Love ya voice and style Chaka. I'm a big fan. When are you going to play N.Y. again. I always see your shows. The New Years Roxy show a couple of years ago was cool and you autographed In My House for me. Chaka you are Way cool and always Gorgeous , great with Rufus also. Come back to us here you great singer you. Chaka Khan,Chaka,Khan.

I have alot of Respect for Her as a Artist.She truly channels alot of Styles&Vibes in Her Work overall.However IMHO She hasn't made that Whole Solo Album that speaks of Her All-Around Greatness.but She is One of the Baddest Artist's Ever IMHO.She is a Musical Standard of a Artist to Me.

mistermaxxx said:[quote].However IMHO She hasn't made that Whole Solo Album that speaks of Her All-Around Greatness.but She is One of the Baddest Artist's Ever IMHO.
I think the reason for that is simply because she can go in so many different vocal directions. Natalie Cole has the same ability but the reason for her early sucess was her decision to fuse all her abililties with arrangements that remained soulful and funky. Then after she received success with that, she focused on jazz standards and stuff her father was famous for. Then she reinvented herself again with a pop album. Now it seems she just does it for fun. But Chaka has never focused on just one dimension of her voice at a time. I really love to hear Chaka sing anything, but it is hard for a person who is so versatile to create one album that achieves wide success because people out there like to categorize and label everybody too much.

I heard that, I love this woman 2 DEATH. I met her last year and I still can't believe what happend, she was beautiful, true lady, down 2 earth and funny. Not 2 mention a killer stage presence and a FUNKY voice.

Oh I can't wait 4 her new lps, BTW is Prince in that CD??

I love my DVD of The Jazz Channel presents Chaka Khan. Beautiful stuff, beautiful voice, beautiful person.

She is also a tight Bass Player&Drummer.I've heard some of Her House Demo things.She is Badd!!

I had a funny experience with Chaka. Back in my L.A. days I was runnin a club down in Venice Beach. Every Tuesday night we used to go up to Hollywood, to "Luna Park", where the "Polyester Players" (a 70s-style-funk band all pimp style) had their weekly jam, to pass out some flyers. there comes this big lady grabbing one out of my hand. I told her "see you down there", and she smiled back at me. my DJ partner right next to me freaked: that was chaka. we went inside, checked out the gig. later chaka came on, sitting in on the drums. the "P-Players" got a little annoyed cuz chaka was drunk as hell and she was missing the beat. you can tell she's really baaad, but she was just too wasted.
the next weekend she showed up at our club, the "Black eyed peas" were on that night. we hooked her up with champagne, she sat with us and got really drunk again. she said she never felt so good in a club and gave me a kiss on the mouth. I almost fainted.
next tuesday, back at luna park in hollywood. Polyester Players are on, jamming, Chaka on the drums, drunk again. I go backstage to greet her. guess what: she didnt remember who the fuck I was.

soulpower said:

yeah I've heard all kinds of things with Chaka.She is a trip&a half no doubt.

One of my favorite female vocalists...EVER!!! Like Stephanie, I love to hear this woman sing. Her phrasing and diction is so unique. I love her stuff with Rufus. My favorite tracks by her with them is "Once You Get Started" and "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)".

Out of her solo records my favorite two albums by her is WHAT CHA GONNA DO FOR ME???. This album was released in 1981 and is an underrated R&B album. The title track of that album was vintage Chaka. One of my favorite R*B singles EVER. Also noteworthy on that album is her take on the jazz classic standard "Night In Tunisia" in which Chaka adds lyrics to. This stellar track features an amazing synth solo from the amazing Herbie Hancock. The album also features Dizzy Gilespie. This track is among her greatest muscial triumphs.

Chaka consider herself to be a great jazz vocalist as well. How many of you know that in 1982 she RELEASED a jazz album under the name ECHOES OF AN ERA which was a jazz group consisting of Chaka, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Chick Corea". This was a very good album with Chaka breathing new life into some jazz standards. The name of the album was called ECHOES OF AN ERA.

One reason the album didn't get more attention than it did is because, Chaka and the other musicians wanted to use the name Echoes Of An Era for the album. Arguably, if the name Chaka Khan would have been used on the album(because essentially that's what it was... a Chaka Khan jazz project wit her and some prominent jazz musicians)then the album would have probably gotten more attention. I listed this album in the "Favorite Jazz Album" thread last week as one of my favorite 25 jazz recordings. It's a superior album. Look for it at a used record store (as the album is out of print).

WHAT CHA GONNA DO FOR ME??? and ECHOES OF AN ERA are major Chaka Khan musical statements.

Brother915 said:

I WILL be looking for that one! thanks for the info! I have loved Chaka for the longest time! Her singing style is truly "off the hook" just fantastic!

Brother915 said:

BelleBeyond said:

Bridge Of The Day...Chaka on "What Cha Gonna Do For Me???..."You don't have to tell me I'm to blame for all of THIS...Cause what you hold against me is what I MISS. I love to hear her sing that on the bridge of this song. "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me??? went to number on the R&B charts and stayed there for 2 weeks in 81'.

I wonder when we will get some new Chaka music?? I saw her in concert last year,and she mentioned that she is doing a reunion CD with Rufus.She has an independent label called Earth Song Records.

Will she work wit Prince in the new LP??

Holla