40 Minutes with Chaka Khan: Original 5 Album Series (Part 1)

I’ve been dying to get this show on the road. Well, it’s here now. Thank goodness for that—delayed a few weeks mainly to allow for systems upgrades at Times 100.5 FM. But now, as the saying goes, it’s all systems go! Kicking off the Chaka Khan 5 album series this weekend is the album Chaka—the debut solo album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1978. And I will be featuring this album in its entirety on 70s Disco 80s Pop retro radio show Boogie from 6pm Sunday this weekend, followed by some utterly sensational groove tracks from the 1980s in the Airtel-sponsored second hour of the show. Boogie airs every Sunday from 6pm till 8pm and is sponsored by Airtel, Business Times, Majira and SPOTIstarehe.

Still very much an integral part of Rufus, Chaka Khan set the charts on fire with her debut solo release. The first single was the R&B chart-topper "I'm Every Woman," an Ashford & Simpson track with Khan lighting up the lyric with her tantalizing vocals. Although Khan had much credibility from her association with Rufus, this album demonstrated that the dynamic vocalist could hold her own ground alone.

Two singles were released from Chaka, the first being her anthemic solo debut "I'm Every Woman", one of Khan's signature tunes alongside "Ain't Nobody" (1983) and "I Feel For You" (1984). The song has over the past three decades been re-released, remixed and covered a number of times, most notably by Whitney Houston in 1992 for the soundtrack album The Bodyguard, then featuring guest vocals by Khan herself and topping Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. A remix of Khan's original recording was also a Top Ten hit in the U.K. in 1989. The remix was included on the compilation Life is a Dance - The Remix Project, the title track of which was the second single release from the Chaka album in early 1979. The album also features the ballad "Roll Me Through the Rushes", never commercially released as a single but still receiving considerable airplay in 1979, as well as Khan's cover version of Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made To Love Her", re-titled "I Was Made to Love Him".

Following the release of the Chaka album Khan reunited with Rufus for the recording of 1979's Masterjam, produced by Quincy Jones. Her second solo album Naughty—which I will be featuring on Boogie next weekend, followed in 1980. The Chaka album was re-released on CD in the United States by the Warner Music Group in 1998.

To listen to superb, digitally re-mastered 70s disco 80s pop imports, tune in to Boogie on Times 100.5 FM, or listen live on stream at www.timesfm.co.tz from 6pm Sundays. Presented by myself (a reinvented 80s pop singer) with DJ Cue on the decks, and sponsored by Airtel, Business Times, Majira and SPOTIstarehe, Boogie is fast becoming a great way to spend Sunday evenings chilling out with friends to reminisce on the good old days. For regular blog updates, playlists and to link on to Boogie TZ on Facebook, visit www.joettmusic.com

Be sure to tune in to Times 100.5 FM from 6pm Sunday East Africa Time, Or Listen live on stream at timesfm.co.tz For International listeners, view World Time Zone Map for current time in your area.

JOETT
Radio Presenter, Recording Artist & Vocal Coach

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