Marshall was the director behind a start-up label, Cadet Concept Records, and wanted to focus on music outside of the blues and rock genres, which had made the Chess label popular. This led Marshall to turn his attention to the burgeoning psychedelic movement. He recruited Charles Stepney, a vibraphonist and classically-trained arranger and producer for sonic wizardry. Marshall then recruited members of a little-known white rock band, The Proper Strangers (Bobby Simms, Mitch Aliotta & Ken Venegas). Sidney Barnes, a songwriter within the Chess organization, also joined, as did Judy Hauff and a Chess receptionist named Minnie Riperton, who would later be successful in her own solo career. Marshall also called up prominent session musicians associated with the Chess label, including guitarist Phil Upchurch and drummer Morris Jennings.
The band released their self-titled debut album in late 1967. It plays like a melange of styles, borrowing heavily from pop, rock, and soul, but in a way that isn't entirely radio-friendly. The album also boasts an Eastern influence through its use of the sitar on Turn Me On and Memory Band. Stepney's arrangements, brought to life by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, imbue the album with a certain dreamlike quality; this would become a trademark of both the arranger and the mouthpiece. The album proved to be a modest success within the Midwest, but failed to make an impact nationally -- this was to be the Rotary's ultimate fate.
The band returned in 1968 with a pair of albums, Aladdin and Peace. The former was the group's proper sophomore effort, and it found Riperton assuming a more prominent vocal role than the "background instrument" status she had on the debut. The latter was a Christmas release, with strong pervasive messages of love and understanding for a nation in the grips of Vietnam. The album's cover art of a hippie Santa Claus more than makes its intentions known. Peace is notable for being involved in controversy: an anti-war cartoon in a December 1968 edition of Billboard magazine featured a graphic image of a bruised and bloodied Santa on a Vietnam battlefield. Mistaking this cartoon for the album's cover art, Montgomery Ward cancelled all shipments of the album.
Rotary Connection would release three more albums: Songs, in 1969, a collection of drastic reworkings of other artist's songs, including Otis Redding's Respect and The Band's The Weight and Cream's Sunshine Of Your Love. Dinner Music followed in 1970, in which they added elements of folk and country into the mix along with some electronic experimentation, and; Hey Love in 1971, where the band, oddly credited as the New Rotary Connection, ended its career with a jazz-oriented affair. From this particular album came the uplifting I am the Black Gold of the Sun, which was famously covered in 1997 by underground dance outfit Nuyorican Soul.
After the break-up of the band, Stepney served as a producer and arranger for other artists, most notably the soul outfit Earth, Wind, & Fire. He died in 1976 of a heart attack. Minnie Riperton enjoyed the fruits of a successful solo career until breast cancer ended her life in 1979. Sidney Barnes continues to work a singer and songwriter, and in recent years has gained a following in the U.K.. The other remaining members of the band either attempted other, lower-profile, musical endeavours or divorced themselves entirely of the business. Thanks to reissues of their catalog in the late 1990s and the appropriation of material through sampling within the hip-hop community, Rotary Connection has been formally introduced to a new generation.
We're Going Wrong
Rotary Connection Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My words may not convey just what I'm feelin'
But I, I hope hope you'll recognize what's right before your eyes
Oh, your heart should realize from where I'm dealin'
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I love you
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I care
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I, I need you
Oh, you may not understand just why I show my hand
The method to my madness you inspire
Perception is the key, it's evident, you see
What this is all about is love entire
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I love you
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I care
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I, I need you
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I care
And all I know is true
Is this love I have for you
And all I know is true is
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I love you
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I care
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I, I need you
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I care
And all I know is true
Is this love I have for you
And all I know is true
Is this love I have for you
And all I know is true is
Baby I'm tryin' to show you that I love you
(Baby, baby)
Baby I'm tryin' to show you that I care
(Baby, baby)
Baby, baby
Baby, baby
Baby, baby
...
The lyrics to Rotary Connection's We're Going Wrong express the difficulty of communicating love and feelings through words. The singer admits that sometimes what they say may not be enough to convey their true emotions, but they hope the listener can recognize their love and care for them. Despite the confusion, the singer reminds the listener that love is what this is all about, and it should be evident through their actions.
The overall theme of the song is the importance of nonverbal communication in expressing love and care for someone. While words are important, actions speak louder than words, and it can be challenging to express complex emotions through words alone. The singer tries to show their love and care through their actions, hoping that the listener will understand and recognize the underlying emotions behind their behavior.
Overall, We're Going Wrong is a heartfelt song about the difficulty of expressing love through words alone. It reminds us that communication is not always easy, but it is crucial in any relationship, especially when it comes to expressing love and care.
Line by Line Meaning
Things I say and do may not come clear through
I may not be able to clearly express my feelings through my words and actions
My words may not convey just what I'm feelin'
The words I use may not show my true emotions
But I, I hope hope you'll recognize what's right before your eyes
However, I hope you will see and understand what I truly mean
Oh, your heart should realize from where I'm dealin'
Your heart should be able to understand where I am coming from
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I love you
I am attempting to convey my love for you
Baby, I'm tryin' to show you that I care
I am trying to show that I care for you
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I, I need you
I am attempting to express that I need you
Baby, I'm tryin' to tell you that I care
I am trying to tell you that I care
Oh, you may not understand just why I show my hand
You may not comprehend why I am making myself vulnerable
The method to my madness you inspire
You are the reason behind my seemingly crazy actions
Perception is the key, it's evident, you see
The key to understanding me is through perception
What this is all about is love entire
This is all about the completeness of my love
And all I know is true
All I know is that
Is this love I have for you
This is the love I have for you
Baby, baby
Endearment towards the person being addressed
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK BRUCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind