Rufus & Chaka* – Masterjam

Album Revolution #6:

In the last couple of years, "Rufus featuring Chaka Khan" went through a few changes....

One, members like "Andre Fischer" and "Richard "Moon" Calhoun" (both Drummers by the way), leaving, kind of threw a couple of monkey wrenches into the continuity of the group (which was the groups theme)...Two, "Chaka Khan" decided to start a solo career, and was doing very well and being recognized for it (as well she should)!!!!

I will get to the third and fourth one in a minute...

In between this Album Revolution (which I debated to continue), "Rufus" (not featuring "Chaka Khan", again Dad Joke), released an album in "Numbers"...It fell on deaf ears, but you couldn't get mad with people on that one....It was just so hard to imagine the group without "Chaka"...

So deciding to get it back to together, the third thing, the group renamed themselves as "Rufus & Chaka Khan" (with "Chaka", "Tony Maiden", "Kevin Murphy", "Bobby Watson", "David "Hawk" Wolinski" and "John Robinson"), and went to work to release "Masterjam"....

Now, the fourth thing....

Even though the group wrote the bulk of the material, instead of the group Producing this album, Producer Extraordinaire, "Quincy Jones" had that job.....I believe (any though I can't prove it) that "Chaka" suggested this, because she did some Vocal work on his "Sounds ... And Stuff Like That!!" album....

So even though I included this in the Revolution, the album, again like "Street Player" feels a little uneven...So why did I include it in the Revolution? You'll see...

This album starts off with the Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "Do You Love What You Feel" (written by "David "Hawk" Wolinski")....It was a straight Banger!!!!! As soon as the Drums started this joint, you just knew!!!! It was also the song that got everybody on the floor....It kind of brought back that "Rufus Continuity", with "Chaka" and "Tony's" Classic Interplay Vocals...Thank you "Hawk"!!!!!!!

The next Ultimate Crown, "Any Love" (also offered by "Hawk"), is another Banger, with that classic "Rufus" Melody with those "Chaka" layered Vocals....

The next two Ultimate Crown Jewels, "Heaven Bound" and "Walk The Rockway" (Written and Led by "Tony"), are also straight, great "Rufus" joints....My only gripe, they should have traded positions on the album.....The flow would have been so much better....

"Live In Me" (written by "Rod Temperton" of "Heatwave"), is a nice gestor, and if not for the Vocals, it wouldn't have been that good...

Not really feeling their version of "Q's" "Body Heat", "I'm Dancing For Your Love" (even though it was written by "Hawk"), and "What Am I Missing?", which is why I feel like this album is sort of uneven....

Now, the ending "Title Track" (and Crown Jewel), does bring the album to a very nice ending...

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't blame the unevenness totally on "Q", it just doesn't mesh well.....So again, why did I still put this in the Revolution? Because the great songs outweigh the pretty ok songs...Hey, some albums are just like that, I guess....

Well, now the Album Revolution ends...Their is no longer a debate...."Chaka" would continue to build on her solo career, getting brighter and bigger...But the group still has some kind of life left....It just wouldn't be too long....

Very good and nice album. This album tastes like more. I got a hold of a copy in 1984. Really liked it. For me "Any Love" stands out. Mellow song with a strong vocal string on it. Very groovy & mellow yet powerfull.
Also "Do You Love What You Feel" is worth listening to. Very groovy and strong album.