Ask Rufus

Infobox Album |
Name = Ask Rufus
Type = Album
Artist = Rufus & Chaka Khan

Released = 1977
Recorded = —
Genre = R&B/Funk
Length = 37:17
Label = ABC Records
Producer = Rufus
Reviews = Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g9ftxqy5ld6e] |
Last album = "Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan"
(1975)
This album = "Ask Rufus"
(1977)
Next album = "Street Player"
(1978)

Ask Rufus is the platinum-selling fifth studio album by funk band Rufus (billed as 'Rufus & Chaka Khan'), released on the ABC Records label in 1977. "Ask Rufus" was the band's second album to top Billboard's R&B Albums chart and also reached #14 on Pop. The album includes the singles "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)", their third #1 hit on the R&B Singles chart and also #37 on Dance and #30 on Pop, "Hollywood" (US R&B #3, US Pop #32) and "Everlasting Love" (US R&B #17). In 1978 the "Ask Rufus" album earned the band their second Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The track "Hollywood" was later covered by Erykah Badu on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's 2000 movie "Bamboozled" and "Everlasting Love" by Mary J. Blige on the 1996 Olympic Games album "Rhythm of The Games".

Track listing

#"At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" (Tony Maiden, Lalomie Washburn) - 4:02
#"Close the Door" (David Wolinski, Bobby Watson, Chaka Khan, André Fischer) - 3:24
#Medley (Instrumental Interlude): "Slow Screw Against the Wall"/"A Flat Fry" (David Wolinski) / (Rufus, David Wolinski) - 2:17
#"Earth Song" (Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden, Traude Sapik) - 5:23
#"Everlasting Love" (Dennis Belfield, Kevin Murphy, David Wolinski) - 4:45
#"Hollywood" (André Fischer, David Wolinski) - 4:09
#"Magic in Your Eyes" (Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden) - 3:52
#"Better Days" (Richard Holland) - 4:16
#"Egyptian Song" (Chaka Khan, David Wolinski) - 5:09

Personnel

* Chaka Khan - vocals
* Tony Maiden - guitar, vocals
* Kevin Murphy - keyboards, vocals
* Bobby Watson - bass guitar, vocals
* André Fischer - drums, vocals
* David "Hawk" Wolinski - keyboards, vocals
* Milt Holland - percussion
* Ron Wood - guitar

Production

* Rufus - record producers
* Gary Starr - audio engineer
* Clare Fischer - musical arranger, musical conductor
* Charles Garnett - musical arranger