Spacer: The Chic-Produced Hit That Liberated Sheila—But Missed Its Moment

The Twelve Inch 153 : Spacer (Sheila B.Devotion)

Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers have produced plenty of legendary tracks, but this week’s focus, Spacer, stands out. It’s one of their most recognizable yet completely different from their previous work. The song became an international hit—twice—and played a pivotal role in helping French pop star Sheila break free from the iron grip of her manager. However, Spacer arrived at precisely the wrong moment to be the global breakthrough Sheila and her team had hoped for. And what does this track have to do with the short-lived but influential space disco genre? Let’s unravel the fascinating, often-overlooked story of Spacer and Sheila B. Devotion’s brief but dazzling era.