- Rufus featuring Chaka Khan · 1975
- 80's Soul Essentials · 2023
- Rags to Rufus · 1974
- What Cha' Gonna Do for Me · 1981
- Masterjam · 1979
- Street Player · 1978
- Ask Rufus · 1977
- Ain't Nobody (Remixes) - EP · 1989
- Stompin' at The Savoy (Live) · 1983
- Ask Rufus · 1977
- Rags to Rufus · 1974
- Rufusized · 1974
- Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 · 1981
Essential Albums
- Chaka Khan’s third album with Rufus proved that commercial and artistic success needed not be mutually exclusive. As the band perfected its blend of pop, funk and disco, they continued to retain a high caliber of songwriting and instrumentation. Chaka Khan’s importance to the band cannot be overstated. She gives every song soul and guts, and makes every performance utterly convincing. “Fool’s Paradise,” “Ooh I Like Your Loving” and “Circles” are brilliant productions that combine complex arrangements with Chaka’s vibrant vocals, while “Have a Good Time” and “Everybody Has an Aura” reprise the hard-hitting funk of the band’s early years. A reading of the Bee Gees’ “Jive Talkin’” shows Chaka’s ability to squeeze the sex from any song, but as a whole, the album is more of a showcase for her gentle side. “Little Boy Blue” is a poignant love note to a man lost in addiction, but the real showstopper is “Sweet Thing.” Over a slippery, minimalist guitar riff, Chaka offers the sweetest evocation of lovelorn delirium.
Albums
Music Videos
- 1983
Artist Playlists
- There's more to this Chicago funk band than just a star lead singer.
Live Albums
About Rufus
The funk band Rufus launched the career of lead singer Chaka Khan and enjoyed massive success in the ’70s with hits like “Tell Me Something Good” and “Sweet Thing.” • The roots of Rufus lay in the Chicago band The American Breed. Members of that group came together to form Rufus (originally Ask Rufus), featuring Chaka Khan on vocals. • Rufus debuted with a 1973 self-titled album that hewed closer to rock and pop than their funkier later material. The LP includes a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Maybe Your Baby.” • Their next album, Rags to Rufus, features a song Wonder composed especially for the group: “Tell Me Something Good.” It reached No. 3 on both the pop and R&B charts and took home the Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. • The band went on to release a string of successful ’70s albums, topping the R&B charts with 1975’s Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, 1977’s Ask Rufus, 1978’s Street Player, and 1979’s Masterjam. • By the end of the ’70s, Rufus had scored four No. 1 R&B singles and three Top 10 pop hits. • As Khan’s solo career beckoned, the band alternated between releasing disappointing albums sans Chaka (Numbers, Party ’Til You’re Broke) and bouncing back with her participation (Masterjam, Camouflage). • Khan left the group following 1983’s Stompin’ at the Savoy, which gave the group their final No. 1 R&B hit, “Ain’t Nobody.” The song earned them a Grammy for R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
- ORIGIN
- Chicago, IL, United States
- FORMED
- 1970
- GENRE
- R&B/Soul