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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.
Tracklist
2LP
SIDE ONE
1. DEAR PRUDENCE - RAMSEY LEWIS
2. LES FLEUR - MINNIE RIPERTON
3. IT'S ALL UP TO YOU - THE DELLS
4. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - BILLY STEWART
5. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED - MEDITATION SINGERS
SIDE TWO
1. LOVE HAS FALLEN ON ME - THE NEW ROTARY CONNECTION
2. WHAT COLOR IS LOVE - TERRY CALLIER
3. BROTHER WHERE ARE YOU - MARLENA SHAW
4. MORE AND MORE - LITTLE MILTON
5. ETERNAL JOURNEY - RAMSEY LEWIS
SIDE THREE
1. CALIFORNIA SOUL - MARLENA SHAW
2. CAN'T CATCH THE TRANE - TERRY CALLIER
3. THE LOVE WE HAD (STAYS ON MY MIND) - THE DELLS
4. TEACH ME HOW TO FLY - ROTARY CONNECTION
5. MORE AND MORE - PHIL UPCHURCH
SIDE FOUR
1. I'M HIGH AGAIN - BO DIDDLEY
2. LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER - MUDDY WATERS
3. SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING (1969 version) - HOWLIN' WOLF
4. GIRL YOU LIT MY FIRE - JUNIOR WELLS
5. I'M GONNA KEEP IT TO MYSELF - BUDDY GUY
CD
1. DEAR PRUDENCE - RAMSEY LEWIS
2. LES FLEUR - MINNIE RIPERTON
3. IT'S ALL UP TO YOU - THE DELLS
4. BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - BILLY STEWART
5. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED - MEDITATION SINGERS
6. LOVE HAS FALLEN ON ME - THE NEW ROTARY CONNECTION
7. WHAT COLOR IS LOVE - TERRY CALLIER
8. BROTHER WHERE ARE YOU - MARLENA SHAW
9. MORE AND MORE - LITTLE MILTON
10. ETERNAL JOURNEY - RAMSEY LEWIS
11. CALIFORNIA SOUL - MARLENA SHAW
12. CAN'T CATCH THE TRANE - TERRY CALLIER
13. THE LOVE WE HAD (STAYS ON MY MIND) - THE DELLS
14. TEACH ME HOW TO FLY - ROTARY CONNECTION
15. MORE AND MORE - PHIL UPCHURCH
16. I'M HIGH AGAIN - BO DIDDLEY
17. LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER - MUDDY WATERS
18. SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING (1969 version) - HOWLIN' WOLF
19. GIRL YOU LIT MY FIRE - JUNIOR WELLS
20. I'M GONNA KEEP IT TO MYSELF - BUDDY GUY