Sweet Thing (Chaka Khan song)
Encyclopedia
"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 chart. 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. In 1997, Contemporary jazz
saxophonist
Boney James
did a cover of the song, including the album titled 'Sweet Thing.' The album's title track included background vocals by original co-writer Tony Maiden.
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.
Rufus (band)
Rufus was an American funk band from Chicago, Illinois best known for launching the career of lead singer Chaka Khan. They had several hits throughout their career, including "Tell Me Something Good," "Sweet Thing," and "Ain't Nobody."-Origins:...
featuring Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
when they recorded the song in 1975 eventually reaching number-one on the R&B singles chart and number five on the pop chart. 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
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
, the song was covered by then up-and-comer R&B crooner Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, 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. In 1997, Contemporary jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Boney James
Boney James
Boney James, is a saxophonist, songwriter and producer who popularized urban jazz...
did a cover of the song, including the album titled 'Sweet Thing.' The album's title track included background vocals by original co-writer Tony Maiden.
Khan recorded it again for "New York Undercover
New York Undercover
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
: 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
Funk This
Funk This is the eleventh studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Chaka Khan. The album was released September 25, 2007 on Burgundy Records and received two Grammy Awards...
.
UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soul singer Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date...
has also recorded a version of the song. Knight's version was recorded for a BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
session and was included as the b-side to her single "Not Too Late For Love
Not Too Late For Love
"Not Too Late for Love" is the second single from Beverley Knight's fourth studio album, Affirmation. The single reached #11 in the airplay chart and peaked at #31 in the UK Singles Chart. At that time, it was her lowest chart position since "Sista Sista" in 1999...
". Due to the popularity of Knight's version with her fans, it was later included on her Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight
Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight
Voice – The Best of Beverley Knight is the first greatest hits album by English R&B-soul singer Beverley Knight, released in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2006 by Parlophone. The collection included twelve top forty singles, including the new track and single "Piece of My Heart"...
compilation. Knight has since been invited to perform the song at Khan's London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
O2 Arena
The O2 arena (London)
The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...
date on her UK tour, after collaborating with the singer on her Blige duet "Disrepectul" at the Montreaux Jazz Festival.
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan version
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 1 |
Mary J. Blige version
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
28 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
11 |