Risqué is the third studio album by American disco band Chic, released on Atlantic Records on July 30, 1979. One of the records that defined the disco era, the album became highly influential not only within the movement, but also in other styles such as hip hop, art rock and new wave. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 414 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Release Risqué includes three classic Chic hits; "Good Times" (#1 US Pop, #1 US R&B June 23, 1979, #5 UK), "My Forbidden Lover" (#33 US R&B, #43 US Pop October 13, 1979, #15 UK) and "My Feet Keep Dancing" (#42 US R&B, #101 US Pop December 8, 1979, #21 UK). Risqué reached #5 on the US albums chart and #2 on the US R&B chart. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales over 1 million copies. It peaked at #29 in the UK and was certified Silver by the BPI.

Risqué was released on compact disc by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1991 (catalogue number 7567-80406-2). The album was digitally remastered and re-issued by Warner Music Japan in 2011.

Critical reception

Risqué received widespread critical acclaim for its lyrics and tone. The Bay State Banner wrote that "one hears lyrics that are sometimes almost indictments and other times reflective... The beat is more aggressive, the sound tougher and the vocals—while still repetitive and delivered flatly—are arranged and produced so that they demand attention and focus in quickly on a song's sentiments."

In a review for BBC, Daryl Easlea called the album "one of the greatest exhibits in the case for disco's defence," and saying that it was "Chic's most sustained artistic statement, a celebration of a 70s that was collapsing under its own excess and hedonism."

Legacy "Good Times" has been extensively sampled in other artists' works, most notably in the first top 40 rap single, "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang, that same year. "Will You Cry" was sampled in "Just a Moment" by Nas from the 2004 album Street's Disciple.

Accolades PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRankBlenderUnited StatesThe 100 Greatest American Albums of All time200836Dave Marsh and Kevin SteinTop 40 Chartmakers - 1979 19817Robert Dimery1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005*Rolling StoneThe Essential Rock Collection1997*The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time2020414The GuardianUnited KingdomAlternative Top 1001999341000 Albums to Hear Before You Die2007*My Favourite Album Series2011*Guardian Writers' Favourite Albums Ever2013*MojoMojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers Guide2001*The Mojo Collection2003*Paul Morley100 Greatest Albums of All Time2003*NMEAlbums of the Year201623NME's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time2013208QThe 50 Best Albums of the 70s199845The Rough GuideSoul: 100 Essential CDs2000*Gilles VerlantFrance300+ Best Albums in the History of Rock2013*Les Inrockuptibles50 Years of Rock'n'Roll2004*Philippe Manœuvre100 Necessary Albums2014*Rock & FolkThe 300 Best Albums from 1965-19951995*The Best Albums from 1963 to 19991999*555 Albums from 1954-20142014*TéléramaThe Best Albums of All Time1993* (*) designates lists that are unordered.

Track listing

Personnel Alfa Anderson – lead vocals (1, 4, 6, 7) Luci Martin – lead vocals (1, 3, 4, 5) Fonzi Thornton – vocals Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals Raymond Jones – keyboards Robert Sabino – keyboards Andrew Barrett (Schwartz) – piano Nile Rodgers – guitars, vocals Bernard Edwards – bass guitar, lead vocals (3) Tony Thompson – drums Sammy Figueroa – percussion Jean Fineberg – saxophones Alex Foster – saxophones Barry Rogers – trombone Jon Faddis – trumpet Ellen Seeling – trumpet The Chic Strings: Valerie Heywood – strings Cheryl Hong – strings Karen Karlsrud – strings Karen Milne – strings Gene Orloff – concertmaster

Tap Dancers on "My Feet Keep Dancing" Eugene Jackson Fayard Nicholas Sammy Warren

Production Bernard Edwards – producer for Chic Organization Ltd., arrangements and conductor Nile Rodgers – producer for Chic Organization Ltd., arrangements and conductor Bob Clearmountain – sound engineer Jim Galante – assistant engineer Jeff Hendrickson – assistant engineer Peter Robbins – assistant engineer Jackson Schwartz – assistant engineer Raymond Willard – assistant engineer Dennis King – mastering Carin Goldberg – art direction Ken Ambrose – photography All songs recorded and mixed at The Power Station (New York, NY) Additional recording at Electric Lady Studios (New York, NY) and Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA) Mastered at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY)

Charts Chart (1979) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 75

Certifications

References

External links

Risqué (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)