Excerpted from Cooler Than Ice: Arctic Records and the Rise of Philly Soul
The Rotations provided two of Arctic’s subsidiary Frantic's three singles. The group was apparently known as the Inspirations until shortly before this release hit the record racks. Both names are on the tape box. Since Weldon A. McDougal III brought a group in from Lawnside, New Jersey by the name of the Inspirations to sing behind Barbara Mason in the studio, we can conclude that the two groups were one and the same. Ms Mason is replaced by the male lead fronting “(Put A Dime On) D-9” passionately. Barbara Mason had a go at the same melody with “Bobby, Is My Baby,” which shares the same melody and arrangement, indeed the same track, as “(Put A Dime On) D-9.” Barbara Mason’s session reel is the same as “D-9”’s but but “Bobby, Is My Baby,” came out considerably later. Talk about doing things Motown-style!
Penned by Jimmy Bishop and Kenny Gamble and listed as a Dynodynamic Production, it’s a driving dance floor special, the lead singer virtually demanding that someone drop a dime in the jukebox to play his favorite song while the ladies egg him on with their churchy harmonies. The vibes (ostensibly Vince Montana) and baritone sax give the entire production a Motown feel. The instrumental backing track B-side, waggishly titled “(Put A Nickel On) D-9,” stands on its own.
The Rotations once again give fine account of themselves on “A Changed Man.” Constructed over a hard-charging beat, it opens with the group’s dominant female contingent emoting harmonically over gospel-rooted piano before the lead gent steps up to make his impassioned presence felt.
On the moving ballad “Heartaches,” the churchy piano and melismatic ladies urge the lone male front man onward once again.
Frantic didn’t last long, but as an addendum to Arctic’s expansive catalog, these three singles are a revelatory addendum to the parent label’s output.
