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Guides/A Riffiter guide

Albums Nile Rodgers produced

The guitarist behind disco's greatest grooves — and the hitmaker who reinvented Bowie, Madonna and Daft Punk.

Nile Rodgers is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer, co-founder of Chic and one of the most successful producers in pop history. This guide collects the albums he produced, from Chic's own records to David Bowie's Let's Dance and Madonna's Like a Virgin.

Nile Rodgers plays the most recognisable rhythm guitar in pop — the crisp, chopping funk of “Le Freak,” “Good Times” and a hundred records since. As a producer he's done it for everyone, twice over: first inventing the sound of disco, then resurrecting careers with it decades later.

These are the albums carrying that unmistakable groove.

  1. 1
    Risqué artwork

    Risqué

    Chic

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    Rodgers' own band at their peak — home to “Good Times,” the bassline that launched hip-hop and a thousand other records.

  2. 2
    We Are Family artwork

    We Are Family

    Sister Sledge

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    Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote and produced the whole album, including the eternal title-track anthem.

  3. 3
    Diana artwork

    Diana

    Diana Ross

    3.7 · 3

    Rodgers gave Ross her biggest solo album — “I'm Coming Out” and “Upside Down,” a disco diva reinvented.

  4. 4
    Let's Dance artwork

    Let's Dance

    David Bowie

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    Rodgers produced Bowie's biggest-selling album, fusing funk and rock into a global smash and a total career reinvention.

  5. 5
    Like a Virgin artwork

    Like a Virgin

    Madonna

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    Rodgers produced the album that turned Madonna into a superstar, including the title track and “Material Girl.”

  6. 6
    Notorious artwork

    Notorious

    Duran Duran

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    Rodgers brought his funk discipline to Duran Duran, sharpening their sound on the title track.

  7. 7
    Cosmic Thing artwork

    Cosmic Thing

    The B-52s

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    Rodgers helped the new-wave band stage a comeback, producing the irresistible “Love Shack.”

  8. 8
    Random Access Memories artwork

    Random Access Memories

    Daft Punk

    4.4 · 6

    Three decades on, Rodgers' guitar drove “Get Lucky,” introducing his groove to a new generation on Daft Punk's farewell.

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