Teaming again with Arif Mardin, slowly but surely the two began to craft an even more successful and innovative sound. This effort not only bests the work before it, but it is Mardin's most fulfilling production since 1974's Average White Band.
Three singles were released from What Cha' Gonna Do: the Beatles cover "We Can Work It Out" (US R&B #34), the McCrarys cover "Any Old Sunday" (#68) and the album's title track which became a number one hit on Billboard R&B Singles chart. On Billboard's charts, the album reached #3 on Black Albums, #33 on Jazz Albums, and #17 on Pop Albums. This would be Chaka's highest-charting album until her 1980s-era breakthrough I Feel For You. Its popularity among jazz audiences was likely due to the inclusion of the Dizzy Gillespie composition "Night In Tunisia" with a guest appearance by Gillespie himself as well as what today would be called a 'sample' of Charlie Parker's legendary four bar alto break from his 1946 recording of the title. Khan's vocal interpretation also features lyrics written by the singer herself.[6] This album was nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female in 1981.[7]
The instrumental intro to "Fate" has been sampled by a host of dance acts all through the 1990s and 2000s, most notably by Stardust on their 1998 hit single "Music Sounds Better With You" and a section of "I Know You I Live You" also features on "Bad Habit" by ATFC & Onephatdeeva feat. Lisa Milett.
Reissues
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me has only been re-issued on CD in both Europe and Japan. The album has yet to see a CD release in the United States, but did become domestically available digitally shortly after Khan won multiple Grammys for her 2007 album Funk This.
In 2016, Big Break Records re-issued the album as an expanded edition with special liner notes, rare photos, and containing three bonus tracks: "Only Once", "Lover's Touch" and "I Know You, I Live You (Remix)". Though the remix of "I Know You, I Live You" was previously released on Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project, the other two were only available on 7" singles until the Big Break reissue. "Lover's Touch" was the B-Side of "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" in the US, and "Only Once" was the B-Side of "We Can Work It Out."[1]
Larry Williams - keyboards, flute, saxophone, synthesizer all tracks except 1, 6
Track 1: “We Can Work It Out”
Drums - Ray Pounds
Keyboards [All], Synthesizer [Mini Moog Bass] - Greg Phillinganes
Guitar – Mike Sembello
Percussion – Paulinho da Costa
Horn Arrangement – Larry Williams
Horns [Brass, Reeds] – Bill Reichenbach, Gary Grant, Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Hall, Larry Williams
Arranged by [String Arrangement] – Arif Mardin
Concert Master - Gene Orloff
Track 2: “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me”
Synthesizer – Bob Christianson
Percussion – Crusher Bennett
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax Solo], Soloist – Michael Brecker
Arranged by [Horn Arrangement] – Arif Mardin
Horns [Brass, Reeds] – Barry Rogers, Lou Delgatto, Lou Soloff, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker
Track 3, 10: “I Know You, I Live You”
Percussion – Crusher Bennett, Chaka Khan
Arranged by [Horn Arrangement], Saxophone – Larry Williams
Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Track 4: “Any Old Sunday”
Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Track 5: “We Got Each Other”
Vocals [Duet Vocal] – Mark Stevens
Arranged by [Horn Arrangement], Saxophone – Larry Williams
Trumpet – Jerry Hey
