taken from their 1981 "Take it off" album, when their prime time in the public eye had sadly passed away, making zero impact on the charts, it's a slammin jam AND album nevertheless...if you don't remember this song, go take a listen, one of my faves and right on par with their major classics




more at http://www.chictribute.co.../take.html incl. sound samples

There was no "third time lucky" for Nile'n Nard in the horrendous year of 1981. First they had an entire album with Johnny Matthis scrapped, second their Debbie Harry project was taken to pieces by critics. Their third production that year was CHIC's fifth studio album - they'd skipped their commercial CHIC sound entirely and opted for a more complex stripped-bare funk sound, removing the strings entirely in favour of more brass. And it was a major failure - if only commercially. If "Real People" had been a disappointment, reaching only #30 in the US, "Take It Off" stalled at an abysmal #124. Musically, the album did mark a departure, and the music was as solid as ever. Only the single "Stage Fright" was an attempt of bridging the old CHIC sound with the new. A good song and recording, this was at least a minor R&B hit. The minimalistic "Burn Hard" was a great cutting-edge funk dance record, followed by the mid-tempo "So Fine", built around a jazzy guitar solo by Nile. The new bare low-key sound was very evident on Bernard's resigned "Flashback" and side 1's robotic "Telling Lies". Nile had his first solo performance as a singer on the Rick James-influenced "Your Love Is Cancelled", also musically venturing into new directions. "Would You Be My Baby" with Alfa on lead was a sweet, more melodic song before the title track kicked off. A duet between Luci and Bernard, this tight piece of funk is a great recording. "Just Out Of Reach" was also one of only few songs that were based on an actual melody line rather than a groove. The last track "Baby Doll" is a great instrumental featuring . It is understandable why "Take It Off" didn't appeal to a major audience but it had deserved far more recognition.

Vocals:
Alfa Anderson
Luci Martin
Bernard Edwards
Nile Rodgers
Jocelyn Brown
Fonzi Thornton
Michelle Cobbs

Musicians:
Bass: Bernard Edwards
Guitar: Nile Rodgers
Drums: Tony Thompson
Keyboards: Raymond Jones, Rob Sabino
Percussion: Sammy Figueroa, Manolo Badreña, Roger Squitero
Trumpet & Flügelhorn: Ray Maldonado, Randy Brecker
Tenor Sax: Lenny Pickett, Vinny Della Rocca, Michael Brecker
Baritone Sax: Ronnie Cuber, Lenny Pickett