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Rotary Connection: Minnie Riperton + Psychedelic Rock/Soul + Classical Anybody else diggin' on Rotary Connection?
Minnie Riperton, the sound of earlyEWF, and rock and blues musians together in a psychedelic stew! Never made it big----But Stevie Wonder was listening... 
1967-in the middle of the psychedelic era, Pop, Jazz, Blues Rock and Soul and even Classical music were beginning to ebb and flow into each other --- Marshall Chess (Leonard 's Son)decided that their company needed something more progressive. He decided to combine white rock players John Stocklin, Bobby Simms, Jeremiah, and Mitch Aliotta( and black session guitarists Phil Upchurch and Pete Cosey) with black voices he had at Chess records, Minnie Riperton and Sidney Barnes, (and later Dave Scott and Shirley Wahls)and brought in a talented classically trained arranger, Charles Stepney, later the writer/producer/arranger for Earth Wind and Fire) together - their first album "Rotary Connection"(1967) was a full on psychedelic trip set to music...    
Their second album, Aladdin(1968) continued the sound , followed by Songs(1969) and Dinner Music(1970)... Rotary Connection's most commercially successful album was their Christmas album, Peace (1968) , in which the group managed to reproduce a Soulful, playful yet progressive, trip-out Yuletide record.. With the Songs (1969) album, featuring bold reinterpretations of hit tunes, Rotary Connection not only uses Minnie as co- lead vocalist but also as an instrument, where her otherworldly trilling soars over the inventive arrangements... (during this time Minnie and Charles Stepney also worked on her first solo album, "Come To My Garden"(1969)...)  
their last album "New Rotary Connection/"Hey Love" (1971)was an impressive swan song, spanning soul, acid Funk, rock, pop and gospel, featuring the tunes "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun" (remade recently by Nuyorican Soul ) and "Love Has Fallen On Me"( later covered by Chaka Khan on her first solo album, "Chaka")... The Rotary Connection never achieved the big success that Chess envisioned for the group, but they did attract an intense cult-like following around the Chicago area. But it was through Rotary Connection that Minnie Riperton first drew rave notices throughout the US- Stevie Wonder loved the group,and gave them a tune for their "Songs" album ("This Town") (he became a big Minnie Riperton fan , and contributed greatly to her second, 1974 album, "Perfect Angel") Rotary Connection's music has been sampled extensively by groups like Tribe Called Quest (for Bonita Applebom),and artists like Van Hunt, Chuck D, Qtip and groups like 4Hero cite Charles Stepney and Rotary Connection as influences... 
My favorite Rotary Connection tunes: I Am the Black Gold Of The Sun Hey Love Love Has Fallen On Me If I Sing My Song Respect This Town (written By Stevie Wonder) Amen Turn Me On The Sea And She Christmas Love Peace At Last Memory Band Tales of The Brave Ulysses We're Going Wrong Salt Of The Earth Want You To Know 
 [This message was edited Fri Jul 23 20:10:19 2004 by paligap] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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i haven't heard their album in a long time--a copy of it was on sale at this record store that i used to moonlight at, and the owner would play it sometimes. pretty cool stuff.
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Remember hearing their name identified during the early days of FM rock.
(when they used to announce the artist before and after the cut was played) But from what I can recall, my immature ear labeled them not "heavy" enough at the time. Now I wish I had paid closer attention. 
tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: Remember hearing their name identified during the early days of FM rock.
(when they used to announce the artist before and after the cut was played) But from what I can recall, my immature ear labeled them not "heavy" enough at the time. Now I wish I had paid closer attention.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm Does anyone know the name of the song that A Tribe Called Quest used for Bonita Applebum? | |
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eldog98 said: theAudience said: Remember hearing their name identified during the early days of FM rock.
(when they used to announce the artist before and after the cut was played) But from what I can recall, my immature ear labeled them not "heavy" enough at the time. Now I wish I had paid closer attention.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm Does anyone know the name of the song that A Tribe Called Quest used for Bonita Applebum? "Memory Band" off the first album, Rotary Connection " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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theAudience said: Remember hearing their name identified during the early days of FM rock.
(when they used to announce the artist before and after the cut was played) But from what I can recall, my immature ear labeled them not "heavy" enough at the time. Now I wish I had paid closer attention.
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm  my parents uncles, and cousins were all playing this stuff when I was little, so I ended up paying attention anyway, ...." I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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I have:
Aladdin Songs Dinner Music Hey Love Come To My Garden I can't find the first album on CD! Love "Memory Band" but that's all I've heard off of the debut. | |
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CinisterCee said: I have:
Aladdin Songs Dinner Music Hey Love Come To My Garden I can't find the first album on CD! Love "Memory Band" but that's all I've heard off of the debut. I know, it's already out of print...but I just saw a CD copy on ebay going for about 3.99... [This message was edited Fri Jul 23 9:35:41 2004 by paligap] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Minnie's fro was off the chain!  | |
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okaypimpn said: Minnie's fro was off the chain!
Da's Right!!! Now Is that a real Fro or is that a real 'Fro!!  " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: CinisterCee said: I have:
Aladdin Songs Dinner Music Hey Love Come To My Garden I can't find the first album on CD! Love "Memory Band" but that's all I've heard off of the debut. I know, it's already out of print...but I just saw a CD copy on ebay going for about 3.99... [This message was edited Fri Jul 23 9:35:41 2004 by paligap]    | |
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This group was/is highly slept on. With the exception of Minnie's Perfect Angel and Adventures in Paradise albums, her stuff with Rotary Connection gave her the best shine. | |
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psykosoul said: This group was/is highly slept on. With the exception of Minnie's Perfect Angel and Adventures in Paradise albums, her stuff with Rotary Connection gave her the best shine.
True!!  " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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wow! Never heard of this group.I'm going to www.allmusic.com right now.. | |
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PhilG said: wow! Never heard of this group.I'm going to www.allmusic.com right now..
Yeah, they have a great write-up on the group over there at AMG!! ..BTW, I agree with the reviewer who said that "I Am the Black Gold Of The Sun" is "the group's apex, their finest moment..."[This message was edited Fri Jul 23 13:53:43 2004 by paligap] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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"Rotary Connection" so fuckin rocks  | |
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Ndeed!!!  " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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I actually found a late 60's promo video for their version of "Soul Man"...it's more of a conceputal thing, though...with psychedelic images and go-go dancing ...no shots of the group, unfortunately..." I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Wasn't hip to this. Thanx. SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him." http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com | |
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blackguitaristz said: Wasn't hip to this. Thanx.
I love Minnie, never heard of this. Right on pali! This shit sounds cool too! I'm getting it! SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him." http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com | |
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blackguitaristz said: blackguitaristz said: Wasn't hip to this. Thanx.
I love Minnie, never heard of this. Right on pali! This shit sounds cool too! I'm getting it! Cool! grab the "Songs/Hey Love" CD first if you can..." I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Don't remember them.  I'm thinking that I might be familiar with their music if I heard something.  Minnie looks so young. Is her husband in the group? None of those guys looks like him. | |
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UptownDeb said: Minnie looks so young. Is her husband in the group? None of those guys looks like him.
He wasn't in the group, but she did meet him while she was with Rotary Connection... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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