Is it justified that Nile Rodgers warranted more recognition for his significant role in the creation of Bowie's 1983 renowned single?
The upcoming David Bowie Centre in London will feature a display curated by Nile Rodgers, the producer behind the iconic 1983 album Let's Dance. The display, set to open on September 13, will showcase correspondence between Rodgers and Bowie, as well as a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during his Serious Moonlight tour.
Rodgers played a crucial role in shaping the distinctive sound of Let's Dance and the title track. He brought his signature production style, rooted in his work with Chic and Sister Sledge, to the project, melding his funky, rhythmic guitar work with Bowie's vocal style to create a crossover hit that was both a commercial success and influential in Bowie’s career.
When Bowie pursued Rodgers following a chance meeting in a nightclub and hired him with the instruction: "I'd like you to do what you do best - I want you to make hits," both artists were out of contract and without a label. The recording of "Let's Dance" set the tone for the rest of the album project.
Rodgers initially thought that the early demos of potential Let's Dance tracks were so bad that he thought Bowie was pranking him. However, after rearranging the song with staccato stabs and strict harmonic interpretation, Let's Dance sounds like a Nile Rodgers recording in the tradition of Chic and Sister Sledge.
Bowie publicly acknowledged Rodgers' contribution to the Let's Dance album at a charity function for the ARChive of Contemporary Music. Rodgers has stated that Let's Dance, the album that propelled him into second-wave '80s superstardom, was an altogether different animal prior to his involvement.
The display within the East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, will also feature the installation of Bob Clearmountain, who engineered the recording sessions for the Let's Dance album in New York's Power Station studio. The installation will also showcase the contributions of Omar Hakim and Carmine Rojas, who were called in to replace Rodgers' Chic partners Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson during the recording sessions.
David Bowie brought in Stevie Ray Vaughn, an unknown guitarist from Texas, to play on the Let's Dance album. Rodgers wrote all the sweetening charts (horns, backing vocals, and other overdubs) for the Let's Dance album.
Rodgers has emphasized that the album and especially the title track Let's Dance underwent significant transformation after his involvement. Although Bowie's voice remained a defining feature, the music's arrangement and overall sound bear Rodgers’ hallmark, blending elements of dance, funk, and rock in a way that was new for Bowie and helped propel him to second-wave '80s stardom.
In interviews, Rodgers described Let's Dance as “his most rewarding production to date,” highlighting how it sounds like a Nile Rodgers recording infused with Bowie’s iconic style. Rodgers has also stated that he did not receive the credit he deserved for his work on the Let's Dance album, but the upcoming display at the David Bowie Centre in London will surely shed light on his significant contributions to this iconic album.
[1] The Guardian
[2] Rolling Stone
[3] NPR Music
[4] The Telegraph
The upcoming display at the David Bowie Centre in London, as reported by The Guardian, Rolling Stone, NPR Music, and The Telegraph, will showcase the significant contributions of Nile Rodgers, the producer behind the iconic 1983 album Let's Dance, to the music and entertainment industry. Visitors will get a glimpse into Rodgers' role in shaping the distinctive sound of this crossover hit that was both commercially successful and influential in Bowie’s career.
