Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 is a compilation album of recordings by AmericanR&B/funk singer Chaka Khan, first released on the Warner Bros. Records label in 1996. Although the compilation, which reached #22 on Billboard's R&B chart and #84 on Pop, was given the "Vol. 1" tag, it remains without a sequel to date.
The compilation would be re-issued by Warner's sublabel Reprise Records in 1999 with alternative cover art under the title I'm Every Woman - The Best of Chaka Khan. The collection was again re-issued as Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 in 2005, then also on the Reprise label.
Background
After an at the time 23-year-long career in the music business which spanned over seventeen studio albums (nine solo, eight with the band Rufus) and a combined total of some fifty entries on Billboard's R&B singles chart, Epiphany was the first best of retrospective to be released, then summarising her recorded output in ten tracks; eight solo hits such as "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You", "I Know You, I Live You" and "Through The Fire", combined with two recordings from the Rufus era, "Ain't Nobody" and "Tell Me Something Good".
The Epiphany compilation is however mainly notable for including six tracks from what was originally intended to be Khan's tenth solo album, Dare You To Love Me, recorded between the years 1993 and 1995. Titles from the postponed and eventually cancelled album featured on the Epiphany compilation include "Love Me Still" (co-written by Bruce Hornsby, first released on the soundtrack to the 1995 Spike Lee movie Clockers), Khan's reggae-tinged cover version of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere", the duet "Never Miss the Water" with Me'shell Ndegéocello, "Somethin' Deep", "Your Love Is All I Know" and "Every Little Thing". A seventh title, "It Ain't Easy Lovin' Me", was released as an exclusive bonus track on the Japanese edition of Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan: Vol. 1.
Another seven recordings from the Dare You To Love Me sessions have surfaced on movie soundtracks, compilations or other artists' albums; "Miles Blowin'" (a tribute to the late Miles Davis, included on the Sugar Hill soundtrack, 1994), "Free Yourself" (on the To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar soundtrack, 1995), "Don't Take Back Your Love" (on Gerry DeVeaux's album Devoted Songs, 1996), Khan's recording of the jazz standard "My Funny Valentine" (on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, 1996), "Pain" (co-written by Prince, on the soundtrack to TV sitcom Living Single, 1997), "You And I Are One" and "Power" (both on the 1998 Zebra Records compilation A Song A Day). Three further recordings from the Dare You To Love Me sessions, including the title track, officially remain unreleased.[1]
Promotion
The Epiphany compilation was promoted by the single release "Never Miss The Water" which included house and drum & bass remixes by Frankie Knuckles, Stylus Production and Candy Station. The single, issued on the Reprise Records label, became a #1 hit on Billboard's Dance Chart and also reached #36 on R&B. "Your Love Is All I Know", "Every Little Thing" and "Everywhere" were also released as singles in certain territories, such as the UK, Germany and Japan.[2]
AllMusic editor Andy Kellman wrote that "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." He was frustrated that "previously unreleased songs take the place of missing classics like "Sweet Thing," "Clouds," "Fate," "Close the Door," and "Stay." Nonetheless, the disc does contain Khan's most popular work [...] At the absolute least, Khan deserves a solo-only best-of, as well as a disc that sticks strictly to her work with Rufus."[3] In his review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau wrote: "Of her enormous gift there's no question – not just a sumptuous voice, those are commonplace, but sonic character. She sounds somehow nasal, sensuous, and "trained" all at once, like Sarah Vaughan with adenoids, and also with the rhythmic hots [...] But Luther Vandross, Melle Mel, Bird 'n' Diz, even Billie Holiday – these tributes and collaborations she's been equal to."[5]
Commerical performance
Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 debuted and peaked at number 82 on the US Billboard 200 in the week of November 30, 1996.[6] The same week, it opened and peaked at number 22 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[7] On April 11, 2005, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments figures in excess of 500,000 copies.[8] By February 2008, Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 had sold 796,000 units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[9] On May 10, 2019, the album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[10] In January 2024, it reached Gold status in the United Kingdom.[10]
Track listing
Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1 track listing
