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Chaka Khan announced her solo freedom with "I'm Every Woman," the euphoric opening track on 1978's Chaka. At 25 years old, Khan was already a veteran of the funk-rock band Rufus with whom she had recorded landmark hits like "Tell Me Something Good" and "Sweet Thing," but Chaka took her emotive style in a new, mainstream R&B direction. The Warner Bros. album, produced by the legendarily versatile Arif Mardin (Dusty Springfield, Bee Gees), placed Khan's powerful voice front and center with the support of the cream of New York's session scene. On March 21, Chaka, newly remastered by Bernie Grundman, will kick off a reissue series for the singer which will also encompass remastered versions of Naughty (1980) and What'cha Gonna Do for Me (1981) later this year from Rhino.
Ashford and Simpson's fiery "I'm Every Woman," tailor-made by the songwriters for Khan, would be a tough act to follow on any album. (Khan earned a Grammy nomination for the anthem which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B chart.) But the musically sophisticated Mardin, renowned for having "the greatest ears in town" as per one accurate tribute, curated a selection of songs to show off each facet of Khan's vocal instrument. Khan had the intuition of a jazz singer, the pipes of a gospel singer, the grit of an R&B shouter, and the intuition of a pop star - making for an unbeatable, distinctive style. Chaka boasted a remarkably consistent sound in no small part due to the participation of the top-tier musicians who were well-versed in both pop and jazz, among them The Brecker Brothers, Richard Tee, David Sanborn, Airto Moreira, and Will Lee.
"Life is a Dance" came from the pen of Gavin Christopher, who had previously contributed a number of songs to Rufus' albums. It was an expectedly funky, upbeat jam, but sat comfortably on Chaka alongside David Lasley and Lana Marrano's satiny ballad "Roll Me Through the Rushes." George Benson, the Wes Montgomery disciple who had become one of Warner Bros.' biggest pop stars, dropped in for a duet on his own "We Got the Love." Khan co-wrote the majestic "Some Love," highlighted by a liquid bass groove from Mark Stevens, punchy horns courtesy of the Breckers and David Sanborn, and swirling disco strings arranged by Mardin. "A Woman in a Man's World," from Andrew Kastner and Larry John McNally, was a driving pop confection also enhanced by Mardin's dramatic orchestration; the duo also wrote the album's memorable "Sleep on It." Lalomie Washburn's "The Message in the Middle of the Bottom" is another jazz-funk workout, and Chaka even paid homage to Stevie Wonder (writer of Rufus' "Tell Me Something Good") with an update of his 1967 Motown hit "I Was Made to Love Her" as "I Was Made to Love Him."
Rhino's upcoming reissue of Chaka features the original sequence only, with no bonus tracks. It will be available on CD, LP, and digitally, and a special red vinyl pressing will be exclusive to Barnes and Noble. Look for it on March 21. You'll find pre-order links and the track listing below. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Chaka Khan, Chaka (Warner Bros. LP BSK-3245, 1978 - reissued Warner/Rhino, 2024)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Barnes & Noble
- I'm Every Woman
- Love Has Fallen on Me
- Roll Me Through the Rushes
- Sleep on It
- Life is a Dance
- We Got the Love (with George Benson)
- Some Love
- A Woman in a Man's World
- The Message in the Middle of the Bottom
- I Was Made to Love Him
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It’s interesting to see Rhino releasing a straight CD reissue. I take that as a positive sign for the CD revival. They must believe in the CD sales potential.
I hope you are right! There is so much material in every genre of music waiting for cd reissue.
Sometimes bonus cuts, out takes, demos aren't necessary. I can't wait to hear this sumptuous album, which I just pre ordered.
Rhino already did a straight reissue of this that was included in the Original Album Series. (You can still pick it up at a good price on EBay AND get four other complete Chaka albums included for you money) I am interested in what people think of it soundwise but without any bonus tracks I'm happy with the earlier one so it's a pass for me.
I have that album. And a record player. GREAT ALBUM. CHAKA, LOVE IT
I read there would be an "I'm Every Woman" remix by DJ Rashida featuring Sheila E but apparently this mix won't be on the album?
I remember the Chaka album very well I bought with my allowance money as a kid both Chaka and her hand Rufus street player that year and still have those classic albums
This has been reissued so many times on CD. Big Break reissued this with extensive liner notes and it sounds amazing. I will predict what's going to happen. Like they did a few decades ago Rhino will reissue "Chaka" and "Naughty" with no bonus tracks. Because there are so many editions out there they wont sell. The label will say, "See! There is no interest in her back catalog" and we wont see anything else. If they want these titles to sell they have to include bonus material. Im not spending money on music I already own!