By Geoffrey Rowlands
Comments left on YouTube provide ample proof that many older dance music fans become misty eyed when remembering great songs from the 1970s and ’80s written, performed or produced by Nile Rodgers.
French electro-dance duo Daft Punk are among his biggest fans. They saw Nile as the obvious collaborator for those songs on their new album, Random Access Memories, which pay tribute to the disco era.
“I’ve known Thomas (Bangalter) and Guy-Manuel (de Homem-Christo) for more than a decade,” remarked 60-year-old Nile. “We’d discussed working together many times but it wasn’t until last year that everything came together. They wanted to take their music in a new direction and I was delighted to play my part.”
Nile’s contributions included writing and playing the guitar riff on Daft Punk’s UK chart-topping single, Get Lucky. “They basically wanted something straight out of late 1970s disco. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with many artists in different styles over the years. But take me back to my mid-20s playing disco music and that’s what I still regard as the best time of my life.”
A native New Yorker, Nile’s career began as a teenager when he found work as a session guitarist and played in the house band at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theatre. After meeting bass player Bernard Edwards in 1970, they joined with drummer Tony Thompson to form rock-fusion outfit The Big Apple Band.
“We did okay. There was a lot of work and we toured extensively as the backing band for artists such as New York City and Carol Douglas. But we couldn’t make a breakthrough in our own right.”
After changing their style to disco, the boys adopted the name Chic and recruited vocalist Norma Jean Wright for whom Nile and Bernard would also produce a solo album. Her solo work soon saw Norma Jean leave the group. But she had already suggested her friend Luci Martin should join as a second singer and Alfa Anderson eventually replaced Norma Jean.
“That was our classic line-up. Bernard and I created the songs but Tony was an incredible drummer and the girls sang and fronted the band to perfection.”
Chic’s hit songs such as Le Freak, which became Atlantic Records’ biggest-selling single, I Want Your Love and Good Times defined the disco era. Their success led to Nile and Bernard being in demand to produce material for other acts. They created massive hits for artists such as Sister Sledge, Diana Ross and Debbie Harry.
“We had five great years as Chic. But tastes change so I started concentrating more on production. Bernard and I would work together or individually. I was particularly pleased to produce major hits in the ’80s for David Bowie and Madonna. This effectively proved I could work with anyone.”
After some years of inactivity, Chic re-formed in the early 1990s and continue to play concerts. But Nile has lost Tony and Bernard who both died in their 40s.
“I actually found Bernard after he died. It was devastating. But you have to move on. I work with some wonderful musicians now and really enjoy the Chic shows.”
His collaboration with Daft Punk should secure a new army of younger fans interested to hear Nile’s earlier work.
“I certainly hope that might happen. Anyone who likes Get Lucky should definitely appreciate Chic’s music. If they listen, I’m sure they’d enjoy the songs.”
IN BRIEF
Fusion of styles
“I grew up in New York and wanted my EP to represent the city,” said Mary C of Mary C and The Stellars. “Soul is the common thread running through each track but this is mixed with rock, funk and blues. There’s a little bit of everything in the songs, just like my home town.”
Judge Mary’s eclectic fusion of styles for yourself by listening to the entire EP on her website, (no www.) home.marycmusic.com/. Scroll down to what appears to be a video and click on the play arrow. This starts the first of all seven tracks from her Right On Time EP which are posted in the website media player.
Some live performance videos are posted further down the webpage but there are many more on YouTube. Typing the band’s name in the website search box reveals a host of high quality concert videos plus their official music video for the single, Get Me Through.
Chart success for Fantasia
Fantasia Barrino can hopefully take some solace from the title of her single, Lose to Win. The 2004 American Idol winner has lost what was a four-year battle to retain her North Carolina mansion by signing over the house deeds to the bank which held her mortgage. But the 28-year-old singer, who attempted suicide in 2010, has won in the music charts with her fourth studio album, Side Effects Of You, debuting in second spot on the Billboard 200.
Although Without Me is the second single from her album, Fantasia is particularly interested in fan reaction to the title-track which was specially written for her by Emeli Sande. “Emeli actually submitted the song to me. It was inspired by the problems I had during 2010. What happened then was very public so I’m not concerned about dealing with those events in my music.”
“The Side Effects Of You” song is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCRP-FT9cr8. Links to three more tracks from the album are also on this webpage.
The official video for “Lose to Win” is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cp-AK8ETdg. A link to the audio of Without Me can also be found here along with a posting of Fantasia’s entire third album, Back To Me.
Michael Molloy’s track
Michael Molloy was just 18 years old when he became one of three people killed in a coach crash last September. He was returning home to Liverpool from the Bestival music festival on Britain’s Isle of Wight.
A talented guitarist and songwriter, Michael’s song, Rise and Fall, has entered the UK top 40. Recorded with his best friend, singer Alex Evans, the track was issued on Bestival organiser and BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank’s Sunday Best label.
“It was Michael’s ambition to have his music recognised by the wider world,” Alex stated. “He didn’t live long enough to see his dream fulfilled but Rise and Fall proves how much talent he had.” The official song video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnfT4NXsTlA.
Free download from KickDrums
The KickDrums are offering their latest single, Hum, for free download. The song can be heard and downloaded at (no www.) soundcloud.com/the-kickdrums/tracks.
This is just the latest work to be made available for free. There are currently 45 KickDrums songs and remixes posted on SoundCloud with 30 of these offered as free downloads.
Older readers, or fans of ’60s music, may recognise the main theme running through the first posting, Good As Gold. It is heavily based upon Kites, a UK top 10 hit in 1967 for psychedelic pop sextet Simon Dupree and the Big Sound.