• Rotary Connection – I Am The Blackgold Of The Sun
    • 1. If I Sing My Song
    • 2. The Sea & She
    • 3. I Am The Blackgold Of The Sun
    • 4. Hanging Around The Bee Tree
    • 5. Hey, Love
    • 6. Love Has Fallen On Me
    • 7. Song For Every Man
    • 8. Love Is
    • 9. Vine Of Happiness


    Essential psychedelic soul/rock Rotary Connection album featuring the legendary "I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun", "Love Has Fallen On Me" and more! A Charles Stepney-produced masterpiece! Can't recommend this enough!

    NOTES:

    When Marshall Chess decided to combine a rock group with some of the best voices he could get his hands on he invented a stream of psychedelic rock that was quite different from the one that emerged in Detroit with the help of George Clinton and Norman Whitfield.
    Partly this was Marshall’s hippy sensibility, but it was one that fused perfectly with vocalist Minnie Riperton’s own word-view and the musical genius – “no other word for it”: Marshall Chess − of Charles Stepney.

    Working across a cleverly arranged mix of originals and cover versions, the recordings featured some of the finest musicians that you could find in Chicago including drummer Morris Jennings, bass players Louis Satterfield and Phil Upchurch, and revolutionary guitarist Pete Cosey, who would later join Miles Davis’ group. Cosey’s guitar playing on their fourth album “Songs”, released in 1969, is incendiary and unparalleled. The vocals were arranged as a perfect choir with a series of leads most notably Minnie, Sidney Barnes and Mitch Aliota.

    When Chess left the company and Barnes the group it looked as if the writing was on the wall for Rotary Connection, but Charles Stepney wanted one more go. The New Rotary Connection came together with a refreshed vocal line up featuring Minnie, Kitty Haywood and Shirley Wahls and songs by Stepney, Minnie’s husband Richard Rudolph and Terry Callier.


    “Hey Love” was the album that appeared and it is a gem, that features the astounding ‘I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun’ - later a UK hit in 1997 for Nuyorican Soul, ‘Love Has Fallen On Me’ - later recorded as a tribute to Stepney by Chaka Khan, the beautiful title track and Callier’s stunning ’Song For Everyman’.

    People also bought

    Carlos GarnettJourney To Enlightenment (1974)Muse
    'Journey To Enlightenment' is Carlos Garnett's second album and was released in 1974 on Muse. The opening and title track is a true gem as it delves...
    • – Journey To Enlightenment
    • – Love Flower
    • – Chana
    • – Caribbean Sun
    • – Let Us Go (To Higher Heights)
    King CurtisPlays The Great Memphis HitsATCO Records
    Legendary sax man does Memphis
    • – Hold On, I'm Comin'
    • – Green Onions
    Faze-ORiding High (1977)She
    Includes the all-time killer rare-groove classic "Riding High"!
    • – Riding High
    • Original LP£45.00
      Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VG+Original Pre-Owned Out-of-Print USA Vinyl in original shrink, cutout hole
    The Fifth DimensionLove's Lines, Angles And Rhymes (1971)Bell Records
      • Original LP BELL 6060£10.00
        Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VG+Original Pre-Owned Out-of-Print USA Vinyl
      Lonnie Liston SmithAstral Travelling (1973)Flying Dutchman
      Classic album of deep, deep, funky jazz......Includes 'Astral Travelling', as covered by Pharoah Sanders. Heavyweight line-up including Cecil McBee on...
        Chicago GangstersGangster LoveAmherst Records
        The Chicago Gangsters, a family-led group originally from Akron, Ohio, span multiple genres from gritty funk to smooth soul. Despite that name, their work...
          Carlos GarnettBlack LoveMuse Records
          Killer album!!! "Mother of the Future" and loads more intense jazz dance classics! Deep, fiery music! Essential!
            The Mystic Revelation Of RastafariGrounation (Soul Jazz Records)Soul Jazz Records
            "One of the greatest albums of all time just got better. Do not miss." Quietus ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Definitive...
            • – Bongo Man
            • – Narration
            • – Narration (Continued)
            • – Mabrat
            • – Poem 1
            • – Four Hundred Years
            • – Poem 2
            • – Song
            • – Lumba
            • – Way Back Home
            • – Ethiopian Serenade
            • – Oh Carolina
            • – So Long
            • – Grounation
            • – Grounation (Continued)
            • – Blacker Black
            • – Grounation (7 inch edit)
            • Very Ltd-Edition 3×LP Box Set + extra 7" + 16pg magazine + Art Print + Interview insert + Download SJR495£60.00
              In stockAdd to Bag
            • 3×LP + 3x Inner Sleeves + Interview insert + Download Code SJRLP488£35.00
              In stockAdd to Bag
            • 2×CD Deluxe w/40 page outsize booklet + double-backed slipcase SJRCD488£12.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            • MP3 Release SJRD488£9.99
              In stockAdd to Bag
            The DisciplesFor Those Who UnderstandPartial Records
            For Those Who Understand is a collection of raw dubs as played on the Boom Shacka Lacka Sound System between 1991 and 1995. Eight of the best have been...
            • – Prowling Lion (Ext. Mix)
            • – Chetswayo
            • – Kali
            • – Abyssinia
            • – Upliftment
            • – D.P. Special
            • – Guidance Style
            • – Humble Lion (Ital Vibes)
            Lou DonaldsonEverything I Play Is Funky (1970)Blue Note
            Blue Note take a leaf out of their rivals at Prestige for an all-star soul jazz line-up. Blue Mitchell, Idris Muhammad, Melvin Sparks, Charles Earland,...
              Harold ButlerGold ConnectionMusic On Vinyl
              Few Jamaican music makers have demonstrated greater versatility or proficiency than Lloyd Charmers, who first made his name on the Jamaican music scene...
                • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) MOVLP3900C£29.99
                  Orange coloured vinyl.
                  Expected 18 JulPreorder
                Dollar BrandBlack Lightning (1976)Chiaroscuro Records
                Fantastic Dollar Brand on Chiascuro 1976. Really, really deep and groovy.
                  Sun RaThe Solar-Myth Approach Volume 1BYG
                  40th volume in the BYG Actuel series. A wild and passionate interstellar mix of free jazz, solo synthesizer and hard rocking cosmic philosophy specifically...
                    • Reissue LP BYG529340£26.00
                      Expected 28 JulPreorder
                    James BrownGet On The Good FootPolydor
                    Monster double-album from the Godfather of Soul!
                      The J.B.'sFood For Thought (1972)People
                      Probably the best J.B's album in the world ! Full of great tracks.Every track on this album is a funk classic - 'Pass the Peas', 'Gimme Some More' 'Hot...
                        Spiritual SoulNumero
                        The next destination on the Eccentric Soul journey, Eccentric Spiritual Soul is a rare groove with a transcendent, introspective f lair. Laced with lush...
                        • – Spunk - La Bimini
                        • – Kalima - (Where Is The) Sunshine Pt. I
                        • – Calvin Keys - You Are All I Need
                        • – Lenny White - Sweet Dreamer
                        • – Steve Parks - Still Thinking Of You (Instrumental)
                        • – Steve Harvey - Island In The Sky
                        • – Father’s Children - Linda Movement
                        • – The Chronicle Church - Mystery
                        • – 24 Carat Black, LaRhonda LeGette - Speak Low
                        • – General Lee & Lost Weekend - Little Black Child
                        • LP NUM524LP£27.99
                          Expected 05 SepPreorder
                        • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) NUM524LPC2£29.99
                          Expected 05 SepPreorder
                        Lee DorseyYes We Can (1970)Polydor
                        Oh man - one of the funkiest New Orleans sets ever from Lee Dorsey 1970 with on-fire tough, tough tunes throughout from The Meters who supply the backing....
                        • – Yes We Can - Part I
                        • – Who's Gonna' Help Brother Get Further
                        Lady Blackbird vs Crooked ManCrooked Spirituals (SOTU UPFRONT EXCLUSIVE)Foundation
                        This release is a promotional copy - possibly a contradiction in terms but it is very limited to 500 vinyls. Some of which will be mailed to DJ’s and...
                          Norman ConnorsSlewfoot (1974)Buddah Records
                          Almighty mother of all fusion lps - includes the killer 'Mother of the Future".
                          • – Mother Of The Future
                          • Original LP£40.00
                            Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VG+Secondhand Orig USA vinyl small cutout
                          MatumbiMusic In The Air / Guide UsMatumbi Music Corp
                          Superb U.K. roots discomix 12" originally released in 1977 on their own Matumbi Music Corp label produced by Dennis Bovell.
                          • – Music In The Air
                          • – Guide Us
                          Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones)"It's Nation Time" African Visionary MusicMotown
                          Very rare album originally released on the Motown 'Black Power' label 'Black Forum' - probably the labels most radical album ever pre-dating Gil Scott...
                          • – Chant
                          • – Answers
                          • – All In The Street
                          • – Come See About Me
                          • – Peace In Place
                          • – Wha's Gonna Happen
                          • – Who Will Survive
                          • – It's Nation Time
                          • – Pull The Covers Off
                          • – Pamoja Tutashinde
                          Creation RebelIndependent Man [RSD25]Lantern Records
                          First ever vinyl re-issue of this 1982 Creation Rebel 10" produced by Adrian Sherwood in 1982 and released on the On-U Sound label. All remastered tracks…last...
                          • – Independent Man Pt. 1
                          • – Independent Man Pt. 2
                          Andy BeyExperience And JudgementReal Gone Music
                          Classic album of wicked funky deep jazz vocals! Includes the AWESOME 'Celestial Blues' Andy Bey is well known through his association with saxophonist...
                          • – Celestial Blues
                          • New LP (Coloured Vinyl) RLGM14031PMI£34.00
                            Limited 'sea' blue coloured vinyl edition
                          Ahmad JamalMinor Moods (1967)Cadet
                          Minor Moods is a heavy tune - hypnotic vocal choir. Modal madness! D-E-E-E-P ORIGINAL CHESS/CADET 45
                          • – Minor Moods
                          • Original 7" S-5581£15.00
                            Vinyl condition: VG+Sleeve condition: VG+Unplayed original USA 45