Masterjam is the platinum-selling eighth studio album by funk band Rufus (and their seventh album featuring singer Chaka Khan). Released in 1979, it was their debut on the MCA Records label following their purchase and dissolution of ABC Records.
History Produced by Quincy Jones, Masterjam was the band's fourth album to top Billboards R&B Albums chart, and also reached number 14 on the Pop chart. The album includes the singles "Do You Love What You Feel", their fourth number-one hit on the R&B Singles chart and also number 30 on Pop, "Any Love" (US R&B number 24, 1980) and "I'm Dancing for Your Love" (US R&B number 43, 1980). In 1979, Chaka Khan found solo success with the release of the album, Chaka, and its parent single, "I'm Every Woman", which became her signature song years before "I Feel for You".
However, Khan was contractually obligated to remain a member of her long-standing band Rufus, a group she had joined in 1972. Since their 1973 debut, Khan had led on most of the group's songs. While Ron Stockert, an earlier member, had added vocals to the debut and their follow-up, Rags to Rufus, Stockert left after complaining of their label's focus on Khan, and Tony Maiden would begin to lead on more songs as the 1970s drew to a close, Khan's presence continued to boost the group.
For their first album with MCA Records, which had absorbed ABC Records a year before, the group enlisted Jones to help them with the record (Khan had recorded with Jones the year before for his album Sounds...and Stuff Like That!!). The group, while still with Khan, was now starting to record without her, while Khan was starting to express a view of going solo for good while still performing with the group onstage. Despite this, the album became a success upon its release. Following Masterjam Chaka Khan recorded her second solo album Naughty and Rufus Party 'Til You're Broke, released in 1980 and 1981 respectively. Khan reunited with the band again in 1981 for the recording of Camouflage.
Jones had also brought in the Seawind Horns for help, as well as the Brothers Johnson for additional percussion help. Rufus even does a funked-up cover of Jones's own "Body Heat".
Track listing
Personnel Chaka Khan – lead vocals, background vocals Tony Maiden – guitar, lead vocals, background vocals Kevin Murphy – keyboards John Robinson – drums, additional percussion, hand-clapping Bobby Watson – bass David "Hawk" Wolinski – keyboards Bill Reichenbach Jr., Lew McCreary – trombone Louis Johnson, George Johnson, Richard Heath – percussion, hand-clapping
Seawind Horns Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn Larry Hall – trumpet, flugelhorn Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone, flute Larry Williams – saxophone, flute
Production Quincy Jones – producer Bruce Swedien – audio engineer, mixing Jerry Hey, Bill Reichenbach Jr. – string arrangements Sidney Sharp – strings concertmaster Rufus – rhythm arrangements Rod Temperton – rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden – vocal arrangements Ed Caraeff – photography, album design
Charts Album Chart (1979)PeakU.S. Billboard Top LPs14U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs1
Singles Year Single Peak chart positions US USR&B USDance1979 "Do You Love What You Feel" 30 1 51980 "Any Love" 102 24 "I'm Dancing for Your Love" — 43 —
Certifications
See also List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1979
References
External links Masterjam at Discogs