Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 [Import]

Chaka Khan

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 12, 1996)
• Original Release Date: November 12, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002MX7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,315 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Whether with the groundbreaking group Rufus or on her own, Chaka Khan has one of the most distinctive and influential voices in R&B. She's able to wail at full emotive throttle or deliver a love song with nuanced jazz-inflected tones, and sometimes even do both within the same track. This 1996 collection gathers some of Khan's biggest and most beloved solo efforts. Included here are the classic tangy attack of "Ain't Nobody" and the turntable-enhanced smash "I Feel for You" (penned by admirer and recent collaborator Prince). There's also the anthemic original version of "I'm Every Woman," the moody "Through the Fire," and her 1996 collabo with Me'Shell Ndegeocello, "You Never Miss the Water." As all great vocalists do, Khan takes control of every song, breathing fire and life into the words and interpreting them without overpowering their meaning. One listen to Epiphany and it's abundantly clear that, even though she's been AWOL from the charts for a while, Chaka Khan remains a founding mother of soul and funk, armed with a potent voice that can both illuminate and elevate. --Amy Linden

Product Description

Japanese Release featuring a Bonus Track. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 16 Powerfull hits from the Greatest Singer On The Planet, November 29, 2000

By	Bob Waskiewicz (Wintersville, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not all the best, but a good sampling, August 24, 2001

By	James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars How can this be?, February 4, 2005

By	20to20K (Maryland) - See all my reviews

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.