Female singers in a duo or group fit a consistent pattern. They seem dominated at first by musical producers or collaborators, yet command all attention to the point where when they inevitably leave for solo work, they take the group's identity. Examples abound: Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Cher, Gloria Estefan, Annie Lennox, Natalie Merchant; none of the groups or song partners here achieved any solo success without them. (This cannot be said for the less successful solo ventures of Prince proteges Appolonia and Vanity.)
Yet Rufus (later Rufus featuring Chaka Khan), here with their brief but exciting greatest hits collection, show themselves to be a cohesive band blessed with a dynamic lead singer. Make no mistake, Chaka's vocals sling around party grooves like "At Midnight" and "Once You Get Started," and mid-tempo ballads like "Hollywood" and "Stay" with passionate skill equalling Aretha at her peak. But Rufus, led by guitarist/vocalist Tony Maiden, keyboardist Kevin Murphy and sax man David Wolinski (who co-wrote and produced several tracks) also authored the group's groundbreaking rock/R&B hybrid. Listen to the rubbery funk of Stevie Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good," or the gentle electric piano opening "Sweet Thing" and know that Rufus wanted, and briefly achieved, true R&B/rock/pop crossover success.
Chaka would work with the best after her solo career began in 1978: David Foster, Arif Mardin, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Prince. But her collaborations within, not in front of, Rufus produced the most satisfying music of her career. At least one diva, Diana Ross, decided to rejoin her fellow Supremes for a summer tour; Chaka would do no worse bringing Rufus back for another round. Recommended set.