"Sweet Thing" | ||||
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Side-A label of U.S. 7-inch vinyl single
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Single by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan | ||||
from the album Rufus featuring Chaka Khan | ||||
Released | November 28, 1975 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Genre | R&B, adult contemporary, smooth soul | |||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | ABC | |||
Writer(s) | Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden | |||
Producer(s) | Rufus | |||
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan singles chronology | ||||
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"Sweet Thing" | ||||
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Side-A label of commercial U.S. 7-inch vinyl single
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Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
from the album What's the 411? and What's the 411? Remix | ||||
Released | April 2, 1993 | |||
Format | Single, maxi single, promo | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Writer(s) | Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden | |||
Producer(s) | Sean "Puffy" Combs, Mark Morales, Mark C. Rooney | |||
Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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"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).
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.