#73: Rags to Rufus - featuring Chaka Khan (1974)

Ready for a deep dive into one of the most painfully underrated funk-rock albums of the 1970s? In episode 73 of 300 Favorite Albums, I’m joined by fellow music geek and co-host of the popular music podcast Record Revisite, Ben Montgomery to dissect the 1974 masterpiece, Rags to Rufus by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan.

This record isn't just a non-stop buffet of greasy rhythms and ripping guitars; it’s the exact moment a 20-year-old vocal phenom was launched into the stratosphere, forever altering the trajectory of R&B.

We unpack the legendary Stevie Wonder collaboration that birthed the monumental Grammy-winning hit "Tell Me Something Good," marvel at the blistering Tower of Power horn section, and explore the behind-the-scenes label politics that quite literally pushed the rest of the band into the shadows on their own album cover. But what happens when you strip away the massive pop singles? Is there a hidden reggae groove lurking in the tracklist, and why are some of these spectacular, jaw-dropping deep cuts seemingly erased from modern streaming platforms?

Drop the needle and join us to uncover the brilliant, messy, and undeniable magic of a band on the brink of an absolute revolution—let's do this!

James is joined by co-host of the popular music podcast Record Revisited, Ben Montgomery, as they navigate the wide spectrum of styles in Rufus's second album that launched the superstar career of Chaka Khan.
Songs Played:
Rags to Rufus
"You Got the Love"
"I Got the Right Street (But the Wrong Direction)
"Walkin' in the Sun"
"Rags to Rufus"
"Sing Down Chariot"
"Sideways"
"Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe"
"Tell Me Something Good"
"Look Through My Eyes"
"In Love We Grow"
""Smokin' Room"
Additional Selections:
"I'm Every Woman" - Chaka Khan from Chaka
"Come and Get This Stuff" - Syreeta from Stevei Wonder Presents Syreeta

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