New Rotary Connection: Hey Love [BGP]

Why you'll love it

This BGP reissue was pressed in the EU. AllMusic's Andy Kellman rates it among the group's best records and calls "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun" the brightest moment in their catalogue.

This edition

• Pressed in the EU
• Stereo mix

About the album

Rotary Connection made orchestral psychedelic soul for Cadet Records, and by 1971, billed here as the New Rotary Connection, they had it down to a fine art. The secret weapon, as ever, was Charles Stepney, who played piano, harpsichord and organ and wrote the horn and vocal arrangements.

Minnie Riperton's soprano soars over everything, alongside Kitty Haywood, Shirley Wahls and Dave Scott, with Phil Upchurch on guitar. Stepney and Richard Rudolph wrote most of it; "I Sing My Song" opens in a gentle haze, "Hanging Round the Bee Tree" floats, the title song glows, and "Love Has Fallen on Me" is pure warmth.

Billboard called them a sweeping soul combo at the time, and The Rough Guide to the Best Music You've Never Heard credits "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun" with reviving their career. Stepney plays three different keyboards on it, presumably not all at once, though we wouldn't bet against him.

Also at Kops: more Rotary Connection on vinyl · browse Classic Soul

Tracklist

Listen

On Cadet / BGP (cat# HIQLP156), a reissue of the 1971 album.