I make no apologies for being a massive fan of Chic. They may have been big at the time of the Disco era but no-one can deny their unique style and the fact that they possessed real soul. You can always get more of a taste of this from their ballad work, and if you love both dancers and ballads then you need to either dig out and dust off this gem from 1983, or track one down. This was made available back in 2000 on CD and may still be possible to find. If you own Chic's "Believer" album from the same year and love the later Chic style on there, that being funkier, more synthy and less strings-based, then "Glad To Be Here" will also please. I have four favourites on this album and showcase the vocal and musical talents of the late great Bernard Edwards.I start with the opening song, "Your Love Is So Good To Me", complete with a Zapp-like clapping beat and with Luther Vandross and Phil Ballou adding their weight to the yummy female backing vocals the moog is deep and the scratchy trademark guitar punches all through this to create a perfect funky dancefloor moment. For ballads you really cannot do better than the sumptuously 80s "Don't Do Me Wrong". Vocalist Jocelyn Brown is joined by Ray Chew on Fender Rhodes and Nile Rodgers on guitar. I love this track to pieces and will guarantee that you will too. "You Don't Know Me" is another classy, classy mellow cut and is fronted by Bernard, ably supported by Fonzi Thornton and Jocelyn Brown. I'll bear this track in mind for exposure when the weather starts warming up. The legendary Carole King actually joins in the backing vocals for the out-of-this-world "Hard Loving Man"; a very, very addictive track thanks to a funky bassline and some amazing guitar. Fans of this great man need no persuading - but if you're in doubt then check it out. You'll be surprised.
