"Once You Get Started" is a

horn Horn may refer to: Common uses * Horn (acoustic), a tapered sound guide ** Horn antenna ** Horn loudspeaker ** Vehicle horn ** Train horn *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various animals * Horn (instrument), a family ...

-driven funk number written by musician

Gavin Christopher Gavin Christopher (May 1, 1949 – March 3, 2016) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Early life and career Born in Chicago, Illinois, he started out playing music at a very early age. Having been schooled by the li ...

, and recorded and released by the band Rufus featuring Chaka Khan in late 1974. The song is led mostly by Khan, though fellow group member Tony Maiden contributed lead vocals for the song's second verse. It helped to make their third album ''

Rufusized ''Rufusized'' is the gold-selling third studio album by funk band Rufus, featuring Chaka Khan, on the ABC Records label in 1974, their second album release that year. The album peaked at number 7 on the ''Billboard'' album chart the week ending ...

'' go platinum. "Once You Get Started", peaked at number ten on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1975, giving the group their second top ten single and third top forty single overall. The song also hit number-four on the

Hot Soul Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 po ...

chart as well as number six on the Record World, Disco File Top 20 chart.

Covers

*Christopher later recorded his own version of the song on his 1986 solo album, '' One Step Closer''. *Chaka Khan re-recorded a version for the deluxe version of her 2007 album ''

Funk This ''Funk This'' is the eleventh studio album by American singer Chaka Khan. It was first released by Burgundy Records on September 25, 2007, in the United States. On October 13, 2007, the album entered at its peak position of number fifteen on th ...

.'' Bobby Byrd's wife now widow Vicki Anderson previously recorded a version of this song with Christopher singing background vocals released June 1974.

Samples

*The song was sampled in Raw Man's 1999 song,"Number Seven".

Song in Media

*It was also prominently heard in an episode of ''

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (actor), Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was televis ...

'' titled "Cousin Cleatus".

Credits

*Chaka Khan -

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

; background vocals *Tony Maiden -

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

; co-lead vocals; background vocals *Kevin Murphy - keyboards; background vocals *Andre Fischer - drums; background vocals *Bobby Watson -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

; background vocals *

Tower of Power Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. The band has had a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted ...

- horns

References

{{Authority control 1974 songs 1975 singles Chaka Khan songs Songs written by Gavin Christopher ABC Records singles