Released November 28, 1975 Length 3:19 | Recorded 1975 Label ABC | |
Genre R&B, adult contemporary, smooth soul Writer(s) Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden | ||
"Sweet Thing" is a song performed by American funk and R&B band Rufus with vocals by American singer Chaka Khan, also a member of the band. Initially recorded and released a single in late 1975, it was first a hit with Rufus featuring Chaka Khan when they recorded the song in 1975, eventually reaching number-one on the R&B singles chart and number five on the pop chart. The song was co-written by Khan (For her then husband, Richard Holland) and Rufus band mate Tony Maiden and became one of the band and Khan's signature songs. The record appears on the band's fourth album Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (1975).
Cover versions
In 1993, American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige who had a version that was a top forty hit on both sides for a second time with it reaching number twenty-eight pop and number-eleven R&B. This version appeared on her debut album What's the 411? (1992). It became Blige's third top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In 1997, contemporary jazz saxophonist Boney James did another remake of the song; it was included on the album titled Sweet Thing. The album's title track included background vocals by original co-writer Tony Maiden.
Khan recorded it again for the New York Undercover: a Night at Natalies soundtrack, released in 1998.
Initially, Khan disliked Blige redoing it but eventually Khan befriended Blige and the two singers later sang the song together during a VH-1 Divas Live concert in 2003.
Khan and Blige have since recorded the duet "Disrespectful", for Khan's recent release, Funk This.
UK soul singer Beverley Knight has also recorded a version of the song. Knight's version was recorded for a BBC Radio 2 session and was included as the B-side to her single "Not Too Late For Love". Due to the popularity of Knight's version with her fans, it was later included on her Voice - The Best of Beverley Knight compilation. Knight has since been invited to perform the song at Khan's London O2 Arena date on her UK tour, after collaborating with the singer on her Blige duet "Disrespectful" at the Montreux Jazz Festival.