On "Destiny" Khan's voice was strong as ever, and in some cases it was overly husky on tracks like 'Otherside of the World', but it somehow managed to get buried deep in the mix. Possibly for good reasons.

Khan's executive producer, Arif Mardin, was very creative with his use of various instrumental textures and mixes on 'Destiny. Sonically, 'Coltrane Dreams' was a stretch, considering most instruments in the song were samples of Chaka's own voice.

The best cuts for Khan's longtime fans would have to be the funky rave 'Tight Fit', with its warmer, jazzier feel, and the lead track 'Love of a Lifetime', a quirky funk/dance tune with lots of magic dust and swirling synths dancing around Chaka's voice.

Neither Chaka's best or worst work. "Destiny" was an attempt made for mass commercial appeal. Emotional punch, typically associated with Khan's work, is somewhat lost or exaggerated depending on the track. Creatively the collaborative effort with her longtime producer Arif Mardin had to have been a lot of fun. Grade C+.


A Perfect Fit   June 18, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Still riding high from the 1984-85 international success of "I Feel For You", Chaka Khan decides to step out on a limb and release "Destiny" in 1986. Although not as sucessful as the previous album, this is a great CD.The first single, "Love Of A Lifetime" marks the beginning of what would turn out to be a long musical relationship with producer David Gamson.What makes this CD stand out from the others is that this marks the first time Khan is allowed to fully explore Rock music. Cleverly belting out gems like "So Close", "Who's It Gonna Be", "My Destiny" and "Watching the World", Khan proves that Tina Turner is not the only Soul diva capable of belting out Rock n' Roll tunes.Also on this CD you will find the sweltering second single, "Tight Fit" and an alternate version of "The Other Side of the World", which originally appeared on the "White Night" soundtrack a year prior.The silly and ridiculous "Earth To Mickey", written by Cameo's Charlie Singleton, seems a bit out of place on a Chaka album. Khan's great vocal performance manages to salvage the song and keeps it from being a total disaster.Sadly, this CD marks the exit of Arif Mardin as Chaka's executive producer.Although higly underrated and overlooked, this CD is a classic and if you like or love Chaka Khan, you have to add this one to your collection. This is a winner!


Flawed, but still Chaka + Scritti = BRILLIANCE   June 7, 2006
G. Mitchell (Los Angeles, CA United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Sure this album is a bit uneven and betrays some overkill production that sounds a tad MTV-rock-pop 80s (like the Phil Collins-helmed Watching the World), but most of the tracks on DESTINY showcase the main event: Chaka's full-bodied, full-throttle vocals that, once again, sing notes that aren't even in the book. The highlight, of course, is the intricate, stop/start synth-pop-funk of LOVE OF A LIFETIME, penned and produced by GREEN GARTSIDE/SCRITTI POLITTI - in fact, when you listen to this amazing pop single, you a) wish it had been the big radio hit it deserved to be and b) you can hear it as a Scritti song that would sound akin to Cupid & Psyche 85 - but other cuts from the album are close seconds, like the quirky 80s dance of EARTH TO MICKEY and the late-night jam TIGHT FIT, which features an impossibly sexy delivery by Ms. Khan. OOP in the US (typical), pick this up if you can find it - it's a worthy addition to your Chaka complete CD collection! Don't forget COLTRANE DREAMS, an entire groove build around clever samples of Chaka's vocal instrument.


One step forward, one step back   December 11, 2001
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

"Destiny" is more is a more consistent album than "I Feel For You," even if the high points aren't as high. Chaka branches out into hard rock with "So Close" (written by country singer Pam Tillis!) and pulls it off without a hitch. "Coltrane Dreams" borrows from John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" and builds its entire rhythm track on vocal samples. It shouldn't work, but it does.

I'm docking "Destiny" a full star because Chaka's voice is placed so far back in the mix. The melodic leaps in "Love of A Lifetime" give her something to chew on, but the heavy production overpowers her by the end of the song. She's barely audible over the fake crowd noises in "Who's It Gonna Be." It comes as a relief when she finally gets to cut loose on the spare, eerie "Tight Fit," but you'll have to wait until track 9. A few poor song choices don't help, either. Contributions from Mr. Mister and Mike Rutherford aren't up her alley, and her own composition "My Destiny" demonstrates why she isn't known for her writing.


Rare Chaka CD makes for a pleasing listening experience.   April 10, 2000
yygsgsdrassil (Crossroads America)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The naughty "Tight Fit" (and if the listeners can find the remix to that, they will have died and gone to heaven) is worth even the $19 pricetag on this import, but the radio hit "Love of A Lifetime", the tracks "Coltrane Dream", "Other Side of the World" (from the soundtrack "White Nights") and the get-a-clue track "Earth To Mickey" are what makes this a good CD.