Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - Ask Rufus (1977)

Artist: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Title Of Album: Ask Rufus
Year Of Release: 1977
Label: ABC Records
Genre: Funk, Soul
Quality: FLAC (Tracks)+CUE, LOG
Total Time: 00:37:43
Total Size: 200 mb

Rufus was one of the most respected groups in the '70s and '80s. Although lead singer Chaka Khan's charismatic vocals were their drawing card, few outfits boasted the skill as Rufus as a band. Songs like "Please Pardon Me," "Sweet Thing," and "Fool's Paradise" are a few of the tracks that displayed the perfect marriage. This 1977 effort is the follow-up to 1975's Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan. Ask Rufus has the group doing more sophisticated and constantly challenging work with an accent on evocative ballads. The effort's lone dance track "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) has the band going for more subtlety. The jazzy "Close the Door" has a confident and gentle vocal from Khan and a beautiful string arrangement from Clare Fischer who offered them throughout this effort. The well-arranged "Earth Song" could be called botched poesy with lyrics like, "Stars what a mystical woman that you've made me," but Khan's charm keeps it from being an overstatement. The best track, the evocative and sensual "Everlasting Love" has great bass and guitar interplay from Bobby Watson and Tony Maiden, respectively, and an appealing earthy and ethereal vocal from Khan. The much loved "Hollywood" has just gotten stronger, with lines like, "Fixed expressions/Smiles worn thin" exhibiting a surprising and apropos world-weary view. The most ambitious song, the evocative "Egyptian Song," has Middle Eastern motifs and a compelling vocal from Khan that pulls it all together. With great keyboard signatures from Kevin Murphy and David "Hawk" Wolinski and Andre Fischer's steady and judicious drumming, Ask Rufus is one of their best albums. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide

Tracks:

1. At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) (Tony Maiden, Lalomie Washburn) - 4:02
2. Close the Door (David Wolinski, Bobby Watson, Chaka Khan, Andrй Fischer) - 3:24
3. Medley (Instrumental Interlude): Slow Screw Against the Wall/A Flat Fry (David Wolinski) / (Rufus, David Wolinski) - 2:17
4. Earth Song (Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden, Traude Sapik) - 5:23
5. Everlasting Love (Dennis Belfield, Kevin Murphy, David Wolinski) - 4:45
6. Hollywood (Andrй Fischer, David Wolinski) - 4:09
7. Magic in Your Eyes (Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden) - 3:52
8. Better Days (Richard Holland) - 4:16
9. Egyptian Song (Chaka Khan, David Wolinski) - 5:09

Personnel:

Tony Maiden Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Horn Arrangements (Track 1)
Andrй Fischer Producer, Drums, Vocals
Chaka Khan Producer, Vocals
Kevin Murphy Producer, Keyboards, Vocals
David Wolinski Producer, Keyboards, Vocals
Bobby Watson Producer, Bass, Vocals
Ron Wood Guitar (Track 3B)
Milt Holland Percussion
Charles Garnett Horn Arrangements (Track 1)
Claire Fischer Conductor, String Arrangements
Rufus Producer

Recorded at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California

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