Were putting the band back together
Rufus and Chaka Khan Live - Stompin' At The Savoy
Considering that, for much of their career, they couldn’t stand being in the same room, it’s odd that, in 1982, only a year after their last flop of an album, and whilst Chaka Khan’s solo career is flying, they got together to record some live shows, to be recorded for a live in concert film. Tony & Toni from Peep Show vibes.
The film was shelved by Warner Bros. (until its eventual release on home video), but the audio recordings formed three sides of this album, the fourth being studio stuff.
They smash through their big hits, plus one of Chaka’s solo tunes. This version of Bobby Womack’s Stop On By is one of my favourite pieces of music ever. I can still remember hearing it being played on Robbie Vincent’s Saturday afternoon Radio London show.
The studio side has Ain’t Nobody on it, and it became the biggest hit of any of their careers.
Funny old business.
I picked up this US pressing (cut-out) at Victor Harbor market one Sunday.
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You live in a quandry
Rufus - Camouflage
This was Rufus’ final album for MCA. The band and Chaka Khan reunited to knock this one out to meet their contractual obligations to the label. After this, Khan was free to pursue her solo career, which she did, instead of promoting the album. She’d fallen out with the rest of the band (again) and had recorded separately from them (again). The album disappeared without a trace.
Having said all that, it should be shit, but it’s actually OK.
It falls just at the tipping point between disco and post-disco/boogie and most of the up-tempo tunes reflect that.
Suffice to say, none of their big hits are on this album.
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