Cher, Dancing Queen (Warner Brothers) *****; Chic, It’s About Time (Virgin) ****

THE Disco Sucks Rally at Comisky Par, Chicago, Illinois on July 12 1979 was supposed to place a stake through the heart of disco.

Yet 39 year on, and look who is in the news. The Donna Summer musical, Summer, is the latest greatest Broadway hit; Queen's new movie Bohemian Rhapsody opens soon; Rod Stewart's new album is number one, and only last month ABBA had three albums in the top ten. All had their glitterball moments, as did Cher and Chic.

Dancing Queen obviously comes on the back of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Cher outrageously stole the biggest movie of the year with a tiny cameo performance. Cher does Abba! Who would have thought it? The album we never knew we needed is pure inspiration. In her own unique way, with slightly rocking guitars and a heavy dose of the Vocoder, Cher covers Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight), The Name Of The Game, The Winner Takes It All and Chiquitita. Mostly the arrangements are true to the originals. Only One Of Us has been given an atmospheric ballad treatment.

Whereas Dancing Queen took but weeks to complete, Chic’s It’s About Time has been muted for years and years. Indeed, over a quarter of a century has passed since Chic’s last set Chic-ism. Despite health scares, Nile Rodgers has continued to tour and contributed to hits by Daft Punk, Madonna, Bowie, Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Avicii, Duran Duran and Kylie.

It’s About Time features a stellar bunch of new friends, including Elton John, Emeli Sande, Craig David, Lunchmoney Lewis and Lady GaGa (on a remake of I Want Your Love). After the long wait, many Chic fans will be slightly, but only slightly dismayed that It’s About Time is disco but with a 21st century twist. Only State Of Mine (It’s About Time) would realistically have appeared on one of their classic Atlantic albums. Alas, Chic miss the restraint and poise of the late Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson.

Chic plan to release another new album, Executive Realness, as soon as next February and Cher is apparently desperate to record I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do. It feels like 1978 again. Hu

Ian Sime