414. Chic, "Risqué"

 


It's Friday and that's great because this album is PERFECT FOR FRIDAY.  In fact, it's good for any day of the week.  Nothing like starting out a record with "Good Times," an obviously iconic song on its own that didn't do anything else except go on in life to be the backing track for "Rapper's Delight" and thus be a part of the foundation of rap.  Talk about a song delivering more than you asked it to.

But there are other disco bangers on here!  You will swear you've heard "My Feet Keep Dancing" because it sounds so familiar, even if you haven't.  It also has the unexpected and charming tap shoes sound about halfway through, to really play up the "dancing" thing.  "Can't Stand to Love You" is a more straightforward funk vibe, and there are the requisite slow jams like "A Warm Summer Night."  You can hear so much of today's music just flowing out of this.  

Let's pause here and talk about Nile Rodgers, one of the two founders and creative forces behind Chic.  He co-wrote, with bassist Bernard Edwards, all of the songs on this album.  Here's a few other things Nile Rodgers has done:

Co-wrote and played guitar on Daft Punk's "Get Lucky"
Produced David Bowie's "Let's Dance"
Produced Madonna's "Like a Virgin"
Wrote "We Are Family"
And on and on and on and on

Better get busy.  Nile Rodgers has a big head start.

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