Customer Reviews

Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To all Chaka wannabees--this is the album that the original "Sweet Thing" came from. Inasmuch, look to this as something on the order of Aretha's "Lady Soul" or Natalie Cole's "Collection" for the real thing in female soul sanging--not every pretty face in a new video can do it...and Gawd knows we've saturated the airwaves with them, lately. Chaka did most of her own vocals, overdubbing herself and mebbe vocalist/guitarist Tony Maiden on most of the tracks. We're talking before a lotta the one named hip-hop divas were even conceived. Claire Fischer strings and orchestration are prevalent on many tracks--check out Chaka's newest, "Come 2 My House", or, better yet, Chaka w/Rufus's "Ask Rufus" for how the orchestration help allow Chaka to develop that afro-gypsy-seductress thing she's maintained throughout the years. Rufus, in my estimation, has always been a great band and this CD illustrates that like many bands, they are more than the sum of their parts--there's some awesome bass and drumwork, here, baby. Great cuts are "Little Boy Blue" and the Bee Gee's "Jive Talkin'".

I absolutely love this CD. As with all of their other albums Rufus pours out the heavy funky beats and riffs, accompanied by Chaka's Sexy, Saucy, Sensual lyrics. She is the perfect accessory for this band. Her voice will always be in my Hall of Fame. You can't play just one song, her dancing voice moves through all the tracks and you just can't stop groovin.

Clare Ficsher's sudtle string arrangements on the
spectacular opener "Fool's Paradise" makes this a highlite not
only on this album but in Rufus's entire cannon.The spastic funk
of "Dance With Me" is right in same leauge as the the beautiful
ballad "Sweet Thing",Chaka's only sudtle moment here.On funk
splatters like "Ohh I Like Your Lovin'","Have A Good Time" and
"Circles",she wails like a banshee!The instrumental "On Time"
and a rockier cover of "Jive Talkin'" fill out this very funky
and entertaining collection-worth your time!

This was probably their best album along with one of their other title "Rufusized" that came out the year before this one. I really love me some Chaka Khan. Every song on here was slammin' from the first track on through. I even remember the poster that came with the album. This is a true classic and it should be in any real music collector's collection.

Okay, let me state that at the time I was all of about 8 years old, and in my mind, this was the best thing since sliced bread...I grew up in a household were you would hear anything from Count Basie to Aretha Franklin to Charlie Pride and both my mother and her father owned extensive record collections, so when I heard the first few bars of Ms. Chaka wailing on "Fools Paradise" at a schoolmate's birthday party, I immediately made it my mission to find out who she was and what the name of the record was...I remember asking for this album and receiving it as a gift and playing it constantly; it was the only one I owned and Top-forty AM radio wasn't playing anything but "Sweet Thing" occasionally. It's with these fond elementary school memories that I recall listening to this album and thinking "WOW!!!" Upon listening to a recently purchased reissued CD, this album is not bad, not GREAT, but not bad...The tracks that hold up for me are "Fools Paradise", "Sweet Thing" and "Little Boy Blue"; everything else sounds decidedly dated, as music from the '70's will, but nothing makes me want to play the other tracks over and over the way I play EWF's "Gratitude" (the second album I ever owned, by the way), or Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions"...But I still love me some Chaka and I think her voice will always be my first love...

The reviews listed here are NOT for this CD release but are for the excellent Rufus FEATURING CHAKA KHAN lp from 1975! THIS HERE is the band's very first album release, and while impressive, they are still testing the waters. Because of the very similar album titles, the reviews were somehow transposed - which is what often happens under the circumstances! So, just be mindful if that sort of thing is important - to you!

This CD is out of sight!! Sweet Thing by the group is amazing.
But one of my favorite cuts on this CD is Fool's Paradise!!
The whole CD is funky. Chaka Khan and Rufus are one of the funkiest bands of the 1970s. I salute them!! If you are a huge fan of Chaka and Rufus, this is the CD you should get, 'cause it has all of the funky grooves on it. It rules!!

I am collecting music from my youth and this was 1 missing from my collection. ty just 1 more add to the collection.

Let's face it Rufus and Chaka Kahn were truly the thing for the 70's, but it's always good to step back and check music against time. Well in this case time becomes better than remembered and offers those who missed the first time an entry into the funk of it all. You'll find it will make you nod and smile. What more can you ask for, Enjoy!!!

First of all, I do not understand why folks are giving this album a mediocre rating... to me, this is one of Rufus'DOPEST albums ever! I can really appreciate the chemistry on all songs. I keep hearing folks say that "Sweet Thing" was one of the best songs on the album, but this album is full of nothing but dope tunes from beginning to end. It's one of those albums that you can put it in, and let it play nonstop without skipping songs. And, Chaka's vocals on this album are just off the CHAIN! Very strong and innovative. Luv u Rufus & Chaka!