Soup for One (soundtrack)

Last updated
Soup for One
Original Soundtrack - Soup For One.jpg
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedMay 2, 1982
Recorded1978–1982
Genre Disco, funk, R&B
Length36:46
Label Mirage
Producer Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards
Chic chronology
Take It Off
(1981)
Soup for One
(1982)
Tongue in Chic
(1982)
Singles from Soup for One
  1. "Soup for One"
    Released: 1982
  2. "Why"
    Released: 1982

Soup for One is the soundtrack album to the movie Soup for One by American R&B band Chic et al., released by Mirage Records in 1982. The album reached number 168 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and number 42 on the R&B chart. Besides three previously released tracks, Chic's "I Want Your Love" from 1978 album C'est Chic , Sister Sledge's "Let's Go On Vacation" from 1980s Love Somebody Today and "Jump, Jump" from Debbie Harry's KooKoo , the album contains five songs specifically written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers for the movie.

Contents

Chic's title track stalled at number 80 on the US Pop chart, but was a Top 20 hit on the R&B singles chart, peaking at number 14, making it their best R&B chart entry since 1980s "Rebels Are We". "Why" with vocals by Carly Simon was only moderately successful on its initial release in the US (Pop No. 74, September 1982), but the song turned out to be a surprise hit in Europe, where it reached number 10 on the singles charts in the UK. Later, the extended 12" remix—featuring additional vocals by Chic's Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin—also became something of an underground club classic in the U.S. The Soup for One album also includes Chic's one and only collaboration with soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, the ballad "Dream Girl". Pendergrass had a small role as a nightclub singer performing the song in the movie, although it was however never issued as a single. Long-standing Chic vocalist Fonzi Thornton's track "I Work for a Livin'" is taken from what was planned to be his first solo project. The album entitled "Frostbite" was recorded in 1981/82, and was written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, but remains unreleased. Chic also wrote the track "Riding", sung by Fonzi, which appeared in the film, but was not included on the soundtrack album. This track was intended for Fonzi Thornton's unreleased solo project. "Tavern on the Green" is an acoustic guitar piece and another instrumental Chic track, "Open Up" from 1980s Real People , also appeared in the film but was not included on the soundtrack album. Paradoxically, Carly Simon's "Why", the biggest hit single from the album, was not featured in the film.

A Tribe Called Quest sampled "Why" for their 1990 hit "Bonita Applebum", as did British rapper Glamma Kid in 1999, taking the song back up to number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Chic's "Soup for One" was sampled by French dance act Modjo for their 2000 song "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)", a number 1 hit in most of Europe. The album Soup for One was released on compact disc in 2015.

Track listing

All tracks written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers unless otherwise noted.

Side A
  1. Chic - "Soup for One" - 5:35
  2. Carly Simon - "Why" - 4:06
  3. Teddy Pendergrass - "Dream Girl" - 4:10
  4. Fonzi Thornton - "I Work for a Livin'" - 3:31
Side B
  1. Chic - "I Want Your Love" - 6:58
  2. Sister Sledge - "Let's Go On Vacation" - 5:09
  3. Chic - "Tavern on the Green" - 2:15
  4. Deborah Harry - "Jump, Jump" (Harry, Chris Stein) - 4:04

Personnel

Production

Single releases

All tracks written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

7" Chic: "Soup For One". Mirage Records (US)/WEA Records (Europe), July 1982.


12" Chic: "Soup For One". Mirage/WEA, July 1982.


7" Carly Simon: "Why". Mirage/WEA, August 1982.


12" Carly Simon/Chic: "Why". Mirage/WEA, August 1982.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Edwards</span> American bassist and record producer (1952–1996)

Bernard Edwards was an American bass player and record producer, known primarily for his work in disco music with guitarist Nile Rodgers, with whom he co-founded Chic. In 2017, Edwards was selected as the 53rd greatest bassist of all time by Bass Player magazine.

<i>Risqué</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Chic

Risqué is the third studio album by American disco band Chic, released on Atlantic Records on July 30, 1979. One of the records that defined the disco era, the album became highly influential not only within the movement, but also in other styles such as hip hop, art rock and new wave. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 414 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Carly Simon song)</span> 1982 single by Carly Simon

"Why" is a song written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards and performed by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon. Recorded for the film Soup for One in 1982, the film was a commercial flop but the soundtrack album was a success. One of many film-inspired singles by Simon, the song became a top 10 hit in the UK, and was successful throughout Europe.

<i>We Are Family</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Sister Sledge

We Are Family is the third studio album by the American R&B vocal group Sister Sledge, released on January 22, 1979, in the United States and on April 30, 1979, in the United Kingdom by Cotillion Records. The album was written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic, and includes four hit singles: the title track, "He's the Greatest Dancer", "Lost in Music" and "Thinking of You", all of which have been sampled, remixed, and reissued in the decades after the album's release. The album reached number one on the Top R&B Albums chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most commercially successful album. In 2013, NME named it among the 500 greatest albums of all time.

<i>Soup for One</i> (film) 1982 film by Jonathan Kaufer

Soup for One is a 1982 American sex comedy film directed and written by Jonathan Kaufer and produced by Marvin Worth. While the film was a box-office failure, it is best remembered for its soundtrack, which was produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the group Chic, who performed the title track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chic (band)</span> American rhythm and blues band

Chic, currently called Nile Rodgers & Chic, is an American disco band that was formed in 1972 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It recorded many commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " (1977), "Everybody Dance" (1977), "Le Freak" (1978), "I Want Your Love" (1978), "Good Times" (1979), and "My Forbidden Lover" (1979). The group regarded themselves as a rock band for the disco movement "that made good on hippie peace, love and freedom". In 2017, Chic was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the eleventh time.

American disco group Chic released a number of albums in the period 1977 to 1983. After 1983's Believer the group did not record a studio album until 1992's Chic-Ism. The band has since continued to tour and release live and compilation albums. The group's first studio album in 26 years, titled It's About Time was released in September 2018. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards produced for a series of artists in the years 1978 to 1982. They sometimes produced under the name 'The Chic Organization'.

<i>Chic</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Chic

Chic is the debut album by Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1977. The cover art featured two models, Valentine Monnier (left) and Alva Chinn (right), uncredited in a photograph taken by Frank Laffitte.

<i>Love Somebody Today</i> 1980 studio album by Sister Sledge

Love Somebody Today is the fourth studio album by the American R&B vocal group Sister Sledge, released on March 16, 1980, by Cotillion Records. The album includes three singles: "Got to Love Somebody", "Reach Your Peak", and "Let's Go on Vacation", which all charted on the US Pop and R&B/Soul charts from late 1979 until 1980.

<i>Real People</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Chic

Real People is the fourth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1980. It includes the singles "Rebels Are We", "Real People", and "26".

<i>King of the World</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Sheila and B. Devotion

King of the World is the final album by French disco act Sheila and B. Devotion, released on June 27, 1980. The album which was both written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of American R&B band Chic includes the hit "Spacer" which reached No. 18 on the UK charts in early 1980 and was a Top 10 hit in most of Europe, selling more than 5 million copies worldwide. The album displays some elements unusual in Chic productions, such as prominent guitar solos in place of the breakdowns that were normally a staple part of the Chic sound, and some unusual lyrical subject matter, such as the sci-fi themed "Spacer" and a humorous song about credit cards.

<i>Take It Off</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Chic

Take It Off is the fifth studio album by American band Chic. It was released on Atlantic Records in November 16, 1981. It includes the single "Stage Fright", which reached number 35 on the US R&B chart, but was the first Chic single failing to enter the US Pop charts, and this album only proved to be moderately successful as well, stalling at number 124 on the US albums chart and number 36 on the R&B chart.

<i>Tongue in Chic</i> 1982 studio album by Chic

Tongue in Chic is the sixth studio album by American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in 1982. The album includes the singles "Hangin'" and "I Feel Your Love Comin' On". Tongue in Chic peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Believer</i> (Chic album) 1983 studio album by Chic

Believer is the seventh studio album by American band Chic, their last for the Atlantic Records label, and the last featuring the classic line-up of Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Alfa Anderson, Luci Martin, and Tony Thompson. The album includes the singles "Give Me the Lovin'", "You Are Beautiful", and "Party Everybody". The album failed to make much of an impact and shortly after its release the group disbanded.

<i>Live at the Budokan</i> (Chic album) 1999 live album by Chic

Live at the Budokan is a live album by American band Chic, released on Nile Rodgers' label Sumthing Else in 1999.

<i>Les Plus Grands Succès De Chic: Chics Greatest Hits</i> 1979 greatest hits album by Chic

Les Plus Grands Succès De Chic: Chic's Greatest Hits, also known as The Best of Chic, is a greatest hits album by the American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in late 1979. It includes the biggest hits from their first three albums: Chic (1977), C'est Chic (1978) and Risqué (1979).

<i>Chic Freak and More Treats</i> 1996 studio album by Chic/Nile Rodgers

Chic Freak and More Treats is a studio album originally released in Japan in 1996 as a solo project by Nile Rodgers, and internationally re-issued as Chic in 2003. The album contains re-interpretations of some of Chic's greatest hits and also some of the tracks produced by Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for David Bowie, Sister Sledge and Diana Ross. Chic Freak and More Treats features guest vocals by Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon, Ashford & Simpson and Taja Sevelle and was to be Edwards' last studio project.

<i>Up All Night</i> (The Chic Organization album) 2013 compilation album by Nile Rodgers presents The Chic Organization

Up All Night is a compilation album by Nile Rodgers and The Chic Organization, released in 2013. It contains recordings written, played and produced by Rodgers and Bernard Edwards for various artists including Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Sheila & B. Devotion, Deborah Harry, Norma Jean Wright, Carly Simon, Johnny Mathis and their own group Chic. In its original form, the album included every UK Top 40 hit single produced by Chic, excepting remixes. The Johnny Mathis track was widely publicised as being previously unreleased, though it had in fact appeared on Mathis' own Ultimate Collection CD in 2011.

Alfa Anderson is a soul /rhythm and blues/ disco singer and teacher, best known as one of the lead singers of the 1970s band Chic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fonzi Thornton</span> American singer-songwriter

Alfonso "Fonzi" Thornton is an American vocalist, songwriter, producer and vocal contractor. In a career spanning 40 years, Thornton has sung backing vocals for top artists across many genres of music. His vocal credits can be found on the recordings of Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music, Chic, Diana Ross, Garth Brooks, Ray Charles, Mariah Carey, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Robert Palmer, Patti LaBelle, Al Jarreau, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Phoebe Snow, Scritti Politti, Bette Midler, Lady Gaga and many others. In 2008, Thornton joined the musical entourage of Aretha Franklin as backing vocalist and vocal contractor and continued to accompany her in concert, on recordings and TV until her death in 2018.