We Are Family  by Sister Sledge

We Are Family is not just a disco record; it is the manifesto of an entire era, the moment when four sisters from Philadelphia—the Debbie, Joni, Kim, and Kathy Sledge—transformed into global icons under the guidance of the Chic sound "architects," Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. We Are Family was released in January 1979, it was the third studio album of Sister Sledge and it was the one that actually catapulted Sister Sledge to the top.

The creation of the album at the Power Station studio in New York was an exercise in absolute control and simultaneous spontaneity. The recordings lasted from August to November 1978. The producers - Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards - kept the lyrics hidden from the sisters until the moment they stepped in front of the microphone, aiming for a "fresh" and authentic reaction. The eponymous track We Are Family was essentially recorded in one take by the then-19-year-old Kathy Sledge, conveying the energy of a true party in the studio. Despite the "family celebration" atmosphere, there were artistic disagreements, mainly between Debbie Sledge and Bernard Edwards about the harmonies, with Nile Rodgers acting as mediator.

Critics praise the "percolating" rhythm section and the guitar lines of Rodgers. Tracks like "Lost in Music" offer an almost hypnotic experience, while "Thinking of You" remains one of the most sophisticated samples of dance soul. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the R&B albums.