Chaka (album)

Chaka is the debut solo album by singer Chaka Khan. It was released on October 12, 1978 through Warner Bros Record label.

Chaka
Studio album by
Chaka Khan
ReleasedOctober 12, 1978
Recorded1977–1978
StudioAtlantic Recording Studios, New York City
Genre
Length43:11
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerArif Mardin
Chaka Khan chronology
Street Player
(1978)		 Chaka
(1978)		 Masterjam
(1979)
Singles from Chaka
  1. "I'm Every Woman"
    Released: September 26, 1978
  2. "Life Is A Dance"
    Released: January 17, 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Christgau's Record GuideB[2]

Overview

Still very much an integral part of Rufus, Chaka Khan set the charts on fire with her debut solo release. The first single was the R&B chart-topper "I'm Every Woman", an Ashford & Simpson track with Khan lighting up the lyric with her tantalizing vocals. Although Khan had much credibility from her association with Rufus, this album demonstrated that the dynamic vocalist could hold her own ground alone.

— Craig Lytle, Allmusic[3]

Two singles were released from Chaka, the first being her anthemic solo debut "I'm Every Woman", one of Khan's signature tunes alongside "Ain't Nobody" (1983) and "I Feel For You" (1984). The song has over the past three decades been re-released, remixed and covered a number of times, most notably by Whitney Houston in 1992 for the soundtrack album The Bodyguard, then featuring guest vocals by Khan herself and topping Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. A remix of Khan's original recording was also a Top Ten hit in the U.K. in 1989. The remix was included on the compilation Life is a Dance - The Remix Project, the title track of which was the second single release from the Chaka album in early 1979 (US R&B #40). The album also features the ballad "Roll Me Through The Rushes", never commercially released as a single but still receiving considerable airplay in 1979, as well as Khan's cover version of Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made To Love Her", re-titled "I Was Made to Love Him".

Following the release of the Chaka album Khan reunited with Rufus for the recording of 1979's Masterjam, produced by Quincy Jones. Her second solo album Naughty followed in 1980.

The Chaka album was re-released on CD in the United States by the Warner Music Group in 1998.[4]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'm Every Woman"Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson4:07
2."Love Has Fallen on Me"Lloyd Cleveland Webber, Charles Stepney4:52
3."Roll Me Through the Rushes"David Lasley, Lana Marrano4:42
4."Sleep on It"Andrew Kastner, Larry John McNally4:21
5."Life Is a Dance"Gavin Christopher4:20
6."We Got the Love" (duet with George Benson)George Benson3:27
7."Some Love"Keith Boyd, Jr., Chaka Khan, Traude Sapik, Mark Stevens5:50
8."A Woman in a Man's World"Andrew Kastner, Larry John McNally3:56
9."The Message in the Middle of the Bottom"Lalomie Washburn4:15
10."I Was Made to Love Him"Henry Cosby, Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder3:23

Personnel
  • Chaka Khan - lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Steve Ferrone – drums
  • Will Lee - bass guitar tracks 1, 3, 5
  • Anthony Jackson - bass tracks 2, 4, 10
  • Hamish Stuart - guitar tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10
  • Phil Upchurch - guitar tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
  • Richard Tee - piano tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, electric piano track 4, clavinet track 5, piano & clavinet track 10
  • Ken Bichel - synthesizer (S.R.M.) tracks 4, 6, 8
  • George Young - alto saxophone tracks 2, 5, 6
  • Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone tracks 2, 5, 6
  • Michael Brecker - tenor saxophone tracks 2, 5, 6
  • Barry Rogers - trombone tracks 2, 5, 6
  • Randy Brecker - trumpet tracks 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, trumpet & flugelhorn track 7
  • Brooks Tillotson - French horn tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
  • Jim Buffington - French horn tracks 3, 4
  • John Clark - French horn track 7, 8, 9
  • Frederick Buldrini, Gene Bianco, George Marge, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Jesse Levy, Joe Malin, Jonathan Abramowitz, Julien Barber, Kermit Moore, Marvin Morgenstern, Mitsue Takayama, Pat Winter, Regis Iandiorio, Richard Bock, Richard Sortomme, Susan Allen, Theodore Israel - strings
  • Gene Orloff - concertmaster

Track 1 “I’m Every Woman” Backing Vocals - Cissy Houston, Will Lee, Hamish Stuart

Track 2 “Love Has Fallen On Me” Backing Vocals – Cissy Houston, David Lasley, Alan Gorrie

Track 3 “Roll Me Through the Rushes” Drums – Rick Marotta Guitar - Cornell Dupree Electric Piano - Leon Pendarvis Backing Vocals – Cissy Houston, David Lasley, Luther Vandross Harp - Gene Bianco

Track 4 “Sleep on It” Guitar – Andrew Kastner Backing Vocals – Will Lee, Hamish Stuart

Track 5 “Life Is a Dance” Backing Vocals – Alan Gorrie. Will Lee, Hamish Stuart

Track 6 “We Got the Love” Lead Vocal - George Benson Bass - Phil Upchurch Electric Piano - Arthur Jenkins Congas – Raphael Cruz Flutes – Eddie Daniels, Phil Bodner Alto Flute – George Marge

Track 7 “Some Love” Bass – Mark Stevens Guitar – Onnie McIntyre Percussion - Airto Moreira Tenor Saxophone solo - Michael Brecker Trumpet & Flugelhorn - Randy Brecker Alto Saxophone - David Sanborn

Track 8 “A Woman in a Man's World” Guitar – Andrew Kastner Bass Trombone - Paul Faulise Percussion - Sammy Figueroa Alto Saxophone - David Sanborn

Track 9 “The Message in the Middle of the Bottom” Guitar – Onnie McIntyre Bass - Hamish Stuart Bass Trombone - Paul Faulise Clavinet – Arthur Jenkins Congas – Raphael Cruz Tenor Saxophone solo - Michael Brecker Cello – Jesse Levy, Kermit Moore, Richard Bock

Track 10 “I Was Made to Love Him” Guitar Solo – Tony Maiden Backing Vocals – Terri Gonzalez, Mark Stevens, Hamish Stuart

Production

References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r42218/review
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: K". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Lytle, Craig. "Chaka (Review)". Allmusic.
  4. Discogs.com entry
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