Released June 30, 1980 Release date 30 June 1980 | Length 37:03 | |
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Recorded 1980; The Power Station, New York City Similar Chic albums, Disco albums | ||
Real People is the fourth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1980. It includes the singles "Rebels Are We" (US R&B #8, Pop #61), "Real People" (#51 R&B, #79 Pop), and "26" (issued only in the UK).
Contents
- Chic real people 1980 r b soul
- Critical reception
- Track listing
- Side A
- Side B
- Personnel
- Production
- Songs
- References
The album was one of four written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers in 1980, the other three being Sister Sledge's Love Somebody Today, Sheila and B. Devotion's King of the World, and Diana Ross' multi-platinum selling album Diana.
The album peaked at #30 on the US Albums chart and #8 on the US R&B chart, a modest commercial success in comparison both to the Diana Ross project and their previous albums, most likely due to the so-called "anti-disco backlash". Though in spite of the backlash, all of the album cuts peaked at #29 on the American dance charts.
Real People was released on CD by Atlantic Records/Warner Music in 1991. It was digitally remastered and reissued by Wounded Bird Records in 2003.
Chic real people 1980 r b soul
Critical reception
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau deemed Real People a better record than Chic's Risqué (1979), even though it lacked a song as great as "Good Times". "Jumpy, scintillating rhythms fuse with elegantly abrasive textures for a funk that's not light but sharp", he wrote. "Plus post-chic words that go with the attention-grabbing heat and invention of Nile Rodgers's postrock guitar." In his year-end list for the Pazz & Jop critics poll, Christgau named it the 15th best album of 1980. AllMusic's Alex Henderson was less impressed in a retrospective review, calling Real People a satisfactory effort but inessential, highlighted by "Rebels Are We", "I Got Protection", and "Chip off the Old Block", none of which he said were good as Chic's past hits.
Track listing
All tracks written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.
Side A
- "Open Up" - 3:52
- "Real People" - 5:20 Listen
- "I Loved You More" - 3:06
- "I Got Protection" - 6:22
Side B
- "Rebels Are We" - 4:53 Listen
- "Chip Off the Old Block" - 4:56
- "26" - 3:57 Listen
- "You Can't Do It Alone" - 4:39
Personnel
Production
Songs
1Open Up3:53
2Real People5:24
3I Loved You More3:09