1973: Rufus
First female leader of a funk band.
Rufus proudly explores the dimensions of rock and soul via Ike and Tina Turner in their sound.
1974: Rags To Rufus
Stevie Wonder writes their first hit “Tell Me Something Good†and the song wins a Grammy.
1974: Rufusized
Records party anthems “Once You Get Started,â€
Covers Bobby Womack’s “Stop On By†and writes “Packed My Bags†with Tony Maiden and Ray Parker Jr.
1975: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
The Birth of “Sweet Thing.â€
1977: Ask Rufus
“Hollywood†“At Midnight†and “Everlasting Love†strengthen the Chaka with Rufus legacy.
1978: Street Player
Powerful ballad “Stay†confirms Chaka’s skill at slow love songs.
1979:Masterjam
Quincy Jones produces new cultural mainstays “Heavenbound†“Do You Love What You Feel†and “Any Love.â€
1980:Naughty
“Clouds†and “Papillon (A.K.A. Hot Butterfly)†satisfy.Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston and Luther Vandross sing back-up on “Papillon†(Hot Butterfly.)
1981: Camouflage
“Sharing The Love†and “Better Together†are worth the trip. Rene and Angela and Greg Phillinganes make guest appearances.
1981:What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me
The title song maximizes Chaka’s combustible vocals to give her a second number one R & B hit. And she experiences more popularity with the jazz crowd with “And The Melody Still Lingers On (A Night In Tunisia.â€
1982:Echoes of an Era
Commits to a full album of jazz with guests Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Lenny White and Stanley Clarke.
1982:Chaka Khan
Covers “Got To Be There†and flexes her range with “BeBop Melodyâ€
1983: Stompin’ at the Savoy (Live)
A combination live album and new studio material. “Ain’t Nobody†first appears on the radar.
1984:I Feel For You
Before New Jack Swing and Hip-Hop Soul Chaka sings on the first Hip-Hop and R&B collaboration by covering Prince’s “I Feel For You” with Melle Mel.Stevie Wonder plays the Harmonica.
1986:Destiny
Big vocals, rock guitar and synthesizers provide some of the better music with that ‘80’s sound. The title song had a big spot in Richard Pryor’s autobiographical film Jojo Dancer.
1988:C.K.
Another visit of great songs with an excellent vocalist “Baby Me†was the most commercial of this collection that missed larger audiences.
1989:Life Is a Dance (The Remix Project)
Fun remix project where people like Tony Humphries and Hank Shocklee remake her classics.
1992: The Woman I Am
Positive uptempo “Love You All My Lifetime†becomes a hot club tune.
1996 Epiphany: The Best Of Chaka Khan, Volume One.
A survey of Chaka’s solo material and better songs with Rufus. The surprise is “Miss The Water†with funk mystic Meshell Ndegeocello.
1996: The Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
A sampler of the band’s most popular songs.
1998:Come 2 My House
Funkin fun with Prince, Larry Graham and Queen Latifah. A Sandra St.Victor song “Never B Another Fool†gets a video of Chaka playing
Drums.
2004:Classikhan
Film songs and jazz classics Cha-ka-fied with The London Symphony Orchestra.
2007:Funk This
Her ultimate return to form with half classic and half new material. She grooves with Tony Maiden and Mary J.Blige.