Robert Christgau Word of the Day

con·cat·e·nate tr.v. con·cat·e·nat·ed, con·cat·e·nat·ing, con·cat·e·nates: 1. To connect or link in a series or chain. 2. Computer Science. To arrange (strings of characters) into a chained list. adj. Connected or linked in a series.

Chaka Khan Destiny [Warner Bros., 1986]

Though supervising producer Arif Mardin lends an appearance of unity to the credits, the eight-count-'em-eight coproducers take it away, leaving yet another candid concatenation of crossover wannabees. Those who treasure Chaka's quirkiness will object--the Coltrane snippet's an obvious sop. Those who've always found her unfocused will admire the professional standard of Osborne, LaBelle, etc. while dreaming of a whole album with Scritti Politti. B (www.robertchristgau.com)