This year marks the 40th anniversary of Chic‘s chart-topping smash “Le Freak“, the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records.
Commemorating Studio 54, – the song was apparently originally called “F*** Off!,” after guitarist/producer Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards were being denied entry to the notorious club – “Le Freak” was first released on September 21st 1978, and it has since sold more than seven million copies.
Earlier this year, The Library of Congress added the hit single to the National Recording Registry as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”
To celebrate this important milestone, Nile Rodgers & Chic have announced to release a special box set, The Chic Organization 1977-1979.
Due out on November 23rd via Atlantic and Rhino on a 5-CD version and a 6-Disc vinyl version, the box set will include the group’s first three albums: CHIC (1978), C’est Chic (1978) and Risqué (1978), as well a new edition of Chic’s first single – a 12″ promo for “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yosah, Yosah)” released by Buddah Records in 1977.
Rodgers personally oversaw the remastering process, which took place at Abbey Road under the eye of Miles Showell, with the approval of Edwards’ estate.
“My life has been everything I ever hoped it could be as a result of the incredible music Bernard and I made together. This has been recognised both critically and commercially as some of the finest of all time and that’s everything we hoped for as two young musicians who knew no limits and whose partnership was effortless. Having the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records, one of the greatest labels of all time, what a dream!” Rodgers explains.
“It was important to me that we make these the best sounding editions ever as a tribute to ‘Nard. I’m quite certain that Miles Showell and I and the team at Abbey Road succeeded. 40 years later this all feels so fresh,” he then added.
Aside from the new box set, Nile Rodgers & CHIC are also releasing their first new album in 26 years, It’s About Time, which is set to land on September 28th.
