Real People (album)
Encyclopedia
Real People is the fourth studio album
by American R&B
band Chic
, released on Atlantic Records
in 1980, including the singles "Rebels Are We
" (US R&B #10, Pop #61, July 1980) and "Real People
" (#51 R&B, #79 Pop). The album was one of four to be 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
including European hit single "Spacer", and Diana Ross
' multiplatinum selling album diana
which includes "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out" and "My Old Piano". Chic's own album however peaked at #30 on the US Albums chart and #8 on the 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".
Real People was transferred to compact disc and re-released by Atlantic Records
/Warner Music in 1991. The album was digitally remastered and re-issued by Wounded Bird Records
in 2003.
Side A
Side B
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
, released on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1980, including the singles "Rebels Are We
Rebels Are We
"Rebels Are We" is a song by American R&B band Chic from their 1980 album Real People.It was the first single from this album and the start of the decline of Chic's chart success. It failed to enter both the UK pop charts and the US Billboard pop chart top 40 .-Track listings:Atlantic 7" 3665 June...
" (US R&B #10, Pop #61, July 1980) and "Real People
Real People (song)
"Real People" is from Chic's fourth album Real People.It was the second single from this album and like its predecessor it didn't make much impact on the charts.-Track listings:Atlantic 3768, September 29, 1980* A. "Real People" - 3:45...
" (#51 R&B, #79 Pop). The album was one of four to be written and produced by Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
and Nile Rodgers
Nile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
in 1980, the other three being Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
's Love Somebody Today
Love Somebody Today
Love Somebody Today is a 1980 album by Sister Sledge. The album which, just like 1979's highly successful We Are Family, was both written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic and includes three due to the anti-disco backlash largely overlooked single releases; "Got To...
, Sheila and B. Devotion
Sheila (and) B. Devotion
Sheila & B. Devotion was a disco group fronted by French singer Sheila between 1977 and 1980. This formation briefly reached popularity in Europe and to a lesser extent in the US club circuit during the disco era...
's King of the World
King of the World (album)
King of the World is a 1980 album by French disco act Sheila and B. Devotion. The album which was both written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of American R&B band Chic includes the hit single "Spacer" which reached #18 on the UK charts in early 1980 and was a Top 10 hit in most of...
including European hit single "Spacer", and Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
' multiplatinum selling album diana
Diana (album)
diana is a 1980 album by American R&B and soul singer Diana Ross, released by Motown. Her 11th studio album, it was, and still is, the biggest-selling studio collection of Ross' career.-Conception:...
which includes "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out" and "My Old Piano". Chic's own album however peaked at #30 on the US Albums chart and #8 on the 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".
Real People was transferred to compact disc and re-released by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
/Warner Music in 1991. The album was digitally remastered and re-issued by Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
in 2003.
Track listing
All tracks written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.Side A
- "Open Up" - 3:52
- "Real PeopleReal People (song)"Real People" is from Chic's fourth album Real People.It was the second single from this album and like its predecessor it didn't make much impact on the charts.-Track listings:Atlantic 3768, September 29, 1980* A. "Real People" - 3:45...
" - 5:20 - "I Loved You More" - 3:06
- "I Got Protection" - 6:22
Side B
- "Rebels Are WeRebels Are We"Rebels Are We" is a song by American R&B band Chic from their 1980 album Real People.It was the first single from this album and the start of the decline of Chic's chart success. It failed to enter both the UK pop charts and the US Billboard pop chart top 40 .-Track listings:Atlantic 7" 3665 June...
" - 4:53 - "Chip off the Old Block" - 4:56
- "26" - 3:57
- "You Can't Do It Alone" - 4:39
Personnel
- Alfa Anderson - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Fonzi ThorntonFonzi ThorntonFonzi Thornton, is an American singer, song writer/producer, stage performer and radio personality.Thornton has provided background vocals on albums by artists which include Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chic, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Michael Jackson,...
- vocals - Luci Martin - vocals
- Michelle Cobbs - vocals
- Bernard EdwardsBernard EdwardsBernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Tony ThompsonTony ThompsonAnthony T. "Tony" Thompson was a session drummer best known as a member of Chic. He was raised in the middle-class community of Springfield Gardens, in Queens, NY.-Chic:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Andy Schwartz - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Raymond Jones - keyboards
- Sammy FigueroaSammy FigueroaSammy Figueroa is an American percussionist born in The Bronx, New York. At 18 he joined the band of bassist Bobby Valentín and also co-led the Brazilian/Latin fusion group Raices....
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Valerie Haywood (The Chic Strings) - stringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
- Cheryl Hong (The Chic Strings) - strings
- Karen Milne (The Chic Strings) - strings
- Gene Orloff - conductor
Production
- Bernard EdwardsBernard EdwardsBernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
- producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Chic Organization Ltd. - Nile RodgersNile RodgersNile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
- producer for Chic Organization Ltd. - Bob ClearmountainBob ClearmountainBob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Bruce Springsteen , The Rolling Stones , Bryan Adams , Robbie Williams Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He...
- engineer - Lucy Laurie - assistant engineer
- Jeff Hendrickson - assistant engineer
- Garry Rindfuss - assistant engineer
- Dennis King - mastering
- All songs recorded and mixed at Power Station in New York.
- Mastered at Atlantic Studios, N.Y.