What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | B− |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Rolling Stone |
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me is the third solo album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1981. It was certified gold by the RIAA.
Overview
Teaming again with Arif Mardin, slowly but surely the two began to craft an even more successful and innovative sound. This effort not only bests the work before it, but it is Mardin's most fulfilling production since 1974's Average White Band.
— Jason Elias, Allmusic
Three singles were released from What Cha' Gonna Do: the Beatles cover "We Can Work It Out" (US R&B #34), the McCrarys cover "Any Old Sunday" (#68) and the album's title track which became a number one hit on Billboard R&B Singles chart. On Billboard's charts, the album reached #3 on Black Albums, #33 on Jazz Albums, and #17 on Pop Albums. This would be Chaka's highest-charting album until her 1980s-era breakthrough I Feel For You. Its popularity among jazz audiences was likely due to the inclusion of the Dizzy Gillespie composition "Night In Tunisia" with a guest appearance by Gillespie himself as well as what today would be called a 'sample' of Charlie Parker's legendary four bar alto break from his 1946 recording of the title. Khan's vocal interpretation also features lyrics written by the singer herself. This album was nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female in 1981.
The instrumental intro to "Fate" has been sampled by a host of dance acts all through the 1990s and 2000s, most notably by Stardust on their 1998 hit single "Music Sounds Better With You" and a section of "I Know You I Live You" also features on "Bad Habit" by ATFC & Onephatdeeva feat. Lisa Milett.
Reissues
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me has only been re-issued on CD in both Europe and Japan. The album has yet to see a CD release in the United States, but did become domestically available digitally shortly after Khan won multiple Grammys for her 2007 album Funk This.
In 2016, Big Break Records re-issued the album as an expanded edition with special liner notes, rare photos, and containing three bonus tracks: "Only Once", "Lover's Touch" and "I Know You, I Live You (Remix)". Though the remix of "I Know You, I Live You" was previously released on Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project, the other two were only available on 7" singles until the Big Break reissue. "Lover's Touch" was the B-Side of "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" in the US, and "Only Once" was the B-Side of "We Can Work It Out."
Commercial performance
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me debuted at number 80 on the US Billboard 200 during the week of May 9, 1981. The album would eventually peak at number 17 on the week of June 20, 1981. The album also peaked at number 3 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart during the week of June 13, 1981. On July 1, 1981, What Cha' Gonna Do for Me was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Can Work It Out" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 3:43 |
| 2. | "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" | Ned Doheny, Hamish Stuart | 3:54 |
| 3. | "I Know You, I Live You" | Chaka Khan, Arif Mardin | 4:29 |
| 4. | "Any Old Sunday" | Linda McCrary, Alfred McCrary | 3:37 |
| 5. | "We Got Each Other" | Alan Baboff, Chaka Khan, Fred Lederman | 3:56 |
| 6. | "And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia)" | Chaka Khan, Arif Mardin, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli | 5:04 |
| 7. | "Night Moods" | Jerry Ragovoy | 4:21 |
| 8. | "Heed the Warning" | Ellison Chase, Arthur Jacobson, Chaka Khan, Mark Stevens | 4:32 |
| 9. | "Father He Said" | Deborah Ash, Mike Campagna | 3:52 |
| 10. | "Fate" | Dominic Bugatti, Frank Musker | 3:14 |
| 11. | "I Know You, I Live You" (Reprise) | Chaka Khan, Arif Mardin | 1:22 |
Personnel
- Chaka Khan – vocals, background vocals
- Steve Ferrone – drums all tracks except 1, 6
- Anthony Jackson – bass all tracks except 1, 6
- David Williams – guitar all tracks except 1, 6
- Hamish Stuart – guitar all tracks except 1, 6
- Larry Williams – keyboards, flute, saxophone, synthesizer all tracks except 1, 6
| Track 1: “We Can Work It Out” Drums - Ray Pounds Keyboards [All], Synthesizer [Mini Moog Bass] - Greg Phillinganes Guitar – Mike Sembello Percussion – Paulinho da Costa Horn Arrangement – Larry Williams Horns [Brass, Reeds] – Bill Reichenbach, Gary Grant, Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Hall, Larry Williams Arranged by [String Arrangement] – Arif Mardin Concert Master - Gene OrloffTrack 2: “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me” Synthesizer – Bob Christianson Percussion – Crusher Bennett Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax Solo], Soloist – Michael Brecker Arranged by [Horn Arrangement] – Arif Mardin Horns [Brass, Reeds] – Barry Rogers, Lou Delgatto, Lou Soloff, Michael Brecker, Randy BreckerTrack 3, 10: “I Know You, I Live You” Percussion – Crusher Bennett, Chaka Khan Arranged by [Horn Arrangement], Saxophone – Larry Williams Trumpet – Jerry HeyTrack 4: “Any Old Sunday” Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker | Track 5: “We Got Each Other” Vocals [Duet Vocal] – Mark Stevens Arranged by [Horn Arrangement], Saxophone – Larry Williams Trumpet – Jerry HeyTrack 6: “And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia)” Drums – Casey Scheuerell Bass – Abraham Laboriel Electric Piano – Ronnie Foster Keyboards [Clavitar Solo, Break], Synthesizer [Oberheim Bells] – Herbie Hancock Percussion – Paulinho da Costa Synthesizer [Mini Moog Bass, Prophet 5] – David Foster Trumpet – Dizzy GillespieTrack 7: "Night Moods" Arranged by [String Arrangement] – Arif Mardin Concert Master - Gene OrloffTrack 8: “Heed The Warning” Synthesizer [Moog Synthesizer], Soloist [Solo] – David RichardsTrack 9: “Fate” Clavinet – Richard Tee Guitar [Guitar Solo], Soloist – Hiram Bullock Percussion – Crusher Bennett Synthesizer – David Richards |
Non-album tracks
- "Lover's Touch" — B-side of single "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" (WBS 49692) (Taylor) - 4:31
- "Only Once" — B-side of single "We Can Work It Out" (WBS 49759) (Ruff, Ruff, Kaplan) - 3:55
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 42 |
| US Billboard 200 | 17 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 3 |
| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard) | 35 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1981) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 36 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
External links
- at Discogs