Risqué is the third studio album by American disco band Chic, released on Atlantic Records on July 30, 1979. One of the records that defined the disco era, the album became highly influential not only within the movement, but also in other styles such as hip hop, art rock and new wave. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 414 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Contents
Release
Risqué includes three classic Chic hits; "Good Times" (#1 US Pop, #1 US R&B June 23, 1979, #5 UK), "My Forbidden Lover" (#33 US R&B, #43 US Pop October 13, 1979, #15 UK) and "My Feet Keep Dancing" (#42 US R&B, #101 US Pop December 8, 1979, #21 UK). Risqué reached #5 on the US albums chart and #2 on the US R&B chart. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales over 1 million copies. It peaked at #29 in the UK and was certified Silver by the BPI.
Risqué was released on compact disc by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1991 (catalogue number 7567-80406-2). The album was digitally remastered and re-issued by Warner Music Japan in 2011.
Critical reception
Risqué received widespread critical acclaim for its lyrics and tone. The Bay State Banner wrote that "one hears lyrics that are sometimes almost indictments and other times reflective... The beat is more aggressive, the sound tougher and the vocals—while still repetitive and delivered flatly—are arranged and produced so that they demand attention and focus in quickly on a song's sentiments."
In a review for BBC, Daryl Easlea called the album "one of the greatest exhibits in the case for disco's defence," and saying that it was "Chic's most sustained artistic statement, a celebration of a 70s that was collapsing under its own excess and hedonism."
Legacy
"Good Times" has been extensively sampled in other artists' works, most notably in the first top 40 rap single, "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang, that same year. "Will You Cry" was sampled in "Just a Moment" by Nas from the 2004 album Street's Disciple.
Personnel
Alfa Anderson – lead vocals (1, 4, 6, 7)
Luci Martin – lead vocals (1, 3, 4, 5)
Fonzi Thornton – vocals
Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals
Raymond Jones – keyboards
Robert Sabino – keyboards
Andrew Barrett (Schwartz) – piano
Nile Rodgers – guitars, vocals
Bernard Edwards – bass guitar, lead vocals (3)
Tony Thompson – drums
Sammy Figueroa – percussion
Jean Fineberg – saxophones
Alex Foster – saxophones
Barry Rogers – trombone
Jon Faddis – trumpet
Ellen Seeling – trumpet
The Chic Strings:
Valerie Heywood – strings
Cheryl Hong – strings
Karen Karlsrud – strings
Karen Milne – strings
Gene Orloff – concertmaster
Tap Dancers on "My Feet Keep Dancing"
Production
Bernard Edwards – producer for Chic Organization Ltd., arrangements and conductor
Nile Rodgers – producer for Chic Organization Ltd., arrangements and conductor
Bob Clearmountain – sound engineer
Jim Galante – assistant engineer
Jeff Hendrickson – assistant engineer
Peter Robbins – assistant engineer
Jackson Schwartz – assistant engineer
Raymond Willard – assistant engineer
Dennis King – mastering
Carin Goldberg – art direction
Ken Ambrose – photography
All songs recorded and mixed at The Power Station (New York, NY)
Additional recording at Electric Lady Studios (New York, NY) and Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA)
Mastered at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY)