Released 1975 Genre Funk, disco Label ABC | Recorded 1974 Length 4:29 Writer(s) Gavin Christopher | |
"Once You Get Started" is a horn-driven funk number written by musician Gavin Christopher, and recorded and released by the band Rufus featuring Chaka Khan in late 1974. It later peaked at number-ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, giving the group their second top ten single and third top forty single overall. The song is led mostly by Khan though fellow group member Tony Maiden contributed lead vocals for the song's second verse. It helped to make their third album Rufusized go platinum. The song also hit number-four on the R&B chart and number-two on the dance chart.
Christopher later recorded his own version of the song on his 1986 solo album, One Step Closer. Chaka re-recorded a version for the deluxe version of her 2007 album Funk This.
The song was sampled in Raw Man's "Number Seven". It was also prominently heard in an episode of Good Times titled "Cousin Cleatus".