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By 1981, Chaka Khan was close approaching soul/jazz royalty status in the US. After the best part of a decade spent recording she could, either solo or with her group Rufus, guarantee gold album status with every release. Yet in the UK she remained a one-off delicacy, known for her I'm Every Woman hit.
But this third album saw her break into new ground. Recorded in Montreux and made with sundry members of the Average White Band, it's an album that reveals it charms gradually. The title-track, although failing to chart in the UK, topped the US R&B listings. It's a robust funk song that was originally intended for the Average White Band themselves. Although there was some criticism that her voice was too far down in the mix, controlled by producer Arif Mardin, it actually works: she becomes another virtuoso playing their part.
Any Old Sunday finds her in a sprightly almost McCartney-esque mood, while the self-penned I Know You, I Live explores a more freeform territory. We Got Each Other has got that early-80s urban groove down pat, with its springy bass, flashy synths and strident vocals. Night in Tunisia, with its solo from Dizzy Gillespie and a pre-technology sample of Charlie Parker, showed that no-one could deliver pop-jazz as beautifully as Khan.
Most interesting here, though, is Heed the Warning, which has a really nice electro edge to it, with synthesizers played by future David Bowie and Iggy Pop collaborator David Richards. It's almost like Gary Numan helming The Who's Baba O'Reilly with Khan emoting freely on top. It sounds ahead of its time and is a fabulous song.
Although it wasn't until late 1983 and early 84 that Khan gained her real foothold in the UK, with the killer one-two of Ain't Nobody and I Feel For You, What Cha' Gonna Do for Me was a superb selection for the cognoscenti. Frequently loud and somewhat messy at times for such an accomplished soul album, it is packed with charm and sophistication. And Khan's lungs are always at full pelt. All told, it's rather lovely.
A fine set of polished, well-produced soul, it also has the distinction of sounding at least three years ahead of its time. With its big block synthesizer chords and clattering drums, horn stabs and Khan's beguiling torch vocals, it seems to point the way to what Shannon and Stephanie Mills (and Khan herself) would be up to in 1984.
--Daryl Easlea
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
dated, but that's not a problem,
By A Customer
This review is from: Whatcha Gonna Do for Me (Audio CD)
Featuring the Brecker Brothers, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Steve Ferrone (Average White Band & countless sessions) this is not an album EWF fans will want to be missing.The vocals are exemplary soul/funk wailing in the style Chaka has accustomed us to. The band are as tight as it gets, with just the greatest grooves. All concerned are said to be proud of these sessions. There is a fire that the greatest albums possess here - all are clearly having one fine time. Why isn't this as well known as "Let's Get It On" or "Talking Book"? Buy it - you'll love it!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In a class of it's own,
By
This review is from: Whatcha Gonna Do for Me (Audio CD)
This 1981 album from Chaka is, for me, a standout offering; This album was, as far as i'm aware, the first time Chaka and Arif Mardin introduced a jazzier feel into one of her pop albums. You simply could not find this chemistry between band members and a vocalist anywhere else - they feed off each others energy and the excitement comes across in boundless joy and energy. Another reviewer commented that you can clearly hear everyone is having a fine time!
Starting off with a Beatles cover, Chaka makes it her own - her cover versions are always completely moulded to her styling and nothing like the original. I know You, I live you, the title track, "Fate" (as sampled by Stardust "music sounds better with you") this album is spilling over with a charm like no other album by a musical genius.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely a classic,
By
This review is from: Whatcha Gonna Do for Me (Audio CD)
This is one of the first soul albums I bought and it was my favourite album for a long time. It has a fantastic track listing, of which the best are:We Can Work It Out What Cha' Gonna Do For Me I Know You, I Live You And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia) and Fate Even though it was only a year after "Naughty" the recording has aged better, the sound is really clear today and it has really broad tone. The musicians are fantastic, Chaka is amazing as is Anthony Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie and Herbie Hancock are of course also fantastic
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