One thing that really made Minnie Riperton stand out is that she never strained to hit those high notes like some other artists tend to do. So sad that her life was cut short at 31yrs of age.
I really dig their whole psychedelic type vibes n Minnie is so chill hitting them notes so effortlessly. Their debut album is a gem n one of my most favorites...
The simplicity of it all. Just a big ol afro, no fancy makeup, some killer vocals n great arrangements from an amazing band. That's all Minnie needed to make this performance seem effortless.
The MOMENT I first heard RC debut LP on a turntable in 1967 I was BLOWN AWAY. You all captured the 60's like no other group. Mr Barnes? May God richly bless you Sir. My only regret was never getting to see them live
I saw Rotary Connecting while a freshman in college. They opened for Iron Butterfly at John Carroll University in the fall of 1969. I honestly don't remember much of their music but was impressed by Minnie Riperton. Could never figure out how such a tiny lady could have such a powerful voice. Great memories....
@@ericwilson5177 i get overwhelmed thinking about how much more great music we would have had, had he lived longer...he was going to produce a Michael Jackson/The Jacksons lp, after EW&Fs "Spirit" lp...also cant help but think how much more amazing and prolific EW&F, The Emotions, and Deniece Williams would have been if the great Mr. Stepney didnt pass so young😥
@@RJNumber45 That makes me think. Maurice White was tapped to produce what would become _Off The Wall_ before Quincy ultimately did. If that had happened and Step had survived, no doubt he would've been involved. Michael's career probably would've taken a different trajectory. We'll never know. Fun to imagine though.
Rotary Connection, one of pioneering bands of 60’s, should be in R&R HOF, Songs, Caravan, 1st 3 or 4 albums, brilliant, then thx 2 Charles Stepney integrated jazz influence, Minnie, solo, “Come To My Garden”, what music!
Beautiful Minnie Riperton here with her early psych group "ROTARY CONNECTION". Beautiful voice. Awesome diversity among the members of the band! Totally the way it should always be. Acceptance and love!
Was blessed to be able to see the original line-up in person at a local high school (Mendel) in 1968. Bass player was Mitch Aliotta who had a hit with 2 other guys called Lake Shore Drive. Minnie Riperton's daughter is Maya Rudolph. The other female voice, Judy Hauff is missing from this video.
Dude, just found your mix. It is like you went back to 1969 and picked my brain. What great songs. Saw RC at West Palm Beach in 11/69. This is one great mix. Hope people listen to this cause you got it going on. Thanks.
I am the black gold of the sun and inside me are two amazing songs from both these artists. Minnie could have sang that startrek theme tune with her voice.
wow .. wow .. wow.. been waiting years to see footage of this band, I was born in 69.. have all their LPs and I am a big fan of them, Minnie and Charles Stephney's production.. I wish new bands would take a leaf out of thier book
Like others, I have always wanted to see footage of this group. A friend turned me onto this group in my adult life, but in reality, WDAS in Philly, used to play "Peace At Least" every holiday season, but I just never knew who sang it for years. Thanks for sharing this video, and YES, MInnie is right phyne in this video.
Never heard of this band before seeing their named mentioned on a Facebook post. Had no idea Minnie Riperton was in it, only remember her name from a disco hit she had in the later half of the '70s. Good band. Reminds me a little of Renaissance.
Hi Sidney, I was fortunate enough to see you guys in concert twice; once at Queen’s Guild Hall on Western Ave, and another time at Loyola auditorium up North. I went to another concert on the South Side, but it was cancelled because they said you had all come down with strep throats. I was amazed that the Rotary Connection sounded as good live as you did on your albums. Thanks for some great memories. As far as I am concerned, you guys were the sound of Chicago.
This video has made my day. This day started out very depressing, but thanks to you posting this video, I am a happy camper. I love Minnie Riperton and I love the Rotary Connection. I never seen a live video of the group ever in my life and I'm in Awe. Thank You. I am now a Subsriber to you Channel. Thanks A Million...
The hell? I must have been sleeping on this...how did I never seen this??? I love Minnie and I love hippy culture, first time I seen this...perhaps my love for 'Hair' has been replaced
mayena : Awe,Minnie Riperton and Mitch ....great musicians and nice people, in Chicago. No, that's Mitch and not her "old man."just a a great guy with a wild sense of humor.
Does anybody remember the Kinetic Playground? I saw the Rotary Connection there in 1969 I think. If I remember correctly the Moody Blues were also there that night. I swear to God! I was there! I remember!
she was pretty as hell. I love the way sisters looked in those days. no weaves, make up, tats everywhere, fake injections. now they look like grafted devils.
You neglected to mention Botox. Every woman over 40 I see on TV is Botox'd to the max. A recent photo of Uma Thurman looked like her forehead was made of Kevlar®.
I believe the host is Jerry G. Bishop, aka the original Svengoolie who just passed last week. He was a DJ on Chicago's WCFL at the time. Please correct me if my memory is faulty.
Some commenters here don't seem to realize that both the host and Minnie were putting each other on a bit, standard for that time. He wasn't being rude and Minnie wasn't stoned out of her mind.
They lip synched to Lady Jane from the debut for some reason. The dominant lead vocal heard is the by then Judy Hauff. Def can hear Minnie, and that is no one else but but her trilling over the top of everything. She isn't especially heard on The Weight, either! But that's some fine stuff.
Jeez.. what a horrid "host" treating Minnie like she's stupid (?) I suppose I could laugh but here we are, what, approx 55 years later and this is still the mind set of so many. Minute Ripperton is a legend and like most, that guy was surely intimidated by her and the brilliance of The Rotary Connection.
Was that Minnie's husband the guitarist who replied to the host If you called me pretty you will be in trouble'?. He was very defensive he didn't understood the humor.
Also he said "if you thought I was pretty, you might be in trouble." As to say that he might want to get his eyes checked out because he is not a pretty man. He was being funny back
Thanks Sidney!! Was Minnie really singing in the beginning. When I actually hear her, the camera is not on her. Was this because she was female and black? Just curious.
I don't think she was able to get out her answer with the emcee interrupting her. Then he interrupted her again as she began to answer his question about what songs were on the album . . . or, "ablum" as he calls it. Great singer, poor interview.
On the album they kind of look like a rotary dial on a old phone. They way their picture forms in the top left hand corner. So maybe it had something to do with them connecting to make music and sounds. The host was rude, so we will never know.
I'm seeing the host differently from everybody else, I guess. I don't see him as rude, but just corny. The jokes don't work, but his biggest problem is that Minnie is either super shy, or stoned out of her mind. It is apparent to the host immediately that she cannot answer the simplest of questions, so he has to make it work somehow to avoid complete dead air. Cool song, though.
He kinda reminds me of Dick Clark style, I never cared for his style either, he spoke to you like you were stupid or something, it's just their style that's all but hey it worked for Dick but just wasn't my type of hosting like Do you know what that is while holding the album, yes duh it's a freaking album, my album then before she can even read the damn title songs he's over here telling her the songs are written right here like she doesn't know duh, something Dick would do. Don C from Soul Train was cool, Ed Sullivan was cool, those host I liked, not those two characters I mentioned.
What are you talking about ?! BS comment ! You are delusional. She was just doing all kind of good music cause she could, she had the talent for that, and if you have a problem with that, that's YOUR problem hater !
