RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN-RUFUSIZED.

dereksmusicblog ♦ October 6, 2011 ♦ Leave a comment

RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN-RUFUSIZED.

By 1974, Rufus had come a long way from their humble beginnings as a Chicago bar band. The previous year 1973, Rufus had released their eponymous debut album Rufus, which only reached number 175 in the US Billboard 200. It was hardly the most successful debut album in music history, but things would change dramatically with the released of Rags To Rufus, later in 1973. When the album was released, it reached number four in the US Billboard 200, and was certified gold. Suddenly, Rufus were one of the biggest bands in America, with their combination of soul, funk and rock music. So, when they released their third album for ABC Records, Rufusized, great things were expected from this album. Critics and fans weren’t disappointed, with the album being critically acclaimed, reaching number seven in the US Billboard 200 and number two in the US R&B Charts. Rufusized was the album that broke the group in the UK, reaching number forty-eight in the UK album charts. After that, Rufus, and later Chaka Khan as a solo artist, were hugely popular in the UK. 

Having just released two hugely successful albums, the band’s profile was high. Helping lift their profile even further, was touring with soul legend Marvin Gaye and the Rolling Stones and appearances on two famous US television programs American Bandstand and Soul Train. Much of the attention was focused on Chaka Khan thanks to her fantastic, powerful vocals, strong personality and unique dress sense. This however, had previously caused resentment among other band members. By 1974, and the release of Rufusized, things had settled down, with Nate Morgan having just joined the group before the albums release. Tony Maiden who had only joined the group towards the end of the recording of Rags To Rufus, was beginning to contribute much more to the groups music. He often sang vocals on the albums, sometimes duetting with Chaka. Chaka too, started to become more involved in the songwriting process, and contributing more vocals on the group’s albums. On Rufusized, Chaka’s contribution is huge, co-writing four songs, and singing lead vocals on the two singles released from the album, Once You Get Started which reached number four in the US R&B Charts while Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of A Friend) reached number six in the US R&B Charts. So not only was Rufusized a hugely successful album, but featured two successful hit singles. However, what was it that made Rufusized such a hugely successful album? That’s what I’ll now tell you.

Rufusized opens with Once You Get Started, a track that bursts into life with a joyous combination of funk and soul. A funk laden rhythm section, chiming guitars and the brass section joyfully serenade the arrival of Chaka’s vocal. It’s a combination of controlled power, emotion and soulfulness. Straight away, the unbridled joy and passion that Chaka delivers the lyrics with has an infectiousness, with the rest of the band raising their game. Sometimes, Chaka duets, other times the rest of the band contribute backing vocalists, but neither can match Chaka’s emotive, powerful deliver. As the track progresses, a melange of rhythms and melodies, thanks to the rhythm and brass sections, guitars and keyboards, the track heads into funk overdrive. By the end of this funk drenched workout, both Chaka and the rest of the band have delivered an outstanding track to open the album. 

When Somebody’s Watching You opens, the funk influence of the previous track continues, with a funky, chiming guitar opening the track, and the rhythm section and Chaka quickly getting in on the act. When Chaka, accompanied by a combination funky guitars, bass and keyboards, with metronomic drums, her voice starts of quite restrained, and even when her vocal soars heavenwards, it’s a much more subtle performance that the opening track. Still, though, her vocal is loaded with feeling and drama. If anything, this arrangement has a much more infectiously funky sound, and Chaka’s much more considered vocal, make this just as good a track as the opening one, one that’s melodic, catchy with hooks aplenty.

A slow, dramatic piano opens Pack’d My Bags, the sound veering from a dark, dramatic sound, to a bright melodic one. After a lengthy introduction, that points towards a track that should be impressive and dramatic Chaka gently harmonizes against an arrangement that has an understated sound, guitars, keyboards and rhythm section combining. They continue the slow tempo, building up the atmosphere, with strings sweeping in, as Chaka thoughtfully sings about a relationship breaking up, and a woman and her child having to pack their bags, and how they’ll miss their partner and father. Here, both Chaka and the band combine to produce a vocal and arrangement that’s suits the sadness and emotion of the lyrics. Chaka uses her powerful vocal to get across the emotion and sadness of the lyrics, while the band use the arrangement to get across the drama of such a situation. Waves of dramatic music unfold, with drums and string injecting drama, that matches Chaka’s vocal. As if unable to resist a trip into funky territory, the rhythm section and guitars enjoy a funk laden workout, which Chaka joins. Much as it’s hugely enjoyable, it doesn’t quite sit with the earlier emotion and sadness. However, overall, it’s a good track, albeit the track might have been better without the diversion into territory marked funk.

Similarly to the previous track, Your Smile is a track that begins slowly, with guitars, strings, keyboards and subtle drums accompanying Chaka. Her voice is quieter, much more gentle, as the track opens. Here, the arrangement unfolds, peaks of music building up, with strings sweeping grandly in, while the rhythm section, guitars and keyboards combine subtly, producing an arrangement that although understated, is melodic. Chaka’s vocal has a similar subtlety, with her vocal full of emotion and feeling, as she delivers the lyrics, without resorting to unleashing her hugely powerful voice. This allows the listener to see a more thoughtful and subtle side of both Chaka and the band, one the demonstrates that in among the funk, there’s a hugely soulful band waiting to break out.

Having had a break from their funky sound on Your Smile, they revisit on the title track Rufusized. Straight away, the track heads brightly into funk territory supreme, with a combination of keyboards, interjections from a joyous brass section and the funkiest of rhythm sections. They combine a quick beefy bass line, with bouncy drums, while rock influenced guitars soar, scream and chime. A vocal is briefly sung via a vocoder, and later, the brass section blaze, uniting in leading the track to its funky conclusion. Although the track doesn’t feature Chaka, it’s an excellent slice of funk, even with the brief inclusion of the vocoder.

I’m A Woman (I’m A Backbone) has a dramatic, funk laden track, with slow, moody, yet funk laden rhythm section combining with soaring, loud guitars that chime, while Chaka sings about the importance of a woman, her roles and her strengths. Here, Chaka certainly is the backbone of the band, at the heart of everything good, her vocal passionate, full of power and emotion. As she sings, deep backing vocals accompany her and again, the vocoder makes its presence felt, albeit relatively briefly. Meanwhile, the band provide an arrangement that’s sometimes, dark and moody, but always full of funk. Combined with Chaka’s vocal, it’s an intriguing combination, resulting in a track full of emotion, passion and atmosphere. 

Straight away, from the opening bars of Right Is Right, the track bursts into life, the tempo quick, with the rhythm section, guitars and keyboards combining to mix soul, funk and rock while Chaka delivers another passionate and powerful vocals. Her vocal soars high soulfully, accompanied by a buzzing bass, wah-wah guitars, that combine with rock influenced guitar solos. Meanwhile drums that have a bouncy sound, pound, and keyboards add an authentic early seventies sound that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Blaxploitation soundtrack. This combination of three genres of music combines perfectly, producing a great track that epitomises just what made Rufus featuring Chaka Khan such a great band. Their ability to combine elements of various musical genres is demonstrated brilliantly here. 

Keyboards and the rhythm section combine, producing a quick, fulsome, funky sounding introduction to Half Moon, before Chaka’s vocal enters. It’s similarly quick, with her using her vocal range powerfully, delivering the lyrics with her usual emotion and passion. Behind her, a funk masterclass is unfolding, with an organ, driving rhythm section and a mixture of chiming and soaring, screaming guitars combining masterfully. It’s a combination of uniting as a band, and improvisation, which sometimes, take the track towards a destination marked jazz. Again, there’s a rock influence present thanks to the guitar sound, but mostly funk is the order of the day. Together with Chaka’s emotive, power laden vocal, the band combine to produce a funk masterclass.

One of the tracks that was released as a single, was Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of A Friend) which reached number six in the US R&B Charts. Once you’ve heard the track, you’ll realise just why this was such a big hit. String and brass sections, combine before piano, guitars and rhythm section combine to accompany Chaka. While the arrangement has an upbeat and bright sound, thanks to the string and brass sections, guitars and rhythm section play gently, with a subtlety. Chaka’s vocal is full of feeling, as she delivers the lyrics, constantly questioning and probing, always laden in emotion, with passion not far away. The arrangement sweeps dramatically along, with Chaka, the piano, strings and brass sections responsible for much of the drama. By the end of the track, it’s obvious that this is, by far, the best track on the album, if not one of the best the band ever recorded.

Rufusized closes with a track soul legend Bobby Womack cowrote with Pete Thomas. This version is very different from the original, with Chaka singing the song as a duet, with strings sweeping grandly in the background. The song has been slowed down, the arrangement full of drama, thanks to a combination of the funky rhythm section, grand, sweeping string sections, shimmering and chiming guitars and atmospheric keyboards. However, Chaka’s vocal is both hugely dramatic and powerful, laden in emotion, allowing her to demonstrate her considerable talent as a vocalist. As the track ends, much as I’ve enjoyed this version of the track, and enjoyed the slower tempo and arrangement full of drama and passion, I can’t help but prefer Bobby Womack’s version. However, that doesn’t mean this is a bad track, quite the opposite, it’s really good, and a fitting way to end this album.

In a previous article, I reviewed Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, a critically acclaimed and hugely successful album from the band. This was one of the band’s later album.  Although Rufusized was just the group’s third album, they’d quickly matured into a really tight band, capable of producing and combining musical styles and influences. On this album, the three main influences are funk, soul and rock, which the group combine brilliantly. These aren’t the only influences and styles. Listen carefully to the album, and especially tracks like Half Moon, and you’ll hear a jazz influence. Sometimes, three genres of music combine during one track, with elements of funk, soul and rock being apparent. This was one of the things that made the group so hugely popular. The other thing was Chaka Khan. Without her brilliant vocals, this wouldn’t have been as good an album. Her contribution and influence are huge, and it was no wonder she received the plaudits that she did. Chaka’s vocals mix power and passion, with emotion and drama. Together with some brilliant musicians who made up Rufus, they produced yet another great album, one that was certified gold, and helped make Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan one of the biggest and most popular bands of the seventies. if you’ve never heard Rufusized, I can thoroughly recommend it. It features some wonderful music, from a band at the top of their game. Standout Tracks: Once You Get Started, Pack’d My Bags, Half Moon and Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of A Friend).

RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN-RUFUSIZED.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpZ4yrdmNqo