Chaka Khan (album)

Chaka Khan is the eponymous fourth solo album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1982.

Chaka Khan
Studio album by
Chaka Khan
ReleasedNovember 17, 1982
Recorded1982
GenreR&B, funk, soul
Length39:02
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerArif Mardin
Chaka Khan chronology
Echoes of an Era
(1982)		 Chaka Khan
(1982)		 The Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Robert ChristgauB+ [2]

Overview

An excellent album from Chaka Khan, mixing tingling uptempo tunes with her characteristic soaring, glorious vocals. "Got to Be There" reached number five on the R&B charts, but it actually wasn't the album's high point. That was the marvelous "Be Bop Medley," which later led hardcore jazz purist Betty Carter to proclaim Khan the one female singer working outside the jazz arena with legitimate improvising credentials.

— Ron Lynn, Allmusic[3]

Two singles were released from Chaka Khan: the Michael Jackson cover "Got to Be There" (US Pop #67, US R&B #5) and "Tearin' It Up" (US R&B #48), the latter also as a 12" single including an extended remix (7:21) as well as an instrumental version (8:07), both mixed by Larry Levan and included on Warner Music Japan's 1999 compilation Dance Classics of Chaka Khan. The album track "Slow Dancin'" was a funky ballad duet with Rick James. On Billboard's charts, the album reached #5 on Black Albums and #52 on Pop Albums. The "Be Bop Medley" won producer Arif Mardin and Khan a Grammy Award in 1984 in the Best Vocal Arrangement For Two Or More Voices category.

Following the release of the Chaka Khan album and the greatest hits package The Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Khan reunited with the band Rufus later that year for one final album together, the double live/studio set Stompin' at the Savoy - Live (1983). Her next solo album I Feel for You followed in 1984.

Despite its many accolades and artistic achievements the Chaka Khan album remained unreleased on CD in both the United States and Europe, and was only available as an import from Japan, until it was finally issued on CD in the UK in 2010 as part of a Five disc set containing Khan's first five solo albums.[4]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tearin' It Up"Bunny Sigler, Jane Lumibao6:39
2."Slow Dancin'" (featuring Rick James)Loz Netto5:22
3."Best In The West"Dominic Bugatti, Frank Musker4:00
4."Got to Be There"Elliot Willensky3:50
5."Be Bop Medley: 'Hot House' / 'East Of Suez (Come On Sailor)' / 'Epistrophy (I Wanna Play)' / 'Yardbird Suite' / 'Con Alma' / 'Giant Steps'"Tadd Dameron / Lou Stein / Thelonious Sphere Monk / Charlie Parker / Dizzy Gillespie / John Coltrane5:22
6."Twisted"Colin Campsie, George McFarlane4:20
7."So Not To Worry"Mark McMillan5:00
8."Pass It On (A Sure Thing) (Pasalo Esta Seguro)"Lalomie Washburn, Tony Maiden5:04

Personnel

Track 1 “ Tearin’ It Up” Low Voice - Alvin Fields Vocal Ad Libs - Hamish Stuart Electric Piano - Lenny Underwood Moog bass synthesizer, Prophet and Jupiter synthesizers - Robbie Buchanan Handclaps - Steve Ferrone Percussion - Sammy Figueroa Alto Saxophone Solo - Michael Brecker

Track 2 “Slow Dancin’” Vocal - Rick James Keyboards & Synthesizers - Robbie Buchanan

Track 3 “ Best In The West” Keyboards & Synthesizers - Robbie Buchanan Additional OBX Synthesizer - Bob Christianson Percussion - Sammy Figueroa Fiddle - Kenny Kosek Harmonica - Robert Bonfiglio Steel guitar & Jaw Harp - Eric Weissberg

Track 4 “Got To Be There” Keyboards & Synthesizers - Robbie Buchanan Background vocals – Hamish Stuart, Will Lee

Track 5 “Be Bop Medley” Additional OBX Synthesizer - Bob Christianson Electric piano & Synthesizers – Robbie Buchanan Vocoder & additional synthesizers ("Con Alma") – Bob Christianson Sitar - Eric Weissberg Darbuka ("East Of Suez") - Seyhun Çelik Tenor Saxophone - Joe Henderson

Track 6 “Twisted” Lead Guitar - Ray Gomez Keyboards & Synthesizers - Robbie Buchanan

Track 7 “So Not To Worry” Bass - Anthony Jackson Piano & Synthesizers – Robbie Buchanan Background vocals – Hamish Stuart, Will Lee

Track 8 “Pass It On (A Sure Thing) (Pasa Lo Esta Seguro)” Tube Voice – Mark Stevens Piano & Synthesizers – Robbie Buchanan Alto Saxophone - Dave Tofani


Production
  • Arif Mardin - record producer, musical arranger (rhythm) tracks: 1, 2, 3, musical arranger track: 4, musical arranger & vocal arrangement track: 5
  • Randy Brecker - musical arranger (horns) track: 1
  • Robbie Buchanan - musical arranger (bass part) track: 1, musical arranger (rhythm) tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8. musical arranger tracks: 4, 5
  • Danne Lemelle - musical arranger (horns) track: 2
  • Chaka Khan - vocal arrangement & special lyrics track: 5
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References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r10811/review
  2. Christgau, Robert. "Chaka Khan review". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  3. Lynn, Ron. "Chaka Khan (Review)". Allmusic.
  4. "Chaka Khan: Original Album Series" Amazon.co.uk
  5. "Credits". Discogs.
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