#499: Ask Rufus (Rufus ft. Chaka Khan, 1977)

We've moved to funkytown for this album, which unusually has a featuring vocalist, which is strange to mention because Khan had been the singer on the previous four Rufus albums. In any case, Ask Rufus is a dance-funk album full of catchy bass lines and horn parts which keep you interested throughout. Khan is certainly a talented vocalist, though she has an unfortunate tendency towards distracting, Mariah Carey-esque melismatic runs. She does show a considerable range though, moving from upbeat dance songs to more sedate pop ballads on a whim. All in all, Ask Rufus is a funky experience throughout, though it lacks any truly outstanding songs. This makes recommending it to anyone but '70s funk fans difficult. 2.7/5.