LP Review: Naugthy
Released: 1980
LP Charts: #6 R&B, #43 pop
After the success of Chaka, Ms. Khan on Naughty largely maintains the triumphs of her solo debut. Indeed, many of the same folks associated with Chaka return—producer Arif Mardin and Average White Band fellas Hamish Stuart and Steve Ferrone reprise their roles as guitarist and drummer, respectively.
Don’t fear, though, the returning cast and new players don’t simply copy what came before. Overall I’d say this effort exceeds Chaka.
The single “Clouds” (#10 R&B) was nowhere near the hit that “I’m Every Woman” was, but it’s neeeeeearly as good. Once again written by Ashford & Simpson, the single has a dramatic opening with thunder and rumbling clouds. The music throughout the song sounds like a continuous cloudburst as Khan (surprise) sings her ass off. As do her backing vocalists which include Cissy Houston and her teenaged daughter, Whitney.
“Get Ready, Get Set” is the first of several expertly performed songs. Khan turns in a solid cover of “Move Me No Mountain”, previously recorded by Barry White’s Love Unlimited vocal trio. Khan’s version has the added spice of a sitar.
Okay, next comes the album highlights for me, the duo of “Nothing's Gonna Take You Away” and “So Naughty”. Technically two songs, but since they segue right into one another thanks to a sexy saxophone I never can listen to one without the other. “Take You Away” is a luscious ballad with Hamish Stuart and Luther Vandross on backing vocals. Michael Brecker’s sax and Ferrone’s drums begin kicking the ballad into a groovy spot before everything (but the sax) fades out… the sax wails a bit… and then…
A BLAST OF HORNS AND SYNTHESIZERS introduce “So Naughty”, which despite being a bit midtempo, you can tell it ain’t staying that way. With Marcus Miller killing it on bass, the song keeps that deceptive midtempo groove until about the 2:30 mark when a sax-filled break down begins. When the break down ends at 3:00, Khan basically kicks over the mic stand and just starts blasting away tearing up your speakers.
This album’s breadth just keeps hitting ya with the disco-rock of “Too Much Love”. Then on “All Night’s All Right” does a sludgy slow funk jam with an electric violin. Sure, go ahead. “What You Did” has tubas. Yes, tubas. Sure, go ahead.
Shit, I forgot this album had “Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly) (#22 R&B)”. That’s the album highlight. Maybe the best song Chaka ever recorded. The backing vocalists are amazing in name and game here as Cissy, Hamish, Luther, Mark Stevens, and Ullanda McCullough kill it night and day here. There’s wistful harmonica, thumpin’ bass and piano, and cinematic strings that fill this song with an inescapable nostalgia. Nostalgia for what exactly, I don’t know.
The all-star backing singers return to see Chaka out with “Our Love's in Danger” written by Ashford & Simpson. Perfectly fine post-disco material, yet it’s the weakest song here, which speaks to just how good this album is.
ALBUM GRADE: A-
And boy howdy is this is a good, nay, great album. My favorite solo Khan album and behind only Rufusized in the greater Rufus & Chaka Khan canon.
Song Scores
Clouds: 8.5/10
Get Ready, Get Set: 7.5/10
Move Me No Mountain: 7.5/10
Nothing’s Gonna Take You Away: 8.5/10
So Naughty: 8/10
Too Much Love: 7.5/10
All Night’s All Right: 7.5/10
Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly): 9.5/10
Our Love's in Danger: 7/10