Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1

by Chaka Khan

Overview

Chaka Khan's career through the 1996 release of Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 -- involving eight albums with Rufus and eight solo albums, along with assorted collaborations -- produced roughly 40 Top 40 R&B singles, not to mention dozens of undervalued album cuts. So it is clear that any one-disc attempt at wrapping up the highlights is bound to work more like a sampler than a true best-of. And though this release is given the "Vol. 1" tag, it remained without a sequel as late as 2005, when Reprise reissued it without altering the contents. Yet another frustration is that previously unreleased songs take the place of missing classics like "Sweet Thing," "Clouds," "Fate," "Close the Door," and "Stay." (That's just for starters.) Nonetheless, the disc does contain Khan's most popular work, from ballads like "Through the Fire" to anthems like "I'm Every Woman" and "Ain't Nobody," along with other radio staples, such as "I Feel for You" and "Tell Me Something Good." At the absolute least, Khan deserves a solo-only best-of, as well as a disc that sticks strictly to her work with Rufus. (The Very Best of Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, the only anthology dedicated to Rufus, has its own set of issues.) ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	02/26/2021
Label:	Rhino / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0603497845170

Tracks

1. Ain't Nobody
2. Papillon (aka Hot Butterfly)
3. Tell Me Something Good [Live]
4. I Feel for You
5. I Know You, I Live You
6. I'm Every Woman
7. The End of a Love Affair
8. And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia)
9. Through the Fire
10. What Cha' Gonna Do for Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chaka Khan   Primary Artist,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Rufus   Primary Artist
Meshell Ndegeocello   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Bass,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Featured Artist
Grandmaster Melle Mel   Guest Artist,Vocals
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar
Steve Baxter   Trombone
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Steve Ferrone   Drums
Bob Christianson   Synthesizer
Chris Botti   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Cissy Houston   Vocals (Background)
Chieli Minucci   Guitar
Frederico Gonzales Pena   Piano,Fender Rhodes
Don Grolnick   Piano
Dizzy Gillespie   Trumpet
Eddie Daniels   Sax (Alto)
Jeff Mironov   Guitar
George Benson   Guitar
Luther Vandross   Vocals (Background)
Lew Del Gatto   Horn
Wah Wah Watson   Guitar
John Tropea   Guitar
Howard McCrary   Vocals (Background)
David Williams   Guitar
Derrick Edmondson   Saxophone
Harvey Estrin   Sax (Tenor)
Lew Soloff   Horn
Luis Conte   Percussion
Margaret Ross   Harp
Jerry Hey   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Mark Stevens   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Rob Mounsey   Keyboards
Hugh McCracken   Harmonica
Phil Upchurch   Guitar
Roy Pennon   Guitar (Bass)
Nathan East   Bass
Ronnie Cuber   Sax (Baritone)
Ronnie Foster   Piano (Electric)
Randy Brecker   Horn,Trumpet
Philippe Saisse   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Richard Tee   Piano
David "Hawk" Wolinski   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Norman Brown   Guitar
Michael Brecker   Horn,Sax (Tenor)
Michael Landau   Guitar
Reggie Griffin   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Oliver Leiber   Guitar
David Gamson   Drums,Keyboards
Abraham Laboriel, Sr.   Bass
Stevie Wonder   Harmonica
David Frank   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Lawrence Feldman   Flute
Barry Rodgers   Horn
Marcus Miller   Bass
Dave Grusin   Piano
Steve Skinner   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Robbie Buchanan   Keyboards,Synthesizer
David Foster   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Anthony Jackson   Bass
Arthur Jenkins   Percussion
John Fumo   Trumpet
Hamish Stuart   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Herbie Hancock   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Willie Weeks   Bass
Will Lee   Bass,Vocals (Background)
James Pugh   Trombone
Roy "Dog" Pennon   Bass
Ron Skies   Drums,Keyboards
Errol Crusher Bennett   Percussion
Raymond Chue   Fender Rhodes
Federico Pena   Piano,Fender Rhodes
Charles Veal   Conductor
Ken Bichel   Synthesizer
Ullanda McCullough   Vocals (Background)
Isaac Vere   Bass
Larry Williams   Flute,Keyboards,Saxophone,Synthesizer
John Robinson   Drums
Oliver Lieber   Guitar
Stephen Baxter   Trombone
Casey Scheuerell   Drums
Longer Fadeu   Vocals,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Allan Rich   Composer,Lyricist
Bob Power   Mixing,Recording,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Keith Crouch   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Chris Walker   Composer,Lyricist
Christine McVie   Composer,Lyricist
Carl Nappa   Assistant Engineer
Frank Paparelli   Composer,Lyricist
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Benjamin F. Wright   String Arrangements
Dizzy Gillespie   Composer,Lyricist
Edward Redding   Composer
Russ Titelman   Producer
Greg Diamond   Composer
Gene Paul   Engineer,Recording
Derrick Edmondson   Horn Arrangements
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Lewis Hahn   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Jerry Hey   Arranger
Rail Jon Rogut   Engineer
Prince   Composer
David "Hawk" Wolinski   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist
Matt Knobel   Engineer
Michael O'Reilly   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Reggie Griffin   Arranger
Oliver Leiber   Rhythm Arrangements
Pat Kraus   Engineer
David Gamson   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Rhythm Arrangements
Arif Mardin   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Horn Arrangements,Executive Producer
Tom Keane   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer,Lyricist
Tommy Keane   Composer
Bruce Hornsby   Arranger,Composer
Gerry DeVeaux   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Grusin   Arranger
Steve Skinner   Arranger
Kipper Jones   Composer,Lyricist,Vocal Arrangement
Steve Hall   Mastering
Chaka Khan   Composer,Lyricist,Executive,Vocal Arrangement,Executive Producer
Humberto Gatica   Producer,Mixing Engineer
Jud Friedman   Composer,Lyricist
David Foster   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Ned Doheny   Composer,Lyricist
Nickolas Ashford   Composer
Hamish Stuart   Composer,Lyricist
Jason Goldstein   Assistant Engineer
Randy Mason   Assistant Engineer
Anthony d'Amico   Assistant Engineer
Lyn Bradley   Design,Art Direction
Elaine Wallace   Stylist
Gloria Gabriel   Production Coordination
Yvette Stevens   Composer
Tammy Coleman-McCrary   Producer,Associate Producer,Executive Producer,Production Coordination
Barry Fletcher   Hair Stylist
Charlie Mole   Composer,Lyricist
Sheridan Eldridge   Assistant Engineer
Andre Betts   Producer
Reggie Wells   Make-Up
Gregg Diamond   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Thomas   Composer
Arif Griffin   Arranger
Bill Dooley   Assistant Engineer
Larry Williams   Horn Arrangements
James Douglass   Engineer
Charlie Pizzarello   Photography
Tom Keene   Composer
Benjamin Wright   Arranger
Oliver Lieber   Arranger