Chaka (album)
| Chaka | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:11 | |||
Warner Bros. | ||||
| Producer | Arif Mardin | |||
| Chaka Khan chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Chaka | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Allmusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B[2] |
Chaka is the debut solo album by singer Chaka Khan, released on October 12, 1978 through Warner Bros. Records label.
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 "
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. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | " Valerie Simpson | 4:07 | |
| 2. | "Love Has Fallen on Me" | Lloyd Cleveland Webber, Charles Stepney | 4:52 |
| 3. | "Roll Me Through the Rushes" | David Lasley, Lana Marrano | 4:42 |
| 4. | "Sleep on It" | Andrew Kastner, Larry John McNally | 4:21 |
| 5. | "Life Is a Dance" | Gavin Christopher | 4:20 |
| 6. | "We Got the Love" (duet with George Benson) | George Benson | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Some Love" | Keith Boyd, Jr., Chaka Khan, Traude Sapik, Mark Stevens | 5:50 |
| 8. | "A Woman in a Man's World" | Andrew Kastner, Larry John McNally | 3:56 |
| 9. | "The Message in the Middle of the Bottom" | Lalomie Washburn | 4:15 |
| 10. | "I Was Made to Love Him" | Henry Cosby, Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder | 3:23 |
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 “
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
- woodwind
- Chaka Khan - musical arranger track 5
- sound engineer
- Bill Dooley - assistant sound engineer
- Michael O'Reilly - assistant sound engineer
- Randy Mason - assistant sound engineer
- Sheridan Eldridge - assistant sound engineer
- Anthony D'Amico - assistant sound engineer
- Lew Hahn - additional recording engineer, remix
- Gene Paul - additional recording engineer
- Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York
- Additional recording at Cherokee Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[5] | 12 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] | 2 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] | 50 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 74 |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[9] | 5 |
References
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r42218/review
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Lytle, Craig. "Chaka (Review)". Allmusic.
- ^ Discogs.com entry
- ^ "Chaka Khan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Chaka Khan Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Chaka Khan – What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Chaka Khan – What Cha' Gonna Do for Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 13. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
