"Sweet Thing" is a song performed by American funk and R&B band Rufus with vocals by band member Chaka Khan. As a single, it peaked number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. Mary J. Blige recorded her version, which charted in the United States and New Zealand in 1993.
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.[1] The song was co-written by Khan and Rufus bandmate 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). Khan re-recorded it for the 1998 soundtrack New York Undercover: A Night at Natalie's.
In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".[2]
In 1992, American singer Mary J. Blige recorded a rendition for her debut album What's the 411? (1992). It became Blige's third top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 28. In addition, it marked Blige's first entry on the New Zealand Singles Chart. Blige also performed the song live on the eighteenth season of Saturday Night Live on March 13, 1993.
Critical receptionedit
Daryl McIntosh from Albumism stated that Blige's "savory rendition" of the Rufus song "helped provide depth to her groundbreaking album".[5] Stanton Swihart from AllMusic described it as "gospel-thrusted", stating that songs like "Sweet Thing" "are and will remain timeless slices of soul even after their trendiness has worn off".[6]Larry Flick from Billboard said that the singer's version is "a faithful rendition of the Chaka Khan & Rufus classic. A shoulder-swaying rhythm base firmly supports an appealing, diva-style vocal and familiar funk guitar chords." He added, "Watch this one glide onto pop and urban playlists within seconds."[7] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan noted that "Sweet Thing" "is probably the most "pop" of all the songs on offer here. It's another love song and Blige softens her tone a little to keep everything sweet."[8]Havelock Nelson from Entertainment Weekly called it "a jazzy remake".[9]
Credits and personneledit
Credits adapted from the What's the 411? liner notes.[10]
In 1997, contemporary jazzsaxophonistBoney 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.[18][19]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 2004 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 (2006) compilation. Knight has since been invited to perform the song at Khan's LondonO2 Arena date[when?] on her UK tour, after collaborating with the singer on her Blige duet "Disrespectful" at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Filipina pop/RnB singer Nina also performed her own version of this song, which served as the opening track of her 2005 mega hit album Nina Live, which was recorded live and eventually received a diamond certification for selling over 1 million copies in the Philippines
Referencesedit
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 505.
^"25 Best Slow Jams of All Time". Essence.com. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
^"Rufus Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
^"Rufus Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April , 2017.
^McIntosh, Daryl (July 28, 2017). "Mary J. Blige's Debut Album 'What's the 411?' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
^Swihart, Stanton. "Mary J. Blige – What's the 411?". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
^Flick, Larry (January 30, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 83. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^Millan, Mark (July 5, 2010). "What's The 411? – Mary J. Blige". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
January 01, 1970
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Sweet Thing is a song performed by American funk and R amp B band Rufus with vocals by band member Chaka Khan As a single it peaked number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 Mary J Blige recorded her version which charted in the United States and New Zealand in 1993 Sweet Thing Side A of the US 7 inch vinyl singleSingle by Rufus featuring Chaka Khanfrom the album Rufus featuring Chaka KhanB side Circles ReleasedNovember 28 1975Recorded1975GenreR amp Bsmooth soulLength3 19LabelABCSongwriter s Chaka KhanTony MaidenProducer s Russ TitelmanRufusRufus featuring Chaka Khan singles chronology Please Pardon Me You Remind Me of a Friend 1975 Sweet Thing 1975 Dance Wit Me 1976 Contents 1 Rufus featuring Chaka Khan version 1 1 Track listing 1 2 Charts 2 Mary J Blige version 2 1 Critical reception 2 2 Credits and personnel 2 3 Track listing 2 4 Charts 2 4 1 Weekly charts 2 4 2 Year end charts 3 Other cover versions 4 ReferencesRufus featuring Chaka Khan version editInitially 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 amp B singles chart and number five on the pop chart 1 The song was co written by Khan and Rufus bandmate 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 Khan re recorded it for the 1998 soundtrack New York Undercover A Night at Natalie s In 2009 Essence magazine included the song in their list of the 25 Best Slow Jams of All Time 2 Track listing edit Sweet Thing Circles Charts edit Chart 1975 1976 Peakposition US Billboard Hot 100 3 5 US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 4 1Mary J Blige version edit Sweet Thing nbsp US retail cassette edition the US CD release was promo onlySingle by Mary J Bligefrom the album What s the 411 ReleasedApril 2 1993 1993 04 02 Recorded1992GenreR amp BsoulLength3 44LabelUptownMCASongwriter s Chaka KhanTony MaidenProducer s Mark MoralesMark C RooneyMary J Blige singles chronology Reminisce 1992 Sweet Thing 1993 Love No Limit 1993 In 1992 American singer Mary J Blige recorded a rendition for her debut album What s the 411 1992 It became Blige s third top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100 reaching number 28 In addition it marked Blige s first entry on the New Zealand Singles Chart Blige also performed the song live on the eighteenth season of Saturday Night Live on March 13 1993 Critical reception edit Daryl McIntosh from Albumism stated that Blige s savory rendition of the Rufus song helped provide depth to her groundbreaking album 5 Stanton Swihart from AllMusic described it as gospel thrusted stating that songs like Sweet Thing are and will remain timeless slices of soul even after their trendiness has worn off 6 Larry Flick from Billboard said that the singer s version is a faithful rendition of the Chaka Khan amp Rufus classic A shoulder swaying rhythm base firmly supports an appealing diva style vocal and familiar funk guitar chords He added Watch this one glide onto pop and urban playlists within seconds 7 The Daily Vault s Mark Millan noted that Sweet Thing is probably the most pop of all the songs on offer here It s another love song and Blige softens her tone a little to keep everything sweet 8 Havelock Nelson from Entertainment Weekly called it a jazzy remake 9 Credits and personnel edit Credits adapted from the What s the 411 liner notes 10 Sean Puffy Combs executive producer Charlie Davis executive producer Mark Morales producer Mark C Rooney producer Kurt Woodley executive producer Track listing edit US cassette 7 vinyl single Sweet Thing 3 44 Slow Down 4 30 US CD promo Sweet Thing live 3 45 Sweet Thing album version 3 44 Sweet Thing TV 4 45 US 12 vinyl promo A1 Sweet Thing live version 3 45 A2 Sweet Thing album version 3 44 B1 Sweet Thing Daddy Hip Hop 5 05 B2 Sweet Thing Daddy Hip Hop TV 4 45 Charts edit Weekly charts edit Chart 1993 Peakposition New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 11 48 US Billboard Hot 100 12 28 US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 13 11 US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 14 28 US Rhythmic Billboard 15 4 US Cash Box Top 100 16 19 Year end charts edit Chart 1993 Position US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 17 62Other cover versions editIn 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 18 19 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 2004 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 2006 compilation Knight has since been invited to perform the song at Khan s London O2 Arena date when on her UK tour after collaborating with the singer on her Blige duet Disrespectful at the Montreux Jazz Festival Filipina pop RnB singer Nina also performed her own version of this song which served as the opening track of her 2005 mega hit album Nina Live which was recorded live and eventually received a diamond certification for selling over 1 million copies in the PhilippinesReferences edit Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 505 25 Best Slow Jams of All Time Essence com 29 October 2020 Retrieved 23 April 2021 Rufus Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved April 8 2017 Rufus Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved April 2017 McIntosh Daryl July 28 2017 Mary J Blige s Debut Album What s the 411 Turns 25 Anniversary Retrospective Albumism Retrieved November 17 2020 Swihart Stanton Mary J Blige What s the 411 AllMusic Retrieved November 9 2020 Flick Larry January 30 1993 Single Reviews PDF Billboard p 83 Retrieved October 26 2020 Millan Mark July 5 2010 What s The 411 Mary J Blige The Daily Vault Retrieved November 20 2020 Nelson Havelock August 7 1992 Music Review What s the 411 Entertainment Weekly Retrieved November 11 2020 Blige Mary J 1992 What s the 411 Liner Notes Compact Disc Mary J Blige Uptown Records Mary J Blige Sweet Thing Top 40 Singles Retrieved April 8 2017 Mary J Blige Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved April 8 2017 Mary J Blige Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved April 2017 Mary J Blige Chart History Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved April 30 2022 Mary J Blige Chart History Rhythmic Billboard Retrieved April 30 2022 Top 100 Pop Singles PDF Cash Box Vol LVI no 29 March 27 1993 p 4 Retrieved April 20 2024 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Year End 1993 Billboard Archived from the original on August 3 2015 Retrieved November 8 2021 Widran Jonathan Sweet Thing Boney James Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 2016 10 10 Boney James Festival Preview Archived from the original on 2010 03 26 Retrieved 2010 05 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sweet Thing Rufus song amp oldid 1220037041, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
