Masterjam
Encyclopedia
Masterjam is the eighth studio album by funk
band Rufus
(billed as Rufus & Chaka), their debut on the MCA Records
label following their purchase and dissolution of ABC Records
, released in 1979.
was the band's fourth album to top Billboard
s R&B Albums chart and also reached #14 on Pop. The album includes the singles "Do You Love What You Feel
", their fourth #1 hit on the R&B Singles chart and also #30 on Pop, "Any Love" (US R&B #24, 1980) and "I'm Dancing for Your Love" (US R&B #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 wanted to remain a member of her long-standing band Rufus, a group she had joined in 1970 at seventeen as a background vocalist, and had later gained the lead vocal spot from another woman, two years later. 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 seventies 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 Quincy Jones
to help them with the record. 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
, both released in 1980. Khan reunited with the band again in 1981 for the recording of Camouflage
.
Singles
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
band Rufus
Rufus (band)
Rufus was an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good," "Sweet Thing," and "Ain't Nobody."-Origins:...
(billed as Rufus & Chaka), their debut on the MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
label following their purchase and dissolution of ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
, released in 1979.
History
Masterjam which was produced by Quincy JonesQuincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
was the band's fourth album to top Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s R&B Albums chart and also reached #14 on Pop. The album includes the singles "Do You Love What You Feel
Do You Love What You Feel
"Do You Love What You Feel" is a well known soul/disco song by Rufus and Chaka. Released in late 1979 from the Quincy Jones produced album, Masterjam, it spent three weeks at the top of the Hot Soul Singles chart, becoming the fourth of five songs that they would send to the top of that chart. It...
", their fourth #1 hit on the R&B Singles chart and also #30 on Pop, "Any Love" (US R&B #24, 1980) and "I'm Dancing for Your Love" (US R&B #43, 1980). In 1979, Chaka Khan found solo success with the release of the album, Chaka
Chaka (1978 album)
Chaka is the debut solo album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1978.- Overview :Two singles were released from Chaka, the first being her anthemic solo debut "I'm Every Woman", one of Khan's signature tunes alongside "Ain't Nobody" and "I Feel...
, and its parent single, "I'm Every Woman
I'm Every Woman
"I'm Every Woman" is a hit song recorded by Chaka Khan in 1978. It was Chaka Khan's first hit outside of her recordings with funk band Rufus; the song was included on her platinum debut solo album Chaka. Produced by Arif Mardin and written by successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie...
", which became her signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
years before "I Feel for You
I Feel for You
"I Feel for You" is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album. It became a hit single in 1984 for female R&B singer Chaka Khan, appearing on her album, which was also called I Feel for You...
".
However, Khan wanted to remain a member of her long-standing band Rufus, a group she had joined in 1970 at seventeen as a background vocalist, and had later gained the lead vocal spot from another woman, two years later. 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
Rags to Rufus
-Personnel:*Chaka Khan – lead vocals, background vocals*Dennis Belfield – background vocals, bass*André Fischer – drums, percussion, background vocals*Kevin Murphy – organ, clavinette, background vocals...
, Stockert left after complaining of their label's focus on Khan, and Tony Maiden would begin to lead on more songs as the seventies drew to a close, Khan's presence continued to boost the group.
For their first album with MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, which had absorbed ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
a year before, the group enlisted Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
to help them with the record. 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
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
recorded her second solo album Naughty
Naughty (Chaka Khan album)
Naughty is the second solo album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1980.- Biography :Three singles were released from Naughty: the club hit "Clouds" , "Get Ready, Get Set" and the big hit "Papillon "...
and Rufus Party 'Til You're Broke
Party 'Til You're Broke
Party Til' You're Broke is the ninth studio album by funk band Rufus, released on the MCA Records label in 1981. Party 'Til You're Broke which was the band's second album not to be fronted by Chaka Khan reached #24 on Billboards R&B Albums chart and #73 on Pop and included the singles "Tonight We...
, both released in 1980. Khan reunited with the band again in 1981 for the recording of Camouflage
Camouflage (Rufus album)
Camouflage is the tenth studio album by funk band Rufus , released on the MCA Records label in 1981. Camouflage peaked at #15 on Billboards R&B Albums chart and stalled at #98 on Pop...
.
Track listing
Personnel
- Chaka KhanChaka KhanChaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
– lead vocals, background vocals - Tony Maiden – guitar, vocals
- Kevin MurphyKevin Murphy (musician)Kevin Murphy is an American keyboardist. He has played with The American Breed and was a founder of Rufus .-References:...
– keyboards - John "J.R." RobinsonJohn Robinson (drummer)John Robinson is an American drummer and session musician...
– drums, percussion - Bobby Watson – bass
- David "Hawk" WolinskiHawk WolinskiDavid J. "Hawk" Wolinski is an American keyboardist, songwriter and record producer probably best known for his work with the funk band Rufus and their lead singer Chaka Khan....
– keyboards - SeawindSeawind (band)Seawind was a jazz fusion group from Hawaii, featuring lead singer Pauline Wilson. They recorded two albums for CTI Records, one for A&M Records and one for A&M subsidiary Horizon Records...
– horns - Jerry HeyJerry HeyJerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Thriller and the distinctive flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit Longer....
, Gary Grant, Larry Hall – trumpet, flugel horn - Kim Hutchcroft, Larry WilliamsLarry Williams (horn player)Larry Williams is an American horn player. He has distinguished himself as a multifaceted musician whose artistry led the late Philip Farkas , to describe him as "an outstanding artist-soloist with fine tone, excellent intonation, superb accuracy, and superior musicianship".Ebony magazine listed Mr...
– saxophone, flute - Bill Reichenbach Jr., Lew McCreary – trombone
- Louis Johnson, George Johnson, Richard Heath – percussion, handclapping
Production
- Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
– producer - Bruce SwedienBruce SwedienBruce Swedien is a Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and music producer. He is known for his work with Quincy Jones.Swedien is a five-time Grammy winner and has been nominated 13 times. He recorded, mixed, and assisted in producing the best-sold album in the world, Thriller by Michael Jackson...
– audio engineer, mixing - Jerry HeyJerry HeyJerry Hey is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Thriller and the distinctive flugelhorn solo on Dan Fogelberg's hit Longer....
, Bill Reichenbach Jr. – string arrangements - Sidney Sharp – strings concertmaster
- Rufus – rhythm arrangements
- Rod TempertonRod TempertonRodney Lynn "Rod" Temperton is an English songwriter, record producer and musician most famous for writing a number of songs performed by Michael Jackson, including the title track of Jackson's Thriller, the biggest-selling album of all time.-Biography:As Temperton remembers music was in his bones...
– rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements - Chaka KhanChaka KhanChaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, Tony Maiden – vocal arrangements
Charts
Album| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||
| 1979 | Masterjam | 14 | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dance |
||
| 1979 | "Do You Love What You Feel" | 30 | 1 | 5 |
| 1980 | "Any Love" | 102 | 24 | |
| "I'm Dancing for Your Love" | — | 43 | — | |
Later samples and covers
- "Do You Love What You Feel"
- "Rockin' and Rollin'" by Cam'ronCam'ronCameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
from the album Confessions of FireConfessions of FireConfessions Of Fire is the debut album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron. It was released on July 21, 1998. Its singles were "Horse & Carriage," featuring Mase, "357" and "Feels Good" featuring Usher. The album was certified gold by the RIAA with over 500,000 copies sold.-Track... - "Some Shit I Used to Do" by Poison ClanPoison ClanPoison Clan was a Southern hip-hop group signed to Luke Records from 1990 to 1995, the group had a various line-ups and members were JT Money, Debonaire, Uzi, Madball and Big Ram. Poison Clan played an important role in the development of the Dirty South movement that developed late in the decade...
from the album Poisonous MentalityPoisonous MentalityPoisonous Mentality is the second album released by rap group, Poison Clan. It was released on April 7, 1992 for Luke Records and was produced by JT Money, Devastator, Mike "Fresh" McRay and Luther Campbell. The album found mild success, peaking at #62 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #20 on the...
- "Rockin' and Rollin'" by Cam'ron
- "Any Love" - coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by some dance/electronica musicians:- Kevin Bryant (1995)
- DJ Memê Orchestra featuring Rachel Claudio (2009)
External links
- Masterjam at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...