THE Concise Oxford Dictionary has a three-line, one sentence entry for disco music: 'Soul influenced, melodic pop music with a regular bass beat, intended for dancing to'.
There's no mention of Nile Rodgers, but there probably should be – if he didn't quite give birth to the disco era, then he certainly defined it through hits like Le Freak, Everybody Dance and Good Times, before going on to be a massive influence on h
ip-hop.
And when he wasn't changing the face of popular music, the mastermind behind disco's greatest band, Chic, was busy, along with his (now deceased] musical cohort Bernard Edwards, writing and producing for a wide variety of artists – Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Madonna, to name just a few.
As you'd expect, 56-year-old Rodgers has plenty of stories to tell as he chats ahead of Chic's visit to The Picture House tomorrow night.
One gem of a story is that behind Chic's classic Le Freak, the quintessential getting-ready-to-go-out song from 1978, that gets night clubbers the world over up on the dancefloor to this day.
"That's a fairly simple story," begins Rodgers. "Grace Jones was performing at (legendary NYC club] Studio 54 on New Year's Eve, 1977, and she wanted us to come and see her live show because she wanted us to produce her next record.
"If you know Grace - if you've ever spoken to her - you could easily see how she could have forgotten to put us on the guest list. Or maybe she just assumed that we were so happening back then that it wouldn't be a problem for us getting in. Anyway, somehow our names were not put on the list.
"So yeah, we get to Studio 54, New Year's Eve, the hottest night of the year. We're dressed to the nines, and stuff. We go to the back door and the guy refuses us entry. We go to the front door and the guy checks the list and says our names are not there and tells us to f*** off. We ask him again and, believe it or not, he politely checks the list again. And then, because we're persistent, he checks it a third time. Then he gets really p***** off and tells us to f*** off again.
"We were pretty dejected, being New Year's Eve and all. So anyway, we went around the corner to my crib and wrote a song for the doorman, which began as Oooh F*** off. Long story short, we changed 'F*** off to 'Freak out'."
Although Le Freak became Chic's biggest hit, selling four million copies worldwide, it wasn't their first chart botherer. The band's first single was Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah), a million-seller from 1977 that featured none other than Luther Vandross on backing vocals.
But if that was the one that announced Chic's arrival, it was second single Everybody Dance that showed they were in it for the long haul.
"That was the very first Chic composition I wrote," explains Rodgers. "We were trying to figure out what was going to be our thing, what was going to be the thing that differentiated us from the other funk bands.
"We'd been doing some session playing on other records and we noticed that some of the jazz guys that we loved were getting hits on the charts because they were playing this sort of groove-dance-jazz based music.
"Anyway, I played the song for Bernard and he just looked at me and went 'Wow! That's great!' I then sang the chorus to him, 'Everybody dance, doo, doo, doo, doo, clap your hands. . .'. He looked at me very contemplatively.
"I could tell he dug it, but something was bothering him. Then he said to me, 'You know, that's pretty cool bro, but I just have one question.'
"I was pretty defensive, because I thought it was great. Anyway, he says, 'What does this doo doo doo doo mean?' I was like, 'What do you mean what does doo doo doo doo mean? It's like tra la la, or la la la la.' And he was like, 'So why don't you go la la la la?' I was like, 'Because la la la la sucks and doo doo doo doo's cool'.
"He sat back for a minute, absorbed that, and was like, 'Ok, doo doo doo doo it is."
The song became a monster hit, and Rodgers never let his buddy forget that argument to his dying day.
"Luther Vandross and all those people watched the argument between us, and I swear to you, until Bernard died, any time one of our crew would see him our hello to him would be, 'Hey man, what's up? Doo doo doo doo.' It was like, did you lose that argument in spades boy or what?" he adds, laughing.
At the peak of the disco craze, Chic sold millions of albums and singles, but the group disbanded in 1983. After the split, Rodgers went on to become one of the most respected record producers in the world, his credits reading like a who's who of popular music over the last 30 or so years.
He says the hardest person he's ever worked with is himself, so who does he consider the easiest? "David Bowie," he says without hesitation. "Let's Dance was done from start to finish in 17 days – from the first day we recorded until the day it was wrapped and done.
"David was just fantastic to work with, and that's why it was so easy. He really sat back and let me make his record, which was a huge honour coming from a guy I once called 'the Picasso of pop music'.
"He's one of the most innovative artists to ever come on the pop music scene, and for him to sit back and let me steer that ship, for him to let me be the captain of his biggest record - that's like MASSIVE, MASSIVE, MASSIVE."
Back to the present and Rodgers says he's "looking forward like crazy to coming to Edinburgh".
"Maybe half the reason I couldn't sleep last night is because we had such an awesome rehearsal," he enthuses. "The tricky part for us has been working out how to fit everything into a 90-minute set. People don't realise how many hit records I've written and produced.
"What we've been trying to do is give everyone the hits – because it's probably the first time Chic has ever even played in Edinburgh - but we also want to go back to doing some old-school R&B.
"Actually," he adds, teasingly, "we're thinking about recording this new version of something that we're ready to pull out for the very first time in Edinburgh."
Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, The Picture House, tomorrow, 7pm, £27.50, 0131-220 2280
CHIC AND CHEERFUL
l Chic's biggest hit, Le Freak, bears the distinction of being the biggest-selling record ever on Atlantic Records, and the biggest-selling single ever on WEA until it was displaced in 1990 by Madonna's Vogue.
lLe Freak achieved wordlwide sales of over four million but only reached number seven in the UK singles chart.
lChic has recently been nominated for possible 2009 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - it's the fifth time they've been nominated.
lLooking for a musical makeover, David Bowie asked Rodgers to produce. He delivered on 1983's Let's Dance, which remains Bowie's all-time best-selling album.
lIn 1996, Rodgers was honoured as the Top Producer in the World in Billboard Magazine.
TAKE 5 DVDS: TORCHWOOD, KYLIE, MOUNT, FIGHT and NAUTICALWHITE DIAMOND
On 17 May 2005, Kylie Minogue was forced to cancel the Australian leg of her Showgirl tour after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This documentary presents the personal, behind-the-scenes story of Kylie's triumphant Homecoming and her return to the stage and the media spotlight. This revealing two-hour film, directed and produced by Kylie's stylist, was described by Kylie, herself, as, 'A good way to thank the fans for their support and to see where all their good wishes went', and offers a unique insight into the previously unseen private and profession life of the pop superstar at work and at play.
White Diamond (15) is released on DVD (£12.99) on Monday
TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH
Saving the planet, one alien at a time. Torchwood returns to face their greatest threat yet – one which will throw the future of Torchwood and the entire human race into danger. An ordinary day becomes a world of terror, as every single child in the world stops. A message is sent to all the governments of Earth: 'We are coming'. But as a trap closes around Captain Jack, sins of the past are returning, as long-forgotten events from 1965 threaten to reveal an awful truth. As Britain risks becoming a rogue state, Captain Jack, Gwen and Ianto are helpless, as events escalate until mankind faces the end of civilisation itself.
Torchwood: Children of Earth (15) is released on DVD (£24.99) and Blu-ray (£29.99) on Monday
THE LARKINS – THE COMPLETE FIRST SERIES
MEET the Larkins family – the put-upon but crafty Alf, the domineering wife Ada (Peggy Mount), the aimless, idle son Eddie, daughter Joyce and her American ex-GI husband Jeff. All live under one roof in a state that falls somewhat short of domestic bliss at 66 Sycamore Street, in a suburb of London. To top it all off, they have a nosey, inquisitive neighbour Hetty and her family. This classic, early ATV sitcom ran from 1958 and 1964 and gave the late, great Peggy Mount her first major television role.
The Larkins – The Complete First Series (PG) is released on DVD (£12.99) on Monday
SCOOP
WILLLIAM BOOT is a young, naive newspaper columnist, who writes a weekly nature column for the Daily Beast, featuring detailed observations made from the depths of his country estate. All is peaceful and well until a case of mistaken identity tragically strikes, and the hapless Boot is erroneously dispatched to the East African republic of Ishmaelia to cover a major political crisis. Once there, and perhaps inevitably, hilarity and chaos ensue. The dramatically new experience also opens his eyes to the world and the little matter of love for the first time. Michael Maloney stars with Donald Pleasence and Denholm Elliott. Directed by Foyle's War director Gavin Millar.
Scoop (PG) is released on DVD (£12.99) from Monday
THE ADMIRAL
BRILLIANT warrior, devoted lover, undisputed legend – Admiral Koltchak was the most formidable commanding officer the world had ever seen. As conflict spreads across the world and the Great War rages furiously through Europe, Koltchak becomes embroiled in a deadly affair with the wife of an enemy agent. Betrayal and deception are around every corner as the Allied Forces close in. Faced with a terrible choice, Koltchak must confront his destiny for the salvation of his country. This is the true story of a remarkable hero.
The Admiral (15) is released on DVD (£19.99) on Monday
THE GUIDE has teamed up with 2/entertain, Fremantle Home Entertainment, Network, E1 Entertainment and Metrodome to give you the chance to add to your home entertainment collection. To enter the draw to win, simply e-mail your name, age and address to theguide@ edinburgh news.com with the TITLE of the DVD you would like to win in the subject line. Entries with more than one title in the subject line will be disregarded. Entries to be received by noon, Monday.
MY EDINBURGHEdinburgh born Euan Chalmers is a senior visitor assistant at The Scotch Whisky Experience on Castle Hill and knows a thing or two about a dram
Date of Birth: 11/4/81
If you had a time machine which Edinburgh concert would you relive?The Foo Fighters gig at Meadowbank Stadium two years ago was amazing. My girlfriend was supposed to come with me and couldn't make it as she was sick. Gutted!
What is your favourite Edinburgh venue?The Usher Hall, which you might like to know was in fact donated to the city by the pioneer of Scotch whisky blending – Andrew Usher.
Who would you choose to headline Edinburgh's Hogmanay?The answer to that is simple. The best party band ever, The Proclaimers. Everyone loves them and it's great that they are from Edinburgh.
Name three regular haunts in the Capital you could not live without.Easter Road, to support my team, The Shore for great pubs, bars and restaurants, and the historic the Royal Mile.
Separated at birth: Edinburgh and?Melbourne. Just like Edinburgh but with sun.
Who or what in Edinburgh inspires you?Edinburgh Castle is just a few metres from my work and I love seeing it every day. It's so easy to take it for granted, but it's an amazing and inspiring place.
Do you think the city is a friendly place to live?I have lived in Edinburgh my whole life, so I would say yes. Working in the tourism industry means I also meet a lot of friendly people.
Car, bike or bus – how do you get around town?I always take the bus.
Come August do you love the Festival or loathe it?A little bit of both. I love the vibrancy and energy it brings to the city. It's great to have the chance to see so many acts and so many different types of people descending on the city. I loathe it because it makes getting anywhere a nightmare.
If you couldn't be in Edinburgh, where else would you rather be?One of the islands off the west coast of Scotland. The scenery up there is first-class.
Princes Street or George Street?No contest, Princes Street.
If we elected our Lord Provost, who would you like in the position?My mum would make a fantastic Lord Provost . . . and the shortbread at the meetings would be great.
What's the biggest change you've seen in the city?I've never seen anything like the tram works on Princes Street. I'm hoping all this change pays off.
When away from home what do you most miss about Edinburgh?I miss the people, especially my friends and family. It is the people that make somewhere your home.
Could you recommend a restaurant?Amber at The Scotch Whisky Experience
(natch - ed].
Name one attraction no visitor to the city should missThe Scotch Whisky Experience of course. We have the world's largest collection of Scotch Whiskies
(natch - ed].
Sell Edinburgh to a stranger in no more than ten wordsHistoric, fun, lively, and there's always something happening.
