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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Mca
Salesrank: 18616
Released: March 10, 1992 |
| Our Price: $5.23 |
| Used Price: $2.83 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Ask Rufus Track Listing:
1. At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)
2. Close the Door
3. Medley: Slow Screw Against the Wall/A Flat Fry
4. Earth Song
5. Everlasting Love
6. Hollywood
7. Magic in Your Eyes
8. Better Days
9. Egyptian Song
Editorial Review:
Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.
Ask Rufus Reviews:
Simply nothing else like this record 
2009-07-07 - It would be hard to add anything meaningful to the other raves here. There is simply nothing else like this record, ever before or ever since. It's pure magic from end to end, and in my opinion it is as good as "soul" can possibly get. Really, it transcends genres. Just buy it.
The Crossroads Of Late 70's Soul
2009-02-25 - Rufus And Chaka Khan,aside from CK's amazing and influencial singing have always been just mildly underrated as musicians. In the years after the debut,especially with the style of the previous Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan their style had been growing from that of a conventional 70's funk band to what they became with this album.By far this would have to be described as Rufus's artistic pinnacle and is today justly revered. It is here that Rufus made the transformation to being a fully sophisticated band with brilliant songwriting,fully mature and reflective lyrics and plenty of jazz influences. With a couple minor exceptions this album showcases Rufus sticking with a midtempo jazzy soul/funk sound and a great deal of sudlty. Not only is it solid proof that funk doesn't have to be a non-stop rhythm barrage to groove like mad but it features songs that all sound like mini classics."At Midnight" is the main uptempo song here.The production is far from slick and features probably the best use of synthesizer on a mid period Rufus Recording-the simple beat sounds deceptively like disco but on the breakdown it's perfectly clear that it isn't. Lyrically it's clear that Chaka,who participates very strongly as a writer here is content on reflecting on how her own complicated marriaged and personal life at the at time is effecting her feelings on her own womanhood-strong emphasizing emotional involvement."Close The Door" is one mournful example;Chaka's tortured voice and the spare backdrop just drips with meloncaughly of the soul.The superb orchestration of Claire Fischer (cousin of the bands drummer Andre Fischer) not only makes that tune so wonderful but dominates the equally mournful instrumental "A Slow Screw Against The Wall";the briefly funk blowout of "A Flat Fry",featuring Ron Wood is pretty much the last tune of that type you'll find here.The memorable and singable "Earth Song" features a cryptic lyric that,if understood sums up Chaka's lyrical involvement here as she sings,"Stars/what a mystical woman you've made me" and on "Everlasting Love" we're introduced into a deceptively musically simple vision of romance and sensuality."Hollywood" is...well almost an uptempo song because it's so sprightly even as it looks at the effect fame and surroundings of luxary effect people."Magic In Your Eyes" is yet another excellent romantic moment whereas "Better Days",co-written by Chaka's then husband Richard Holland reflects on a possible optimisitc future for the then faltering couple.As for the music,let's just say I think Dido was highly influenced by this song when she did her hit song Thank You ovet two decades later. The title of "Egyptian Song" sounds like the song and lyrics will be very complicated and they are. From the melody down to it's lyrics it reflects on Chaka's journey to discover her racial identity that was evidently at that point still very much a part of her life. Here you here a very different kind of Rufus,challanging themselves all around to be a band to contend with a very different kind of groove for a very different kind of funk. There is little likelyhood you'll ever come across an album in Rufus catalog or anyone else's that sounds quite like this.And that really says an awful lot for this.
ask me
2008-08-24 - Listening to this brings back memories. It's my soundtrack right now. Love having it. "comfort music"
Beautiful concept album
2008-07-28 - Something different this time from Rufus featuring Chaka Khan: only one funk song on the whole album!! And, that was the first song! But, this album works by showcasing Ms. Khan's singing talents, and the rest of the band as well.
ASK RUFUS: FINE AS THE FIRST TIME
2008-05-21 - I remember this album (yes I said album) when I was in high school. It still holds the same impact it did back then. Chaka Khan's strong vocals with Rufus background sound is, at the same time, melodic and forceful without being hard on the ears. And the dance cuts still make you get up and shake your booty.
