Customer Reviews

Epiphany (Best of V.1)(+1 Bonus Track)

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first heard of Chaka Khan from my Sister.She just got back from Wildwood N.J.while on vacation with my cousins.She told me about this fantastic new group,Rufus.They were the opening act for Cheech and Chong.This comedy team was late,and Rufus had to keep on playing untill they showed up.The audience didn't care if they never showed up after hearing Chaka Khan."Tell me Something Good," was there first hit single.The live version is on this CD.My all time favorite cut,"Through the Fire,"is unreal.If anyone out there thinks they can sing,play this song and listen.Prince's,"I fill for You," with the wonderfull rap,was a huge hit. Every type of music is in here,from Disco,"Ain't Nobody,Never Miss the Wather," To the great ballads,"Through the Fire,Your love is all I know,"(this will break your heart apart,)and a Jazzy Dedication to the late Ella Fitzgerald,"The End of A Love Affair."This collection of Chaka Khan is one of my top ten albums of all time. If you love to hear brilliant music from a great singer,songwriter,and artist,You have to get this CD.

Chaka Khan may be the most important female R & B singer to emerge over the past thirty years. Divas and divas-in-waiting like Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige have covered her material and attempted to copy her trademark sensual scream (though no one comes close). This compilation helps to explain her importance. At the time this collection was issued in 1996, Chaka's first four albums were out of print in this country. Some of its biggest hits are thankfully found here, like "I'm Every Woman," "Papillon," "What'cha Gonna Do For Me," along with later classics such as "I Feel For You" and "Ain't Nobody." Unfortunately left off though are the top ten smashes "Clouds" and her remake of the Michael Jackson ballad "Got To Be There" (which eats the original for breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Those two are major hits that should have been included. Also puzzling is the exclusion of any tracks from 1992's THE WOMAN I AM (easily her strongest and most consistent album). Instead of just presenting all of Chaka's biggest chart hits, it appears that the compilers wanted to make a statement as to her tremendous versatility by including some of her most adventurous work. "Love Me Still," from the film CLOCKERS, is a folky acoustic number which shows Chaka doesn't need vocal histrionics to shine. "Night In Tunisia" finds her comfortably inhabiting the world of jazz, while her rendition of Billie Holiday's "The End Of A Love Affair" reveals this lady can also sing the blues. EPIPHANY also included five new recordings, of which only "Never Miss The Water" with Me'Shell Ndegeocello takes its place among Chaka's greatest work (though the ballad "Your Love Is All I Know" and her reggae take on Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere" are certainly enjoyable). Hopefully a second Best Of volume with all of the key missing recordings will be released by Warner Brothers (or Rhino) someday soon.

CHAKA KHAN! The name says it all! Epiphany is the long overdue compilation of some of Chaka's great music. Putting this package together must have been terribly difficult because so many of Chaka's songs are GREAT!

I particularly love "Ain't Nobody" - FUNK BLISS! "I Know You, I Live You" - with it's Brazilian dance styling. "A Night in Tunisia" - You'll never hear anyone do anything like this again! "Through The Fire" - How do you pack more emotion into this classic song? "Love Me Still" - Chaka at her best with acoustic accompanyment! "I Feel For You" and "I'm Every Woman" - Passion! I get goose bump everytime I hear them. "The End of a Love Affair" - Jazz, a new career direction for Chaka if she ever thought about changing course in her musical direction. Classy!

Everyone song is a jem!

Chaka Khan is one of my most favorite female contempary singers of all time...she may in fact BE my favorite (sorry Joni and Aretha). So how can it be that a collection of her so-called best has me reaching for the "next track" button more than the volume button?

I discovered that the reason for this is that most of Chaka's best efforts have come on Rufus albums, side projects with jazz ensembles, and as guests on other peoples CD's. (Check out "Who Do you Love" from Lenny Whites "Present Tense")

Most of the songs here are the ones that the casual Chaka fan will recognize...I Feel for you, I'm Every Woman, What Cha' gonna do for me, etc...and those are all fine soul/pop ditties but where Chaka shines best is where grunting out funk numbers on Rufus jams and ballads like Don't Talk to strangers, or her projects with the likes of Chick Corea.

This is not a bad CD...in fact I'd say it's pretty good. But I guess I was expecting something a little more diverse from someone with the range, skill, and following of Chaka. The duet with Me-Shell N'deocello is a high point as well as "Ain't Nobody" and "Tell me something good", which are both off of Rufus albums by the way.

Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan is a long overdue greatest hits collection of one of the most influential singers ever. Chaka Khan's stamp on the music industry is well documented. Known early in her career as "Little Aretha" this sexy siren has a voice which such range. From highs to lows and even some screaming on key, this is an incredible singer.

Included on the 16 track cd are some of her biggest hits like the touching "Through The Fire", the mega smash Prince remake "I Feel For You" and her first solo hit "I'm Every Woman," a track later remade by Whitney Houston. There is also a live version of "Tell Me Something Good" -the Stevie Wonder written hit for Rufus and Chaka Khan. Other selections featured on the cd may not be big hits but they definitely showcase the dynamics and versatility of Chaka's voice. Songs like "Night In Tunasia" and "The End Of A Love Affair" demonstrate what Chaka can do when it comes to a jazz tune. There is also the heartfelt "Love Me Still", a collaboration with Bruce Hornsby from Spike Lee's CLOCKERS soundtrack.

This best of cd also features 5 new songs. These songs actually were apart of a shelved 1995 Chaka cd entitled "Dare You To Love Me." "Everywhere" is a Fleetwood Mac song that Chaka reworks, but instead of a traditional rock rhythm....it's done reggae style. "Never Miss The Water" is a funky tune which features R&B/bassist M'shelle N'degeocello. "Something Deep" continues the funkiness. However the mood gets more somber and touching with "Your Love Is All I Know" - a Chris Walker remake. Closing out the best of cd is a jazzy/fusion song called "Every Little Thing."

This may not be a complete best of cd whereas some significant hits like "Sweet Thing" or "Everlasting Love" could have been added. But still the track selection is a solid offering of Chaka Khan, one of the most copied and influential voices in the music industry.

I never paid much attention to Chaka Khan until a friend and fellow reviewer persuaded me to listen to her music and that of Rufus, the group she once fronted. Of course, he was right - Chaka is a great singer.

Chaka Khan's biggest hit was I feel for you, which made number two in her American homeland and number one in Britain. I'm every woman and Ain't nobody (with Rufus) are among her other classic hits on both sides of the Atlantic.

This compilation is a great introduction to the music of Chaka Khan, but if you enjoy this, also look up Rufus, whose Greatest hits I've already reviewed.

This CD is awesome!!! What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than sitting, smiling and listening intently to this CD. There isn't!

Epiphany...a sudden revelation! What a concept, but who hasn't heard of Chaka Khan. She's the essence of greatness, personified in a voice. Her sense of timing, passion, texture and variety helped to create a super musical career. I bet she's an awesome person to have this greatness within her.

Ain't Nobody is the perfect entry into her catalog of songs. It's funky, streetwise and ethereal at the same time. How often do you get that combination?

Other honorable mentions are the classics 'I Feel For You', 'I'm Every Woman' and 'Through The Fire'. Those are worth the price of admission alone. Then you get surprises like 'A Night In Tunisia', 'The End Of A Love Affair' and 'Love Me Still'. What a collection!

I could go through and rate all the songs, but I'll just say that I''m waiting for an encore. I missed hearing some of the other great Chaka songs like 'Be Bop Medley', 'Got To Be There', 'This Is My Night', 'Eye To Eye', 'My Funny Valentine', 'Clouds', 'Love You All My Lifetime', 'You Can Make The Story Right' and so many more. I know an encore (Volume 2) is coming. How can it not?

THIS IS TRUE R&B SINGING IN IT'S FINEST FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KELLY PRICE, WHITNEY HOUSTON, FAITH EVANS, MARIAH CAREY TAKE NOTICE! TAKE NOTES...TAKE.A.SEAT!!!!

"Night in Tunisia", "Papillon", "My Funny Valentine"...These songs make me close my eyes and dream of a beautiful place. Chaka Khan is the perfect instrument of vocal sound. Her voice, stylings, range...everything..are simply incomparable. I am in awe of her gift of song! As a fellow singer I pay homage to her everytime I even think of opening my mouth to sing. She is truly magnificent and should be lauded everywhere R&B/Soul/Jazz music is appreciated. I have listened to this CD until it wore out...I then went and bought the tape and wore it out TOO! 5 stars is not enough for this album...I would give it 1000 stars! I know every song by heart! THERE IS NO ONE LIKE CHAKA....NO ONE CAN EVEN GET CLOSE!!I can't get enough of this album and Chaka! I grew up listening to her pure artistry and made sure to buy her albums with my meager childhood allowance. Every note she sings is pure bliss! Her utterly devoted fan, Roslyn J.

There are those who sing and those who sang. Chaka sangs and then some. If you don't own any Chaka albums, tapes or cds, you must purchase this collection. If you have all of Chaka's albums, tapes and cds, you must purchase this cd. These songs are the cream of the crop and showcases her many genres of music including her love of jazz. My faves are "Love Me Still" "Night In Tunisia" and "Papillon" The new material is very good on its own, but the classic tunes are songs that will stand the test of time Ain't Nobody bad as Chaka.

EPIPHANY - The Best Of Chaka Khan, Volume One (Warner/Reprise) Review by Kirk Douglas Provo

Just check out Chaka Khan's stellar performance of the standard My Funny Valentine on the Waiting To Exhale film soundtrack. It rings through loud and clear. Khan has claimed her rightful place at the front of the line for Queen of Soul divas in waiting! With an immensely impressive body of work to support her, Khan is perhaps the most qualified contender for Aretha Franklin's long-held moniker. (The only other serious potentials who come to mind would be vocal powerhouses such as Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Stephanie Mills, and a few others.)

Listening to these recordings, mostly from the 70s and 80s, it strikes one that Chaka Khan's contribution to Rhythm & Blues/Soul, as well as pop music at-large is as immense as her astonishing vocal rage. The wonderful jazz meets funk flow of The Melody Still Lingers (Night in Tunisia), and the tailor-made What'cha Gonna Do For Me are just two testaments of the unique vocal prowess she has been treating record buyers to since the early 70s.

Never Miss The Water, the first single release of five new cuts, re-teams Chaka with producer David Gamson (Scritti Politti). It is a funky romp, recalling their Love You All My Lifetime, from the Grammy-winning The Woman I Am. Musician Me'Shell Ndegeocello's strategically placed raps lend some street authenticity to the tune, and maestro Frankie Knuckles' smokin' club re-mix should go over quite well with the under-thirty-five dance crowd.

Elsewhere on this collection we find, Through The Fire, from `84's I Feel For You. This beautiful ballad is a stunning reminder of just how sweet `n girlish Ms Chaka can be when she puts her mind to it. (Remember Sweet Thing?) On the other hand, we find Rufus' awarding-winning swan song Ain't Nobody. This song, with its space-bound keyboard turns, hook-laden lyrics, and straight from the street vocal, is just as hip today as it was when initially released back in `83. The ! countless remakes of this tune of late don't hold a candle to the original funk masterpiece.

Of the new cuts, Every Little Thing, is a playful little ditty that keeps sounding better and better with repeated playing. It jams; it swings. Some of Chaka's best scat-singing is featured here - while the bass playing is to die for! Something Deep, is a much-welcomed, heavily bass-driven, sassy low-down groove thing from the team behind some of Brandy and Tevin Campbell's most recent dance jams. Khan really spreads her wings here, encompassing, as only she can, straight from the heart soul diva lovelorn wailing, then sliding effortlessly upward into razor sharp jazz-scale phrasing of a class that seems to get better with each new recording.

Everywhere, the surprising but logical re-make of a Fleetwood Mac song, is done here with a warm Caribbean treatment. Diehard rock fans may flinch at the new direction this song has taken. Yet, all-in-all, it is business as usual for Ms Chaka, as she flaunts her bountiful interpretive skills on the tune.

The compilation says it all: Chaka Khan is The Voice. Bless yourself, or a friend - hear theses recordings for yourself and experience the magic. The Queen of Soul-in-Waiting has spoken.