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As a vocalist, Chaka Khan is the one of the very few who often doesn't need great material to prosper. Thankfully, on What Cha' Gonna Do for Me that isn't the case. Teaming again with Arif Mardin, slowly but surely the two began to craft an even more successful and innovative sound. This effort not only bests the work before it, but it is Mardin's most fulfilling production since 1974's Average White Band. The cover of "We Can Work It Out" gets a brash and funky Stevie Wonder-style arrangement, with Gregory Phillanganes doing great synth work. The biggest hit here is the melodic title track and has Khan's patented mix of sexiness and intelligent phrasing. The best song here, "I Know You, I Live You," displays the brilliant bass and drum team of Anthony Jackson and Steve Ferrone, whose innovation all but rendered Rufus obsolete. Their pounding yet refined sound is also on "We've Got Each Other," a hooky and propulsive duet with Khan's brother Mark Stevens. The ambitious and much loved "And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia)" had Mardin and Khan creating pithy lyrics that paid homage to '40s jazz legends as well as all other subsequent musical geniuses. The track features a clavitar solo from Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, and an "excerpted" solo break from Charlie Parker. Throughout What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, Mardin seems to get amazing vocals from Khan and has he certainly had fun playing with her voice. What Cha' Gonna Do for Me is arguably the best effort of their partnership.
© Jason Elias /TiVo
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John Lennon, Writer - Paul Mccartney, Writer - Chaka Khan, Vocals, Main Artist
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Hamish Stuart, Composer, Lyricist, Writer - Arif Mardin, Producer, Arranger - Ned Doheny, Composer, Lyricist, Writer - Chaka Khan, Main Artist - Chaka Khan, Executive Producer, Vocals - Tammy Coleman-McCrary, Co-Producer - Rufus, Vocals
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Arif Mardin, Composer, Producer, Writer - Chaka Khan, Vocals, Writer, Main Artist - Yvette Stevens, Composer
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Patrick Henderson, Writer - Linda McCrary, Writer - Hamish Stuart, Guitar - Arif Mardin, Producer - Randy Brecker, Flugelhorn - Larry Williams, Flute, Keyboards, Saxophone - Anthony Jackson, Bass - Andrew Fraser, Writer - Chaka Khan, Lead Vocals, Main Artist - David Williams, Guitar - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Alfred E. McCrary, Writer - Daniel Praglin, Writer - Danny Ironston, Writer
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Chaka Khan, Writer, MainArtist - A. Baboff, Writer - F. Lederman, Writer
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Arif Mardin, Lyricist, Producer - Chaka Khan, Lyricist, Executive Producer, Vocals, Main Artist - Dizzy Gillespie, Lyricist - Tammy Coleman-McCrary, Co-Producer - Frank Paparelli, Lyricist
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Reprise Records for the U.S. and WEA International for the world outside of the U.S.
Jerry Ragovoy, Writer - Chaka Khan, Main Artist
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
E. Chase, Writer - A. Jacobson, Writer - M. Stevens, Writer - Chaka Khan, Writer, Main Artist
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Chaka Khan, Main Artist - Dash, Writer - M. Campagna, Writer
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
F. Musker, Writer - D. Bugatti, Writer - Chaka Khan, MainArtist
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2000 Warner Records Inc.
Arif Mardin, Composer, Producer, Writer - Chaka Khan, Vocals, Writer, Main Artist - Yvette Stevens, Composer
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc.
Album review
As a vocalist, Chaka Khan is the one of the very few who often doesn't need great material to prosper. Thankfully, on What Cha' Gonna Do for Me that isn't the case. Teaming again with Arif Mardin, slowly but surely the two began to craft an even more successful and innovative sound. This effort not only bests the work before it, but it is Mardin's most fulfilling production since 1974's Average White Band. The cover of "We Can Work It Out" gets a brash and funky Stevie Wonder-style arrangement, with Gregory Phillanganes doing great synth work. The biggest hit here is the melodic title track and has Khan's patented mix of sexiness and intelligent phrasing. The best song here, "I Know You, I Live You," displays the brilliant bass and drum team of Anthony Jackson and Steve Ferrone, whose innovation all but rendered Rufus obsolete. Their pounding yet refined sound is also on "We've Got Each Other," a hooky and propulsive duet with Khan's brother Mark Stevens. The ambitious and much loved "And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia)" had Mardin and Khan creating pithy lyrics that paid homage to '40s jazz legends as well as all other subsequent musical geniuses. The track features a clavitar solo from Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, and an "excerpted" solo break from Charlie Parker. Throughout What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, Mardin seems to get amazing vocals from Khan and has he certainly had fun playing with her voice. What Cha' Gonna Do for Me is arguably the best effort of their partnership.
© Jason Elias /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:04
- Main artists: Chaka Khan
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 1981 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1981 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, A Warner Music Group Company.
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