VinylAI 
Data as of Oct 20, 2026
Rufus & Chaka Khan – Ask Rufus
1977 · US · ABC Records · Vinyl LP Album
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Oct 20, 2026
- MMint
- $23.74
- NMNear Mint
- $21.24
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $16.24
- VGVery Good
- $11.25
- G+Good Plus
- $6.25
- GGood
- $3.75
- FFair
- $2.50
- PPoor
- $1.25
114 copies listed on Discogs from $0.89.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers · 1
- $15ref VA-6AJT5Media VG+ · Very Good PlusSleeve VG🇺🇸 Ships from United States
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- AB-975-AT1 AB-975-A-4 B4T1 AB-975-A-④T1 AB-975-A-④ T
- Runout — side B
- AB-975-BT1 AB-975-B-4 B4T1 AB-975-B ④T1 AB-975-B ⑤ ̶A̶E21
- Rights society
- ASCAP
- Pressing Plant ID
- T(Etched in runouts)
- Recorded At
- Kendun Recorders
- Pressed By
- Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
Specifications
- Artist
- Rufus & Chaka Khan
- Genre
- Funk / Soul
- Style
- Soul, Disco, Funk
- Year
- 1977
- Label
- ABC Records
- Catalog number
- AB 975
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)4:20
- A2Close The Door3:25
- Medley
- A4Earth Song5:05
- A5Everlasting Love4:46
- B1Hollywood4:10
- B2Magic In Your Eyes3:51
- B3Better Days4:14
- B4Egyptian Song5:10
- Producer
- Rufus
- Engineer
- Gary Starr
- Engineer [Assistant]
- Michael Schuman
- Arranged By [Strings], Conductor
- Clare Fischer
- Design
- Rod Dyer
- Photography By
- Bret Lopez
About this record
The Columbia Records Terre Haute pressing plant stamped this 1977 funk-soul album with etched runouts AB-975-A and AB-975-B, a detail that separates it from later variants where Side A markings were stamped rather than etched. Demand sits at 581 want against 4683 have in the collector base, signaling steady but not frenzied pursuit.
The price floor sits at 0.89 USD, yet a Mint copy commands 23.74 USD—a spread that reflects how few clean examples circulate relative to the 114 copies currently listed for sale.
What drives its value
Ask Rufus holds value primarily through condition scarcity on the Terre Haute pressing. A Mint copy reaches 23.74 USD, while NM drops to 21.24 USD and VG+ settles at 16.24 USD; the VG grade falls to 11.25 USD.
The 114 copies available for sale suggest moderate liquidity, yet the want-to-have ratio of 581 to 4683 indicates collectors actively seek this title despite its relative availability. Original 1977 ABC Records pressings from Terre Haute command a premium over reissues because the etched matrix variant (T1 AB-975-A-4 B4 and T1 AB-975-B-4 B4) is harder to locate in played condition.
The gatefold cover and included 22-inch by 5-foot 9-3/4-inch poster add physical appeal but are vulnerable to wear; a complete, unfolded poster preserves value.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the catalogue number AB-975 on the spine and label. The dead-wax runouts must read AB-975-A on Side 1 and AB-975-B on Side 2, followed by the plant code T1 and the stamper numbers (typically -4 B4 on both sides for the main variant).
The Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute credit appears on the label. The gatefold opens to reveal publishing credits split across eight tracks; verify all eight tracks are present and the poster is unfolded and uncreased for Mint status.
Grade by surface noise under magnification—Mint exhibits no audible ticks or pops, NM shows only faint background noise on quiet passages, and VG+ permits light surface noise during loud sections. Check the cover for seam splits, ring wear, and poster creasing; these flaws drop a Mint copy to NM or VG+ instantly.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Columbia Terre Haute pressing. Runouts are etched, except for Variant 3, where the final "T" on Side A and the " ̶A̶" are stamped.
Comes with a color foldout "22 in. x 5 ft. 9 3/4 in." poster. Gatefold cover, LP housed in green company sleeve.
Publishing: A1 by American Broadcasting Music, Inc. / Elainea Music A2 by American Broadcasting Music, Inc. / Big Elk Music A3a by Big Elk Music A3b, A4, B2 by American Broadcasting Music, Inc. A5 by American Broadcasting Music, Inc. / Mother Pearl / Dennis Earl Music B1, B4 by Big Elk Music / American Broadcasting Music, Inc. B3 by American Broadcasting Music, Inc. / Stade Music
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is the price range for this pressing in different conditions?
A Mint copy is valued at 23.74 USD according to the price guide. NM drops to 21.24 USD, VG+ to 16.24 USD, and VG to 11.25 USD. These are estimates as of the guide's last update and reflect the Terre Haute pressing specifically. The lowest asking price observed is 0.89 USD, typically for heavily played or damaged copies.
How do I identify the Terre Haute pressing versus other variants?
Look at the dead-wax etching on both sides. This pressing shows AB-975-A on Side 1 and AB-975-B on Side 2, followed by T1 and the stamper code (usually -4 B4). The label itself reads Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute. Variant 3 differs because the final T on Side A and the A designation are stamped rather than etched, making it visually distinct under a loupe.
Is the poster included, and does it affect value?
Yes, the original release came with a color foldout poster measuring 22 inches by 5 feet 9 3/4 inches. An unfolded, uncreased poster in the gatefold adds significant appeal and supports a Mint grade. A creased, folded, or missing poster will lower the overall condition grade and resale value, as the poster is a documented part of the original package.
What does the want-to-have ratio tell me about this record?
The community database shows 581 collectors want this title against 4683 who own one. This 1-to-8 ratio suggests steady collector interest without extreme scarcity. The 114 copies currently for sale indicate the market has stock, so patient buyers can find copies without bidding wars, though clean VG+ and Mint examples may require searching across multiple listings.
Why does condition matter so much for this pressing?
The spread from VG at 11.25 USD to Mint at 23.74 USD shows that condition drives nearly half the value. Funk and soul records from 1977 were played heavily, so truly clean copies are uncommon. The gatefold cover and poster are fragile; seam splits and creases are nearly universal on played copies, making unplayed or lightly played examples genuinely scarce and worth the premium.