What Cha' Gonna Do For Me?

Yvette Marie Steven was born on the 23th of March 1953. She came from an artistic family. Her sister Yvonne became a musician under the name of Taka Boom. Her brother Mark formed the funk band Jamaica Boys and also was a member of the band Aurra. Chaka performed in many local bands in 1972 and was discovered by two members of a new band called Rufus who were searching for a new lead singer after Paulette McWilliams left the band. She was also asked by Tina Turner to become an Ikette for Ike and Tina Turner but declined because she already joined Rufus. Rufus released their first album without being noticed. That changed with their second album "Rags To Rufus" in 1974 including their first hit single "Tell Me Something Good" espcially written by Stevie Wonder for them. The single reached #3 in the US. The next single "You Got The Love" reached #11.

Chaka Khan with Rufus

In 1978 she started working on her first solo album "Chaka" which included her first solo hit "I'm Every Woman" written by Ashford & Simpson. In 1979 she released her last full album with Rufus titled "Masterjam" with the hit single "Do You Love What You Feel".

Original album cover of her debut album "Chaka"

In 1980 she released her second album titled "Naughty" with her 6-year old daugther Milini on the cover. That year she also appeared in the movie "The Blues Brothers" with John Belushi and Dan Akroyd. Then in 1981 she released her third album which is definitively her best album!

Chaka Khan signing the "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" album in 1981

That album is "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me". Like her previous solo albums again produced by Arif Mardin. Three singles were released from this album: the Beatles cover "We Can Work It Out", the McCrarys cover "Any Old Sunday" and the title track. The title track was originally intended as song for the Average White Band. The song “I Know You, I Live You” is feminist anthem like "I'm Every Woman". "We Got Each Other" is a song written together with her brother Mark and is actually about how she and her brother always help each other. “Father He Said” is about a daughter leaving home to find love despite previous disappointments.

Photo session for the back cover of the album

It also included a cover of "Night In Tunesia" from Dizzy Gillespie who also made a guest appearance on the song. The instrumental intro of the song "Fate" was used throughout the 1990's and 2000's in many disco hits. For example in 1998 by Stardust on "Music Sounds Better With You". David Richard played synths on the song "Heed The Warning" who would later produce for artists like Queen, David Bowie and Iggy Pop. The album reached #17 in the US. Despite the fact the album didn't do much at the time outside the US it would turn out to be her best album ever afterwards.

After this she released 2 solo albums in 1982: "Echoes Of An Era" (jazz-oriented) and "Chaka Khan" (funk/pop oriented). She joined Rufus for one more time again on the single "Ain't Nobody" which was added as a studio track on the live album "Stompin' At The Savoy - Live". Her most popular album would become "I Feel For You" from 1984 included 3 hit singles: The Prince cover "I Feel For You", "Eye To Eye" and "This Is My Night".

Original album cover

What Cha' Gonna Do For Me (1981)
We Can Work It Out / What Cha' Gonna Do for Me / I Know You, I Live You / Any Old Sunday / We Got Each Other / And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia) / Night Moods / Heed the Warning / Father He Said / Fate / I Know You, I Live You" (Reprise)