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.


Funky seventies music   May 8, 2004
Peter Durward Harris (Leicester England)
12 out of 14 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.


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.


Just buy it, trust me!!   September 3, 2005
King David (Washington, DC)
7 out of 9 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.


ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHAKA!!!!!!!!!   March 12, 1999
5 out of 8 found this review helpful

I must say that to me, MS CHAKA KHAN deserves all the props and respect because to me she is the EPITOME of voices. I have admired this woman since I was a little girl at the age of seven when my Daddy took me to the record store and allowed me two 45's and I chose "Tell Me Something Good" and "Dancing Machine"/The Jackson Five. And only lately has she been getting the attention and honor that is due her. You would think that after all the years that she's been in the business and with OCTAVE'S like she got you'd think she would've been appreciated alot more than she has. All one has to do is just watch her perform, watch how she belts out those notes with such beautiful ease. She doesn't even try, she just opens her mouth and the beautiful notes flow out. She's incredible, not to mention Beautiful. I think it's great the way she smiles at the audience and really acknowledges them. I was blessed to see her in concert in 1996 at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans and it was well worth the trip. I just we'd stayed at the Holiday Inn instead of the hotel we chose, then maybe I would've atleast had the chance to say hello to her, but instead we saw Kim Coles. (No offense Kim) I wish I could've gotten a closer seat but I still enjoyed her performance tremendously. I tape everything that comes on television involving her and watch it over and over again. I was very upset when Mary J. Blige recorded Chaka's "Everlasting Love". She's a horrible singer and I personally think that the only reason she's as popular as she is, is because of the type of people that she appeals to. She's the Queen of Ghetto!!! I appreciated Whitney's recording of Chaka's "I'm Every Woman". As did Chaka because she commented on it by saying that if anyone could've done it, it would be Whitney and I more than agree. I haven't heard a thing about how she felt about what Mary did, although "Sweet Thing" wasn't TOO bad, but I refuse to give Mary in props for it. Mary is not and I repeat NOT in their LEAGUE. Anyway enough about that, I just wanted to give my opinion and say that I have'nt heard this particular CD, but I have Rufus featuring Chaka Khan live "Stomping at the Savoy" in New York City. Most of the same songs are included but there's my personal favorite "AIN'T NOBODY" 'CAUSE THERE SHO' AIN'T NOBODY LIKE CHAKA, "Stay", "Ain't that Peculiar","Packed my Bags" and "I'm a Woman" which is very inspiring when you're feeling down; It's makes you remember why you were created a woman and damn glad to be one. IT'S THE BOMB!!!! And if you love LIVE music, this is a must have. Chaka if you ever surf the net and fall upon these reviews, I want you to know "I LOVE YA GIRL". Sometimes I think when I leave this world I want a Chaka Khan song playing, as they lay my body to its final resting place because I believe that my spirit will hear it and certainly enjoy it.