"This Is My Night" by Chaka Khan

Song#:  2183
Date:  01/19/1985
Debut:  75
Peak:  60
Weeks:  9
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Khan scored the biggest hit of her career with her remake of Prince's "I Feel for You." That gold record would hit #1 Dance, #1 R&B, and #3 Pop. When it came time to issue a follow-up, this opening track from Khan's I Feel for You LP was released. Again, folks in clubs responded well and the song rose to the top of the Dance chart. At R&B it fizzled just shy of the Top 10 at the dreaded #11 spot. Unfortunately, the tune couldn't find an audience at Pop and the song floundered in the bottom half of the chart.

ReduxReview:  I'm surprised this single didn't do better. Of course it pales in comparison to "I Feel for You," but it's a rockin' synthpop tune with a good chorus and state-of-the-art production. It just may have been too different from the smooth R&B sound of "Feel." That song with it's hooky rap intro was unique and stood out among the other singles on the chart. This track is more conventional and it just didn't stand out as much. Still, it's a solid song and one of the better tracks on the album.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This song was written by David Frank and Mic Murphy. Back in the early 80s they formed the duo known as The System. The pair got their first significant hit in 1983 with "You Are My System," which reached #10 at R&B. While recording and performing as The System, the pair also wrote and/or produced other artists along the way. They contributed this track to Chaka Khan's album. Although Arif Mardin served as producer of the song, David Frank did supply the arrangement. Later in '87, the duo would score a major hit with "Don't Disturb This Groove" (#4 Pop, #1 R&B).

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