Once Upon a Time in the Top Spot: Chic, “Good Times”

36 years ago today, Chic landed atop the Billboard Hot 100 with one of their signature songs as well as a disco favorite which made good on its title whenever DJs had the good common sense to spin it on their turntables.

The first single from Chic's 1979 album, Risqué, “Good Times” was a unique case where, despite the fact that it went all the way to #1 and was all but ubiquitous on the airwaves for several months, neither of the album's two subsequent singles, “My Forbidden Lover” and “My Feet Keep Dancing,” managed to crack the top 40. Of course, those whose musical tastes tended more toward what was being played in the clubs than what was being played on the radio never had any clue that the songs weren't massive, because all three songs were top-5 hits on Billboard's Dance Singles chart.

The legacy of “Good Times” remains profound even now, having been sampled over and over and over again since its original release, but that's what happens with a single that - at least for a period of time - was named the best-selling 45 in the history of Atlantic Records. Some stats suggest that it sold five million copies, and even though we don't have the numbers in front of us, we're willing to bet that that's probably pretty darned close to accurate.

There is absolutely no false advertising with “Good Times.” It produces exactly what its title promises every time you play it. So, hey, why not go play it right now?