We Are Family is the third album by the American vocal group Sister Sledge. It was released on January 22, 1979, by Cotillion Records. Following their 1977 album Together, Sister Sledge enlisted a new array of collaborators, including Chic musicians and producers Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers who shifted the group away from their Philly soul roots, emphasizing disco and R&B music instead.
We Are Family is widely considered Sister Sledge's breakthrough album. It debuted at number 142 on the US Billboard 200, and later peaked at number 3. The album went on to become certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over a million units in the US. Four singles were produced—"He's the Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", "Lost in Music", and "Thinking of You". "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family" became Sister Sledge's first two top-ten US Billboard Hot 100 songs as well as their first two US Hot Soul Singles and US National Disco Action chart toppers.
According to music magazine Billboard, We Are Family was the fourth best-selling album of 1979, making Sister Sledge the sixth most successful music act of 1979. The song "We Are Family" earned a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards (1980).Sister Sledge Grammy Award and Nomination History. Grammy. Retrieved on February 7, 2026
Background After the minor success of their previous album Together (1977), the group grew disappointed about lack of breakthrough success.How we made Sister Sledge’s We Are Family. The Guardian. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 According to Joni Sledge, the group has contemplated leaving the music industry and pursuing other careers. During this time, Kim Sledge had already enrolled in law school. Atlantic Records decided that Sister Sledge should record a disco album to reflect the genre's mainstream popularity. To bolster the group's profile, Atlantic Records paired the group with Chic musicians and producers Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards who had just achieved success with their albums Chic (1977) and C'est Chic (1978); the latter of which spawned the number-one hit "Le Freak".
Recording and production The recording of the album took place over a four-month period. Sister Sledge recorded the album at Power Station, a recording studio in New York City frequently used by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers for recording albums. Edwards and Rodgers wrote and produced the entire album. During the record sessions, Sister Sledge member Debbie Sledge and Bernard Edwards often disagreed on harmonies, sometimes resulting in one or both them leaving out of the studio with Nile Rodgers mediating the disagreement. When Edwards and Rodgers produced "Lost in Music", Debbie Sledge felt the song was too repetitive.
Much of what Edwards and Rodgers wrote and produced was kept secret from Sister Sledge, only showing the lyrics to the group once they were in front of the studio microphones as Rodgers wanted "spontaneity" in the music.Sister Sledge Legend Wasn’t Allowed To Hear Own Songs Before Recording. Newsweek. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 The song "We Are Family" was written by Edwards and Rodgers for Sister Sledge after working with them. In an interview with UK national radio station Smooth Radio, Kathy Sledge recalled "[Atlantic Records president] Jerry started describing my sisters and myself [to Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers]: 'You gotta meet these girls, they're family. They flock together like birds of a feather.'" The song "We Are Family" was recorded in one take.
Release and promotion We Are Family was released on January 22, 1979, by Cotillion Records. On April 30, 1979, it was released in the United Kingdom. To promote We Are Family, Sister Sledge appeared on various television and award shows throughout 1979. Sister Sledge performed the album's singles "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family" on American Bandstand in March 1979.American Bandstand Episode #22.20 (TV Episode 1979). IMDB. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 In May 1979, they appeared on Dutch television program TopPop to perform "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family".Sister Sledge - He's The Greatest Dancer • TopPop. YouTube. Retrieved on February 7, 2026Sister Sledge - We Are Family • TopPop. YouTube. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 Also in the same month, they performed "He's the Greatest Dancer" on The Merv Griffin Show.17.165 (3540) Merv Griffin Show. The Classic TV Archive. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 They returned in June 1979 to perform "We Are Family" for TROS Top 50.Sister Sledge - We Are Family - TROS TOP50 (1979) • TopPop. YouTube. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 In August 1979, they performed "We Are Family" on The Merv Griffin Show.
In September 1979, Sister Sledge performed "Thinking of You" on The Merv Griffin Show.18.06 (3620) Merv Griffin Show. The Classic TV Archive. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 Later that month, they returned to the Netherlands to perform "Lost in Music" on TopPop.Sister Sledge - Lost In Music • TopPop. YouTube. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 In 1980, they performed "We Are Family" on new Italian pop music show Popcorn.Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Popcorn performance). YouTube. Retrieved on February 7, 2026
In 1995, We Are Family was digitally remastered and reissued on CD by Rhino Records. The remastered edition featured two remixed versions of "Lost in Music" and "We Are Family"; both of which had been previously released outside of the United States as remixed singles in 1984 and 1993, respectively.
Singles "He's the Greatest Dancer" was released as the lead single from We Are Family on February 3, 1979, to positive reviews. A commercial success, it peaked at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and atop US Hot Soul Singles and US National Disco Action charts. Internationally, it peaked in the top-ten on the UK Singles Chart,Sister Sledge UK Albums and Singles chart history. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 being certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).Sister Sledge - He's the Greatest Dancer (Gold Certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 The accompanying music video for "He's the Greatest Dancer" aired on several TV stations. The music video was eventually uploaded to Rhino Records' YouTube channel on February 18, 2025.Sister Sledge - He's the Greatest Dancer (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 6, 2026
"We Are Family" was released as the second single from the album in April 1979 and received widespread critical acclaim. It was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 16, 1979, and spent seven weeks in the top ten. It peaked atop the US Hot Soul Singles and US National Disco Action charts, becoming their second song to achieve this on both charts. "We Are Family" received a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).Sister Sledge Gold and Platinum Records. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 Internationally, it reached the top position in Canada and the top-ten in European countries New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; the latter of which earned a platinum certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Platinum Certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 Two accompanying performance videos were released for "We Are Family", one of which only features Joni, Kim, and Kathy.Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Official Music Video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 6, 2026Sister Sledge - We Are Family (Official Video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 6, 2026
"Lost in Music", featuring lead vocals by Joni Sledge, was released as the third single from We Are Family in August 1979. Although not as successful as its predecessors, the song peaked atop of the US National Disco Action chart. It also peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles chart. A remix of the song was released in September 1984, which peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles chart. It earned a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).Sister Sledge - Lost in Music (Gold Certification). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on February 6, 2026 The song again charted in March 1993 after another remix was released, which peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles chart.
Although "Thinking of You" was not released as a single during that time period, the song was released as a single in May 1984. It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles chart. A remix of the song was released in June 1993, which peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles chart.
Tour The group toured as the opening act for The Jacksons on the Destiny World Tour. In May 1979, Debbie Sledge went on maternity leave. During the most of the tour and several televised performances, she was replaced by her elder sister Carol Sledge, who had also replaced her in 1977. Aside from this, Sister Sledge also performed part of the tour as a trio with Joni Sledge, Kim Sledge, and Kathy Sledge.Talent in Action: Rick James, Sister Sledge (page 29). Billboard. Retrieved on February 6, 2026Talent in Action: Cher, Sister Sledge (page 35). Billboard. Retrieved on February 6, 2026
Commercial performance We Are Family debuted at number 142 on the US Billboard 200 on February 24, 1979.Sister Sledge - We Are Family Billboard 200 chart history. Billboard Database. Retrieved on February 7, 2026 We Are Family also marked their debut on the Billboard 200. On April 10, 1979, We Are Family earned a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).Sister Sledge US Gold and Platinum Records. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved on February 7, 2026 We Are Family gradually rose up the chart and entered the top-ten at number 8 on May 12, 1979. On May 23, 1979, it received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). On June 16, 1979, We Are Family peaked at number 3 and remained there the following week. Over the ongoing weeks, the album fell down the chart while still maintaining a top-ten position until July 14, 1979, where it fell to number 14. After thirty-three weeks on the Billboard 200, the album fell off the charts in October 1979. We Are Family also topped the US Top Soul LP's chart, becoming their first album to achieve this. By the end of 1979, the album became the fourth best-selling album of that year in the United States.