Everybody Dance (Chic song)

"Everybody Dance" is a song by American band Chic. The disco song, which features Norma Jean Wright on lead vocals and Luther Vandross, Diva Gray, Robin Clark and David Lasley on background vocals,^[1] was released in April 1978 by Atlantic Records as the second single from the band's self-titled debut album, Chic (1977). According to guitarist Nile Rodgers, it was the first song specifically written for Chic, and, due to its historical status and popularity, is usually played as the opening song of the band's live set. In 1993, British group Evolution had a top-20 hit in Ireland and the UK with their cover version of "Everybody Dance". It was later heavily sampled by British group Steps on their song "Stomp" and echoed by the Manic Street Preachers on their single "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love".

The song has featured in films such as The Last Days of Disco (1998) and Summer of Sam (1999) during the orgy scene, and is also featured in the Grand Theft Auto IV expansion pack The Ballad of Gay Tony on the radio station K109. It has also been covered by Kimberley Walsh for Horrid Henry: The Movie.

According to Rodgers speaking for the BBC Four documentary "How to Make It in the Music Business", the session the song was recorded during cost the band $10, which went on bribing the elevator engineer not to tell the manager they were recording in there.^[2]

Unlike most Chic singles, its 12" version was not included on a regular album, nor was it widely available upon original release, with the 12" format being issued only as a promo. The extended 12" version has, however, subsequently been issued on numerous compilations. Also unlike most Chic singles, the b-side "You Can Get By" was edited down from the original album track; almost all future Chic b-sides would be presented in their full-length versions.

Cash Box praised the "fine, flashy bass work, double-timing on the high-hat and handclapping."^[3] Record World said that the "good melody and arrangement" should allow the song's appeal to expand beyond Chic's previous dance audience.^[4]

"Everybody Dance" became another hit for the band in the United States, peaking at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. In the UK Singles chart, it reached number 9 in May 1978, spending 9 weeks in the Top 40 there.

• Atlantic 7" 3469, 1978

A. "Everybody Dance" (7" Edit) - 3:30

B. "Est-Ce Que C'est Chic" - 3:38

• Atlantic promo 12" DSKO 109, 1978

A. "Everybody Dance" (12" Mix) - 8:25

B. "You Can Get By" - 5:36

• Atlantic 12" DK 4621, 1978 / Atlantic Oldies promo 12" DSKO 179, 1979

A. "Everybody Dance" (12" Mix) - 8:25

B. "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)" - 8:21

In June 1993, British dance music group Evolution released their cover of "Everybody Dance" by Deconstruction and RCA Records. It was released as a single only and features lead vocals by singer Yvonne Shelton. It became a hit in clubs and also remains the group's most successful song, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart, number 12 in Ireland and number one on the Music Week UK Dance Singles chart.

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "A golden page from the Chic songbook of disco evergreens is tweeked into pop/house submission by U.K. production/performing team. Fronted by singer Yvonne Shelton, track has already enjoyed heavy action on dancefloors, and is primed to twirl onto top 40 and crossover radio playlists. There are four solid remixes for programmers to dip into, as well as a pair of tasty bonus cuts, 'Photogenic' and 'Get 2 Groove'. Smells like a major breakthrough hit."^[10] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the single four out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, saying, "Obvious but extremely well-crafted cover of the Chic song is currently one of the biggest club tunes around. It looks like being another hit for the Warrington-based outfit who made the Top 40 earlier this year with 'Love Thing'."^[11]