Customer Reviews

Rufusized

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This one should be in everybody's collection.
The sheer fun that jumps off the cover (by Norman Seeff, famous for his seventies and eighties b&w band photography) barely is able to hint at what goes off once your laser beam hits the first notes of Once You Get Started. If this doesn't make you smile something's definitely wrong with your (groove)system.
Not only is the song full of surprises, twists and turns (as is the entire album), Tony Maiden's guitar licks are amazing. The horn arrangement creative as can be. And then there's Chaka. I should simply shut up and have you listen to her shoot this music up the charts as she did at the time.
This album has it all, tight up tempo songs, mid tempo ones (Somebody's Watching You (ooh that organ)- as Once You Get Started one of my all time favorites), beautiful ballads f.e. Your Smile (and what a wonderful piano intro to Pack'd My Bags - but as I said, full of surprises), some of the greatest musicians doing what they do best without anybody getting in their way: Chaka Vocals, Tony Guitar and Backing Vocals, Bobby Watson Bass and Backing Vocals, André Fischer Drums and Percussion, Kevin Murphy All Keys and Backing Vocals.
The band members arranged the album themselves (with great string and horn arrangements by Clare Fisher and Kevin Murphy - no wonder Quincy loved this band - just listen to the horns on Rufusized )
Nuff said: GET IT!

Remember when a great album consisted of SONGS? Not intros, outros, interludes and skits, but a solid collection of tunes that stuck in your head for days. And whatever happened to restraint and brevity? With the dawn of the CD age, artists seemed to be filling every second of time available on a disk just because it was there! Thankfully "RUFUSIZED" avoids these pitfalls and delivers the goods from the horn blessed opener, the classic "Once You Get Started"(great drumming by Andre Fischer) to the breezy, transcendent groove of the closing "Stop On By" (give it a listen, you'll be singing this one forever!) and doesn't miss a beat anywhere in between. There's not a clunker in the batch and it all runs in classic LP time, just over 37 minutes. This release is also notable for the healthy rock influence once evident in Chaka Khan's choice of material, but now sadly, seemingly gone for good. But that's mere quibbling, just sit back and marvel at the tight band interplay, ambition (the sprawling, lovely "Pack'ed My Bags") and the way Tony Maiden anchors every cut with his inventive but never too-flashy guitar playing. "RUFUSIZED" hasn't aged a day since '74! Essential Listening.

Man, this is one solid, consistent and powerful album by Rufus. I think of all the Rufus records, this one is by far superb. Others might say that the Rufus album that came out in 1977 is by far the best..I can't think of the name of it but it had a song on there called, "Hollywood." On this particular disk, "Half Moon," "Right is Right" and "Somebody's Watching You" really just moved the heck out of me. Man, it was like being in a church revival down in Mississippi! I think these songs would actually have a church rocking! This is true R&B music and it goes to show you that perfection is at the utmost with this album. The one song that really did it for me was, "Please Pardon Me(You Remind Me of A Friend)." It is breathtaking in its scope and is one incredible mid-tempo ballad. The song is just as lovely as a painting in a museum. I really love the long piano solo on "Pack'd My Bags." After the piano solo ends, the song goes into a typical R&B feel. Overall, I would put as many stars on this record. Truly one incredible experience. This record is Chaka Khan at her best. Trust Me.

If funk's a sin, you know where these guys (and gal) is going !

How rare it is to have a group who's rhythm section and lead singer are strong as one another... No one is carrying anyone else... they're in it together and hard... Its a Tower of Power type thing, where you can really dig the lyrics, singing and dance grooves if you're listening to the tracks at a club... and if you're a musician you're in awe of the tightness and hard hitting precision of the band... I can just imagine some fusion guitarists, drummers and bass players studying these tunes, then trying to taking the stuff to their crossover bands at the time... All in all, from track to track there's one surprize after another... and the best way to describe the album is as exhuberent... and excellently mixed and recorded as well ! ! !

As a child of 10 in late 1974, I first heard the funky
and melodious voice of a true original and soul diva
named Chaka Khan and I was transformed!
Now I grew up already knowing the sounds of Gladys,
Aretha, Mahalia and other powerhouse singers by this time
and so when Chaka hit it was like a tidal wave of sound!
A new soul sista was staking her claim and she was going
to be around for awhile!--(as it turned out!)
Of course, I was already familiar with
"Tell Me Something Good", "You Got The Love" "Smokin' Room",
"Ain't Nothin' But A Maybe" and "In Love We Grow"
from the preceeding album "Rags To Rufus"
which my mother owned and played frequently.
But there was something about "Rufusized" that just
sunk into my psyche and my soul that still remains
to this day!---It's just bad to death!

I love every song on here of course, but the ones
that still send me to this day are
"Once You Get Started", "Please Pardon Me",
"Pack'd My Bags", "Stop On By" and her searing rendition
of Janis Joplin's "Half Moon"!!...Just crazy funky!

Another goodie on this album is Chaka's funk-rocky
ode to feminism "I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone)" which
is never talked about that much when Chaka fans or
Rufus featuring Chaka fans discuss her music, but it
is a potent vocal and lyrical performance just the same!
This pre-dated the Ashford & Simpson penned classic
"I'm Every Woman" from Chaka's debut solo effort by 4 years.
Ray Parker Jr., who would later come to prominence
with his group RAYDIO and in his own solo endeavors,
was co-writer and provided some incendiary funky rock
guitar licks along with Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden.
He was also co-writer on an earlier Rufus funk-rock
classic which proceeded this album called
"You Got The Love", from "Rags To Rufus", which
is much more well-known and discussed by
Rufus & Chaka fans alike.

Now, some 32 yrs later at age 42, I have all of the
classic albums of my childhood and teen years on
remastered CD's and I have every Rufus album from
"Rags To Rufus" to "Live and Stompin' At The Savoy"...
and there all good, but again, there's something about
"Rufusized" that still gets me to this day!
A definite "must-have" for any fan of Chaka's
or lover of pure 70's funk!

Here's my problem!! When asked 'what is THE BEST Chaka & Rufus CD ?', I am always torn between 'Rufusized' & 'Ask Rufus' (1977)!! 'Rufusized' is no doubt a CLASSIC from this legendary group, and every song is a winner.Released in the same year as 'Rags To Rufus' (1974), 'Rufusized' expands on the Grammy-winning foundation laid with the earlier CD, and the listener is satisfied.Chaka Khan is The Voice of the group, and her unique vocals blend well with the band!! (By the way, guitarist Tony Maiden & Bassist Bobby Watson debut here!!). Classics like 'Once You Get Started', 'Please Pardon Me', 'Stop On By', 'Pack'd My Bags', and more are available on this CD!! Enough said, this is an ESSENTIAL CD!!!!

Peace, SD (of 'Chaka's World')

This is the one Rufus/Chaka album I never gave enough credit to until I sat down and listened to it in its entirety. I love how the album is constructed and how one georgous song follows the other - this is what was great about this particular era - these artists worked on creating an entire album of great singles, great music and didn't just focus on making one or two chart-topping singles soley to send buyers scurrying to buy a mediocre album.

My favorite tracks:

PACK'D MY BAGS - I love the beautiful piano intro seguing into a truly funky track

YOUR SMILE - really beautifully spare track that allows Chaka's vocals to shine

PLEASE PARDON ME - this is simply one of my all-time fave tracks by this group

I'M A WOMAN - funky anthemm

STOP ON BY - midtempo groove

RUFUSIZED - funky instrumental

ONCE YOU GET STARTED - although I preferred their hi-energy version on the live disc, this is still a great track

My only recommendation to all concerned: GET IT, GET IT, GET IT - YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!

"Once you get started," "Please pardon me," and "Stop on By" was enough for me to purchase this album! Get yourself a copy at a good price, pop it in and enjoy it! This is classic Funk! Five stars...

My Mother bought this for me when I was in high school. I played it all the time. I liked Rufus because they were so gritty like Sly & The Family Stone. A lot of the R&B at the time was sweet and fluffy, which was fine too, but when you wanted some funk, this was a great start. I also have "The Very Best of Rufus" which has the wonderful song "You Got The Love" which has always been a favorite of mine. I always wanted to: Look like Vanessa Williams and sing like Chaka Khan. Man! what a powerful voice. This CD is a classic.

What an amazing collection of funk/soul tunes played by some of the best musicians of the period and sung by the greatest diva in pop music. Stop On By is worth the price alone. Please Pardon Me is emotionally gripping. Once You Get Started is a great starter for any album. I'm A Woman has to be the funkiest song for any female vocalist written. This cd is one that needs to be recognized for greatness!!!