Epiphany: The Best Of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 CD

Personnel includes: Chaka Khan, Me'Shell Ndegeocello (vocals); Grandmaster Melle Mel (rap vocals); Derrick Edmondson (saxophone).
Producers include: Russ Titelman, Arif Mardin, Keith Crouch.
All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology.
"Never Miss The Water," featuring Me'Shell NdegeOcello, was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
Personnel: Chaka Khan (vocals, background vocals); Me'Shell Ndegéocello (vocals); Chieli Minucci, Allen Cato, Norman Brown, Oliver Leiber, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Wah Wah Watson (guitar); Larry Williams , Lawrence Feldman (flute); Derrick Edmondson (saxophone); Chris Botti (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Fumo (trumpet); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn); Steve Baxter (trombone); Federico Pena (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Raymond Chue (Fender Rhodes piano); Steve Skinner (keyboards, synthesizer); David Gamson (keyboards, drums, programming); Luis Conte (percussion); Mark Stevens, Howard McCrary (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Michael O'Reilly; Bob Power.
Recording information: Hit Factory, NY; Right Track Recording, NY.
Photographer: Charlie Pizzarello.
Arrangers: Dave Grusin; David Wolinski "Hawk"; Arif Griffin; Jerry Hey; Keith Crouch; Reggie Griffin; Arif Mardin; Steve Skinner; David Foster; Bruce Hornsby.
Chaka Khan's career through the 1996 release of Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 -- involving eight albums with Rufus and eight solo albums, along with assorted collaborations -- produced roughly 40 Top 40 R&B singles, not to mention dozens of undervalued album cuts. So it is clear that any one-disc attempt at wrapping up the highlights is bound to work more like a sampler than a true best-of. And though this release is given the "Vol. 1" tag, it remained without a sequel as late as 2005, when Reprise reissued it without altering the contents. Yet another frustration is that previously unreleased songs take the place of missing classics like "Sweet Thing," "Clouds," "Fate," "Close the Door," and "Stay." (That's just for starters.) Nonetheless, the disc does contain Khan's most popular work, from ballads like "Through the Fire" to anthems like "I'm Every Woman" and "Ain't Nobody," along with other radio staples, such as "I Feel for You" and "Tell Me Something Good." At the absolute least, Khan deserves a solo-only best-of, as well as a disc that sticks strictly to her work with Rufus. (The Very Best of Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan, the only anthology dedicated to Rufus, has its own set of issues.) ~ Andy KellmanSpin (1/97, p.89) - "...the last Aretha, her huskiness a touchstone as black pop skips by the church..."
Entertainment Weekly (12/20/96, p.76) - "EPIPHANY should solidify Khan's standing as one of the very best soul singers of the '70s and '80s..."
- Rating: A-
Muzik (2/97, p.114) - 9 out of 10 - "...this greatest hits and more package should go straight to Number One....Who said perfection isn't perfect? Take note: acquire this immediately."