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Personnel: Chaka Khan, George Benson (vocals); Phil Upchurch, Hamish Stuart, Cornell Dupree, Onnie McIntyre, Tony Maiden (guitar); Jesse Levy, Kermit Moore, Richard Bock (cello); Gene Bianco (harp); Eddie Daniels, Phil Bodner (flute); George Marge (alto flute); David Sanborn, George Young (alto saxophone); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Brook Tillotson, Jim Buffington, John Clark (French horn); Barry Rogers (trombone); Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Richard Tee (piano); Leon Pendarvis (electric piano); Ken Bichel (synthesizer); Will Lee (bass, background vocals); Anthony Jackson, Mark Stevens (bass); Steve Ferrone, Rick Marotta, Arthur Jenkins (drums); Raphael Cruz, Sammy Figuroea (congas); Airto Moreira (percussion); Hamish Stuart, Cissy Houston, David Lasley (background vocals). Shortly after she departed the funk outfit Rufus in 1978, Chaka Khan recorded her solo debut, which demonstrated that the talent and energy she'd brought to Rufus could shine just as brightly without the rest of the band. On the strength of her popular, disco-fied take on Ashford and Simpson's "I'm Every Woman," CHAKA began to garner attention, a phenomenon hastened by the album's second single, "Life Is a Dance." CHAKA is solid album throughout, though, thanks to an assembly of excellent backing musicians, top-notch production, and, naturally, Khan's amazingly capable pipes, which can veer from a fierce, fiery wail to a soulful croon with ease. Whether on ballads ("Roll Me Through the Rushes"), bottom-heavy boogie ("Some Love"), or her cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made to Love Her" (Khan flips the gender), CHAKA blends funk and radio-ready R&B beautifully, and is a must for any fan of Rufus or Khan.
