Rufus was one of the most respected groups in the '70s and '80s. Although lead singer Chaka Khan's charismatic vocals were their drawing card, few outfits boasted the skill as Rufus as a band. Songs like Please Pardon Me, Sweet Thing, and Fool's Paradise are a few of the tracks that displayed the perfect marriage. This 1977 effort is the follow-up to 1975's Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan. Ask Rufus has the group doing more sophisticated and constantly challenging work with an accent on evocative ballads. The effort's lone dance track At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) has the band going for more subtlety. The jazzy Close the Door has a confident and gentle vocal from Khan and a beautiful string arrangement from Clare Fischer who offered them throughout this effort. The well-arranged Earth Song could be called botched poesy with lyrics like, "Stars what a mystical woman that you've made me," but Khan's charm keeps it from being an overstatement. The best track, the evocative and sensual Everlasting Love has great bass and guitar interplay from Bobby Watson and Tony Maiden, respectively, and an appealing earthy and ethereal vocal from Khan. The much loved Hollywood has just gotten stronger, with lines like, "Fixed expressions/Smiles worn thin" exhibiting a surprising and apropos world-weary view. The most ambitious song, the evocative Egyptian Song, has Middle Eastern motifs and a compelling vocal from Khan that pulls it all together. With great keyboard signatures from Kevin Murphy and David Hawk Wolinski and Andre Fischer's steady and judicious drumming, Ask Rufus is one of their best albums. ~ Jason Elias, Rovi

1		At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)
2		Close the Door
3		Medley: Slow Screw Against the Wall/A Flat Fry [Instrumental]
4		Earth Song
5		Everlasting Love
6		Hollywood
7		Magic in Your Eyes
8		Better Days
9		Egyptian Song

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