but wait and see how much it will cost at CDUniverse.They're a little cheaper than Amazon

SoulAlive said:

but wait and see how much it will cost at CDUniverse.They're a little cheaper than Amazon

It's about $7 cheaper at current currency rates at Amazon France, but I guess extra shipping costs will make up the difference. I would take SoulAlive's advice and wait to get it cheaper. That is if you really will be able to wait???

thanks for the advises

Free download

Great remix by Dimitri from paris.

I agree with you that Nile Rodgers underestimates the importance the Ladies have had for us fans, but there would not have been any CHIC productions at all without Bernard & Nile.

I have to agree with you there, when Chic hit it big I never knew who those ladies were (it took me some time to find out which one was Alfa and which one was was Luci haha), but their presence is what unmistakably made it Chic, their coolness, aloofness even, and classy, style really was something unique, even though it was all about the Chic sound.

So when Chic 2.0 came along in 1992 without Alfa and Luci and without original drummer Tony Thompson, but with Sylver Logan Sharp it just wasn't the same. Nile can say how Chic is just a collective with faceless singers and musicians all he wants but it just isn't true. Having seen the Chic incarnation with Sylver Logan Sharp live several times I did get to appreciate the band eventually. I was there when the excellent Live at the Paradiso dvd was filmed in Amsterdam and was very excited about seeing Fonzi Thornton perform with the band which added more authenticity to the name Chic, but now with new faceless albeit pretty and capable singers, it's nothing more than the Nile Rodgers Band doing Chic songs, but it definitely isn't Chic!

I wonder how many songs on this package will have Luther's background vocals? It would be cool if they would release any/some of the solo work he did with them. Maybe a demo or something.

whitesockedfunk said:

(it took me some time to find out which one was Alfa and which one was was Luci haha), but their presence is what unmistakably made it Chic, their coolness, aloofness even, and classy, style really was something unique,

That's precisely it, their coolness and aloofness and classy style, sold CHIC for me. They didn't jump around stage like crazy, they didn't dress in skimpy outfits (yes, others had skimpy outfits in the 70s). Alfa and Luci had class and restraint, precisely fitting CHIC's elegant, precise and restrained music, they fit hand in glove. Sylver was more of a solo artist. The current Ladies are too out-acting on stage, not so elegant as I wish them to be, and they're wailing far too much. But I guess maybe that's what today's audience is expecting.

daPrettyman said:

I wonder how many songs on this package will have Luther's background vocals? It would be cool if they would release any/some of the solo work he did with them. Maybe a demo or something.

Nile said that he found a bunch of demos of Chic-produced songs by Luther & Fonzi. I'm guessing they'll end up in the 2nd volume.

zigsighter said:

That's precisely it, their coolness and aloofness and classy style, sold CHIC for me. They didn't jump around stage like crazy, they didn't dress in skimpy outfits (yes, others had skimpy outfits in the 70s). Alfa and Luci had class and restraint, precisely fitting CHIC's elegant, precise and restrained music, they fit hand in glove. Sylver was more of a solo artist. The current Ladies are too out-acting on stage, not so elegant as I wish them to be, and they're wailing far too much.

You said it! now if we could only convince Nile of this...

[Edited 10/2/10 13:45pm]

Harlepolis said:

daPrettyman said:

I wonder how many songs on this package will have Luther's background vocals? It would be cool if they would release any/some of the solo work he did with them. Maybe a demo or something.

Nile said that he found a bunch of demos of Chic-produced songs by Luther & Fonzi. I'm guessing they'll end up in the 2nd volume.

The Fonzi demos are probably the "Frostbite" album he did with CHIC in 1981. It was completely finished, but never got a release. So it's similar to the Mathis project. Two songs from this album was in the movie "Soup For One" (1982) "I Work For A Livin'" an extended version of which will be in the boxset Vol. I, the other "Riding" was only in the movie and was'nt put on the movie soundtrack album, which "I Work..." was, albeit a short single version.

[Edited 10/3/10 2:35am]

Listen to 30 sec clips of the previously unreleased CHIC song from 1984/85 "Just Call Me" and the previously unreleased Fonzi Thornton song "I'll Change My Game" from the CHIC produced album "Frostbite" from 1981. Both on the coming CHIC Org. Boxset released on October 18th, 2010 in France.

http://news.chictribute.com/#post108

Is there a booklet or some in-depth credits comming w/this box set?

JQuad said:

Is there a booklet or some in-depth credits comming w/this box set?

Its a Rhino release, so I think you may expect meaty liner notes.

JQuad said:

Is there a booklet or some in-depth credits comming w/this box set?

Yes there will be a 12 page booklet with comments from Nile Rodgers in it, and it is in English despite the box being a Rhino France release. There's a short clip of Dimitri from Paris unpacking his box on Youtube:

http://youtu.be/HTmkDT2xe_M

at least one Orger has already received his copy Gonna wait til Christmas before I get mine.I have the last week in December off,when I will have plenty of time to enjoy it.

SoulAlive said:

at least one Orger has already received his copy

...and that Orger would be me! Received it yesterday and since CHIC is my all-time favorite band, it is a LOT to take in! I've only gotten as far as disc 2, but so far here's my impression: it is an extremely well put together box which covers everything CHIC have ever done during "the Golden years". I am glad they did not include any tracks from the "new" CHIC line-up (i.e. from the Chic-ism album).

The remastering is top-notch and not as loud as I have seen on a lot of recent releases from several reissue labels, so it's a joy to listen to. The music, of course speaks for itself, classic music from a classic band. I don't understand the inclusion of "Est-ce que c'est Chic" off of their debut album in lieu of "Strike Up The Band" which is a better song in my opinion, but maybe Nile holds special memories of that song, or maybe it's because it's a Warner Music France release.

The final song on disc 1 is an outtake of Funny Bone, just the band jamming, no strings or laughter as on the finished album version. Boy could they play!

Now to the remixes... several hard-core fans were against including remixes by Dimitri from Paris on the box set instead of the original versions. I agree, though he has done a great job on the remixes, I think, except for "I Want Your Love" which is sped up (why???), but they should have appeared alongside the original versions everyone knows and loves.

In France, several download platforms such as FNAC, Amazon and iTunes offer the box set for download, each with additional bonus tracks not on the box set. They vary from more tracks from the "Real people" album to a few remixes which have appeared elsewhere. Two major exceptions: FNAC offers the instrumental version of "Why" as a bonus track which has never appeared in cd or digital form before and iTunes France has the brilliant instrumental remix of "Your Love Is Good" by Sheila and B. Devotion which Dimitri didn't finish until the box had already been pressed. If you have an iTunes France account you can download the song seperately, you don't have to buy the whole box.

The booklet is actually 20 pages and features notes by Nile Rodgers and some great photographs, but no chronological history of the band. I think we will have to wait for Nile Rodgers' upcoming autobiography for that. There is an album discography, but no singles discography. But what is most striking is that apart from dedications to deceased members of the CHIC Organization Tony Thompso, Bernard Edwards and Luther Vandross, the other core musicians and singers are not thanked in the liner notes.

More later once I've finished listening to discs 3 and 4 ) . But so far, I am a "Happy Man" !

[Edited 10/20/10 6:33am]

Thanks for that review I'm now even more excited about this box set! Alot of great music to enjoy this winter.

paisleypark4 said:

Why did they not put "I Love My Lady" on there? it was the best track on the album. At least they put "Its Alright To Love Me" I love that song...love Johnny Mathis voice on that track. Its alright Alright to love me All, of, me

"I Love My Lady" will probably be on Vol. II, if this box sells that is. Originally there should've been 4 Mathis tracks and 3 Fonzi tracks from his unreleased "Frostbite" album in 1981 on Vol I.

Harlepolis said:

SoulAlive said:

For some reason,Niles has a real problem with the original Chic female vocalists.Several years ago,the ladies were touring on their own,billing themselves as "The first ladies of Chic".Niles sued them And when Chic reunited in 1992 for the 'Chicism" album,they didn't even ask the original ladies to be a part of it.I wish I knew what all this drama is really about.

Thats messed up. Did they touch on that in this book?

[img:$uid]http://www.disco-disco.com/images/chic-ed-book.jpg[/img:$uid]

Its more likely a case of "how soon do we forget". Niles was producing Madonna & Bowie in the 80s, and it seemed like the Chic ladies were treated as 3rd wheels.

Niles also did studio work for Cyndi Larper & Duran Duran. Isn't it ironic that Niles & Bernard survived the disco backlash a lot better than the Chic Ladies did?

TonyVanDam said:

Harlepolis said:

Thats messed up. Did they touch on that in this book?

[img:$uid]http://www.disco-disco.com/images/chic-ed-book.jpg[/img:$uid]

Its more likely a case of "how soon do we forget". Niles was producing Madonna & Bowie in the 80s, and it seemed like the Chic ladies were treated as 3rd wheels.

Niles also did studio work for Cyndi Larper & Duran Duran. Isn't it ironic that Niles & Bernard survived the disco backlash a lot better than the Chic Ladies did?

Nile just worked on Brian Ferry's cover of Tim Buckley's great "Song to the Siren"... insanely good.. Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Chic, Chili Peppers, Roxy Music all on one song.

I just got my copy of this box on Wednesday, it's very good. I especially like the instrumental outtakes of Your Love Is Good, Funny Bone, and What About Me.

The Will You Cry outtake is hilarious, they were having a good time clownin' in the studio on that one, that type of stuff is always fun to hear.

I can't wait for Vol.2

[Edited 10/29/10 10:38am]

Abdul said:

I just got my copy of this box on Wednesday, it's very good. I especially like the instrumental outtakes of Your Love Is Good, Funny Bone, and What About Me.

The Will You Cry outtake is hilarious, they were having a good time clownin' in the studio on that one, that type of stuff is always fun to hear.

I can't wait for Vol.2

How do you like the five remixes by Dimitri From Paris? From reading other reviews,it seems like they're getting a mixed reaction from fans.

SoulAlive said:

Abdul said:

I just got my copy of this box on Wednesday, it's very good. I especially like the instrumental outtakes of Your Love Is Good, Funny Bone, and What About Me.

The Will You Cry outtake is hilarious, they were having a good time clownin' in the studio on that one, that type of stuff is always fun to hear.

I can't wait for Vol.2

How do you like the five remixes by Dimitri From Paris? From reading other reviews,it seems like they're getting a mixed reaction from fans.

I like them, any time I can get an extended mix of a classic Chic track it's all good. I especially like his mix on "I Feel Your Love Comin' On"

Abdul said:

SoulAlive said:

How do you like the five remixes by Dimitri From Paris? From reading other reviews,it seems like they're getting a mixed reaction from fans.

I like them, any time I can get an extended mix of a classic Chic track it's all good. I especially like his mix on "I Feel Your Love Comin' On"

I'm interested in checking out these remixes.

Shockingly,this box set is a whopping $81 at CDUniverse Amazon has it for a much more reasonable price of $54.98.

This will make an excellent Christmas present for any Chic/disco fans on your list