Real People (album)

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.

Track listing

All tracks written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

Side A

1. "Open Up" - 3:52
2. "Real People" - 5:20
3. "I Loved You More" - 3:06
4. "I Got Protection" - 6:22

Side B

1. "Rebels Are We" - 4:53
2. "Chip off the Old Block" - 4:56
3. "26" - 3:57
4. "You Can't Do It Alone" - 4:39

Personnel

• Alfa Anderson - vocals
• Fonzi Thornton - vocals
• Luci Martin - vocals
• Michelle Cobbs - vocals
• Bernard Edwards - bass guitar, vocals
• Nile Rodgers - guitar
• Tony Thompson - drums
• Andy Schwartz - keyboards
• Raymond Jones - keyboards
• Sammy Figueroa - percussion
• Valerie Haywood (The Chic Strings) - strings
• Cheryl Hong (The Chic Strings) - strings
• Karen Milne (The Chic Strings) - strings
• Gene Orloff - conductor

Production

• Bernard Edwards - producer for Chic Organization Ltd.
• Nile Rodgers - producer for Chic Organization Ltd.
• Bob Clearmountain - 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.