Quad LP/Tape Poll Rufus featuring Chaka Khan: Rags to Rufus [QS/Q8]

[steelydave]

Rufus's sophomore LP, Rags to Rufus - released in May 1974, it yielded two hit singles: Tell Me Something Good (written by Stevie Wonder, who was a fan of the band) and You Got the Love, which was co-written by Chaka Khan along with session guitarist Ray Parker Jr., who'd later go on to success with both Raydio and the Ghostbusters theme tune as a solo artist.



ABC Command Quadraphonic CQD-40024 [QS LP] ABC 7022-809 H [Q8]
Discogs links: LP / Q8
Wiki page for the album: Rags to Rufus

Side 1

1. You Got the Love
2. I Got the Right Street (But the Wrong Direction)
3. Walkin' in the Sun
4. Rags to Rufus
5. Swing Down Chariot

Side 2

1. Sideways
2. Ain't Nothin' But a Maybe
3. Tell Me Something Good
4. Look Through My Eyes
5. In Love We Grow
6. Smokin' Room

 

[sjcorne]

Easy "10" for me. A classic album for sure - and if I were to demo vinyl quad to someone, I'd play this disc. The QS LP as heard through the Surround Master is honestly a very solid representation of the discrete quad mix you get on the Q8 tape. From the sweet spot, it appears absolutely discrete in all directions with no audible separation artifacts. The lead vocals and solos (guitar, sax, synth, etc) are locked to the center front position, drums across the front channels, with percussion, rhythm guitars, keys, backing vocals, and various other cool elements in the rear channels.

As far as quad mixes go, this is up there with the best of 'em. "You Got The Love" kicks off with the rhythm guitar chipping away in the right rear channel. The instrumental "Sideways" makes for a great quad demo as it starts in mono (front left only), then expands to stereo (both front channels), and finally engages the rears midway through the song. The pre-chorus 'heavy breathing' effect in "Tell Me Something Good" pans around-the-room, and the talk box that enters in the second verse is isolated in the right rear speaker.

 

[par4ken]

Almost a toss up between this one and "Rufusized". This one has the hit "Tell Me Something Good" giving it a 9 as well!

 

[Chronic Quadraphonic]

“Ask Rufus” has my favorite song of theirs “Hollywood”.

 

[Quad Linda]

9

 

[humprof]

What @sjcorne said. This album has all the strengths of Rufusized, plus an even stronger quad mix (not to mention the monster hit "Tell Me Somethin' Good"!).

Anybody know if any of the CD reissues retained the QS encoding?