Search - Minnie Riperton :: Her Chess Years (50th Anniversary Collection)

Excellent Retrospective of 60's Music

J. M. Zuurbier | Canada | 06/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Minnie Riperton has one of the most beautiful voices in my opinion, and this CD is a must have if you like her music. This album pays close attention to her 60's work, under the name of Andrea Davis (Lonely Girl), When she was with the Gems (All of It and Happy New Love), which remind me of the 60's groups such as the Ronettes, the Shirelles, and the Marvelettes. The remaining tracks come from when she was with the group Rotary Connection. Under Rotary Connection there is some truly great music. Starting with a fine and original cover of Respect, the R&B classic. They also did a cover of Tales of Brave Ulysses, which is originally by Cream, and The Burning of the Midnight Lamp, which was originally by Jimi Hendrix. They were comfortable doing any kind of music. Other highlights include If I Sing My Song, A-Muse, Living Alone, They Call It Stormy Monday, We're Going Wrong, and many more. Overall if you enjoy Minnie's work, give this a try to see where it all started."

A 1960's Time Capsule of Popular Music

Ibochild | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Because of the broad range of material on this CD, it serves as not only a representation of Minnie Riperton's early vocal work, but also as a time capsule of 1960's popular music. In other words, this CD is not just for diehard Minnie Riperton fans. The CD starts off with Minnie singing lead as a member of the Gems. It follows with "Lonely Girl," which Minnie recorded under the pseudonym "Andrea Davis." It was her first single as a solo artist and was a local Chicago-area hit featuring Minnie's signature high notes. That is followed by another Gems recording. The Gems are in the classic tradition of early 1960's girl groups such as the Ronettes, the Shirelles, and the Marvelettes. The remaining tracks on the CD feature Minnie as a member of the group, Rotary Connection. All of their tracks were produced and arranged by Charles Stepney, perhaps best known for his association with Earth, Wind & Fire. Although categorized as a rock band, Rotary Connection dabbled into many musical forms. Their fine covers of "Tales of Brave Ulysses" (Cream) and "The Burning of the Midnight Lamp" (Jimi Hendrix) would certainly be categorized as rock, but they were also quite at home with other forms of music. Minnie and co-lead vocalist Sidney Barnes team up to do a very distinctive version of the R&B classic, "Respect." Also catch their call-and-response vocals on their rendition of T-Bone Walker's blues classic, "They Call It Stormy Monday." "Christmas Love" and their version of the Christmas standard "Silent Night," will put you in the holiday spirit even in the middle of summer. When Minnie calls out, "Don't forget Chicago" toward the end of "Christmas Love," you can't help but be moved whether or not you're a native of the "Windy City." Also included on the CD is "Want You to Know," their only song to make the Hot 100, which slowly builds to a rousing climax. "If I Sing My Song," closes the CD and is in the vein of Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, which demonstrates yet another side of Rotary Connection. Minnie Riperton fan or not, this CD will surely take you on a musical adventure."

Minnie's voice soars on her Chess years cd.

Letita Aaron (jnewh2@aol.com) | Memphis, TN | 03/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No where else can you hear the development of Minnie Riperton's three and a half octave range and style than on this cd. It chronicles her music during the 'girl group doo-wop' era and her brief journey into pyshchdelic rock. Songs like "Magical World" and "Lonely Girl" show how Minnie can change moods like the sky and along with "Come To My Garden" (another Chess record) are the only surviving examples of where Minnie was musically long before the days of "Lovin You". Thanks really goes to Richard Rudolph and her family and especially true music lovers for helping to keep this beautiful lady's legacy alive."