“Tell Me Something Good” wasn’t just Rufus’ highest-charting single. It was the song that brought national attention to the Chicago-based funk band, and it played a substantial role in eventually launching the solo career of Chaka Khan. The tune is credited to Stevie Wonder, so the former Motown star can take some credit for the eventual rise of both Rufus and Khan.
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However, it’s not just Wonder’s songwriting prowess that led to “Tell Me Something Good” becoming a hit for the band. If not for his attunement to astrological signs, the song could have become a hit for another artist or even Wonder himself. Here’s how “Tell Me Something Good”—and the partnership between Wonder and Khan—became a match made in funk heaven.
Getting on Wonder’s Radar
When Rufus formed in 1970, three of their members had already scored a major chart hit with “Bend Me, Shape Me” as part of the group The American Breed. After the demise of that band, guitarist Al Ciner, bassist Chuck Colbert, and drummer Lee Graziano all became members of Rufus, but it took the group a few years to get to the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, by the time “Tell Me Something Good” became Rufus’ first song to place on the chart, Colbert and Graziano were no longer with the band that they founded.
In 1972, original vocalist Paulette McWilliams left Rufus, and she recruited Khan to replace her. Rufus’ 1973 self-titled debut album didn’t contain any pop hits, though “Whoever’s Thrilling You (Is Killing Me)” and “Feel Good” made Billboard’s R&B chart. It was a deeper cut, “Maybe Your Baby,” that set the groundwork for Rufus to record their first big crossover hit. The song caught the attention of Wonder, and his interest in Rufus would soon lead him to a collaboration.
A Song Made for an Aries
As Rufus were recording their second album Rags to Rufus at Quantum Studios in Torrance, California, producer Bob Monaco arranged for Wonder to pay the group a visit. Once he was at the studio, Wonder played a song he had written, “Come and Get This Stuff,” looking to see if Rufus would be interested in recording it. The 20-year-old Khan was unimpressed and asked Wonder, “What else you got?” Wonder responded by asking Khan, “What’s your birth sign?” Once she told him it was Aries, he said, “Oh, I got something for you.” That “something” was “Tell Me Something Good.”
Khan has said in several interviews that she co-wrote the song with Wonder but never asked to receive credit for writing contributions. In a 2020 interview for the Vlad TV YouTube channel, Khan said she didn’t realize that she should have received a writing credit, and she was too overwhelmed by Wonder’s presence to bring the issue up with him.
Having been rejected by Khan, “Come and Get This Stuff” eventually got recorded, appearing on Syreeta Wright’s 1974 album Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta. It didn’t chart, but Wright (recording as “Syreeta”) made her ex-husband’s composition the lead single from the album.
The Impact and Aftermath of “Tell Me Something Good”
“Tell Me Something Good” spent 17 weeks on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 in August 1974. The single was certified Gold the same month, and it won the 1975 Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus. With more than 43 million streams, it is Rufus’ second-most popular song on Spotify, though it trails “Ain’t Nobody” by more than 360 million streams. A 2021 cover version by Ewan McVicar went to No. 49 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
The success of “Tell Me Something Good” led to increased visibility for Khan, and with their next album Rufusized, the band changed its name to Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. She would release her self-titled debut album in 1978. Even after going solo, Khan would make two more studio albums with Rufus—Masterjam (1979) and Camouflage (1981). She also appeared on Rufus’ 1983 live album Stompin’ at the Savoy, which included four studio tracks including “Ain’t Nobody.”
Khan would collaborate with Wonder again a decade after they co-wrote “Tell Me Something Good.” Wonder played harmonica on the Prince-penned hit “I Feel for You,” which was the title track from Khan’s first post-Rufus album. The song also featured a sample from Wonder’s first hit single, “Fingertips.” Reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100 in November 1984, “I Feel for You” became Khan’s only Top-10 solo hit on the chart.
Not many 20-year-olds would have the confidence to tell Stevie Wonder they didn’t want to record one of his songs. That bold move paid off for both Khan and Rufus, as it led to both parties getting one of their biggest hits. Music fans can be grateful for the singer’s audacity, as well as for Wonder’s ability to find just the right song for Khan’s extraordinary vocal talents.
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