Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan* – Ask Rufus

Lucky to get a still-sealed non-cutout with the poster as well... Rufus gets it right, with shades of "tell me something good" and "sweet thing", this belongs in any or perhaps every collection! The suites and medleys work as excellent background music as in not your average ordinary aural wallpaper either... I'll echo that we're overdue for a Mobile Fidelity edition of this as well... -- Dave

Album Revolution #4:

Ever since "Rags To Rufus", "Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan", captured the hearts of just about everybody...With songs like "Tell Me Something Good", "Once You Get Started", and the classic "Sweet Thing" in their pocket, it would be hard to tell if they could keep up that level of creativity...

Well fast forward 1977, after some rest, "Chaka Khan", "Tony Madien", "Andre Fischer", "Kevin Murphy" and "Bobby Watson" graced us with "Ask Rufus"....

OMG!!!!! I say it again, OMG!!!!!

This is one of the most creative albums I ever heard, and being that I am into "Earth, Wind & Fire" and "Prince", that's saying A Lot!!!!

The song that starts this one up is the 1st Ultimate Crown Jewel, "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)"....Written by "Tony Madien" and "Lalomie Washburn" (who wrote "Your Smile" for the group on "Rufusized"), this Keyboard layered, Horn driving track, was all over the place!!!! "Tony and "Charles Garnett's" envisioned Horn arrangement, just dances around "Chaka's" blazing Vocals, while the Fellas background Vocals give great support....

"Close The Door" (written by "Chaka", "Bobby" and new collaborator, Keyboardist, "David "Hawk" Wolinski), is another "Rufus Smooth Groove", with the signature "Chaka" layered Vocals....It wasn't a single, but it was another Ultimate Crown Jewel...

The upcoming Medley was very interesting....

"Slow Screw Against The Wall" (written by "David "Hawk" Wolinski"), was a very slow, "Italy" type theme song, with lavish Keyboards, muffled Drums, and outstanding Strings, conducted by the one and only "Clare Fischer"...

"A Flat Fry" (talking about the Musical Note), was a Guitar drivin' joint, with outsider "Ron Wood" getting down!!!! I hate this song!!!! Not because of the Music (that is Fantastic)....I hate it because it was only 18 seconds!!!!!! That was a crime to me!!!!!

The next Ultimate Crown Jewel, "Earth Song", is a nice nod to the Planet we live on, and how we benefit from it...Priceless!!!!

The Out of This World Ultimate Crown Jewel, is "Everlasting Love" (written by "Hawk" Wolinski", "Kevin Murphy" and former Band member "Dennis Belfield").....OMG!!!!, this joint right here is THE BOMB!!!!! This song was delivered in such a way, that it became an "Ultimate Rufus Favorite"....And even though it wasn't an single, it was constantly played on the Radio...

The next Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "Hollywood" (written by "Andre Fischer" and "Kevin Murphy"), is just as Classic as it comes....The Melody and Lyrics flow hand in hand, which means the groups continuity came into play...."Painted Faces, Sunburned Skin", "Fixed Expressions, Smiles Worn Thin"......Priceless!!!!!!

"Magic In Your Eyes" (another "Chaka" and "Tony" Ultimate Crown Jewel joint), is another Beautiful song, highlighting the "Chaka" layered Vocals, behind a fantastic Melody...

"Better Days" is a Mid Tempo Bumpin' Ultimate Crown Jewel joint, that flows very well...."Chaka's" Lyrics about how mental abuse in a relationship can affect you is spot on!!!!!

The last Crown Jewel, "Egyptian Song" (written by "Chaka" and "Hawk"), has a Moody Melody, that ends on the backs of fantastic Strings (again, conducted by "Clare Fischer")....

They never said it on this album, but I do believe that "David "Hawk" Wolinski" was the unofficial member of the group (before he became official)....

This album peaked the group to the top of their Musical form, and was THE BOMB....PERIOD!!! Even though it did not give them the Pop attention they were used to, it didn't matter, the album sold....Crazy Sold!!!!!! With songs like these, it's no wonder that after this they would never reached this level of creativity again....

I also don't know what happened, but "Andre Fischer" (Drummer and one of the founders of the Band) left.... He would go on to form "Radar", with former "Rufus" members "Al Ciner", "Dennis Belfield" and "Ron Stockert"....Soon that had a profound affect on the Band and not in a good ways.....

This would be the end of their Album Revolution....But even so, the group was able to continue....So Classic albums would be gone, but Classic songs would continue.....

PS: I have be honest with you guys, I am debating about ending the Album Revolution.......

It's time for an audiophile pressing of this one! Mofi, Acoustic Sounds, Impex or Speakers Corner. Please!!

My 1977 AB 975 has Platinum Plus 37037 printed in silver on the front cover, quiet vinyl, mint -, ABA inside dust cover and mint poster. Small cut out on spine

1977 pressing. Vinyl is clean and quiet. Transferred to poly lined sleeve. Bonus 6 panel poster is mint. Gatefold cover is near mint in protective sleeve

This stands as one of the pinnacles of Chaka's career (with Rufus or solo wise). She's even cited this as a personal favorite in her entire canon. It's very much a cohesive mood piece that embodies the melancholy and decadence of the L.A. scene in the late '70s, but there's a succulent sensuality that comes through this classic that's hard to resist. Clare Fischer's masterful arrangements are key elements of this album, as Fischer creates a dramatic grandiosity to these songs, which also adds to their musical texture as well. The band never sounded more sophisticated and mature before either. It's been well reported that Chaka and the band were in dire straits during the recording of this album, but you'd never know from listening to this masterpiece.

My 1977 US original ABC Records pressing is pretty solid for the most part. Although this wasn't necessarily a well-engineered recording (some albums that were recorded or mixed at Kendun Recorders has some thin, dry-sounding top-end), it really smokes. There is some weird speed variation on the final two songs on its second side. In the digital era, Japan really delivered the goods when its Universal branch remastered this album on CD (along with the rest of Rufus' 1973-1981 ABC & MCA catalog) in 2004. Not only did they correct many engineering errors that plagued the vinyl and early CD reissues, but they restored the full fidelity of the album. As a bonus, Universal Japan reissued it in mini-LP format, with a replica of the original album jackets and memorabilia.

Record Library copy but in extremely good condition, cover excellent