Sweet Thing (Chaka Khan song)

Single infobox |
Name = Sweet Thing


Artist = Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
from Album = Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Released = February 3, 1975
Format =
Recorded = November/December 1974
Genre = R&B
Length = 3:19
Label = ABC
Writer = Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden
Producer =
Chart position = * #5 U.S.
* #1 U.S. R&B
Reviews =
Last single = "Please Pardon Me (You Remind Me of a Friend"
(1975)
This single = "Sweet Thing"
(1975)
Next single = "Dance Wit Me"
(1976)Single infobox |
Name = Sweet Thing


Artist = Mary J. Blige
from Album = What's the 411? and its spin-off
Released = April 3, 1993
Format = Single, Maxi single, Promo
Recorded = July 1992
Genre = R&B
Length = 3:44
Label = MCA
Writer = Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden
Producer = Sean "Puffy" Combs
Mark Morales
Mark C. Rooney
Chart position = * #28 U.S.
* #11 U.S. R&B
Reviews =
Last single = "Reminisce"
(1993)
This single = "Sweet Thing"
(1993)
Next single = "You Don't Have to Worry"
(1993)

"Sweet Thing" is a soul single that was first a hit with Rufus featuring Chaka Khan when they recorded the song in 1975 eventually reaching number-one on the R&B singles chart and number five on the pop side. The song was co-written by Khan and Rufus band mate Tony Maiden and became the band's and Khan's signature songs.

17 years later, in 1992, the song was covered by then up-and-comer R&B crooner Mary J. Blige, whose own unique version reignited into a top forty hit on both sides for a second time with it reaching number twenty-eight pop and number-eleven R&B.

Khan recorded it again for "New York Undercover: a Night at Natalies" soundtrack, released in 1998.

Initially Khan disliked the fact that Blige covered it but eventually Khan befriended Blige and the two singers later sung the song together during a VH-1 "Divas Live" concert in 2003.

Khan and Blige have since recorded the duet, "Disrespectful", for Khan's recent release, "Funk This".

UK soul singer Beverley Knight has also recorded a version of the song. Knight's version was recorded for a BBC Radio 2 session and was included as the b-side to her single "Not Too Late For Love". Due to the popularity of Knight's version with her fans, it was later included on her "Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight" compilation. Knight has since been invited to perform the song at Khan's London O2 Arena date on her UK tour, after collaborating with the singer on her Blige duet "Disrepectul" at the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

Chart positions

Rufus featuring Chaka Khan version

Mary J. Blige version