Rotary Connection – Life Could
Rotary Connection – V.I.P.
Rotary Connection – Paper Castle
Still locked in grading mode at the end of the semester, but definitely wanted to share this one. There are so many reasons to dig on Rotary Connection. They featured some truly unique psychedelic sounds along with massive arrangements and production from the genius of Charles Stepney and finally the otherworldly vocals of Minnie Ripperton. I’d always felt like Rotary Connection put out better songs than full length records until I tracked down this concept record, their second release, from 1968. Though the album has a couple of tracks that seem to fit the title, it works better as a critique of mainstream culture in the 1960s.
The best example and best song is “Life Could,” a track I could listen to on repeat all day long. In a nutshell it represents everything that was amazing (or overblown depending on your perspective) about this group, gigantic punchy horns, hard charging drums (and a classic and clean break 3/4 through), bright fuzzy guitars and well matched duet vocals. When the song really gets started it threatens to knock you over with all the elements. Lyrically, the sentiment right now is something that fits me to a T, almost like an anthem (though I’m still not sure I’m hearing the final line of the chorus clearly).
Wake up in the morning
Work 5 days a week
Never had much money or fame
The way it’s gonna be
Just a common person
Do you know my name?
Never be important in life
Always be the same (the same 2x)
{Chorus}
But I don’t need your pity (pity)
And I don’t want your money (money)
Because I’m oh so happy (yeah)
I’ll never have much money or fame
Guess i’ll always be the same
Life’s too short to let it slip by
Never stayin’ low, always flyin’ high
That sentiment continues throughout on “V.I.P.” which considers the dreams “little” people have and on “Let Them Talk” which champions staying true to yourself regardless how others see you and closes with “Paper Castle” which is certainly a critique of 60s America, but works surprisingly well for the 21st century too. Musically what’s especially interesting to me about that last track is how the tempo appears to build and build, when it actually doesn’t, it’s because of the changes in the guitarists playing, from longer sustains to very short and increasingly manic notes as the song moves towards resolution, that produce a tension that makes it seem like the song is going faster than it actually is.
I know most feel like “Hey Love” is the best Rotary Connection record (though really that one is basically Minnie Ripperton’s second solo record) or that the debut had the most impact (especially for Hip-Hop with “Memory Band”) but to my ears this one is the best realized and most consistently original of all their records and the one I continue to enjoy the most.
Cheers,
Michael
Hi Michael,
Always glad to stumble upon anyone who appreciates Rotary Connection. I really like and relate to your appreciation piece on their second album, Aladdin, but I disagree with you regarding your description of "The New Rotary Connection"'s final album "Hey Love." It was FAR from something intended to be Minnie Riperton's second solo album. In fact, she doesn't have one lead vocal on the whole project (though as the "top" voice in the group – as in highest in range – she is easily discernible within among the singers). Producer Charles Stepney pretty much returned the group to an ensemble vocal chorale that leaned more toward gospel and blues than the psychedelic rock of the group's beginnings (when they were often supported by or all out replaced by session musicians).
Hey Scott,
Thanks for the post, I see your points and on a re-listen (I wrote this post more on memory than hard comparison), I see what you mean, but I think to my ears why it seems even more about Minnie's voice is, as you mention, how much her vocal presence overpowers everyone else. Even in the production on Aladdin, on the tracks where she's not the lead, she's further in the background. Her vocals are so pronounced I'd forgotten that someone else sings leads on "Black Gold Of The Sun," they're just that powerful…Minnie wiped out the memory of other singers, a true talent. Glad you dig them and dug the post.