Chic 'Le Freak'

[sleestack]

CLASSIC TRACKS: Chic 'Le Freak'

"Then there was the gimmick of my rhythm playing — which was pretty accurate, pulsing on the money — being used as a trigger for other instruments that weren't playing nearly as funky. On the very first record that we recorded, 'Everybody Dance', we did it with one of my jazz-musician friends playing Clavinet, and he was not funky at all. So, when you hear that really cool solo that he plays on the song, it's actually him just playing whole notes while the rhythm is keyed by my guitar. That was our very first recording, and Bob Clearmountain taught us how to do that. He said 'Oh man, the keyboard player sucks! Why don't you play the rhythm, Nile, and just let this guy play whole notes.' I said 'You can do that?' and he said 'Yeah, he'll play and you'll make the rhythm for him.' I said 'Ah man, is that cool!'"


what does he mean he triggered and keyed an instrument? Is he triggering a compressor?

[kidfromkibbly]

Originally Posted by sleestack

what does he mean he triggered and keyed an instrument? Is he triggering a compressor?

His language is a little unclear, but it does sound like he's referring to his rhythm playing being used to open a gate on the keyboard. This way the whole notes being played on the keys will only be heard as whatever note division is being played on the guitar (depending on the gate settings, of course)

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by kidfromkibbly

His language is a little unclear, but it does sound like he's referring to his rhythm playing being used to open a gate on the keyboard. This way the whole notes being played on the keys will only be heard as whatever note division is being played on the guitar (depending on the gate settings, of course)

Yeah, but I think they did it with the audio signal, using something like a VCA or a Noise Gate.

[ScoobyDoo555]

That's exactly what they did - I play a load of Chic tracks in our set, and the production is sympathetic to the original production.

The rhythm guitar was used as a key input to the gated strings. I also mix it in with some other sounds too

[muggler]

I'm read an interview a few years back where he explained the technique in greater depth. If I remember correctly: Gtr into sidechain of compressor "A" (with white noise on regular input). Output of compressor A into sidechain of compressor "B" (with piano or clav whole notes on regular input). Final output should be the piano/clav playing the gtr's rhythm.

[sleestack]

thanks !

[Dirty Halo]

I need to add, Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards were brilliant!

Their influence on electronic is greater than most realize

-andrews

[Mr. Varaldo]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

I need to add, Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards were brilliant!

Their influence on electronic is greater than most realize

-andrews

Agree 1000%!! Nile Rodgers' funky guitar was great, and - especially for me - the bass being my 2nd instrument, I've always admired Bernard Edward's bass lines... he always played just the right notes...and he had the groove

[asbak]

Another vote for Bernard & Nile. Awesome rhythmic players. Thanks for the background info on the production, interesting.

[DoctorG]

You can hear a similar thing with Strings on 'Upside Down' (Diana Ross) - also an Edwards & Rogers production with Bob Clearmoutain's keying.

[ScoobyDoo555]

There's an article about "Le Freak" being written one night, and Niles and Bernard were cross about not being let into a launch party.

They went back the studio to vent their frustration..... "Le Freak" was born

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo555

There's an article about "Le Freak" being written one night, and Niles and Bernard were cross about not being let into a launch party.

They went back the studio to vent their frustration..... "Le Freak" was born

yeah Studio 54

I don't get why there should be 2 compressors (one keyed from the guitar, with white noise input, linked) wouldn't one, or better yet, one gate be enough?

[Space Station]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

I need to add, Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards were brilliant!

Their influence on electronic is greater than most realize

-andrews

How can you leave out Tony Thompson, one of the greatest drummers of all time!

[DoctorG]

Originally Posted by Reptil

yeah Studio 54

I don't get why there should be 2 compressors (one keyed from the guitar, with white noise input, linked) wouldn't one, or better yet, one gate be enough?

Yeah I was also wondering about 2 comps. If it was 2 gates then the first one could trigger the noise that can be shaped with attack/hold/release which would then be used to trigger the second gate that opens on the keyed instrument. I can see that this would allow some control for a short delay and length.

[Dirty Halo]

Originally Posted by Space Station

How can you leave out Tony Thompson, one of the greatest drums of all time!

I can't. I won't. And you couldn't be more right!!! That guy could HIT a drum, man. One of the few players that had a light groove touch, but SLAMMED his drums! I LOVE his playing.

So, yes, I agree with you, sir

-andrews

[Space Station]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

I can't. I won't. And you couldn't be more right!!! That guy could HIT a drum, man. One of the few players that had a light groove touch, but SLAMMED his drums! I LOVE his playing.

So, yes, I agree with you, sir

-andrews

I remember hearing madonna's like a virgin as a kid, his drums on that were first thing that caught my ear and drew me in..such a solid hard hitting drummer with an amazing groove...Interesting to note Dave Grohl was a big fan, as I think they sound very similar.

[Dirty Halo]

Originally Posted by Space Station

I remember hearing madonna's like a virgin as a kid, his drums on that were first thing that caught my ear and drew me in..such a solid hard hitting drummer with an amazing groove...Interesting to note Dave Grohl was a big fan, as I think they sound very similar.

The oddest people are fans- Duran Duran worked with all those guys in a myriad of ways. Nile Rogers produced a TON of their huge hits, John Taylor was a massive Bernard Edwards fan and student and Tony Thompson played on that great orignal Power Station record.

Yeah, those guys influenced SO much music!

And so sad about most of them :(

-a

[b3keys]

AWWWW, Freak Out! Le Freak Says Chic!

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

The oddest people are fans- Duran Duran worked with all those guys in a myriad of ways. Nile Rogers produced a TON of their huge hits, John Taylor was a massive Bernard Edwards fan and student and Tony Thompson played on that great orignal Power Station record.

Yeah, those guys influenced SO much music!

And so sad about most of them :(

-a

I think I remember reading that after Bernard Edwards passed away, John Taylor was gifted Edward's Musicman bass, the same one that all of those Chic classics were made with. And I don't think it's that odd that Duran Duran would be fans of Chic, I happen to think that both groups are great. A lot of Duran's early basslines, long before they ever started working with Chic's members, were influenced by Bernard's bass playing.

Here's a short youtube video of Bernard Edwards and John Taylor at Powerstation Studios laying down some bass on a track.

Power Station :John Taylor and Bernard Edwards - YouTube

[Dirty Halo]

Originally Posted by SBX-80

I think I remember reading that after Bernard Edwards passed away, John Taylor was gifted Edward's Musicman bass, the same one that all of those Chic classics were made with. And I don't think it's that odd that Duran Duran would be fans of Chic, I happen to think that both groups are great. A lot of Duran's early basslines, long before they ever started working with Chic's members, were influenced by Bernard's bass playing.

Here's a short youtube video of Bernard Edwards and John Taylor at Powerstation Studios laying down some bass on a track.

Power Station :John Taylor and Bernard Edwards - YouTube

I'd heard that too and I'm 100% with you on Duran. So underestimated. Take the Rio bassline alone! MINDBLOWING! And then some of his lines are almost a lead, like on "Last Chance on the Stairway."



-andrews

[SBX-80]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

I'd heard that too and I'm 100% with you on Duran. So underestimated. Take the Rio bassline alone! MINDBLOWING! And then some of his lines are almost a lead, like on "Last Chance on the Stairway."



-andrews

Yeah, they're definitely underrated and some ignorant people think that they were just a pretty boy band. Some of those early Duran basslines are definitely classics.

[firby]

Originally Posted by Space Station

How can you leave out Tony Thompson, one of the greatest drummers of all time!

Thank you! He's so great!

[TheLastByte]

Originally Posted by SBX-80

Yeah, they're definitely underrated and some ignorant people think that they were just a pretty boy band. Some of those early Duran basslines are definitely classics.

True I agree - Though JT on hearing the bass from Rio back said it was Double tracked and that he'd been using a chorus for years to get that sound! Weird huh?

Like Nile Rogers told it in BBC interview 2012.

We were black guys from a dirt poor area, we thought $100 bucks was huge cash... and so we went and formed a band that made music........ & then one day some A & R guy told me I was to be presented with a $3 million buck royalty cheque I really freaked! I'd never had money before in my life, none of us had? So I cashed it, blew it in 18 months though I had my very own Locker stall booth in the toilets of studio 54 - it was my office!

Must have ben very cool days!