Album of the Day

Chaka Khan's tenure in Rufus left little doubt among funk fans that she was a talent to watch, and such solo releases as the Warner Bros. collection WHAT CHA' GONNA DO FOR ME were further cause for celebration. Arif Mardin's production fits the performer like a glove as does the material, from a propulsive take on The Beatles' “We Can Work It Out” to the R&B No.1 hit title track to jazz standard “And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia),” which features instrumental work by Herbie Hancock and Dizzy Gillespie. Released 40 years ago, the Gold-certified WHAT CHA' GONNA DO FOR ME still does wonders for anyone who loves sophisticated '80s soul.