{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox album | name = C'est Chic | type = studio | artist = Chic | cover = C'est Chic cover.jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = {{Start date|1978|8|11}} | recorded = 1978 | studio = Power Station, New York City | genre = * Disco<ref name="Molanphy 2021">{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2021/01/nile-rodgers-bernard-edwards-chic-influenced-disco-pop-rap-new-wave|title= These Are the Good Times Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date= January 19, 2021|access-date= February 1, 2024}}</ref> * R&B<ref name=LA/> | length = {{Duration|m=41|s=23}} | label = Atlantic | producer = Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards | prev_title = Chic | prev_year = 1977 | next_title = Risqué | next_year = 1979 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Cover of ''Très Chic'' | type = Studio album | cover = Trés Chic.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = }}{{Singles | name = C'est Chic | type = studio | single1 = Le Freak | single1date = September 21, 1978 | single2 = I Want Your Love | single2date = January 29, 1979 | single3 = Chic Cheer (1984 Mix by Bernard Edwards) | single3date = November 1984 }} }} {{listen |filename=Le Freak sample.ogg |title=Le Freak |description=Chic's "Le Freak" from ''C'est Chic'' |filetype=Ogg}}
'''''C'est Chic''''' is the second studio album by American band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1978.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bourne |first1=Kay |title=Disco group 'Chic' produce own success |work=Bay State Banner |issue=9 |date=7 Dec 1978 |page=17}}</ref>
== Release == ''C'est Chic'' includes the band's signature hit "Le Freak", which topped the US Hot 100 chart, US R&B, ''and'' US Club Play in October 1978,<ref name="allmusic singles">{{cite magazine|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3884/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=US Singles Charts > Chic|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2015-05-21}}</ref> selling six million copies in the US. The album also contains the hit single "I Want Your Love" (number 5 R&B,<ref name="allmusic singles"/> number 7 Pop,<ref name="allmusic singles"/> number 4 UK<ref name="uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/chic/|title=UK Charts > Chic|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=2010-09-11}}</ref>).
''C'est Chic'' was the band's most commercially successful album, reaching number 4 on ''Billboard'''s album chart and topping the US R&B chart for eleven weeks.<ref name="allmusic albums">{{cite magazine|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3884/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=US Albums Charts > Chic|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2012-05-17}}</ref> ''C'est Chic'' was ''Billboard''{{'}}s 1979 R&B Album of the Year, claiming the number one spot on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Year End Review. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA,<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=%22Chic%22#|title=US Certifications > Chic|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|accessdate=2012-02-08}}</ref> selling over a million copies. In the UK it peaked at number 2<ref name="uk"/> and has been certified Gold by the BPI.<ref name="bpi">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx|title=UK Certified Awards Search > Chic|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|accessdate=2012-02-08|archive-date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501152215/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The European version was originally called ''Très Chic'', with the cover featuring a woman wrapped around a neon light tube. It was withdrawn and replaced with the ''C'est Chic'' version with a less risqué cover. ''Très Chic'' had a different track listing.
''C'est Chic'' was released on compact disc by Atlantic Records/Warner in 1991 (catalogue number 7567-81552-2). The album has been digitally remastered and re-issued twice: first in 2011 by Warner Music Japan and then in 2018 at Abbey Road Studios by Atlantic.
==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cest-chic-mw0000615011 |title=C'est Chic – Chic |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=October 23, 2018 |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Christgau's Record Guide'' | rev2score = B<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Chic: C'est Chic |chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=6574 |accessdate=October 23, 2018 |title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=Ticknor and Fields |year=1981 |isbn=0-89919-026-X}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Chic |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev4score = 8.4/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/chic-sister-sledge-the-chic-organization-1977-1979/ |title=Chic / Sister Sledge: The Chic Organization 1977–1979 |website=Pitchfork |date=December 12, 2018 |accessdate=December 22, 2018 |last=Beta |first=Andy}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chic/albums/album/117461/review/7567994/cest_chic |title=Chic: C'est Chic |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 8, 2005 |accessdate=October 23, 2018 |last=Walters |first=Barry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316202856/https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chic/albums/album/117461/review/7567994/cest_chic |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev6 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Chic |last=Sisario |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Sisario |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/161 161]}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' | rev7score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Chic |last=Walters |first=Barry |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=81–82}}</ref> }} ''The Globe and Mail'' deemed ''C'est Chic'' "a sleekly elegant variation" of disco.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gilday |first1=Katherine |title=Pop |work=The Globe and Mail |date=20 Dec 1978 |page=F9}}</ref> The ''Los Angeles Times'' opined that, aside from "Le Freak", the album "consists of pedestrian disco pieces and plodding R&B ballads."<ref name=LA>{{cite news |title=Pop Music |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 Dec 1978 |department=Calendar |page=127}}</ref>
==Track listing== All songs written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers; except where indicated.
===''C'est Chic''=== ;Side one # "Chic Cheer" – 4:42 # "Le Freak" – 5:27 {{audio|Chic - Le Freak.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "Savoir Faire" – 5:01 # "Happy Man" – 4:17 ;Side two # "I Want Your Love" – 6:55 {{audio|Chic - I Want Your Love.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "At Last I Am Free" – 7:08 # "Sometimes You Win" – 4:26 # "(Funny) Bone" – 3:41 #*(LP only hidden track – moog solo)
===''Très Chic''=== ;Side one # "Chic Cheer" – 4:42 # "Le Freak" – 5:23 {{audio|Chic - Le Freak.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "I Want Your Love" – 6:55 {{audio|Chic - I Want Your Love.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "Happy Man" – 4:17 # "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" (Edwards, Kenny Lehman, Rodgers) – 3:35 ;Side two # "Savoir Faire" – 5:01 # "At Last I Am Free" – 7:08 # "Sometimes You Win" – 4:26 # "(Funny) Bone" – 3:41 # "Everybody Dance" – 3:22
==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Musicians * Alfa Anderson – lead vocals (A2,<ref name="SoundOnSound">{{cite web |last1=Buskin |first1=Richard |title=Classic Tracks: Chic 'Le Freak' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-chic-le-freak |website=SoundOnSound |publisher=Sound On Sound |access-date=27 July 2023}}</ref> B1, B2, B3) * Diva Gray – lead vocals (A2)<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * David Lasley – vocals * Luci Martin – vocals * Luther Vandross – vocals * Robin Clark – backing vocals on "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Everybody Dance" * Nile Rodgers – guitar,<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> vocals * Raymond Jones – Fender Rhodes electric piano<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * Robert Sabino – acoustic piano,<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> clavinet, electric piano * Andy Schwartz – clavinet, acoustic piano, electric piano on "Le Freak" (uncertain)<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> and "At Last I Am Free" * Bernard Edwards – bass guitar;<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> lead vocals (A4, B3) * Tony Thompson – drums<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * Sammy Figueroa – percussion * Jon Faddis – trumpet * Ellen Seeling – trumpet * Alex Foster – saxophone * Jean Fineberg – saxophone * Barry Rogers – trombone * Jose Rossy – tubular bells * The Chic Strings:<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> ** Marianne Carroll – strings<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> ** Cheryl Hong – strings<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> ** Karen Milne – strings<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * Gene Orloff – concert master {{col-break}} ;Production * Bernard Edwards – producer for The Chic Organization Ltd.<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * Nile Rodgers – producer for The Chic Organization Ltd.<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * Marc Kreiner, Tom Cossie – associate producers * Bob Clearmountain – sound engineer<ref name="SoundOnSound"/> * Burt Szerlip – engineer * Jeff Hendrickson – assistant engineer * Ray Willard as "Positively No Way Ray (Willard?)" – assistant engineer * Bob Defrin – art direction * Joel Brodsky – photography * All songs recorded and mixed at Power Station in New York. Mastered at Atlantic Studios, N.Y. {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1978–1979) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Austria|21|artist=Chic|album=C'est Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|9|artist=Chic|album=C'est Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|10|id=7894|artist=Chic|album=C'est Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Norway|20|artist=Chic|album=C'est Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|16|artist=Chic|album=C'est Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|4|artist=Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Chic|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1979) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1979&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1979|website=dutchcharts.nl|accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref> | 48 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1979/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref> | 30 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1979/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1979|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=June 10, 2021}}</ref> | 1 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications and sales== {{certification Table Top}} {{certification Table Entry|title=C' Est Chic|type=album|artist=Chic|relyear=1979|region=Canada|award=Platinum|certyear=1979|accessdate=December 17, 2019}} {{certification Table Entry|title=C'est Chic|type=album|artist=Chic|relyear=1978|region=France|award=Gold|source=infodisc|certyear=1979}} {{certification Table Entry|title=C'est Chic|type=album|artist=Chic|relyear=1978|region=Hong Kong|award=Gold|certyear=1979|accessdate=December 17, 2019}} {{certification Table Entry|title=C' Est Chic|type=album|artist=Chic|relyear=1979|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|certyear=1979|accessdate=December 17, 2019|id=1145-1185-2}} {{certification Table Entry|title=C'est Chic|type=album|artist=Chic|relyear=1979|region=United States|award=Platinum|certyear=1978|accessdate=December 17, 2019}} {{certification Table Bottom}}
== Cover Versions == Robert Wyatt had a top 20 UK Indie Chart hit with a cover of "At Last I Am Free" in 1980.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Indie hits : 1980-1989 : the complete U.K. independent charts (singles & albums) |date=1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |others=Barry Lazell |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 |location=London |oclc=38292499}}</ref>
==See also== * List of number-one R&B albums of 1978 (U.S.) * List of number-one R&B albums of 1979 (U.S.) * Billboard Year-End
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Chic}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Chic (band) albums Category:1978 albums Category:Atlantic Records albums Category:Albums produced by Nile Rodgers Category:Albums produced by Bernard Edwards Category:Albums recorded at Power Station Category:Albums with cover art by Joel Brodsky