"Good Times" is a song by American R&B band Chic from their third album "Risqué" (1979). The disco song, ranked No. 229 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, has become one of the most sampled tunes in music history, most notably in hip hop music.
Lyrics and inspiration
The lyrics include a reference to Milton Ager's "Happy Day's Are Here Again". It also contains lines based on lyrics featured in "About a Quarter to Nine" made famous by Al Jolson. Nile Rodgers has stated that these Great Depression-era lyrics were used as a hidden way to comment on the then-current economic conditions in the United States.
In a 2015 interview Rodgers stated that "Good Times" was partly inspired by the 1974 Koola dnt eh Gang song "Hollywood Swinging".
Chart performance
The song hit number-one on August 18, 1979 before being ousted by The Knack's smash hit "My Sharona" the following week. Along with the songs "My Forbidden Lover" and "My Feet Keep Dancing", "Good Times" reached #3 on the disco chart. It reportedly sold more than 5 million copies, making it, at the time, the best-selling 45 RPM single in the history of Atlantic Records. Billboard magazine named "Good Times" the number one soul single of 1979.
Personnel
- Guitar – Nile Rodgers
- Bass – Bernard Edwards
- Acoustic piano – Rob Sabino
- Fender Rhodes electric piano – Raymond Jones
- Drums – Tony Thompson
- String arrangements – Harold Wheeler or Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards
Charts
| Australia (Kent Music Report) |
48 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) |
2 |
| Canada Top Disco Singles (RPM) |
1 |
| Ireland (IRMA) |
21 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) |
17 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) |
8 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) |
5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 |
1 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) |
26 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles (Billboard) |
1 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) |
3 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 |
1 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts) |
36 |
|
Year-end charts
|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) |
40 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 |
20 |
| US Cash Box |
12 |
|
Certifications
Chic - Good Times / A Warm Summer Night
UK Atlantic Records K 11310 stereo (1979) 1st UK pressing.
Record produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.
The vinyl record has remained in excellent condition.
Audio quality is very clear and strong throughout.
Both record centre labels are clean, unmarked, and free from tears, stains or stickers.
The record centre hole displays ony minimal signs of wear.
The record comes with an original company paper sleeve.
