Possibly her most consistent set of the 1980s, “What Cha' Gonna Do For Me” is crammed so full with top-draw tunes that the melodies threaten to poor out of the grooves! Produced in 1981 by the late, great Arif Mardin, this album showcased this great, sexy Lady's voluminous talents. I love every track bar track one – a funky reading of Lennon & McCartney's “We Can Work It Out”. Doesn't work for me I fear BUT check out Lenny White's KILLER version of “Lady Madonna” - blinding! I have never tired of this album, and the title track chugs along with finesse and power. Penned by Hamish Stuart, this little monster should still get feet moving today. Brilliant, and the equally motivating “I Know You, I Live You” cannot be faulted either. Very pleasing on the ear is the lovely “Any Old Sunday” and the aggressively addictive beats of “We Got Each Other” owes its roots to a funkier Rufus style. A ripe segment for sampling I would suggest!
A special cut on here is the ground-breaking “And The World Still Lingers On (A Night In Tunisia)” - the seminal Dizzy Gillespie tune. Arif Mardin drafted up lyrics for the song, funked it up and called in the Master himself to blow his horn. We know that Chaka can turn her hands to jazz, and boy does she take no prisoners with this fantastic track. The track that gets my flesh covered in chills is “Night Moves” - the superb laid back melody and sensuous vocals are blinding enough but the warm 80s keys really do the business for this particular listener. I have to give special mention to “Fate” which was mercilessly sampled for the dance hit “Music Sounds Better With You” - that was cleverly done and won my approval, but let's give some props to the original and the best track! Still available to buy on CD, this should definitely be in your collection – the jewel in the crown of Chaka Khan's catalogue.
