Rufus & Chaka Khan

[SandraDee]

I'd be interested to know which are your favourite LPs by this brilliant group. (Obviously 'Masterjam' from '79 is considered their most 'disco' LP but all their records were largely funky.) I notice that many of their LPs are on Japanese remastered CDs; are these worth shelling out lots of money for or would you just get the normal CDs? I'm mainly interested in their stuff up to '81's 'Camouflage' as I was never a fan of 'Aint Nobody', unlike the rest of the world!

[eddie]

The Japanese pressings have no additonal tracks than the CDs issued in the U.S. They come in cardboard and without a jewel case and should not be that expensive. I paid less than $10 for Camouflage. "Sharing the love" is a very underrated track as is their first album from about '73 or '74.

[SandraDee]

Oh so the sound isn't that different on the Japanese copies? I was wondering 'cos some remastered CDs like Michael's 'Off The Wall' have a very different sound to the original copies.

[neonlights]

Love Rufus & Chaka! My number one favourite of theirs would probably the "Ask Rufus" album.. Soulful, yet eclectic and a little bit esoteric as well. The sort of album many neo-soul artists today wish they could make..

I like pretty much all their albums, though their first album as well as their later stuff (the "Street Player," "Masterjam" and "Camouflage" LPs) were what caught my interest first.

As eddie said, no bonus tracks, but the sound quality is improved; it's louder and clearer to my ears.. The artwork is great too, very well restored, great attention to detail.. The CDs are in exact mini-replicas of the LP sleeves, sometimes with the inner sleeves and everything. "Ask Rufus" even came with a mini-replica of the poster from the original LP..

If that stuff doesn't really matter to you, then maybe just order the Japanese CD of "Camouflage," which hasn't been reissued anywhere else, and get the US CDs of the others..

[keefelc]

Hey Sandy, they've had the Japanese imports of the Rufus CDs on sale at www.hip-oselect.com for a couple of months now. Only $9.49 each (U.S. dollars)!

[efunk_adelic]

did anybody pick up a copy of their early 1981 LP

Party 'Til You're Broke?

(this is without the services of Khan)

[SandraDee]

Thanks keef, neon & eddie for the helpful info. Are hip-o select OK for overseas customers?

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by efunk_adelic

did anybody pick up a copy of their early 1981 LP

Party 'Til You're Broke?

(this is without the services of Khan)

I've never heard it but I remember reading a Blues & Soul review at the time which said it was very below-par stuff for Rufus. They must've missed Chaka!

[keefelc]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

Thanks keef, neon & eddie for the helpful info. Are hip-o select OK for overseas customers?

I do believe they do, Sandy. If you'll look on their Forum, they have a section with info on shipping.

If they don't ship internationally, then you might also want to try David Nathan's www.soulmusic.com website. They also carry the CDs but for about a $1.00 more per disc!

[SandraDee]

Thanks again keef.

[efunk_adelic]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

I've never heard it but I remember reading a Blues & Soul review at the time which said it was very below-par stuff for Rufus. They must've missed Chaka!

Steely

there was still a good cut I used to play around 10 weeks called Tonight We Love. I have this on LP tucked away... but would love to get a hold of that cut some other way... I'm lazy like Quinny. :D

[eddie]

No, Hipo-select is no longer mailing oversees. They would not even send it to my PO box in New York state. They insisted on UPS and if nobody's home $500 worth of records maybe sitting in the rain!!!!