nile rodgers Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

Chic “C’est Chic”

sfilzen — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:57:31 +0000

Chic “C’est Chic” 1978. Today, September 19th is Chic founder, über-producer Nile Rodgers’ birthday (b. 1952); Chic’s second album C’est Chic celebrated its 40th release-date anniversary last month and Friday (Sept. 21st) will mark the 40th birthday of the hit single “Le Freak” as well. “Le Freak” was a monster smash, hitting #1 in the US on, like, all the charts including the Hot 100, Hot R&B and Dance/Disco charts; it was also recently selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion onto the National Recording Registry. I love “Le Freak” but also great on C’est Chic are “Happy Man” and “I Want Your Love,” the second single from C’est Chic (#7 on the Hot 100, #1 on the Dance/Disco chart, #5 on the R&B chart).

I’ve been a fan of Nile Rodgers forever, not necessarily just for his work with Chic but mainly because of his production work with some of my favorite artists of all time including David Bowie, Duran Duran and INXS. (In recognition of his work with them, and many many others, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this past summer he became chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame). In July 2016 I got a chance to see Rodgers perform some of his work, including “Le Freak,” when he opened for Duran Duran while they were on tour for their album Paper Gods.

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Duran Duran “The Reflex”

sfilzen — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:59:54 +0000

Duran Duran “The Reflex” b/w “New Religion” 1983. Today, September 19th, is Nile Rodgers’ birthday (b. 1952). Best known for his work in Chic and as the über-producer of a million (or so) pop songs, he is best know to me for his production work with Duran Duran. “The Reflex (The Dance Mix-Edited)” single version pictured here was the first of many collaborations between Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers. The third single from their third LP Seven and the Ragged Tiger, “The Reflex” was one of their most successful, hitting #1 in the UK and the US (I’ve written about a couple of times already, also having a copy of the 12″ single and the picture disc release). The special limited edition poster sleeve that holds the 7″ spent most of the 80′s hanging on my bedroom wall. It’s amazing that it survived.

I had the opportunity and pleasure to see Nile Rodgers perform when he and his band opened for Duran Duran in July 2016 in Minneapolis where he played songs he’s released as well as produced, including “Le Freak” (Chic), “We Are Family” (Sister Sledge) and “Get Lucky” (Daft Punk). Here’s a really crappy photo I took of him at that concert.

And here’s a really good photo of him with Duran Duran. I did not take this one.

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David Bowie “Let’s Dance”

sfilzen — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 20:01:20 +0000

David Bowie “Let’s Dance” released on this date, April 14th, 1983. Let’s Dance was Bowie’s 15th studio album, and one of his most commercially successful. The LP reached #1 in the UK, #4 in the US and in 1989 Rolling Stone ranked it at #83 in its 100 Best Albums of the 80′s. It was nominated for a grammy in the Album of the Year category (it lost to Michael Jackson’s Thriller). The album has a definite bluesy funkiness to it, influenced by Bowie’s collaboration with producer Nile Rogers – the plan was to release a record that was an “original party-funk cum big bass drum sound greater than the sum of its influences.” The bluesy part comes from Bowie’s work with Stevie Ray Vaughn, who plays guitar on Let’s Dance. Bowie did not play any instruments on the recording himself.

I was 12 when Let’s Dance came out and enthralled. The hit singles from the album were on constant rotation on MTV and I crushed on Bowie’s suave (and vaguely sweaty) performance in the video for “Let’s Dance” (which hit #1 in the US and UK). I also loved “Modern Love” (#14 in the US, #2 in the UK) but admit to being confused by “China Girl” (#10 in the US, #2 in the UK); I now understand the video was a commentary on racism and sexism. David Bowie co-wrote “China Girl” with Iggy Pop, originally appearing on Pop’s 1977 album The Idiot. Bowie re-recorded it for Let’s Dance with Nile Rogers on production who put a much bigger emphasis on a pop sound (the musical style, not Iggy). “Without You” was the final single released from Let’s Dance, it made it to #73 on the US charts. Also notable is the track “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” which was originally released in 1982 and the title song for the movie Cat People. It also became the B-side for “Let’s Dance.” Both versions of “Cat People” are awesomely dark, gothy and nihilistic:

See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
Well it’s been so long

And I’ve been putting out the fire with gasoline
See these eyes so red
Red like jungle burning bright
Those who feel me near

Pull the blinds and change their minds
It’s been so long
Still this pulsing night
A plague I call a heartbeat

Just be still with me
But it wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through
You’ve been so long
Well it’s been so long

I’ve been putting out the fire with gasoline
Putting out the fire
With gasoline

See these tears so blue
An ageless heart that can never mend
Tears can never dry
A judgment made can never bend

See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Just be still with me
You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through
Well you’ve been so long

It’s been so long
And I’ve been putting out fire with gasoline
Putting out a fire with gasoline

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Duran Duran in concert

sfilzen — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:18:58 +0000

Duran Duran in concert this past Saturday, July 23rd, in St. Paul/Minneapolis. Nile Rogers and Chic opened – what a night!!!! Chic was amazing, playing hit after hit after hit – I honestly have never danced so hard for an opening band ever. Nile Rogers has been like, everywhere, in the world of music production for the past 40 years: of course they played “Le Freak” but also funk and funk-infused hits like “We Are Family” and “Get Lucky.”

Nile Rogers

Then Duran Duran hit the stage and the dancing just kept going. I took a few video clips but spent most of the time soaking in every precious moment of show. Sadly Nick Rhodes was not there but MNDR did a stellar job of stepping in to the role. They played “Wild Boys,” “Planet Earth,” “Space Oddity,” “White Lines,” “Sunrise,” “New Moon on Monday” and “Save a Prayer” when the venue was lit in purple as a nod to Prince. We had really great seats, Row 20 and I boogied down the whole show. I am very very short and it is inevitable that the tallest guy at any concert will be sitting/standing in front of me. The Duran concert was no exception. I usually get pretty bummed out or pissed off, depending on my mood, but the tallest guy at the concert in front of me was SO EXCITED to be there and danced, sang and shrieked as much as my friends and I that I really didn’t mind. In fact he, along with the rest of the crowd on the floor, were so full of fun energy that the night was just beautiful all around.

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