LP Review: Rufusized
Released: 1975
LP Charts: #2 R&B (2 weeks); #7 pop
Rufus was a largely bland album with some good moments. Rags to Rufus was a largely good album with some bland moments…
Rufusized is a band fully realized!
Hands down my favorite album by the band and the one I also think is their best. Not a single weak, mediocre, or even average song here. Everything is at least good. At least good. Most are better than that.
I think the secret success of this album was the remaking of the band Rufus asTony Maiden and Bobby Watson (both of whom would soldier on with the group until its demise in 1983) entered the fray.
AS THE RUFUS TURNS (where we keep track of band members)
Kevin Murphy (keyboards)
Chaka Khan (vocals)
Tony Maiden replacing Al Ciner (guitar and vocals)
Bobby Watson replacing Dennis Belfield (bass)
André Fischer (drums)
This new Rufus gets off to slammin’ start with the horn-infested bravado of “Once You Get Started” (#4 R&B, #10 pop, #2 disco). This is what I would call the first unabashed dance song from the band. Chaka Khan sounds invigorated at the chance to let her voice rip over the funky disco beat. Also, new guitarist Tony Maiden gives co-lead vocals that aren’t fantastic in a vacuum, but serve as a nice foil for Khan’s roar to work off of.
And the best part of the song is the outro where the band tells you to “come on and groove” as Bobby Watson’s bass guitar thumps away.
If you were thinking Rufus would just get into a disco-funk vibe for the rest of the LP, you’re wrong! This baby’s got some range.
“Somebody's Watching You” is mostly a rock-soul song. “Pack’d My Bags” has a nearly minute-long intro that is solely classical piano before it transforms into a lush funk ballad. “Your Smile” is purely a lush ballad; imagine a pillow turned into a song. That’ll be “Your Smile”.
Side One ends with the struttin’ funk instrumental “Rufusized”. It contributes to the album’s diversity with a squawking saxophone and some talk box vocals.
Side Two opens with some funk-rock feminism in “I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone)” and more tough funk-rock with “Right Is Right”. “Half Moon” lightens the mood somewhat but is laced with tons of organ courtesy of Kevin Murphy.
Now we reach the album’s high point: “Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me Of A Friend)” (#6 R&B, #48 pop). This song breaks no new ground. It did not change the course of music history. It’s just a perfectly performed and paced midtempo soul ballad. The horns hit just right, there’s a catchy intro with some kick ass drumming, and Khan’s vocals are stupendous throughout, but especially during the outro as she just blows higher and higher.
Shoulda been the album closer, but there’s one final song that creeps into your speaker. It’s a Bobby Womack cover titled “Stop On By”. It is slinky, funky, and jazzy. Given the song’s heartbreaking and tortured lyrics, it’s fittingly a duet between Khan and Maiden. A special shout out to the eerie string arrangement.
ALBUM GRADE: A
A well deserved second gold album for Rufus and Chaka Khan. They’d make great music for years to come (together and apart), but they never again reached this zenith of musicality (either together or apart).
Song Scores
Once You Get Started: 8/10
Somebody's Watching You: 8/10
Pack’d My Bags: 8.5/10
Your Smile: 8/10
Rufusized: 8/10
I'm A Woman (I'm A Backbone): 8/10
Right Is Right: 7.5/10
Half Moon: 7.5/10
Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me Of A Friend): 10/10
Stop on By: 8.5/10