Customer Reviews

Risque

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4 star:		(5)
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Dancin' Feast

If CHIC'S earlier hits, "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" and "Everybody Dance" were the appetizers, served in a savory hot sauce of funky bass lines and guitar hooks, and "C'est Chic" was their rich, meaty, piquant main course, then "Risque" could definitely be thought of as the sinfully indulgent dessert. What confection could possess more magical aphrodisiac qualities than the sensual and hypnotic "A Warm Summer Night?" And is there another song from the period that drips with more of the epicurean "Carpe diem" ethos punched up by the often-duplicated (and sampled) "Good Times"?

The triumvirate of the eponymous first album, "C'est Chic" and this album is a timeless chronicle of a sadly underappreciated group at their dead-level best.

And besides the unmistakable stamp of Rogers and Edwards, not enough credit can be given to the lilting voices of Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin, (not to mention the tightest backup singing section since the days of Motown, including a fast-rising vocalist named Luther Vandross); the late, great Tony Thompson's whip-crack drumming skills; the peerless keyboard work of not one but THREE great session vets: Raymond Jones, Robert Sabino and Andy Schwartz, and of course, the feather bed for the jewels, the CHIC Strings: Karen Milne, Valerie Haywood, Karen Karlsrud and Cheryl Hong.

Music would never again be this majestically sumptuous. To say that this album is a necessity for the rabid CHIC fan or lover of Seventies dance and pop, is pretty much overstating the obvious.

Chic's star had been steadily rising (as had disco's) for the last 2 years when "Risque" was released in 1979. It basically conintued upon the foundation that was laid the year before with "C'est Chic". It is the zenith of the classic Chic sound that sent bootys shakin' all over the dance floor. It is also landmark in the fact that the album leads off with the song that essentially launched the rap movement.

The Sugar Hill Gang is generally credited with THE rap breakthrough record, "Rapper's Delight". Chic's "Good Times" served as the backing for this record. It wouldn't be the last time that Chic's samples would appear in rap.

Overall, the production on this album is the most consistent of any album in the Chic catalog. Each track flows into the next depsite the sometimes striking change from joy (Good Times) to contenment (A Warm Summer Night) outright melonchaly (Will You Cry & What About Me). A definate must if you want a definative dance/funk collection.

Chic followed up their smash hit and artistic accomplishment C'est Chic with this album, having produced the Sister Sledge album at essentially the same time as their second album. (In fact, "I Want Your Love" was intended to be a Sledge track, and "He's The Greatest Dancer" a Chic one. The switch was made late into the production chores.) Confident of their artistic powers and commercial sense, they seemed willing to experiment a bit. Edwards and Rodgers seemed to conceptualize an lp containing half dance tracks and half vocal-oriented funk-soul.

"My Feet Keep Dancing" took the extended dance song format and structured it with layered gradations, climaxing with tap dancing sound effects. Edwards and Rodgers were able to intuit what the remixers were doing to dance songs and incorporate it into the original production. This construction and deconstruction technique was also employed in "Good Times," a song whose massive pop cultural influence has been well considered. Chic had affected the course of dance music with its refusal to dilute bass lines, swayed pop music with the rhythmic guitar stylings, and now jumpstarted the hip hop scene with the style of bass playing.

There were other treats in the album. "A Warm Summer Night" was a piece of sexy beauty, evoking the mood of carnal romance through melodic repetition and whispered desires. "When You Hear This Song" conveyed heartbreak and yearning, and "What About Me" was a subtle plea for sexual fulfillment. "My Forbidden Lover" connected to a sense of the varieties of sexuality that disco saw. The greater span of topical matter, the extension of musical stylings, and timeliness of this album made it another Chic hit. The skill with which it was executed gives it lasting worth.

As a kid, I looked forward to Chic putting out new music, so you can imagine my excitement for Risque. Their first two albums (Chic and C'est Chic) were top-notch and tough acts to follow, but Risque put them over the top in my mind.

Naturally, my favorite was Good Times - another of their signature tunes like Le Freak/Dance, Dance, Dance/Everybody Dance/I Want Your Love. Good Times was one for the ages with me! The music was smart and sophisticated, the vocals crisp and clear. And while most people remember the bass line and its variations on many Chic-inspired songs, I remember the song for the sweeping violins and the light and sparkling keyboard sound. I love the musical interlude on this song giving the spotlight to all the musicians who strut their stuff propelling all who listen into a world of musical ecstacy. This passage is bested only by the Edwards/Rodgers-penned Tenderness which was written for Diana Ross. More than mere disco, THIS was la creme de la creme on the music scene in those days!

As a side note, I was perturbed - to say the very LEAST, when The Sugarhill Gang dropped Rappers' Delight on the world taking Good Times completely out of context. I was disgusted by the fact that I got THAT record as a Chistmas present! Of course, sampling other artists has become part and parcel of the music industry now, but it WAS a shocker back then!

Beyond Good Times lies even more sophistication with an album FULL of hit music. There was not ONE weak song on that record. I had an older cousin who hipped me to A Warm Summer Night - a slow jam driven by its bass line and hypnotic chorus.

The other slow jam, Will You Cry, was a melancholy number that had the vocalist (Luci Martin, I believe) pleading for understanding from a cold-hearted man. This song is an example of the late Tony Thompson's expert drumming providing a slow, but strong and steady beat as the foundation for this song.

Love the violin work on that song and My Feet Keep Dancin'. The latter evokes images of someone striving to rise to the top of their game as suggested by the lyrics in that song.

Risque will always be a definitive album for its time as it influenced the music scene the way its predecessors did. This is disco/dance musical elegance at its best.

Risque is disco for the dance crowd and musicians alike. So many were influenced by this album, and it is evident by all the bands that called on the production of the Chic rhythm section. Of course, everyone knows Rapper's Delight was founded on a sample of the song Good Times, but not so well known were the many collaborations: Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran (Notorious), Power Station, Missing Persons... the list goes on and on, and all of the work turned to gold in record sales and radio play. Nile Rogers also did solo work that was quite different from what he did with Chic... Land Of The Good Groove, B Movie Matinee, and a trio he put together called Outloud. Nile was very much into experimenting with all the new music technology that was so prevalent in the 80's. I think this was a turn-off for for Bernard and Tony, but it did allow Nile to go off on his own without the need for a real bass and drum player. All I can say is do a little research and seek out the work of all the players on the Chic albums. Lot's of great stuff to be heard.

Endlessly playable, just put this on repeat. Perfect grooves. Chic unique.

Chic has Never gotten the Love it Deserves.Nile Rodgers&Bernard Edwards are The Cornerstones.this is a Tight Album.THe Grooves Never Let up.Good Times alone is a Timeless Classic.it Has Inspired Countless Other Artists for Instance Queen,Sugar Hill Gang etc... In The Pocket Grooves Never Miss Here.

To this day,I am Chicfreak.To me their best three albums were "C'est Chic","We Are Family" and this one. You are probably saying "We Are Family"? that's by Sister Sledge.Well Sister Sledge sang it but Chic wrote it,produced it and everything that went with it.WAF is basically a Chic Album with SS singing lead on it.
Anyway,I was 11 when I first heard "A Warm Summer Night" on the flipside of the "Good Times" single.I thought anytime a flip is this good,the album must be hellified! And it was.Not only did the album contain the long version of "Good Times","A Warm Summer Night",but "My Feet Keep Dancing" and this was only the first side!
"My Forbidden Lover","Will You Cry" and "What About Me?" are on the other side.
This is prime USDA Chic at their peak.For some reason,Complilations of Chic music don't do it for me.I like the real stuff.

Because the industry tried to clone their sound,
Chic dissolved by the wayside after 1980.
But this album along with "C'est Chic" and "We Are Family" are living testament to Chic's greatness.

BUFFY'S TAKE: (On A scale Of 1 to 10)

GOOD TIMES: 9.24
A WARM SUMMER NIGHT: 10.5
MY FEET KEEP DANCING: 10
MY FORBIDDEN LOVER: 9.25
I CAN'T STAND TO LOVE YOU: 8
WILL YOU CRY: 10
WHAT ABOUT ME?: 10

Recommendation Level: High! Very High!

TO ONE OF THE BEST RHYTYM SECTIONS THAT EVER EXISTED!
Bernard and Tony:R.I.P.
Nile:Keep on groovin !

This was Chic at the peak of their artistic powers. Chic turned out not only memorable hits with the record, but anthems and classics! Who hasn't heard "Good Times" (the song was sampled in the first ever mainstream rap record). Also, "When You Hear This Song (Will You Cry)" is a ballad like no other, please don't sleep on it because it's amazing. This album is a groundbreaker and a trend setter. Own it. Chic owned the 70's disco scene.

Just listen to "A Warm Summer Night", man that's the kind of music to get anyone in the mood.