# C'est Chic > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/C'est_Chic > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/C'est_Chic.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C'est_Chic > Source revision: 1308487141 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox album | name = C'est Chic | type = studio | artist = [Chic](/source/Chic_(band)) | cover = C'est Chic cover.jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = {{Start date|1978|8|11}} | recorded = 1978 | studio = [Power Station](/source/Power_Station_(recording_studio)), New York City | genre = * [Disco](/source/Disco){{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](/source/Slate_(magazine))|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date= January 19, 2021|access-date= February 1, 2024}} * [R&B](/source/R%26B) | length = {{Duration|m=41|s=23}} | label = [Atlantic](/source/Atlantic_Records) | producer = [Nile Rodgers](/source/Nile_Rodgers), [Bernard Edwards](/source/Bernard_Edwards) | prev_title = [Chic](/source/Chic_(album)) | prev_year = 1977 | next_title = [Risqué](/source/Risqu%C3%A9_(album)) | 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](/source/Le_Freak) | single1date = September 21, 1978 | single2 = [I Want Your Love](/source/I_Want_Your_Love_(Chic_song)) | 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](/source/Chic_(band))'s "[Le Freak](/source/Le_Freak)" from ''C'est Chic'' |filetype=[Ogg](/source/Ogg)}} '''''C'est Chic''''' is the second studio album by American band [Chic](/source/Chic_(band)), released on [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records) in 1978.{{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}} == Release == ''C'est Chic'' includes the band's signature hit "[Le Freak](/source/Le_Freak)", which topped the US Hot 100 chart, US R&B, ''and'' US Club Play in October 1978,{{cite magazine|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3884/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=US Singles Charts > Chic|magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))|accessdate=2015-05-21}} selling six million copies in the US. The album also contains the hit single "[I Want Your Love](/source/I_Want_Your_Love_(Chic_song))" (number 5 R&B, number 7 Pop, number 4 UK{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/chic/|title=UK Charts > Chic|publisher=[Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company)|accessdate=2010-09-11}}). ''C'est Chic'' was the band's most commercially successful album, reaching number 4 on [''Billboard''](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'s [album chart](/source/Billboard_200) and topping the US [R&B chart](/source/Top_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Albums) for eleven weeks.{{cite magazine|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3884/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=US Albums Charts > Chic|magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))|accessdate=2012-05-17}} ''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](/source/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](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America)|accessdate=2012-02-08}} selling over a million copies. In the UK it peaked at number 2 and has been certified Gold by the [BPI](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry).{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx|title=UK Certified Awards Search > Chic|publisher=[British Phonographic Industry](/source/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}} 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](/source/compact_disc) by [Atlantic Records](/source/Atlantic_Records)/[Warner](/source/Warner_Music_Group) in 1991 (catalogue number 7567-81552-2). The album has been digitally remastered and re-issued twice: first in 2011 by [Warner Music Japan](/source/Warner_Music_Japan) and then in 2018 at [Abbey Road Studios](/source/Abbey_Road_Studios) by Atlantic. ==Critical reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cest-chic-mw0000615011 |title=C'est Chic – Chic |publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |accessdate=October 23, 2018 |last=Birchmeier |first=Jason}} | rev2 = ''[Christgau's Record Guide](/source/Christgau's_Record_Guide%3A_Rock_Albums_of_the_Seventies)'' | rev2score = B{{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](/source/Ticknor_and_Fields) |year=1981 |isbn=0-89919-026-X}} | rev3 = ''[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/The_Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{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](/source/Omnibus_Press) |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}} | rev4 = ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))'' | rev4score = 8.4/10{{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](/source/Pitchfork_(website)) |date=December 12, 2018 |accessdate=December 22, 2018 |last=Beta |first=Andy}} | rev5 = ''[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/chic/albums/album/117461/review/7567994/cest_chic |title=Chic: C'est Chic |magazine=[Rolling Stone](/source/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}} | rev6 = ''[The Rolling Stone Album Guide](/source/The_Rolling_Stone_Album_Guide)'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{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](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster) |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/161 161]}} | rev7 = ''[Spin Alternative Record Guide](/source/Spin_Alternative_Record_Guide)'' | rev7score = 9/10{{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](/source/Vintage_Books) |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=81–82}} }} ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'' deemed ''C'est Chic'' "a sleekly elegant variation" of disco.{{cite news |last1=Gilday |first1=Katherine |title=Pop |work=The Globe and Mail |date=20 Dec 1978 |page=F9}} The ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'' opined that, aside from "Le Freak", the album "consists of pedestrian disco pieces and plodding R&B ballads."{{cite news |title=Pop Music |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 Dec 1978 |department=Calendar |page=127}} ==Track listing== All songs written by [Bernard Edwards](/source/Bernard_Edwards) and [Nile Rodgers](/source/Nile_Rodgers); except where indicated. ===''C'est Chic''=== ;Side one # "Chic Cheer" – 4:42 # "[Le Freak](/source/Le_Freak)" – 5:27 {{audio|Chic - Le Freak.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "Savoir Faire" – 5:01 # "Happy Man" – 4:17 ;Side two # "[I Want Your Love](/source/I_Want_Your_Love_(Chic_song))" – 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](/source/Le_Freak)" – 5:23 {{audio|Chic - Le Freak.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "[I Want Your Love](/source/I_Want_Your_Love_(Chic_song))" – 6:55 {{audio|Chic - I Want Your Love.ogg|'''Sample'''}} # "Happy Man" – 4:17 # "[Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)](/source/Dance%2C_Dance%2C_Dance_(Yowsah%2C_Yowsah%2C_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](/source/Everybody_Dance_(Chic_song))" – 3:22 ==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Musicians * [Alfa Anderson](/source/Alfa_Anderson) – [lead vocals](/source/lead_vocals) (A2,{{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}} B1, B2, B3) * [Diva Gray](/source/Diva_Gray) – lead vocals (A2) * [David Lasley](/source/David_Lasley) – vocals * Luci Martin – vocals * [Luther Vandross](/source/Luther_Vandross) – vocals * Robin Clark – backing vocals on "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Everybody Dance" * [Nile Rodgers](/source/Nile_Rodgers) – [guitar](/source/guitar), vocals * Raymond Jones – [Fender Rhodes electric piano](/source/Rhodes_piano) * [Robert Sabino](/source/Robert_Sabino) – acoustic piano, [clavinet](/source/clavinet), [electric piano](/source/electric_piano) * Andy Schwartz – clavinet, acoustic piano, electric piano on "Le Freak" (uncertain) and "At Last I Am Free" * [Bernard Edwards](/source/Bernard_Edwards) – [bass guitar](/source/bass_guitar); lead vocals (A4, B3) * [Tony Thompson](/source/Tony_Thompson_(drummer)) – [drums](/source/drum_kit) * [Sammy Figueroa](/source/Sammy_Figueroa) – percussion * [Jon Faddis](/source/Jon_Faddis) – trumpet * Ellen Seeling – trumpet * [Alex Foster](/source/Alex_Foster_(musician)) – saxophone * Jean Fineberg – saxophone * Barry Rogers – [trombone](/source/trombone) * Jose Rossy – [tubular bell](/source/tubular_bell)s * The Chic Strings: ** Marianne Carroll – [strings](/source/string_instrument) ** Cheryl Hong – strings ** Karen Milne – strings * [Gene Orloff](/source/Gene_Orloff) – [concert master](/source/concert_master) {{col-break}} ;Production * [Bernard Edwards](/source/Bernard_Edwards) – producer for The Chic Organization Ltd. * [Nile Rodgers](/source/Nile_Rodgers) – producer for The Chic Organization Ltd. * Marc Kreiner, Tom Cossie – associate producers * [Bob Clearmountain](/source/Bob_Clearmountain) – [sound engineer](/source/sound_engineer) * Burt Szerlip – engineer * Jeff Hendrickson – assistant engineer * Ray Willard as "Positively No Way Ray (Willard?)" – assistant engineer * Bob Defrin – art direction * [Joel Brodsky](/source/Joel_Brodsky) – photography * All songs recorded and mixed at [Power Station](/source/Power_Station_(recording_studio)) in New York. Mastered at [Atlantic Studios](/source/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
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){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1979&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1979|website=dutchcharts.nl|accessdate=June 10, 2021}} | 48 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200{{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}} | 30 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard''){{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}} | 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](/source/Robert_Wyatt) had a top 20 [UK Indie Chart](/source/UK_Indie_Chart) hit with a cover of "At Last I Am Free" in 1980.{{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}} ==See also== * [List of number-one R&B albums of 1978 (U.S.)](/source/List_of_number-one_R%26B_albums_of_1978_(U.S.)) * [List of number-one R&B albums of 1979 (U.S.)](/source/List_of_number-one_R%26B_albums_of_1979_(U.S.)) * [Billboard Year-End](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [C'est Chic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C'est_Chic) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C'est_Chic?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.