful sounds, first in Tijuana and young adult night clubs, later in regular discos. Chic was unfairly categorized as a "disco" act. I am a longtime fan of soul and R&B music, and I never thought of Chic as anything but one of the funkiest soul bands. That they had so much success in discos doesn't detract from that. The group's foundation was unbeatable. Drummer Tony Thompson was like a metronome, with his big, steady beat. That's also his live drumming on the Power Station CD. At a time when drum machines were so in vogue, Tony showed you the true power of a master drummer can beat any machine. Nile Rodgers is a living legend, not only for his work with Chic, but as a producer and a prolific session guitarist, able to play all styles, from straight rock to funky rhythm to jazz. He puts out samples that are snatched up by computer musicians. As for Bernard, well, he's the most influential and imitated of all bassists. His funky grooves shaped a whole era. He was good enough that his bass playing could be placed right up front in the mix. Because he was doing things no one else could. Who can forget Kathy Sledge urging him, "Play your funky bass, Boy!" on the immortal "We Are Family"? And I'll never forget turning my copy of "C'est Chic" over and listening to "I Want Your Love" for the first time. I almost forgot about "Le Freak," which was #1 pop and R&B at the time. That was the funkiest break ever! Where were YOU the first time you heard "He's The Greatest Dancer"? Didn't you want to head to your nearest disco right then and there? These songs and other Chic classics are performed on this album. I literally grew from young man to man while grooving to Bernard Edwards' sound. I can't believe he's gone. I really miss him. Bernard, you were The Best! Play your funky bass, Boy. In Heaven. Forever.

"Chic: Live at the Budokan" captures the verve and wizardry of the 1997 concert in Japan. Chic was more than just a "disco band"; it was an assemblage of gifted musicians, headed by Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards. The interpretations of the band's greatest hits take those songs to another level, permitting longer and jazzier extensions of these familiar chart-toppers.

Rodgers and Edwards knew the pulse of the times and produced numerous hits for themselves, as well as others. Label mates Sister Sledge, who were produced by Rodgers and Edwards, appear on "The Greatest Dancer" and the disco anthem "We Are Family". Also, Steve Winwood adds his distinctive vocals to this monumental concert.

The sound quality is excellent, allowing the listener to feel as if he/she is actually there.

Fans of the band or not will enjoy this live release that is definitely kicking!

First, let's get the list of shortcomings out of the way from this performance. I was hoping for more of their hits and less interludes or tracks with interviews. Secondly, one of the reasons I purchased this performance was to hear the soulful vocals of ex-Prince protogee singer Jill Jones (hailed by music critics as the best female singer to come out of the Paisley one's camp);She is faint and lost in the backup somewhere. One embarrassing moment occurs when Jill Jones is introduced in track 14 of Chic Cheer and she ad libs/sings something that is a far cry of what she is really capable of doing ! Female lead vocalist Sylver Logan Sharp is right on the money but her vocals are too deep to be reminiscent of anything original singers Norma Jean and Alfa Anderson offered with the original lineup. Jean and Anderson would co-harmonize smoothly; it was not a contest to see who could outperform who!Therefore, Sharp overpowers Jone's silky and soulful vocals !Vocals by Sister Sledge seem to falter a little bit in contrast to their awesome vocal work back in the late 70's. Finally, if you are going to record a concert album with all tracks, then include all the tracks. There is another cd version of this Live At Budokan performance that includes Simon LeBon of Duran Duran fame who performs Notorious with Chic. The catch is that you have to fork over some bucks no matter who sells it because it is a Japanese only import...so, then a Chic fan has to ask him/herself if it's worth the money for this one added extra bonus track;who knows...

Now the good stuff ! It's truly a magnificent historical performance unpolished by post studio electronic trickery or contrived production ; What you hear is what you get. The music is more rock-funk than outdated disco. Some of the songs are fitted with a firmer, tighter, more solid up to date edge with great guitar licks by Slash and blue eyed soulful vocals by Steve Winwood. The late Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers proved in 96' that Chic never lost their touch. After all, this multi-talented duo produced some of the most incredible, memorable and skillfully crafted dance, r&b, funk music that will never fade or die. This is where the young and curious can get their 101 basic fundamentals in discovering where the basis of hip hop and other dance music came from. Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards were musical survivors long after the death or "mutation" of disco. All this is evident in the writing and producing they did in the 80's for mega stars David Bowie, Madonna, Duran,Duran,...and the list goes on. One of the best albums they produced for any artist or artists were labelmates Sister Sledge's 1979 We Are Family album;that is another review for another time, though. Despite, the cons I listed in the beginning of this review it is the more solid and positive aspects of this recording that allows me to grant this recording 4 stars !!

Getting to the meat of the matter with Nile winning the Producer Of The Year in Japan that year and may I say a quick thinking Nile putting Chic together W/O Tony Thompson was a very smart move but, I think that it still really wasn't Chic without Tony not being part of this event. I think that Nile was very heart felt with the passing of Benard and this being his LAST performance and it being a great one at that...it was good to hear him be so positive even though his life ended the next day after that show....we do miss him!!!!
With all the guess in toe....like Slash, Steve Windwood, Simon La Bon, Sister Sledge and everyone that was a part of this great night and with all the good dance songs that made Chic so great and the musicainship....it's just unexplianible to be so dam good
If you don't have this CD then you're missing out.....not only with Nile but with how great of a group Chic really was because, in the late 70's they were a powerhouse and the writing of songs like "Dance,Dance,Dance & Le Freak" who can go wrong and all the mambers going forward in the music industry as musicians and producers. So if you have the chance to grab this CD before it goes out of print do so because, if you miss it that would be a very SAD!!!!

If you talk about disco music, Chic is certainly the first choice, as the best band from that era. This live album, recorded in Japan em 1996, is a proof that Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards are strong players on stage, too. With brilliant guests like Slash, Steve Winwood and Sisters Sledge, it's a astonishing album, from beggining to the end. Disco sucks? Oh, come on..... Chic for ever!!!! And rest in peace, dearly Bernard.

Chic is one of those rare bands who mixed worldwide success and high quality music. Due to unforgettable tunes as well as exceptionnal musicians, their songs ran all over the world and still run in many heads. Nevertheless, if you're not a chic fan, don't buy this album : its sound, its guests are not what a new listener could expect and are not significantly representative of what Chic has done in the late 70's. On the other hand, if you're a chic fan, buy it right away : it cannot be absent from your CD player. Very moving interviews from the all-time genius Bernard Edwards, extended versions, wonderful digressions : you'll discover a whole new Chic and it won't leave your player for a long time ! Check your heartbeat when Bernard says, during chic cheer, "I've got the Tokyo flu". Knowing he died a few hours after that live session...

Chic, Live at the Budokan, is an absolutley incredible party album, if you are into the disco era, and love funky, 70's music. Listen to "Dance, dance, dance...(Yowsa!!!), A boogie down version (extended) of "I Want Your Love", and Sistah Sledge steals the show with her hit "He's the Greatest Dancer", and "We are Family", and it just wouldnt be a party without "Le Freak" I can guarantee everyone will hit the dance floor for the rap version of "Good Times". We will definitley be playing this at the next New Years Eve party, and it sounds just as cool at a wedding reception. Makes you wanna hit the dance floor, and hit some moves and disco poses! Highly recommended.

This CD is a great tribute to Bernard Edwards as it is his final performance-he passed away just hours after the concert. Although tinged with sadness, the CD demonstrates the joy that the music of Chic held and Bernard's bass playing is as brilliant as always. The extra track with simon Le Bon is a nice bonus as Simon seems really pleased to be there, and he has always vocalised his love of the Chic sound. But the final words are for Bernard-(as Sister Sledge said)"play that funky bass, boy!"

I'm a person who always felt that an artist or group should always do, at lease, one live recording in their career. It documents the relationship between them and their fans. Plus it shows how talented they really are.

With this live album, Chic does this extremely well. Particularly in regards to the sad passing of the great Bernard Edwards (bass-player and co-founder & writer of the band) that came shortly after the concert that is featured in this recording.

It's a great album, a classic

Length:: 0:24 Mins