C'est Chic

“C’est Chic” by Chic (1978) R&B/early disco, with lyrics basically consisting of “I want you, baby; Let’s dance!” and other inane dance club pickup lines. But the music is very well done, if you can get past the New York City Club 54 pretentiousness. Excellent lilting bass and feathery guitar, if somewhat excessively repetitive. “Savoir Faire” displays some nice rhythmic variations, and fine jazz lead guitar solo. This track is really the highlight of the album. This album makes me want to dance, but it’s 5:37am, and I got nobody. Overall, good. 3/5

Amazing. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve owned this for like 7 years, and I have somehow never listened to it front to back. This is what I imagine heaven sounds like. On the B side, I stood up on three separate occasions b/c I thought that the song was so good, that it must be their grand finale. Every time there was an even better song waiting in the wings

Can't deny the instrumentation is good and there's obviously a few classics but every song also felt like it was 10 minutes too long.

Classic disco record. Fun, catchy tunes, great production, killer bass and guitars here and there. Le Freak is great. At the same time, there are repetitive, easily consumable songs that are often longer than they should be.

this one i get it. list of 1000 albums? sure, it makes the cut.

Why everyone, before they die, should spend what felt like 20 minutes listening to a lady repeating "I can hardly see what's in front of me" in a dramatic voice is insane to me. I guess it's a decent dance album, but every track is double the length it needed to be, and absolutely nothing happens or evolves.

If I didn't give this album five stars, you would know I had been kidnapped and forced to give a different vote. I sometimes like to play Chic or edits of Chic in my dj sets and the impact they have had on disco with this album is insane. I have had the pleasure of seeing them live, and I will say this listen brought back happy memories. Thank you Rodgers and Edwards

Classic disco album, great for getting up and dancing to and singing along to.

Nile Rodgers is God

One thing I'd like to note right out of the gate is how nice this record is produced. At least through my headphones, the bass is some of the best I've heard. You can hear the spring of the strings clear as day. Gorgeous, and really adds a lot to the music. That being said, sometimes the tracks can drag a little, but I think they're mostly made to dance to, and not to be as focused, critically, as I am on them. A few are also slightly interchangeable, sound-wise. Still, good, funky, fun. Favorite tracks: "I Want Your Love", "Sometimes You Win", "(Funny) Bone"

I wasn't familiar with CHIC until this listen, aside from obviously being familiar with guitarist, and band co-founder, Nile Rodgers, and the song "Le Freak". I haven't listened to "Le Freak" in its entirety but after hearing it now, it's quite the elegant disco track. Pristine mixing, ear-wormy vocals, and glammy strings partnered with a killer groove, it's everything I wanted from a record like this. I guess all that applies to most of this album, there were quite a handful of highlights. "Savoir Faire" is an outright gorgeous instrumental track that encapsulates a blissful city-night feeling in its repetitive, yet continuously enjoyable 5-minute run time. "I Want Your Love" sparks a similar feeling within me with a particularly enjoyable outro. I also generally love the vocals on this album, mostly performed by Alfa Anderson. My favorite would be the vocal melody on "At Last I am Free" about being so free that you can't even see it in front of you. That particular melody repeats throughout the entire second half of the song before slowly fading out; it's beautiful. "Sometimes You Win" is a particularly wholesome track lyrically speaking. Overall, the formula on all these songs is very similar; thick basslines, plucked rhythm guitar, string segments, light piano, and emotive lead vocals. I personally really enjoy this formula and it makes me wonder why Disco gets such a bad rep, perhaps it gets repetitive but in its nearly 40-minute runtime, I never really felt that way (aside from maybe the subpar closer). This is a wholesome album that's very spacious and manages to be patient while still filling out the entirety of its sonic space with gorgeous instruments. I haven't listened to much 70s disco but this feels like a gold standard for the genre. It's an album you can just lay back to and breathe for a bit. 8/10

It's good fun to listen to, nice and funky. It's always cool to hear these classic albums and find songs you've always known about but never known the name or artist (Le Freak), or songs that have been sampled elsewhere (Chic Cheer). Doesn't blow me away though, but i'm not mad about getting it.

Legendary disco album. Bernard Edwards <3

Disco fever!

Good dance album, not really much going for it other than that. A lot of the songs tend to drag on and are pretty one dimensional. My least favorite of the albums I've listened to so far. Favorite Tracks: Happy Man, Sometimes You Win

Accidentally listened to this on repeat all night and enjoyed it the whole time, good stuff

"C'est Chic" is the second studio album by American R&B band Chic. The music genre isclassified as disco, funk and R&B. I'd add a little bit of jazz too. It was produced by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards and was their most successful album peaking at #4 in the US and #2 in the UK. A crowd cheer and horns open "Chic Cheer." The groove sets in. Nile Rodgers' guitar and Bernard Edwards' deep bass. The whole band and others are singing a repeated "Chic, Chic." Let's party! Awwwwww..Freak Out and we're off with "Le Freak." Now this would be at the very top of my list if you had me name a disco song. Great production with the groove, horn and strings. "Savoir Faire" is lush with strings. A prominent bass. I would categorize this as jazz with the guitar. And a guitar jam too. The familiar bells, horns and bass announce their second big single "I Want Your Love." Smooth. The much-copied "scratchy" Niles Rodgers' guitar. Alfa Anderson killing it on the vocals repeating "I Want Your Love." Almost a Sister Sledge song. A great deeper cut is "At Last I Am Free." This is slower, a ballad, with strings and piano. One of the best songs on the album. The album ends similar to how it began with crowd noise on the mostly instrumental "(Funny (Bone)." A disco/R&B jam. There's disco. There's what I would call R&B nowadays. There's a ballad. There's a jazz song. There's the much copied Nile Rodgers' guitar sound. The songs are in the five to minute range and most of the songs get a great groove going. There's a lot to like here.

5 Fun fact about me: I’m a bigger disco fan than I let on. There’s something about the cliché guitar patterns and orchestras and funnnnky bass lines that I love. This would be workout music for me, if I was the type of person that took proper care of themselves. It’s uptempo, it’s iconic, and so sleek and cool. The songs run a little long but even then I couldn’t stop dancing. I was prepared to listen for as long as it would go. I can just imagine myself doing chores listening to this album and having an absolute blast. I definitely didn’t care for the repeated overuse of the band name as lyrics, I’ve always found that lame no matter who does it. The tender but skillful instrumentals were a welcome surprise too. All in all this was a really fun listen that I will absolutely listen to again. Favorites: Chic Cheer, Le Freak, Savior Faire, Happy Man, Sometimes You Win,(Funny) Bone

If I were at a party, I wouldn't mind if this album played for five hours straight. Listening to it at home does not feel like the proper setup, but still, it makes me wonder what would be of music as we know it today if it weren't for Nile Rodgers. Overall good, but gets a bump up for being so influential.

Chic. Nile Rogers. Excellent.

One of the few albums on this list that I’ve felt compelled to listen to twice in a row. A great disco album altogether, though it could benefit from slightly more experimentation or variation. 9

Yasssss bitch C'est chic la Disco. Ca groove en sequin dress dans la cuisine!!!

it was blumming great

Don't really have a bad word to say about this. It's a tight 8 tracks of funky Chic vibes. It's not a 5 for me as there isn't really any real stand-outs on here for me, but a very solid album. Fave Tracks: Le Freak, I Want Your Love, Sometimes You Win 4.2/5

Great stuff, some of their best tunes [EDIT - busy day, basic review but I did end up purchasing this]

Album still sounds amazing and apparently it has the foundational grooves that all of hip hop is based on?

The first song was unbearable - but the everything past that was surprisingly enjoyable. Didn’t think it would catch my attention like it did. I may listen to it again.

C'est Chic is the second studio album by Chic, originally released in 1978. This is right around the era that funk/R&B began to turn disco. Most people know the song "Le Freak", which is such a banger. Sure to get people out on the dancefloor. Most of the other tracks don't reach the same heights, but still make you want to dance. The production on this record is so good, as was the standard with most late-70s records. The bass player on here is such a beast. Just laying out those funky riffs. Although this sounds pretty dated, it was still a fun listen.

I enjoyed this more than I should have. Yes it’s disco but great playing, great production and not obnoxious. Savoir faire instrumental may have been my favorite. A part of me wants to give it 4 stars but I won’t.

Meh. Disco doesn't bother me but it's not usually very memorable, either.

Le freak kennig Flowig insgesamt

The music is groovy and lively, but MAN IS IT REPETITIVE. I found myself at multiple points checking the remaining time on a track only to find that it still has another 2 minutes remaining. I can only listen to someone say "I'm a happy man" so many times before getting sick of it. Overall, a fine album, but I wouldn't actively attempt listening to it again.

“Le Freak” is timeless, but what of the rest? The opener’s alright. The hinterland between soul, disco and yacht rock has “Savoir Faire” as its capital: some immense vocal effort, or maybe a Kraftwerk power unit would raise it up; the guitar solo is a butterfly where an afterburner is needed. “Happy Man” is as interesting as the experience of someone telling you they’re a happy man could be. “I Want Your Love” is inarguably fab and makes me realise how most of the preceding songs missed Alfa Anderson’s vocals, which rule without effort, and redeem the long instrumental outro when they drop back in. She can’t redeem the mawkishness of “At Last I’m Free”, though, quite a yawn. “Sometimes You Win” is better, but not by much. The closer is an extended piece of nothing. My review references a CD generously donated by Kevin Rowland. I am grateful this record is on this list, as I doubt the other gift, “The Very Best Of The Blow Monkeys”, will come up. The Wikipedia wormhole this sent me on was fun. Simon, are The Power Station any good?

Great stuff! I love Chic and Nile Rodgers and have seen them live twice. Great guitar work, excellent bass lines, love it

Brilliant blast from the past

I didn't love every song but those that I did were incredible!

Every single song Bangers all along No bad one in the batch This album such a catch Sweaty, swinging dancing Lovely loving romancing A full 5 star for me Glorious disco glee

An absolute stonking powerhouse of a record. Wall-to-wall funk, amazing musicianship, great production, just great. Favourite tracks: Chic Cheer (which I sadly only previously knew from Fatman Scoop's Be Faithful), Le Freak, Savoir Faire, I Want Your Love, At Last I Am Free, (Funny) Bone.

Not every track is great but still great, and amazing playing.

Sheer class. Anything that Nile Rogers is involved with has the midas touch. Superb

Disco at it's very finest. A while since I listened right through and even longer since I danced to it. Doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. Just banging dance music. Rhythms hardwired into brains of people who have never heard it.

Performances are off the charts on this one.

before listening i honestly expected to hate this but it turned out to be really great

Cest chic

I obviously loved this. Thanks Chic. 4.5/5

10/10 album art C'est Chic endures because of its production and performances.

this really absolutely blew me away

4.7 - Yeah this was just great. No fluff and just really a tight album. Big tunes as well.

You can hear the influence this album has had on other artists.

This was the first album I purchased, I think I used money from my 12th birthday gifts.

70s groovin!

I really like this

Probably one of the best albums of a generation. Disco worms

I loved this. It was funky, groovy, and so joyful! Favourite track: I Want Your Love

Disco classic

i love this album nike rodger’s u are my hero

This is what you want to put on at a house party!

Love this album.

Hermoso disco. Derrama funk. Las voces impecables como también los músicos.

I love the bass tone of the first tune Chic Cheer (Osama ;). Awesome grooves and just feels good all around.

First listen. Oh I can tell I'm gonna like this when Chic Cher hit. Oh so THATS where that song came from??? That 15 second snippet "AwwwWW FREAK OUT!" THAT WAS IN EVERY COMEDY MOVIE ANFLD TRAILER IN THE 2000s?!? And it's 5 and A HALF minutes long???? Thank god the whole song is not just that snippet like Daft Punks Around the World is just "around the wOOorld". Really loving this album 3 songs in. SO FUNKY

Tanta roba

The grooviest of all time! Love me some Nile & Bernard. Timeless!

Classic Chic album. I like it just as much as Risque and an easy 5 stars.

C'est Chic, unique.

Un poco de todo. Me encantó.

This album fucking rules! The disco with the r&b added into really made for some catchy and entertaining songs. Bring this type of music back! 4.6 stars

So silky smooth.

Perfection.

Nile Rogers is the GOOOOAOTTTOTTOAOOT

I think Chic might be one of the coolest bands that ever existed. The bass lines written for every one of their tracks is simply perfect and getting bodies moving. The guitar playing compliments the funk of the bass excellently. The vocals don’t say all that much, but they don’t need to when the music says it all for them. This is frankly as good as music can get, in my own little stinky opinion.

Nice

Wonderful.

So funky. So good. That rhythm guitar is famous and those baselines make it impossible not to dance.

Filed under "albums that are just insanely fun".

Properly funky funk

a ROCK SOLID classic disco album. couldn’t ask for anything more

great soul/disk album that has many standout songs like le freak, and I want your love

Great bass lines!

💖 chic cheer 🗣️ 9️⃣

Unbelievable. A tight, shiny masterpiece. When session players make a chance and go Gonzo...

I’ve listened to this twice already. This album is such a fun vibe. The bass line is insane. How did I know about this?! It’s so funky

The rhythm section is so tight, and the bass parts especially are so good.

groovy tunes really good music 5/5

DISCO SUCKS! Just kidding. This shit fucks. Literally! You can’t watch a single tv show, movie or anything about the 70’s without a snippet off of this record. Everyone knows Le Freak of course but this is the soundtrack to cocaine fueled nightclub shenanigans, late night drives, chill nights with your boo, really anything that you want to capture a feeling that makes you feel GOOD. The music itself makes you want to boogie. Funky as fuck and will make your day rule. Nile Rogers can do no wrong and the history of the band is so cool. Each track has its own theme, its own sound, its own FEELING. Savoir Faire sounds like how it feels waking up with your new babe after a night out partying and having coffee in bed. The vibes on each song are so distinct and unique but the tracks all lead into the next one perfectly. If you need some fun tunes for a party this one’s a great start, makes you wanna get all freaky deaky. This record has gorgeous string and horn compositions and incredible vocalizations that were defined by this era. The fact that Rogers was hugely influenced by Brian Eno is also important because of the crossover influences of the time period. Honestly I wish this record was longer because it takes a hold of you and it’s just so CHILL. The track “At Last I am Free” isn’t a disco track but a perfect slow jam that is so beautiful I was surprised to be so moved. Listening to this album will put you in a better mood, I can guarantee.

Hell yes

A set of absolute bangers, immaculately performed and produced. Nile Rodgers' guitar and Bernard Edwards' bass particularly stand and there's enough variety in the style of songs to keep it interestjng

Glad I discovered this album, it feels representative of disco! I wonder if there will be more disco albums chosen or if none compare?

oOOh yeah I'm dancing

I was aware of Nile as a guitar player but never really listened to anything. Obviously have heard le freak and I really dig the rest. I’ve listened to this twice now, really groovy stuff

Classic

Played out and fairly sick of CHIC in general, but there's no denying some of these tunes. glorious stuff

Chic don’t flop

Lyrics: The lyrics on "C'est Chic" are primarily concerned with love, celebration, and the joy of life. Tracks like "Le Freak" and "I Want Your Love" are undeniably catchy, employing simple yet effective wordplay and repetition. However, Chic occasionally delves deeper, as in "Savoir Faire," where they explore themes of self-confidence and resilience. Notably, the record avoids excessive sentimentality, keeping the tone light and playful throughout. Music: The driving force behind "C'est Chic" is its music, a masterclass in crafting grooves that stay with you long after the needle lifts. Nile Rodgers' instantly recognizable rhythm guitar lays the foundation, complemented by Bernard Edwards' thunderous bass lines and Tony Thompson's crisp drumming. The arrangements incorporate elements of pop, funk, and jazz, adding depth and sophistication to the sound. The album also features the iconic "Chic strings," lush arrangements that add a touch of elegance and emotional resonance. Production: The production on "C'est Chic" is crisp and clean, emphasizing the clarity of each instrument. Rodgers' legendary production skills shine through, creating a space where every element contributes to the overall groove. The use of reverb and other effects is subtle, ensuring the music remains focused and danceable. Themes: While primarily a celebratory album, "C'est Chic" subtly explores themes beyond just dancing. "Savoir Faire" and "Sometimes You Win" offer messages of self-belief and perseverance. Even in the more playful tracks, there's a sense of sophistication and an underlying coolness that sets them apart from typical disco fare. Influence: "C'est Chic" became a landmark record, influencing countless artists across genres. Its infectious rhythm, tight songwriting, and innovative production laid the groundwork for the development of dance music in the decades to come. From artists like Madonna and Daft Punk to modern funk and dance music, the album's impact continues to be felt today. Pros: Unbeatable grooves: The music is instantly catchy and undeniably danceable. Sophisticated songwriting: The lyrics are clever, playful, and occasionally delve deeper, avoiding cliché. Impeccable production: The album sounds clean, crisp, and expertly mixed. Enduring influence: The record continues to inspire artists and shape the soundscape of dance music. Versatility: "C'est Chic" appeals to a broad audience seeking both a good time and musically sophisticated listening experience. Cons: Repetitive lyricism: While catchy, some lyrics can be seen as simple or repetitive. Limited thematic scope: Compared to other artists, Chic's thematic focus can appear narrower. Genre-specific appeal: While influential, the album's disco sound might not resonate with all listeners. Overall: "C'est Chic" is a timeless classic, a testament to Chic's ability to merge infectious grooves with sophisticated songwriting and production. It's a dance floor essential, yet sophisticated enough to be appreciated for its musical brilliance. While minor limitations exist in its lyrical simplicity and thematic scope, its strengths far outweigh them. "C'est Chic" remains a groundbreaking and influential album that continues to resonate with listeners generations after its release.

I never thought I would like disco

Fun funky album that makes you want to dance

Excellent album. "I want your love" is an absolutely fantastic song. Very funky but also sort of cerebral. I would definitely listen to this again and will probably own it eventually.

So fun!

Amazing!

elegant funk