Quintessential 80s groove from Chaka Khan – a great version of Prince's "I Feel For You", remixed here with some really chunky beats and cool sampled vocal bits! 12-inch, Vinyl record

Stunning work from Rufus & Chaka Khan – still very much at the height of their powers on this late 70s release – and still doing things at a level that nobody else can touch! The blend of jazz and soul is completely sublime – given a bit of extra help on arrangements by Clare Fischer and Seawind, both talents who are also at their best during this 70s stretch too – but the real power still comes from the core energy of Rufus, and the way they can effortlessly fuse these slinky, soulful grooves – and, of course, from the massive Chaka Khan – every bit the shining jewel in the group's crown, yet still not broken off as a superdiva on her own. The whole thing's great – and titles include "Street Player", "Stranger To Love", "Turn", "Change Your Ways", "Take Time", "Turn", and "Best Of Your Heart". LP, Vinyl record album

The very first solo album from Chaka Khan – recorded after a great 70s run in Rufus, and an instant-classic that showed the world that she might be an even more amazing artist on her own! All those fantastic vocals from the previous albums with Rufus seem to get even more center stage action here – set up with these superb arrangements from Arif Mardin, who does the same thing for Chaka that he'd done for Aretha Franklin a decade before – pushing her immediately into the role of superstardom, but in a way that's doesn't sacrifice her art at all – and which in fact may well make it even better! Titles include the long-running classic "I'm Every Woman" – but we love even more the incredible "Love Has Fallen On Me" – a funky gem that seems to evoke the Chess/Cadet scene that was in Chicago during Chaka's early years – next to other great tunes that include "I Was Made To Love Him", "Sleep On It", "We Got The Love", "Life Is A Dance", and "Sleep On It". LP, Vinyl record album

One of those records that everyone seemed to own, back in the day – and for good reason, too – as Rufus and Chaka have a way of opening ears of folks who dig so many different styles – from soul to rock to funk and jazz – but all with a groove that's totally their own! The record's one that definitely broke the group big out of their Chicago roots – thanks to the incredible "Tell Me Something Good" – an amazing workout that's the perfect mainstream showcase for Chaka's great voice, made even better by the use of one of those cool Peter Frampton-vocoder thingies! The album also features some other excellent material that's a bit more restrained, and more in the band's usual jazz funk mode – like "Ain't Nothing But A Maybe", "You Got The Love", "Smokin Room", and "Sideways". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – and one of the gems that Arif Mardin produced for Chaka during her immediate solo years after leaving Rufus. Mardin's sweet soulful arrangements are a perfect fit for Chaka's voice – not only on soul tracks like "Tearin' It Up", "Got To Be There", "Slow Dancin", and "Pass It On", but also on the album's extended jazz vocal medley, which features takes on "Hot House", "Epistrophy", "Yardbird Suite", "Con Alma", "Twisted", and "Giant Steps". LP, Vinyl record album

Damn wonderful solo work from Chaka Khan – a record that holds onto all the best funky elements of her 70s music with Rufus – but also finds a way to put the lady even more strongly out front! There's maybe a bit more of a clubby vibe here than before, but never in a cheesy or commercial way – as the mighty Arif Mardin is at the production helm, and arguably does an even better job with Chaka than on his classic productions for Aretha Franklin! The vocals soar out beautifully, but the grooves are every bit as great – with these warm jazzy touches that make the album instantly seductive – and a level of sophistication that's kept this one strong for many many years. Titles include the wonderful stepper "Any Old Sunday", plus "We Got Each Other", "We Can Work It Out", "Night Moods", "What Cha Gonna Do For Me", and "Father He Said" – plus "I Know You, I Live You", a big Chicago house cut from the old days. LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums ever from Rufus and Chaka Khan – a sublime 70s set in which the group's sound totally comes together, and finds a really special sound that's all its own! The blend of elements here is perfect – the group's funky jazz instrumentation, and Chaka Khan's warm vocals – very soulful, but also inflected with plenty of jazz, too – which makes even the mellower tunes here sparkle like nothing else on the market at the time – or all these many years later! There's a strong sense of understatement to the record – the sound is neither too slick, nor too laidback – just totally perfect and on the money – on a set of gems that includes the classic hit "Hollywood", plus "Slow Screw Against The Wall", "Close The Door", "Egyptian Song", and "Everlasting Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Funk, soul, jazz, and plenty more – all wrapped up into this 70s masterpiece from Rufus – the kind of record that not only never gets old, but which still has folks wondering how the group could have gotten things this perfect all these many years later! Chaka Khan and the group are in sublime formation here – tight, but never slick – sublimely soulful, but never in a way that sounds like they're trying to copy anyone else at all – always in this unique blend of all the best elements from all their favorit styles, fused into a fresh new sound that's completely Rufus-like all the way through! Titles include the incredible track "Stop On By", plus the instrumental "Rufusized", "I'm A Woman", "Somebody's Watching You", "Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me Of A Friend)", and "Right Is Right". LP, Vinyl record album

Chaka Khan steps off her smoother sets from the early 80s here – into a groove that's a bit chunkier, funkier, and with some key 80s groove touches! Arif Mardin's still in charge of the whole project here, but he's opened the door to a host of other producers to update Chaka's sound for the dancefloor – including John Robie, Russ Titelman, James Newton Howard, and others. The title hit – "I Feel For You" – is a vocoder bumping classic from back in the day – and other tracks include "Chinatown", "This Is My Night", "La Flamme", "My Love Is Alive", "Hold Her", "Through The Fire", and "Stronger Than Before". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A really unique album for Chaka Khan – one in which she teams up with a host of jazz artists to craft a classic-styled set of vocals! Given that Chaka was at the height of her 80s groove solo career at the time of this one, the move is a surprising one – but also a great chance for Chaka to show that she has a lot more to offer than just pop chops, as she sounds pretty darn great scatting on these classic jazz numbers. And as proof that the set was definitely a serious jazz effort, Chaka's got a great lineup on the album – a group that includes Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor, Chick Corea on piano, and Lenny White on drums. Titles include "Them There Eyes", "All Of Me", "Take The A Train", "Hire Wire", "The Aerialist", and "I Hear Music". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

One of those records that everyone seemed to own, back in the day – and for good reason, too – as Rufus and Chaka have a way of opening ears of folks who dig so many different styles – from soul to rock to funk and jazz – but all with a groove that's totally their own! The record's one that definitely broke the group big out of their Chicago roots – thanks to the incredible "Tell Me Something Good" – an amazing workout that's the perfect mainstream showcase for Chaka's great voice, made even better by the use of one of those cool Peter Frampton-vocoder thingies! The album also features some other excellent material that's a bit more restrained, and more in the band's usual jazz funk mode – like "Ain't Nothing But A Maybe", "You Got The Love", "Smokin Room", and "Sideways". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the last albums that Rufus and Chaka Khan ever recorded together – and one of the best, as well! The set's a surprisingly great blend of live material and studio cuts – concert material taking up three sides of the 2LP set, and studio tracks on the last side – working together to pack a super-powerful punch! The concert cuts are from a wonderful appearance at the Savoy – and feature Rufus really stepping back to their classic funk mode, filled with that sense of jazzy tightness that's always made them great – and Chaka really soaring over the top, with that pride and power that marked her initial years as a solo act. The live songs include "You Got Love", "Dance Wit Me", "Sweet Thing", "Pack'd My Bags", "Tell Me Something Good", "Ain't That Peculiar", and "Do You Love What You Feel". Then, studio cuts really come in to send the whole thing home – all handled by Russ Titelman with great care, and including the classic "Ain't Nobody", one of the group's last great hits – plus "One Million Kisses", "Try A Little Understanding", and "Don't Go To Strangers". LP, Vinyl record album

Great work by one of the archetypal funky soul bands of the 70s – and a group whose impact is still being felt today! Of course, one of the reasons for that is Chaka Khan's incredible vocals – caught here at a prime early point, and very nicely set against some warm electric keyboards and tight groovy guitars – which provide a groove that's live and spontaneous, and never too forced – just the right kind of energy to work perfectly with her approach to the lyrics, without any of the too-polished modes you'd fine from copycat groups trying to fake a sound like this. Rufus had been with Chaka for years by this point – fusing together a sublime blend of funk, soul, jazz, and rock – a sound they forged woodshedding in Chicago in the early days, let loose in perfect studio territory on the west coast of the 70s. The whole thing's a classic – and titles include "Jive Talking", "Sweet Thing", "Fools Paradise", "Circle", "Everybody Has An Aura", and "On Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A definite masterjam from Chaka Khan and Rufus – one of the group's last key efforts together – produced to perfection by the mighty Quincy Jones! Chaka's vocals are sublime right from the start – taking on the soaring majesty she'd use on her initial solo recordings – and the group's tighter than ever – really hitting the right mix of jazzy funk and soul to make the whole thing come together perfectly. Greatness like this only gets better with years – and this sweet little album is more than proof of that fact! Tracks include a version of "Body Heat", plus "Heaven Bound", "Live In Me", "Any Love", "Do You Love What You Feel", and "What Am I Missing". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums ever from this hip Australian soul singer – a vocalist who was as important to her scene in the 70s as Chaka Khan was in the US! That comparison may seem like a strong one, but Renee Geyer's got a hell of a voice – and she really sounds wonderful here working in a live setting with her very tight group! Titles include her classic funky version of "Really Really Love You" – plus the great "Hard Head" and "Shakey Ground". LP, Vinyl record album

Features amazing synth work by Jan Hammer – and additional tracks by Glenn Frey, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Grandmaster Melle Mel, and Tina Turner. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing debut from Rufus – a group so great, they were virtually a genre unto themselves during the 70s! Rufus came from the same totally hip Chicago scene that gave the world Minnie Riperton and Earth Wind & Fire – and like both of those greats, these guys have a way of drawing from mighty deep roots, then creating an incredible sound that's completely fresh – a mode that's funky in all the right places, plenty soulful from Chaka Khan's great lead vocals, yet fused together with a freshness that marks Rufus as one of the most inventive acts of their generation! And sure, lots of other folks copped their act as the years went on – but nobody could do it like these guys – as you'll hear on cuts that include "Haulin Coal", "Satisfied", "Feel Good", "Keep It Coming", "Slip N Slide", and "There's No Tellin". LP, Vinyl record album

Minnie Riperton's first album for Epic – and the record that broke her from a hip Chicago underground artist into one of the seventies' biggest female soul stars! The record moves past the baroque soul of Minnie's early years with Rotary Connection and Charles Stepney – and hits a mix of mellow compressed LA styles and slicker funkier numbers that do the same thing for her Chicago-trained vocals that Rufus' backing did for that of Chaka Khan. Of course, it helps that she's got some superbly sensitive writing and arranging help by husband Richard Rudolph – and Stevie Wonder's definitely lurking in the background, too – not credited with production, due to contractual reasons, although he helped put most of the album together. Includes Minnie's huge crossover hit "Loving You", a perfect showcase for her beautiful 5 octave voice, plus the tracks "Our Lives", "Every Time He Comes Around", "Perfect Angel", and "Reasons". LP, Vinyl record album

Great later work from Rufus – working here without Chaka Khan on vocals, but sounding even jazzier as a result! There almost seems to be more emphasis on the instrumentation than before – and the album's got a warmly funky groove that definitely carries on the 70s Rufus tradition, but cleans things up a bit for the 80s generation – especially lean on the rhythms and the keyboards! Tony Maiden and David Wolinski handle the vocals, often in a compressed way that's mixed right down in the music – but the real charm here comes from the rhythms and the sweet jazzy licks in the grooves. Titles include "Tonight We Love", "Can I Show You", "What Is It", "Afterwards", "We Got The Way", "Party Til You're Broke", "Love Is Taking Over", and "Secret Love". LP, Vinyl record album

"All Good" features Chaka Khan. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A stone classic from Teena Marie – one of her magical self-produced efforts for Motown! The record's a winner all the way through – with a depth to the vocals and backings that are steeped in the 70s styles of Minnie Riperton and Chaka Khan. A few tracks get a bit upbeat funky, but overall, it's the mellow ones we like the best. Titles include "I Need Your Lovin", "Young Love", "First Class Love", "Irons In The Fire", "Chains", "You Make Love Like Springtime", and "Tune In Tomorrow". LP, Vinyl record album

An overlooked record in the grand scheme – which is unforgivable in our book! This self-titled album is Prince's second album, and already his vision is becoming a little more focused, and you can really hear the seeds of his later efforts – a really remarkable, unique, and fascinating record that stands up with some of his best work, and bucks all late 70s trends and cliches in pop, soul and funk! In some ways this is one of our favorite Prince records, as it has a kind of intimacy that was lacking on later sets – or maybe because the hit "I Wanna Be Your Lover" has such a mad groove! "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" has the sly sound that would run throughout the rest of Prince's better work for years to come – and Chaka Khan would later cover "I Feel for You", and hit large with it in the 80s. Also includes "Sexy Dancer", "With You" and "When We're Dancing Close & Slow". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes tracks by Al Jarreau, Quarterflash, Rod Stewart, Talk Talk, Pointer Sisters, Burt Bacharach, Marshall Crenshaw, Heaven 17, and Rufus & Chaka Khan. LP, Vinyl record album

Classic club from Taka Boom – a singer with a name that was just right for the disco generation! Taka's got an approach here that's common for the time, but also a cut above – an approach to disco that's more soulful overall, and which has a bit more staying power than throwaway pop for the clubs. The album features some good help in the right places – including sister Chaka Khan on backing vocals, Gary Bartz on alto sax, and McKinley Jackson on some of the arrangements – all forces that nicely match the soulful impulse of Taka's vocals. Titles include "Troubled Waters", "Night Dancin", "Red Hot", "Dance Like You Do At Home", "Cloud Dancer", "You're My Everything", and "Dance Baby Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

An early 80s gem from Aretha Franklin – one of the best of her years at Arista Records, thanks to solid help in the studio from the mighty Arif Mardin! Mardin's in perfect form here – the same blend of older soul and jazzier, more sophisticated styles that he was also bringing to Chaka Khan at the time – although Franklin's arguably more deserving of his talents, given her long relationship with the producer! There's a full, mature feel here – one that really gets Aretha back in gear as a singer, and shows off her talents to a new generation in new ways – yet all without trying too hard for a crossover hit. Tunes include a few originals by Franklin, and titles include "Kind Of Man", "Whole Lot Of Me", "Love All The Hurt Away", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "It's My Turn", "There's A Star For Everyone", and "Hold On I'm Coming". LP, Vinyl record album

Killer early work from Renee Geyer – her first album as a solo act, and the kind of set that really made her one of the best artists on the Australian scene at the time! There's a blend of mellow funk and soul here that's totally wonderful – very much in the territory of the hippest American acts of the time, and served up by the Mother Earth group – who were kind of the Rufus to Renee's Chaka Khan! Titles include "Just Like A Woman", "Moon Dance", "Space Captain", "Mascara Blues", "Them Changes", "If Only You Believe", "Lean On Me", and "There's No Such Thing As Love". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool solo album from Arif Mardin – the arranger who turned out so much wonderful work for soul singers in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – a legacy that includes some of the most important recordings for Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Yet here, Arif's out on his own in an instrumental setting – working in this very hip, very groovy late 60s mode that ties together all the best currents happening on Atlantic Records at the time – soul music, mod jazz, and even a bit of Latin and Brazil – all wrapped up into a sparkling set of arrangements from the man himself! Titles include a number of covers, but redone by Mardin in a really great way – and tracks include the great original "Midnight Walk" – plus "Glass Onion", "Sympathy For the Devil", "Walk On By", "Listen Here", and "Ain't No Way". LP, Vinyl record album

A later Warner label compilation – with material by Tin Huey, Alice Cooper, Michael Franks, The Roches, Chaka Khan, Mary Russell, Gary Wright, Bob Marley, George Harrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Osiris, Ashford & Simpson, Lowell George, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Chaka Khan, The Motels, Waylon Jennings, Gap Band, Maria Conchita Alonso, Adalberto Santiago, and themes by David McHugh. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the key 70s gems cut by Australian soul singer Renee Geyer – a vocalist with a tremendous groove, and one who delivers material here that's way different than you might expect! Backing is nice and jazzy, and there's definitely a Chaka Khan/Rufus sort of vibe going on here – on tracks that include "Be There In The Morning", "Tender Hooks", "Touch", "Moving Along", "Quicker Than The Eye", and her classic "Heading In The Right Direction". LP, Vinyl record album

Rufus without Chaka Khan – but a surprisingly nice set, nonetheless! The album features various members of the group on lead vocals – singing in a warm, compressed style that's got the same sort of AOR sound as the group's jazzy grooves at the time. The overall musicianship is still quite nice – a commercial take on jazz funk, but played to perfection, thanks to the tightness of the ensemble. Titles include the instrumental "Red Hot Poker", plus "Dancin Mood", "Don't You Sit Alone", "Bet My Dreams", "Pleasure Dome", and "Life In The City". LP, Vinyl record album