Flashback Friday – Rufus featuring Chaka Khan – Street Player
It was not an easy choice deciding which Chaka album to use for the flashback because there are so many good ones. Her work with Rufus as well as her solo albums are outstanding. Rufus and Chaka’s album Street Player (1978) is special for me for its lyrics and music. The soulful funk rhythms of Rufus and powerhouse vocals of Chaka Khan were unstoppable. Hmmm….I wonder if there will ever be a reunion album?
Send me a stranger to love
I need a stranger to love
Send me a stranger to love
So I can leave my past behind
Often times, we initially hear a song and then go back and listen to it again years later and it will have a whole new meaning. The words and the music have stood the test of time and have even more relevance to us now.
Always look inside the people that you’re with
And never hang around those who cannot give
Don’t let them get the best
Of your heart leave the rest
Up to love and you’ll be takin care of
Now those are definitely words to live by and taken from the song “Best of Your Heart” and the lyrics at the top are from “Stranger to Love” which are just a couple of the great ballads on this album. Other gems include “Turn“, “Stay“, “Blue Love“, and the jazzy “Destiny” which made you say, “wow, she can sing anything!!”. The title track “Street Player” and “Change Your Ways” also feature Tony Maiden on lead and background vocals, guitar, and percussion. The soul funk jazz rock band Rufus also includes Kevin Murphy on keyboards, Bobby “Wah Wah” Watson on bass and percussion, David “Hawk” Wolinski on keyboards and background vocals, and Richard “Moon” Calhoun on drums, percussion, and background vocals.
Enjoy your music!
Wow, I have this LP. Don’t you love those 70’s colors?
Btw, I just noticed Donnie is going to be at Bimbo’s. Have you already got your tix? Or do you even need to buy them anymore? 🙂
Wow, I love this album! And “Best Of Your Heart” is my favorite song on it … I dedicate it to you!
“Often times, we initially hear a song and then go back and listen to it again years later and it will have a whole new meaning. The words and the music have stood the test of time and have even more revelance to us now.”
god, that makes me want my fiona apple CD So very badly!!!
I remember this album well. I always wondered why they let that guy push up on Chaka like that. It takes me back to East 27th Street in Oakland…
Whatever happened to Richard Calhoun,the writer of Stay and other tunes?Erykah Badu does a nice job of Stay on her live album!
I love Rufus & Chaka Khan, and I always thought “Street Player” was perhaps the group’s most underrated album. It went gold soon after its 1978 release. The album shows the band at its most sophisticated, melding jazz, rock and soul with finesse, class and charm. “Stay” is flat-out stunning. There isn’t a dud on the set. Although “Street Player” doesn’t contain as many musical epiphanies as “Rufusized” (1974) or “Ask Rufus” (1977), it is still a gem.