Chaka Khan – Chaka (1978/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Chaka is American R&B and funk vocalist Chaka Khan’s debut studio album. The record, originally released in 1978, features Chaka’s iconic single “I’m Every Woman”, as well as “Ain’t Nobody” and “I Was Made to Love Him”.

Shortly after she departed the funk outfit Rufus in 1978, Chaka Khan recorded her solo debut, which demonstrated that the talent and energy she’d brought to Rufus could shine just as brightly without the rest of the band. On the strength of her popular, disco-fied take on Ashford and Simpson’s ‘I’m Every Woman,’ „Chaka“ began to garner attention, a phenomenon hastened by the album’s second single, ‘Life Is a Dance.’
„Chaka“ is solid album throughout, though, thanks to an assembly of excellent backing musicians, top-notch production, and, naturally, Khan’s amazingly capable pipes, which can veer from a fierce, fiery wail to a soulful croon with ease. Whether on ballads (‘Roll Me Through the Rushes’), bottom-heavy boogie (‘Some Love’), or her cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Was Made to Love Her’ (Khan flips the gender), „Chaka“ blends funk and radio-ready R&B beautifully, and is a must for any fan of Rufus or Khan.

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. “Life Is a Dance,” the second release, doesn’t quite compare to its predecessor, but it still made the R&B Top 40. The sentimental ballad “Roll Me Through the Rushes” is poetically engaging, and despite never being released as a single, it became a mainstay of radio. 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

Tracklist:
01. Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman (04:06)
02. Chaka Khan – Love Has Fallen On Me (04:54)
03. Chaka Khan – Roll Me Through The Rushes (04:43)
04. Chaka Khan – Sleep On It (04:20)
05. Chaka Khan – Life Is A Dance (04:21)
06. Chaka Khan – We Got The Love (03:28)
07. Chaka Khan – Some Love (05:52)
08. Chaka Khan – A Woman In A Man’s World (03:58)
09. Chaka Khan – The Message In The Middle Of The Bottom (04:17)
10. Chaka Khan – I Was Made To Love Him (03:23)

Personnel:
Chaka Khan – lead vocals, backing vocals
Gene Orloff – concert master
Steve Ferrone – drums
Will Lee – bass guitar & backing vocals tracks 1, 5, bass track 3, backing vocals tracks 4, 10
Hamish Stuart – guitar & backing vocals tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, backing vocals track 3, guitar tracks 6, 8, 10, bass track 9
Phil Upchurch – guitar tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, bass track 6
Andrew Kastner – Guitar tracks 4,8
Richard Tee – piano tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, electric piano track 4, clavinet track 5, piano & clavinet track 10
Cissy Houston – backing vocals tracks 1, 2, 3
David Lasley – backing vocals tracks 2, 3
Anthony Jackson – bass tracks 2, 4, 10
George Young – alto saxophone tracks 2, 5, 6
Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone tracks 2, 5, 6
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, tenor saxophone solo tracks 7, 9
Barry Rogers – trombone tracks 2, 5, 6
Randy Brecker – trumpet tracks 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, trumpet & flugelhorn track 7
Rick Marotta – drums track 3
Leon Pendarvis – electric piano track 3
Brook Tillotson – french horn tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
Jim Buffington – french horn tracks 3, 4
Cornell Dupree – guitar track 3
Gene Bianco – harp track 3
Alan Gorrie – backing vocals tracks 3, 5
Ken Bichel – synthesizer (S.R.M.) tracks 4, 6, 8
Raphael Cruz – congas track 6, track 9
Arthur Jenkins – electric piano track 6, clavinet track 9
Eddie Daniels – flute track 6
Phil Bodner – flute track 6
George Marge – alto flute track 6
George Benson – vocals track 6
Mark Stevens – bass track 7, backing vocals track 10
John Clark – french horn track 7, 8, 9
Onnie McIntyre – guitar tracks 7, 9
Airto Moreira – percussion track 7
David Sanborn – alto saxophone tracks 7, 8
Sammy Figueroa – percussion track 8
Paul Faulise – bass trombone track 8, 9
Jesse Levy – cello track 9
Kermit Moore – cello track 9
Richard Bock – cello track 9
Terri Gonzales – backing vocals track 10
Tony Maiden – guitar solo track 10
Luther Vandross – backing vocals track 3
F. Buldrini – strings
E. Bianco – strings
G. Marge – strings
G. Lumia – strings
H. Kohon – strings
J. Levy – strings
J. Malin – strings
J. Abramowitz – strings
J. Barber – strings
K. Moore – strings
M. Morgenstern – strings
M. Takayama – strings
P. Winter – strings
R. Iandiorio – strings
R. Bock – strings
R. Sortomme – strings
S. Allen – strings
T. Israel – strings