Friday Is Always Coming In Athens! Welcomes Chaka Khan w/Rufus

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT...

Great to see you bashing the drums in the group video that your mum sent, we spotted her dancing. Also enjoyed the music played by the group. Uncle Jack & Aunt Carole in the U.K. 02/19/09

Thanks bsh69r, I missed that. Two heads or more are better than one.

02/17/09 friday@fridayinathens.com

Correction: The song that's played here was done by Scott McKenzie and is called "San Francisco". The MP3 is mistitled. Aside from that, I love your site...absolutely a great site and will keep revisiting it. :-) bsh69r 02/16/09

Really enjoying the site. Love the featured act (The Zombies) and their music. Great work you do.

A service. Barry H. 02/06/09

This ("Ain't That Peculiar") used to be the song back then! Heidi R. 01/29/09

One of my all time favorite groups "The Intruders", doing one of their best! I play this one on my home system at least once a week. Your buddy, Dirk H. 12/05/08

You’ve created something wonderful with your Friday website. Something positive to look forward to each week. Can’t wait to see what’s on the plate for this week. Leslie P. 11/17/08

Thanks for the wonderful music I enjoy it... Great site Connie 9/11/08

Larry, Live for "Fridays"....I even get up and put on my tornado red shoes and tap along to the songs!!!

A.P. 7/11/2008

Growing up as an "old school" listener, I love this kind of music. Thanks so much for putting real music on so we all can hear what it was like back then. This music is NOT DEAD, it's still alive; and people like "us", the listeners keep it alive!

Babedoll 7/9/2008

This "Private Number" was always a great song. Too bad they did not have more hits. I loved this song. Harper 7/9/2008

Don and Juan were one of the great Doo-Wop singing Duo's out there. Love 'em! "All That's Missing Is You" is one of their rarest records! Northern Soul! Brian Y. 7/2/2008

Larry; What would Friday's be without you and Friday is Always coming in Athens? Jimmy J 6/30/2008

Thank you for this site, I'm french and

I have 40 years. I am a collector of

vinyl and American music oldies, soul,

funk. Il are very few in my french

cas.Je this site is fantastic because I

found some artist American and that

I discovered the other, bravo and

keep this site. 5/20/2008

Hey! I haven't heard this song since I was visiting LLC in the summer of 1972. I was crazy about her... wow! Thanks for sharing this song with the public! MSH 5/19/2008

The words to this song (Expressway to Your Heart) are quite interesting. Larry keep the tunes coming.

TC jJ 5/19/2008

First timer for me. I love your terrific format and exciting info. I feel like I'm back in Athens. ES 5/14/2008

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS----THIS IS THE BEST!!!! Unknown 5/9/2008

I love it. I am learning about all of these singers and I'm only

16 years old. Unknown 5/8/2008

Hey you,

I LOVE that song by the Casinos

this week. I think it's

one of the prettiest "pop" songs ever

written and a great slow dance song.

:) I keep getting a flash back of a

girl/boy party in 6th or 7th grade.

I remember slow dancing with

someone - maybe Kevin. I can

almost see the room (someone's

basement/ rumpus room) and I

know the guy had on a sweater but I

can't quite see the

face. I'll keep you posted. Anyway -

thanks for playing it for me.

Take care. B. - 4/25/2008

Larry - Thanks so much for Otis!

Can you find "Then You Can Say

Goodbye" by The Casino's? Thanks!

Betsy 4/18/2008

Thanks for sharing the one hit wonder.

I'm surprised this only made it to #7

as its played quite often as an oldie.

Keep the sounds coming.

JJ 4/13/2008

Lovin the tunes, Larry.See ya in June. Randy R. 3/21/2008

Mr. Larry; Thanks for all you do for us little people.

Sincerely JJ 3/7/2008

Thanks Larry! Nothing like a Dirty Old Woman! Betsy

3/3/2008

This is very cool.My kind of music. Thanks. George S.

2/29/2008

Larry, Does anyone remember the days at Legion Field with POCO & Pure Prairie League and the music park behind the pool and all the good times concerts concerts?

Bill M. 2/29/2008

Mr. Green sure does have a smooth voice. I'm surprised he didn't do even better. JJ 2/18/2008

Hey Larry - Ever heard of "Dirty Old Woman" by Denise La Salle? You make my Fridays. Betsy

2/15/2008

Enjoyed Joe Cocker. Thanks folks. - Jim 2/8/2008

This is a great song. Larry keep the tunes coming.

TC YF JJ 2/8/2008

A WONDERFUL site- Thanks for keeping GOOD MUSIC- Alive. - Big Doc-Bdge, GA 2/8/2008

Greetings to all at FIA!

I've been longing to hear "The Bus' by

the late, great Billy Preston. Any

chance you got that in your vaults?

Here's to a soulful 2008!

Carlos - Cleveland, OH 1/29/2008

Hey Larry, I just read about Miles and Jimi being friends. How about some Hendrix soon.

Love the website, Joy 1/18/2008

Great to get the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Thanks, Pat M. 12/28/07

A great way to enjoy the history of music and the beautiful sounds of the blues. Robert B. 12/7/2007

Enjoyed your special on the Rolling Stones. I would like to see more on Blues Artist old and young. Keep it Groovin. Robert B. 11/28/2007

Larry, Johnny Guitar Watson really brings back some wasted brain cells! Wore out the grooves in that album the year it came out. Thanks David L. 11/9/07

Watson is the man!!! Your Bro. Young Robert! 11/9/07

OMG, This song (Humble Pie - Thirty Days In The Hole) so reminds me of you Larry and 1972! LOL Andrie - 10/5/07

I love this website, I have to listen to this each and every day. Thank you very much. I will share this with all my

co-workers and friends. Nate 9/30/07

Love this site! I call it "Continuing Music Education"! I know the songs, but I didn't know all the stories behind the people who performed them. Andrie - 9/23/07

Can you dig up Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel by Tavares? Thanks! D. - Cleveland OH 8/17/07

The site is wonderful Larry and the music is just awesome!!! I love visiting It's Friday In Athens!!!! Please keep this going forever!!!! - Dierdra L. - President/CEO, Getan Records, THE LIGHTHOUSE GOSPELETTES!!! Athens, GA 7/29/07

It's Friday? How about "Don't Roll Your Bloodshot Eyes at Me" for a little local flavor? Mark B. 7/27/07

Consider the Manhattans on Friday’s! Frank P. 7/27/07

Larry!!!! You MADE my day with "Build Me Up"! I'm on vacation in Santa Barbara and sent it to my co-workers with the threat that I can now play it anytime I want! Psych! Hello Don M in the bay area and to Betsy! Everyone raves about your site, Larry! It's awesome! Gratefully yours, Scotty 7/20/07

Hey Larry, Before the summer's over we need something from the summer of love for its 40th anniversary. It's for us in the bay area. Don M. 7/13/07

Hey Larry The music is just great.Would also like to hear'The Horse' by Cliff Nobles. Thanks. Double Divine 7/6/07

Hey Larry, Remember those instrumentals that played before the top of the hour on AM Radio? How about "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles or "Soul Finger".

Thanks! Betsy K. 6/30/07

Larry, If I ever need a D.J. Guess what,You The Man!!! Thanx: Corndog 6/22/07

Yes! it's Friday and I'm up here jammin' in Cleveland, OH. How about some Soul Generation - Body & Soul (That's the Way It's Got to Be) Ya'll remember that one? Have a great weekend! losplus 6/22/07

How about Earth, Wind and Fire? Angie G. 6/6/07

Hooray for Friday!! Mary A. 6/1/07

This group (The Four Tops) is great. Thanks VM Jimmy J. - 5/25/07

Thanks for a Friday of Dusty Springfield, The Look of Love. Erica from Red Lobster, thanks for the look. - F.L. 4/5/07

I love this site! Any chance I could hear "Coldest Days Of My Life" by the Chi-Lites? - 4/4/07

I would love to hear "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous

Brothers or "Fats" Domino's

"Ain't That a Shame" or

"Blueberry Hill." Thanks,

Patrick - 3/30/07

Hey Larry! You are amazing! I have my whole office dancing to these! Just great! Can you do a BeeGees for my boss and slip in Build Me Up Buttercup? I sing it anyway at work, may as well have the music to go along with it (the more to torture my co-workers with! Looking forward to all the Fridays-with-Larry! :) Scotty - 3/30/07

Oh, my goodness, you found "Black Pearl." I nearly fainted this am, when I opened the site. Thank you sooooo much. Blessings P.W. Smith - 3/30/07

Please add "Black Pearl" by The Checkmates...not sure what year, but thinking mid 60's. Thanks sooooooo much.

P. Smith - 3/23/07

This is a great website. My mom always listened to the "Oldies" station here, and I wanted to be just like my Mom, so I started listening to it and I loved it, and this website has some of my favorites. M. Pierce - 3/22/07

Hey, I love the t-shirt. I have had it on

since I got home from Arizona. You

did a good job. That was a great

song last Friday (Wang Dang Doodle)

- didn't know it but who ever

requested it is someone I

would like to hang with. And then

today we had

The Zombies....that took me back to

8th grade and one of my first boy/girl

parties. They were always held in

someone's basement and the lights

would go off by 9:00.

That song always seem to bring on

lots of smooching. I will

not be naming names.... ;)

Thanks again,

Betsy

This is awesome!!! Thanks for the great site and fabulous music!! WooHoo!! Jen B. - 2/18/07

I could not have picked a better artist. Thanks, Pat M.

Thank you Larry - You have made my day! Betsy K.

Mr. Larry, I really enjoyed Roy Head-Hey Hey. YF

Jim J. - 2/5/07

This always gets my Friday off to a great start! Love it!

Debbie - 1/26/07

Every once in a while my mornings are worth rising for, this has been one of them with Tina Turner.

Thanks Bill S. - 1/19/07

Keep up the good work. JJ - 1/19/07

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2007! I remember at this time in 1969 we were really gettng into Abbey Road! But oh, how I love the sweet soul music of the 60's and 70's as well. Thanks for your work in keeping this music alive. And keep on sending it, Brother! Dennis M. - 12/29/06

Moonchild Diva in Motown - found the site by looking for Billy Stewart! I think you answered my question...who played bass on Billy's recordings? SO THANK YOU for clearing up the mystery! - 12/11/06

Billy Stewart , alright, one of my favorites. Also, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, Willy Tee....

Your friend, Dirk H.

Thanks for Billy Stewart Larry - You have made

my day! Betsy K. - 12/8/07

I look forward to Friday's email. This is great.

Linda L. - 12/8/07

Wow! From your personal E-Mail account. I forward "Its Friday in Athens!!!" on to my friends often. The folks here at work are trying to figure me out. Their 56 year old C.E.O. sits in his office every Friday morning booming out R&B. Though it works for me, its not the type of behavior they expect from someone in my position. BLUES BANKER!

T. Turgeon -

Thanks for Joe T. Luv'd it! Roy Head and the Traits?

Hope you had a good Turkey Day.

T. Turgeon - 11/27/07

I keep waiting for Jackie Wilson and Billy Stewart....I have

decided that like me, you have an

older brother or sister who had you

listening to this music as a kid.

Hope all is well your way.

Betsy K. - 11/25/06

How about a little Joe Tex? T. Turgeon

Thanks, "I LOVE IT! Makes my day! M.N. - 9/29/06

WOW WOW WOW AN OUTSTANDING REVIEW OF THE real STYLE OF MUSIC - Atlanta Cooking - 9/23/06

In my time, this is the most fascinating music I have ever heard. **86 - 8/17/06

Keep up the great and extremely important work. We met I believe at Michael Guthrie's house a few weeks ago at the HVARII Reunion. I am a great lover of our R&B and it's great to see someone who truly cares about it. Ole!

T. Turgeon - 8/2/06

Again, the "It's Friday" series is great - I love it every week and have sent it on to so many folks -

thanks again. Betsy K.

Aretha is my personal favorite so far! Peggy M.

LOVE THIS...I NEED SOMETHNG TO GET ME THROUGH THE DAY !!!! C. Lady - 6/3/07

Great! Perfect! Dance Music I Love It!!! Laine L.

I think you missed your calling as a DJ! Nicki S.

Keep 'em coming!! I really enjoy listening to "my kind of music". Thank you. Mary M.

I like getting your email every Friday, keep it coming!

Carlas A.

DON'T FORGET THE 'QUEEN OF SOUL'........ ARETHA!!!!! YOUR MAKING MY FRIDAYS. RONK

MY FRIENDS REALLY LIKE FRIDAY IN ATHENS! ONE IS SENDING EVERYONE AT THE COURTHOUSE AN EMAIL. Ron H.

THANKS SO MUCH EACH WEEK! Nancy W.

This makes me smile! Ray C.

Great job, keep up the good work. Terry T.

I SAVE UNTIL FRI AFTERNOON, BY 5:00 P.M. I'M REVVVVED!!! RONK - 5/19/06

Thanks for this humanitarian service to get us crunk for district wide planning. Wilson Pickett reminds us to put a “spotlight on Otis Redding y’all”. Yeah,yeah, oh yeah. Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-Faaa! Karl S.

Thanks. What a pleasant surprise to get to work and open this e-mail- glad I started with yours first. Melanie B.

Thanks for the Friday emails Larry!! I really enjoy them.

Kim S.

Thanks for the sound of good music. I really do love my oldies but goodies. E. Luke - 5/19/06

Thanks!!! This is great! Jane B.

Great site! How about some Sam Cooke??? - 5/19/06

Thanks for the music! Steve P.

I love this! Thanks. Dianne M.

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your Friday emails. Thanks for including me! Betsy K.

I appreciate the link – good stuff!

Jon W.

I LIKE IT!!!!!! Thanks and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Barbara S.

THIS IS GREAT!!!!!! Susan R.

So in your spare time you try to cheer up everyone? Thanks, Lori R.

I love these songs. Thanks. Terri S.

Awesome……Thanks for doing this, we all look forward to it every week. I’ve sent it to everyone I know!

Debi D.

I needed this today! Thanks. Susan S.

Good selection for this fabulous

Friday!!!!!

Thanks for the Music this morning. I think I could listen to this all day, if people didn't think I was crazy for MOVING in my chair. Have a great weekend. Joyce G.

This is awesome! Thanks, Debi D.

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About The Artist

Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is an American singer known for hit songs such as "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire", also sung a modernized theme song for the hit children's TV show, Reading Rainbow in the show's later years. Khan was first featured as a member of the funk band Rufus before beginning her solo career. Though regarded as an R&B singer, she has performed numerous musical genres including funk, disco, jazz, ballads, hip hop, adult contemporary, pop and blues standards. Her contributions to funk and soul music in her

early career earned

her the title of the

"Queen of Funk Soul" Khan is known for her perfectly pitched contralto vocals.

Early life

Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in Great Lakes, Illinois. Her sister is dance music artist Taka Boom, and her brother is Mark Stevens of Aurra. Khan was raised on Chicago's South Side, and at the age of 11 formed her first group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells. A few years later, she adopted the African name "Chaka" while working as a volunteer on the Black Panthers' Free Breakfast for Children program in Chicago. She received her name during a naming ceremony at the Afro-Arts Theater where a Yoruba priest christened her Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi (as stated on her official website). After quitting high school in 1969, Chaka joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting that group to join another soul band, The Babysitters, replacing former lead singer Baby Huey. Neither group enjoyed mainstream success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fischer to form Rufus. In the meantime, she had married bass guitarist Hassan Khan.

Life with Rufus

Rufus debuted in 1973 with a self-titled album on the ABC label. The first album contained fine fiery vocals by Chaka Khan and "phat trax" from the band but failed to make an impression with the record buyers, due in no small part to the uncharacteristic "new" sound of the ensemble. However, by decade's end, Rufus was among the most successful funk groups, rivaling the popularity of Earth Wind & Fire, The Commodores, War and The Ohio Players, among others. With the help of Stevie Wonder, Rufus broke into both the pop music and R&B charts in 1974 with the gold-selling hit "Tell Me Something Good". They followed that hit with another giant single hit, "You Got The Love", featuring a then-unknown Ray Parker, Jr. on lead guitar, which propelled the album "Rags To Rufus" to gold status by the summer of 1974. That year was a very good one for Chaka Khan and the group, for, on the strength of the "Rags" album, a third album was hurriedly finished. Released in October of 1974, "Rufusized" became their second gold (now platinum) album, containing multiple radio and album hits. The fourth album, released in early 1976, was self-titled and contained the gold single, "Sweet Thing". This was the year that their "brand" was immortalized: Chaka's most prominent facial feature became the logo for the band: a big pair of juicy red lips. It epitomized the sound, the sexiness and swagger of the band itself. Throughout the remainder of the 1970s, Rufus and Chaka Khan were rarely off the charts, having a plethora of memorable smash single hits and album favorites, including "Tell Me Something Good", "Better Days", "Do You Love What You Feel?", the aforementioned "Sweet Thing", "Hollywood", "Once You Get Started", "Little Boy Blue" and "Everlasting Love", among a dozen others. The group earned eight platinum albums ("Rags To Rufus", "Rufusized", "Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan", "Ask Rufus", "Street Player", "Masterjam", "Stompin' At The Savoy", and "The Very Best Of Rufus And Chaka Khan") and three gold singles with "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing" and "Do You Love What You Feel?" before Khan went solo full time, beginning in earnest in 1980. In 1977, she recorded background vocals for the Chicago song "Take Me Back to Chicago"; the connection being Rufus bandmate David "Hawk" Wolinski's relationship with that band.

Solo stardom

In 1978, Khan recorded her debut solo album Chaka featuring the Arif Mardin-produced disco hit "I'm Every Woman" (#1 R&B and #10Pop) later covered by Whitney Houston. Chaka proved to be a significant hit on the strength of the single written by Ashford & Simpson, Khan recorded backing vocals for Ry Cooder's Bop Till You Drop (1979), then cut her second album, 1980s Naughty, a huge hit on the R&B charts, which featured "Clouds" (also by Ashford & Simpson), "Move Me No Mountain", and other songs that displayed Khan's range as a singer. The Naughty album also featured Luther Vandross, Cissy Houston, and a young Whitney Houston singing background vocals. This was one of the great R&B albums of the decade. Chaka can be seen in a cameo appearance in the 1980s film The Blues Brothers, singing with the church choir behind James Brown as The Reverend Cleophus James.

Her next album, What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, was a gold seller and included two hit singles on Billboard's R&B Singles chart including the title song (which made #1 on the R&B chart). The album also featured the song "And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia)" with Dizzy Gillespie & Herbie Hancock, which has Chaka hitting "notes that aren't in the book" according to producer Arif Mardin.[citation needed]

In 1982, Warner Brothers released Khan's eponymous album, Chaka Khan, again produced by Arif Mardin. This album featured the single "Tearin It Up", as well as Chaka's reading of Michael Jackson's "Got To Be There". "Slow Dancin" (a duet with Rick James) was also featured, but her "Be Bop Medley" won a Grammy Award, as well as praise from jazz singer Betty Carter, who praised Khan for her improvisational skills. Chaka Khan received positive reviews! Reviewer David Bertrand Wilson (of warr.org) said, "This [album] generated many hits, and it's a lot of fun...her singing here is phenomenal". The song "Got to be There", from the album , became an R&B top 1 hit. Chaka Khan is a rare collector's item since it remains unreleased on CD in both the United States and Europe and is only available as a Japanese import.

In 1981, she appeared on three songs on Rick Wakeman's thematic album 1984.

According to the 'Chaka's World' website, Khan was originally scheduled to duet on Tom Browne's hit "Funkin' For Jamaica" and Dennis Edwards' hit "Don't Look Any Further" (which he went on to perform with Siedah Garrett). She also recorded the song "Addicted to Love" as a duet with Robert Palmer but due to contractual problems was only credited for 'vocal arrangement'.

Information origin www.wikipedia.com

Sweet Thing

I will love you anyway

Even if you cannot stay

I think you are the one for me

Here is where you ought to be

I just want to satisfy ya

Though youre not mine

I cant deny ya

Don't you hear me talking baby?

Love me now or I'll go crazy

CHORUS

Oh sweet thing

Oh oh, you know you're my everything?

Oh sweet thing

Don't you know you're my everything?

Yes, you are

I wish you were my lover

But ya act so undercover

To love you child my whole life long

Be it right, or be it wrong

I only what you make me, baby

Don't walk away, don't be so shady ashame

Don't want your mind, don't want your money

These words I say, they may sound funny, but...

CHORUS

You are my heat

You are my fire

You make me weak with strong desire

To love you child my whole life long

Be it right, or be it wrong

I just want to satisfy ya

Though you're not mine

I cant deny ya

Don't you hear me talking baby?

Love me now or I'll go crazy

VAMP

Youre my heat, you are my fire

Youre not mine, I cant deny ya

Dont you hear me talking, baby?

Love me now, or I'll go crazy

LIVE!

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Chaka Khan w/Rufus

Sweet Thing

1976