Search - Chic :: Take It Off

BURN HARD Bernard!!Soo Fine Niles!!!I Love Chic!!!

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 05/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even before this album came out Chic were at the head of the class as one of the funkiest band of the disco era.But by 1981 that era in which immortal classics like C'est Chic,Risqué and Real People was over.So what did Chic do with 'Take It Off'.They turned down the strings,threw on the bass and turned up the funk on "Stage Fright","Baby Doll","Burn Hard" and the self explanatory instrumental "So Fine"-one of the most smoothy funky four song rides you'll likely ever take.The production is stripped down so that only the understated early 80's keyboards can be heard for light orchestration;what stands out is the rhythm of Bernard and Niles.After that.......nothing changes at all,except the funk gets much rawer of the awesome bass groove of "Flashback",then back onto "Telling Lies" and the somewhat spikier rhythm of "Your Love Is Cancelled"."Would You Be My Baby" and "Just Out Of Reach" are...well mellower funk but still uptempo enough to boogie to wheras the title track is a non stop monster funk plowing down everything in it's path.So on 'Take It Off' you learn that Chic can more then hold it's own after their most commercially successful era was over.That is because this album not only contains no ballads to infringe on the groove but great songs,witty lyrics and Chic's great musicianship.And no top of that no filler songs.So if your just getting into Chic's albums for the first time 'Take It Off' might be one of the best first places to go.And for the diehard fan it is essenitial."

A Rose By Any Other Name!

M. | The Lou, Missouri United States | 12/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Those of us who have followed Chic from its inception know that the group had a time escaping the label of "disco band" during the time that people started declaring that DISCO was DEAD.



In general, you find that people's opinion of the group becomes less favorable the farther away you get from their core hits (as if they were supposed to come up with a "Good Times" or "Le Freak" type hit every year). "Take It Off" was the follow-up to "Real People" and signaled pretty much a 180 degree turn stylistically and musically. Whereas "Real People" was, to me, an attempt to bring their formula into the eighties, "Take It Off" takes off in a new direction.



I remember listening to this on vinyl and being amazed that the music was much more jazzy-fusion than before. The title cut and "Your Love Is Cancelled" were perfect examples of this. My favorite was "So Fine" - a breezy jazz tune with a tight harmony during the vocal chorus.



"Baby Doll" is a hot number with a blistering sax solo.



Some of the songs ("Your Love Is Cancelled", "Take It Off", and "Just Out Of Reach") feature male vocals from Edwards and Rodgers - something you didn't often hear.



This is some of Chic's best work, but is often misunderstood or - worse, ignored! They obviously gave their more commercial work to other artists, such as Diana Ross.



For the Chic collector, this CD will help round out your collection. So get it while you can!"