In the early to mid-'90s, many of the great soul singers of the '70s were struggling.
Chaka Khan's popularity had decreased, but she was better off than some -- at least she still had a record deal. And from an A&R standpoint, Warner Bros. did right by her with
The Woman I Am. Although not quite in a class with
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me or
I Feel for You, this is a solid and commendable offering that fans of the singer shouldn't overlook. The production -- handled by
Marcus Miller,
Arif Mardin and the late
Wayne Braithwaite, among others -- is high-tech, yet warm instead of mechanical. And on songs ranging from the melancholy "Telephone" to the introspective title song and the appealing single "Love You All My Lifetime," it's clear that
Khan was given strong material to work with. ~ Alex Henderson