Charles Stepney Eternal Journey - The Arrangements And Productions Of Charles StepneyVarious Artists

• Charles Stepney – Ramsey Lewis - Dear Prudence
• Charles Stepney – Minnie Riperton - Les Fleur
• Charles Stepney – The Dells - It's All Up To You
• Charles Stepney – Billy Stewart - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
• Charles Stepney – Meditation Singers - Stand Up And Be Counted
• Charles Stepney – The New Rotary Connection - Love Has Fallen On Me
• Charles Stepney – Terry Callier - What Color Is Love
• Charles Stepney – Marlena Shaw - Brother Where Are You
• Charles Stepney – Little Milton - More And More
• Charles Stepney – Ramsey Lewis - Eternal Journey
• Charles Stepney – Marlena Shaw - California Soul
• Charles Stepney – Terry Callier - Can't Catch The Trane
• Charles Stepney – The Dells - The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)
• Charles Stepney – Rotary Connection - Teach Me How To Fly
• Charles Stepney – Phil Upchurch - More And More
• Charles Stepney – Bo Diddley - I'm High Again
• Charles Stepney – Muddy Waters - Let's Spend The Night Together
• Charles Stepney – Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning (1969 version)
• Charles Stepney – Junior Wells - Girl You Lit My Fire
• Charles Stepney – Buddy Guy - I'm Gonna Keep It To Myself

• 1. Ramsey Lewis - Dear Prudence
• 2. Minnie Riperton - Les Fleur
• 3. The Dells - It's All Up To You
• 4. Billy Stewart - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
• 5. Meditation Singers - Stand Up And Be Counted
• 6. The New Rotary Connection - Love Has Fallen On Me
• 7. Terry Callier - What Color Is Love
• 8. Marlena Shaw - Brother Where Are You
• 9. Little Milton - More And More
• 10. Ramsey Lewis - Eternal Journey
• 11. Marlena Shaw - California Soul
• 12. Terry Callier - Can't Catch The Trane
• 13. The Dells - The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)
• 14. Rotary Connection - Teach Me How To Fly
• 15. Phil Upchurch - More And More
• 16. Bo Diddley - I'm High Again
• 17. Muddy Waters - Let's Spend The Night Together
• 18. Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning (1969 version)
• 19. Junior Wells - Girl You Lit My Fire
• 20. Buddy Guy - I'm Gonna Keep It To Myself

Charles Stepney gained worldwide success as the producer for Earth Wind & Fire and Deniece Williams but the producer and arranger’s earlier work at Chess is now regarded as some of the most original ever laid to tape, and in the past 20 years has become a primary influence on scores of producers and arrangers, with his records being sought after by DJs and collectors. Despite a couple of attempts, his most important work has never been compiled on one volume until now. This compilation gathers up his most famous productions for the likes of Rotary Connection - and their singer Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, Terry Callier, Marlena Shaw and the Dells.

An influence on everyone from Masters At Work to Radiohead, Charles Stepney’s production for the Chess labels captured the spirit of the era by mixing soul, jazz, electronics, composed music and a touch of psychedelia, all arranged brilliantly and produced to an incredibly high standard. Shockingly there has never been a compilation dedicated to this area of his work, something that we are rectifying with “Eternal Journey”.

Stepney was a jobbing arranger when Marshall Chess recruited him to co-produce his new project Rotary Connection, which allowed him to realise his symphonic productions. With the success of their debut album, Stepney was recruited to work on many of the labels most important artists including Ramsey Lewis, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and The Dells. He also took on his own projects working with Phil Upchurch, Terry Callier and others.

Beautifully remastered and housed in a sleeve based on a 1960s Rotary Connection Billboard Magazine advert, this is 16 tracks of Chicago brilliance. Compilation producer Dean Rudland has told the story of Stepney's emergence through his most dazzling work and also their building blocks in the day to day arrangements from R&B and soul stars such as Little Milton and Buddy Guy. His in depth sleeve note includes interview with many of those who worked with Stepney including the author's conversations with both Terry Callier and Marshall Chess.