When Chic's self-titled debut album came out in 1978, many rock critics gave it very negative reviews and failed to see just how rhythmically and harmonically exciting Chic's blend of funk, soul, and Euro-disco was. But one critic who often gave Chic favorable coverage was Don Waller, who hit the nail on the head when he exalted the band as "an uptown version of Booker T & the MG's." It was a most insightful analogy -- Chic's music was a lot sleeker than Booker T & the MG's raw, instrumental Memphis soul, but like Booker T., the Niles Rodgers/Bernard Edwards team turned out some of the most infectious and influential R&B party grooves of their era. Although not quite as strong as Chic's next two albums -- C'est Chic and Risqué -- would be, this highly enjoyable album put the group on the map commercially thanks to the infectious hits "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Everybody Dance." Some rock critics saw Chic as just another faceless disco production, but, in fact, the opposite is true -- with this album, Chic fashioned a very distinctive and recognizable sound that proved to be as influential in its era as Booker T & the MGs were in theirs. The sound that Chic established with this album was one that everyone from Queen and ABC to Sister Sledge, the Sugarhill Gang, and Madonna would benefit from. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Robert Drake (Engineer), David Friedman (Vibraphone), Nile Rodgers (Guitar), George Young (Wind), Barry Rogers (Trombone), Bob Clearmountain (Mixing), Dennis King (Mastering), Diva Gray (Vocals), Barry Rodgers (Trombone), David Lasley (Vocals), Lynn Dreese Breslin (Design), Tom Cossie (Executive Producer), Ron Johnson (Mixing), Kenny Lehman (Producer), George Young (Sax (Tenor)), Norma Jean Wright (Vocals), Ron Johnson (Engineer), David Friedman (Bells), Gloria Agostini (Harp), Robin Clark (Vocals), Luther Vandross (Vocals), David Friedman (Percussion), Bernard Edwards (Producer), Bob Defrin (Art Direction), Kenny Lehman (Arranger), Tom Coppola (Keyboards), Nile Rodgers (Producer), Andy Schwartz (Keyboards), Kenny Lehman (Wind), Bernard Edwards (Bass), Bernard Edwards (Keyboards), Alfa Anderson (Vocals), Nile Rodgers (Vocals), Frank Laffitte (Photography), Ronald Albert Johnson (Engineer), Andrew Barrett (Keyboards), Robert Sabino (Keyboards), Kenny Lehman (Woodwind), Alfa Anderson Barfield (Vocals), Nile Rodgers (Arranger), Michael Frondelli (Engineer), Sammy Figueroa (Percussion), Alfred Brown (Strings Contractor), Bob Clearmountain (Engineer), Jon Faddis (Trumpet), Tony Thompson (Drums), George Young (Flute), Bernard Edwards (Vocals), Jon Faddis (Horn), Bernard Edwards (Arranger)
Chic is the debut album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1977. It includes the hit singles "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - originally released on label Buddha Records - (US Hot 100 #6, R&B #6, US Club Play #1, UK #6) and "Everybody Dance" (US Hot 100 #38, R&B #12, US Club Play #1, UK #9). Chic's debut album reached #27 on the US Pop charts, #12 on the R&B charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA, selling more than half a million copies. Chic was transferred to compact disc and re-released by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1991.
The album was digitally remastered and re-issued by Wounded Bird Records in 2006.
