LP Review: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Released: 1975
LP Charts: #1 R&B (6 weeks); #7 pop
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan is one of those albums that’s a disappointment despite being really good. The trouble stems from the album sounding like a retreat into musical safety. Nothing here is as hard-edged or adventurous as the music on Rufusized.
AS THE RUFUS TURNS (where we keep track of band members)
The band lineup was the same as it was on Rufusized.
Kevin Murphy (keyboards)
Chaka Khan (vocals)
Tony Maiden (guitar and vocals)
Bobby Watson (bass)
André Fischer (drums)
The opener “Fool’s Paradise” encapsulates the kind of laid back feel this album revels in too much. Sure Chaka Khan wails on the opener here just like she did on the previous album’s “Once You Get Started”, but “Paradise” ain’t no “Get Started”. I still like it, but the thing is a bit too smooth.
“Everybody Has An Aura” also goes for the smooth approach with lesser results. “Circles” is better, but not by any appreciable degree as it still meanders in the loop of smooth.
So much smooth! Where’s the grit?
Well, “Have A Good Time” attempted to provide some grit since it’s a knock off of “Once You Get Started”. However, “Good Time” sounds contrived, a conscious effort to duplicate “Get Started", but it has little of the vibrancy that marked the original hit.
So that means the only song on the first side that I can dig unabashedly is “Ooh I Like Your Loving”. It manages to be laid back, smooth, and funky. The groove is impeccable and makes for great cruisin’ music.
The second side opens with the soul classic “Sweet Thing” (#1 R&B, #5 pop). It’s a great song, but (surprise) gets too smooth at times for its own good. (It’s no shock that purveyors of smooth jazz would raid this song for years to come.) To no one’s astonishment, “Sweet Thing” appropriately and finally catches soulful fire when Khan finally lets loose with a wail at the two-minute mark signaling we’re actually getting into true soul territory. Prior to that, the song was just noodling around.
The album’s first (good) funk song (not just funky song but FUNK SONG) then chugs along with “Dance Wit Me” (#5 R&B, #39 pop). So funky it don’t need an H and Fischer’s drums were working hard for the money on this jam.
For my money, the album’s most ambitious (and best) song is “Little Boy Blue”. It has a funky jazz fusion vibe that would be explored more on their next album Ask Rufus. The string arrangement finely situates itself as dramatic instead of syrupy. There’s a tricky electric guitar that pokes in and out before taking center stage at the song’s end. Khan also is enjoying herself as she gets to indulge her jazz chanteuse pretensions for the first (but certainly not the last) time.
“On Time” is the obligatory struttin’ funk instrumental. It is much needed on this album. “Jive Talkin’” (#35 R&B) closes the album as its only cover song. It’s okay, but you’re definitely not missing out if you stick with the Bee Gees original.
ALBUM GRADE: B
Okay, so clearly this is no Rufusized, but this is still a worthwhile album for R&B/funk fans of the 1970s. Bands can’t routinely put out “the best album of their career” every time out. And for all my griping about the LP being too smooth (which it is), I still enjoy it.
Song Scores
Fool’s Paradise: 7/10
Have A Good Time: 6.5/10
Ooh I Like Your Loving: 8/10
Everybody Has An Aura: 6/10
Circles: 6.5/10
Sweet Thing: 8/10
Dance Wit Me: 7.5/10
Little Boy Blue: 8.5/10
On Time: 7.5/10
Jive Talkin’: 6/10