Nile Rodgers and his band Chic are heading to town playing at the Fremantle Arts Centre on March 10. Besides being part of one of the funkiest disco bands ever, Rodgers is the producer behind a host of other great records including works by Duran Duran, INXS and Debbie Harry. Here’s a sampling of his work…
Chic: Le Freak, 1978
Rodgers alongside Tony Thompson and Bernard Edwards created one of the most successful disco bands ever. This song with its cries of ‘Freak Out’ was inspired by the waiting line to NYC night club Studio 54.
Sister Sledge: We Are Family, 1979
Sure it’s cheesy, but this disco hit for Sister Sledge is an undeniable gay anthem. In the ‘90s the song became a hit for a second time in the UK when Sure is Pure remixed it.
Diana Ross: Diana, 1980
Rodgers and Edwards applied their magic to Diana Ross creating the hits My Old Piano, Upside Down and I’m Coming Out. The duo’s original mix was rejected by Motown and has only recently been made available.
Carly Simon: Why, 1982
This song is still getting played on the terrace at Connections 30 years after its release. It was later sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for their hit Bonita Applebum.
David Bowie: Let’s Dance, 1983
Bowie scored one of the biggest hits of his career when he teamed up Nile Rodgers. The album includes Let’s Dance, Modern Love and a cover of Iggy Pop’s China Girl.
Madonna: Like a Virgin, 1984
It’s hard to imagine a time when Madonna wasn’t a superstar. Nile Rodgers was the producer behind her second record – it made her a superstar.
