Naughty

Chaka Khan's second solo album, Naughty, arrived on March 26, 1980 via Warner Bros. Records. Working again with producer Arif Mardin, Khan co-wrote four of the nine tracks, including the title cut and the tender "So Not to Worry." The album splits its time between funk workouts and soulful ballads, with Khan's voice front and center, fiery on the uptempo numbers, aching on the slower ones.

Lead single "Clouds" became a dance club hit, peaking at number 10 on Billboard's Dance Club Play chart. Written by David "Hawk" Wolinski, the track features a shimmering synth line that points toward the R&B sound of the early 80s. The album's closer is a remix of "I'm Every Woman," Khan's signature song from her debut, giving longtime fans a familiar anchor. Naughty reached number 43 on the Billboard 200 and number 16 on the R&B albums chart, a solid if not spectacular showing compared to her earlier work with Rufus.

Personnel includes several Rufus members: Tony Maiden on guitar, Bobby Watson on bass, and James "Diamond" Williams on drums. Background vocalist Mark Stevens also contributed as a co-writer. While Naughty didn't earn any Grammy nominations itself, "Clouds" got Khan a nod for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 23rd Grammy Awards. [edit]