Which do you prefer? I think she's done some great stuff as a solo artist but overall I have to say that I prefer her when she was with Rufus. This is one group i'd love to see reunite (doubt this will ever happen though as i've heard she's not on speaking terms with most of the members of Rufus).

Cinnamon234 said:

She was more sucessfull alone....she was bound to leave anyway. The whole "funk jazz soul" band thing was dead after 1987 especially. She just had to use what she had to get what she want. However some of her best best material was with Rufus...and yet alot of it too was alone

Well no offense to Rufus because they're a great group without her but Chaka WAS Rufus, lol.

^ That's the truth. I mean, who can name all the musicians of Rufus off the top of their head? I sure as hell can't

Timmy84 said:

Lol, I know she was the main reason for the groups success but still lets not act like the other members of the group had no input or involvement. I think they're underrated as a group and the albums they made without Chaka were pretty decent ("Take It To The Top" is my song!, I dig the whole "Seal In Red" album actually).

@PaisleyPark- Although I still prefer her music with Rufus overall, I agree that it was inevitable for Chaka to go solo and I do enjoy a lot of her solo stuff.

I think that Chaka was at her best with Rufus. She was more successful as a solo artist but the dirty funk of Rufus wins it for me. I can't say I've enjoyed a one of her solo albums as much as Rufusized, Rags to Rufus and Ask Rufus but she did have catchier songs.

rebelsoldier said:

I agree.She's great no matter what,but I tend to prefer her 70s albums with Rufus.

^^^

This is a no brainer. Love Yevette Stevens, but her stupid stubborness is the reason why she got fucked by the labels,,,it wasn't Warner Bros' doing.

To be fair though, you can't take something without the other,,,I think both periods balance each other.

rebelsoldier said:

Exactly. Chaka & Rufus were perfect for each other.

RUFUS

Hell she even looked better.

Rufus wouldn't have let that ass blow up when she had to be on stage in a leather bra and feather panties that night.

Timmy84 said:

I disagree with that! While I love Chaka, she was at her FUNKIEST with Rufus..she has never come close to matching the FUNK of Rufus. Chaka was the FACE of the band but Rufus(the musicians) DEFINITELY was the FORCE of the group, IMO...(pre-STREET PLAYER, etc)

I like Chaka's solo material but NOTHING compares to Rufus, pre-"STREET PLAYER"

Rufus.

I liked her better with rufus.
I'll take tell me something good, you got the love, at midnight,
stop on by, stay, do you like what you feel over most of her solo
material although i love her new cd. Stop on by was eerily similar
to bobby womack's woman's gotta have it.
Her solo song through the fire was

rebelsoldier said:

They both seemed to have what the other needed. Not the say they weren't good on their own, but they KILLED together!