Numbers is the seventh studio album by funk band Rufus, released on the ABC Records label in 1979. It was the band's first album without Chaka Khan on lead vocals.[3] Instead, band members Tony Maiden and David "Hawk" Wolinski shared lead vocal duties, with additional female leads by Helen Lowe and Maxayne. The album reached #15 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart, #81 on Pop and included the single release "Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)" (US R&B #16).
| Numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 1979 | |||
| Studio | Dawnbreaker (San Fernando) | |||
| Genre | Funk, soul | |||
| Length | 40:32 | |||
| Label | ABC AA 1098 | |||
| Producer | Rufus, Roy Halee | |||
| Rufus chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| The New Rolling Stone Record Guide | [2] |
Khan returned to the band for the recording of the following album Masterjam, produced by Quincy Jones.
Numbers would be Rufus' final album on ABC Records. The label would be purchased and subsequently dissolved by MCA Records, and the band transferred to its roster.
Numbers also marked the debut of drummer John "J.R." Robinson to the lineup. He would remain Rufus's drummer for the rest of their run.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ain't Nobody Like You" | Tony Maiden, Elainea Robbins | 4:28 |
| 2. | "You're to Blame" | David "Hawk" Wolinski | 3:51 |
| 3. | "Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)" | Allen Toussaint | 4:16 |
| 4. | "Dancin' Mood" | Wolinski | 3:52 |
| 5. | "Red Hot Poker" | Bobby Watson | 4:30 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Don't You Sit Alone" | Wolinski | 4:41 |
| 7. | "Bet My Dreams" | Wolinski | 5:04 |
| 8. | "Pleasure Dome" | Maiden, Robbins | 4:11 |
| 9. | "Are We?" | Wolinski | 3:32 |
| 10. | "Life in the City" | Watson | 4:54 |
Personnel
edit- Tony Maiden – guitar, lead vocals on "Ain't Nobody Like You", "Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)", "Bet My Dreams", "Pleasure Dome", and "Life in the City", background vocals, clavinet
- Kevin Murphy – keyboards
- Bobby Watson – bass, guitar, clavinet
- John Robinson – drums, percussion
- David "Hawk" Wolinski – keyboards, lead vocals on "You're to Blame", "Don't You Sit Alone" and "Are We?", background vocals, guitar
- Rufus – lead vocals on "Dancin' Mood"
- Everett Bryson – percussion
- Richard Mikuls – guitar
- Truman Thomas – piano on "Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)"
- Chuck "The German" Brooke – tenor saxophone, flute
- John "Iron Lips" Erwin – trombone
- Bob "The Professor" Greve – baritone saxophone, flute
- Dave Grover – trumpet, slide trumpet, trombone
- Bill Lamb – trumpet, slide trumpet, trombone, bass trombone
- Helen Lowe – lead vocals on "Ain't Nobody Like You", background vocals
- Lalomie Washburn – background vocals
- Maxayne – lead vocals on "Are We?", background vocals
- Freddie Hubbard – trumpet on "Bet My Dreams"
- Harvey Mason – drums on "Pleasure Dome"
Production
edit- Rufus – producer, mixing
- Roy Halee – producer, engineer, mixing
- Thom Wilson – engineer
- Allen Zentz – audio mastering
- Ernie Freeman – string arrangements and conductor
Charts
editAlbum
| Chart (1979) | Peak [4] |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top LPs | 81 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs | 15 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] | ||
| 1979 | "Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)" | 109 | 16 |
| "Ain't Nobody Like You" | — | — | |
References
edit- ^ "Numbers review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
- ^ Gersten, Russell (1983). "Rufus". In Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House/Rolling Stone Press. p. 438. ISBN 0394721071.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2001). Funk. Backbeat Books. p. 182.
- ^ a b c "US Charts > Rufus". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-19.