My only complaint is that this collection did not offer more tracks when it was reissued on CD - in particular the lush "Sharing The Love" (their only other top ten hit). With first rate musicianship and a stellar lead vocalist in Chaka Khan, this set is long enough however to show why Rufus was one of the top bands of the '70s. Also, that they were far more than just Khan's launching pad.


Exceptional Lead Singer, First Rate Band On 70s Hits Set   April 25, 2000
Anthony G Pizza (FL)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Female singers in a duo or group fit a consistent pattern. They seem dominated at first by musical producers or collaborators, yet command all attention to the point where when they inevitably leave for solo work, they take the group's identity. Examples abound: Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Cher, Gloria Estefan, Annie Lennox, Natalie Merchant; none of the groups or song partners here achieved any solo success without them. (This cannot be said for the less successful solo ventures of Prince protoges Appolonia and Vanity.)

Yet Rufus (later Rufus featuring Chaka Khan), here with their brief but exciting greatest hits collection, show themselves to be a cohesive band blessed with a dynamic lead singer. Make no mistake, Chaka's vocals sling around party grooves like "At Midnight" and "Once You Get Started," and mid-tempo ballads like "Hollywood" and "Stay" with passionate skill equalling Aretha at her peak. But Rufus, led by guitarist/vocalist Tony Maiden, keyboardist Kevin Murphy and sax man David Wolinski (who co-wrote and produced several tracks) also authored the group's groundbreaking rock/R&B hybrid. Listen to the rubbery funk of Stevie Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good," or the gentle electric piano opening "Sweet Thing" and know that Rufus wanted, and briefly achieved, true R&B/rock/pop crossover success.

Chaka would work with the best after her solo career began in 1978: David Foster, Arif Mardin, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Prince. But her collaborations within, not in front of, Rufus produced the most satisfying music of her career. At least one diva, Diana Ross, decided to rejoin her fellow Supremes for a summer tour; Chaka would do no worse bringing Rufus back for another round. Recommended set.


Funky seventies music   May 8, 2004
Peter Durward Harris (Leicester England)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

In the sixties there was a group called American breed, best remembered in America for Bend me shape me. They didn't chart in Britain but Bend me shape me did - it was covered by Amen corner. American breed disbanded but some of its members went on to form a new group - Rufus. However, it was after one further change, the replacement of the original lead singer with Chaka Khan, that Rufus had their greatest success.

In this new formation, Rufus had a string of top ten hits on the American R+B charts, many of them featured here. They actually scored a UK top ten top hit in 1984 with Ain't nobody but it is not included here.

While I generally prefer Chaka Khan's solo music, there is no denying the quality of the music she recorded with Rufus - a mix of excellent ballads and funky songs to dance to.

If you enjoy seventies R+B with a funky groove, or you enjoy Chaka Khan's solo music, you are likely to enjoy this.


Chaka and Rufus- Nuff Said   May 24, 2003
A. Stallings (Glen Burnie, MD)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This CD is very good for those of us who got into appreciating Chaka late (as I did as a lil kid when she came out with the remake of "I Feel For You" in 1984). My favorites are "Hollywood" and "Stay" which happen to be back to back on the CD. If you are looking for the hits from Rufus and Chaka U can't go wrong with this CD at all. Very much recommend. "Once You Get Started" with this CD I also recommend for you to check out the group's 1979 CD "Masterjam" which is off the chain and comes STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!!!


Just buy it, trust me!!   September 3, 2005
King David (Washington, DC)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

Chaka Khan is my favorite female singer of all time. I'm only 23 but I'm captivated by the sound of the entire 1970's soul era. In other words, it's all I listen to. I don't think Rufus gets enough credit for their input on these songs as well as the other albums they did with Chaka Khan. To me, this is R&B/Soul at its finest. There were other songs that should have been included on this greatest hits album, but nonetheless, for what is present on it, it's flawless. The sound arrangement, the instruments, the singing whether lead by Chaka Khan or backup, is all on point and right on time. All components compliment each other. The chemistry they possess is almost scary at times because you can hear the individuality where each band memeber gets to do their own thing but it all flows perfectly in the end. These songs are just a few of the many great tracks recorded by Rufus and Chaka Khan. The only album I'm missing is Ask Rufus, but anyone just starting to get into Rufus and Chaka Khan, or 1970's soul/r&b, this is a great place to start. If you enjoy hearing creativity and instruments being used to their potential, just pay whatever cdnow is asking or go look for this album in a store somewhere, but just buy it. Besides, today, everyone is sampling something from that era anyway. Why not just listen to the real thing?
On this album, my favorite songs are Stay, Hollywood, Please pardon me and You got the love. Tell me something good and Sweet thing are great songs too, but I think everyone has heard them in a movie or something. Erykah Badu sang Stay on her live album, and although I think it's great as well, it can't compare to the original. Teddy Riley sampled Hollywood on Queeen Pen's album back in the late 90s but it just took away from the creativity that was needed to create songs like these. The amazing part of it all to me is that everything is done by instrument and not computers or synthesisers. If synthesisers are used, it's done with taste and it doesn't overpower the sweat and effort of the band members and their instruments.