Rotary Connection’s Aladdin, released in 1968 lay unlistened to in my music library for several years. I can’t actually remember ever listening to it before and I believe that I had actually deleted it in one of the pre-music project tidyups.
But wow. What a first listen I had.
It’s kind of like a concept album but, I don’t think it is intentionally. The songs are like they have been ripped from a Broadway show like Hair or straight from a long forgotten film akin to Barbarella – only Aladdin.
Aladdin is the band’s second album, the first being the eponymous Rotary Connection – they only released 6 albums in their time. Hailing from Chicago the band blends rock, pop and soul with a psychedelic feel. I’m fairly certain any contemporary TV show or film trying to set a 1960’s scene with music would use a bit of Rotary Connection.
The band has echoes of This Mortal Coil in that the band was formed by a label, Chess Records, to showcase talent. Only this time the musicians Bobby Simms, Mitch Aliotta and Ken Venegas were recruited from little known band Proper Strangers, seasoned with session musicians, Judy Hauff and the then receptionist Minnie Ripperton – whom you might know as the mother of US SNL’s Maya Rudolph.
These guys captured the sound of an era and I don’t think they get enough recognition. And that’s just from a few listens to this album…
Aladdin – Album by Rotary Connection – Apple Music
Stegzy's Music Project 