As a vocalist,
Chaka Khan is the one of the very few who often doesn't need great material to prosper. Thankfully, on
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me that isn't the case. Teaming again with
Arif Mardin, slowly but surely the two began to craft an even more successful and innovative sound. This effort not only bests the work before it, but it is
Mardin's most fulfilling production since 1974's Average White Band. The cover of "We Can Work It Out" gets a brash and funky
Stevie Wonder-style arrangement, with
Gregory Phillanganes doing great synth work. The biggest hit here is the melodic title track and has
Khan's patented mix of sexiness and intelligent phrasing. The best song here, "I Know You, I Live You," displays the brilliant bass and drum team of
Anthony Jackson and
Steve Ferrone, whose innovation all but rendered
Rufus obsolete. Their pounding yet refined sound is also on "We've Got Each Other," a hooky and propulsive duet with
Khan's brother
Mark Stevens. The ambitious and much loved "And the Melody Still Lingers On (Night in Tunisia)" had
Mardin and
Khan creating pithy lyrics that paid homage to '40s jazz legends as well as all other subsequent musical geniuses. The track features a clavitar solo from
Herbie Hancock,
Dizzy Gillespie, and an "excerpted" solo break from
Charlie Parker. Throughout
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me,
Mardin seems to get amazing vocals from
Khan and has he certainly had fun playing with her voice.
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me is arguably the best effort of their partnership. ~ Jason Elias