Benny Jay: Fulfillingness’ First Finale

September 20th, 2009

You’d never think that Stevie Wonder’s “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” was one of those records that makes me feel all zesty inside, cause the first time I heard it I was going through a miserable phase of existence.

I was a 19-year-old college sophomore, living in the freezing, god-forsaken tundra of northern Wisconsin, walking around with my head down feeling stupid and lost.

I was smoking too much weed, eating too much pizza and surrounded by too many white boys whose idea of great music was King Crimson. Say no more.

To keep my sanity, I listened to Stevie Wonder’s album — over and over and over again. “It Ain’t No Use,” “Please Don’t Go,” “Bird of Beauty,” “You Haven’t Done Nothing” — those songs were saviors.

Some of my classmates teased me about that record. This one dude down the hall sneered that Stevie Wonder’s lyrics were sophomoric. That was his word — thought he was really smart cause he used it. I asked him what he liked so much. And he told me Mott the Hoople. I’ve had a grudge against that band ever since.

The good news is that I grew out of that self-conscious phase, but I never stopped loving Fulfillingness. I wore out my record and bought it on CD. One day not too long ago I was reading the liner notes and saw that Minnie Riperton sings back up on “It Ain’t No Use.”

I got all excited cause I love Minnie Riperton. Way back when, I had a crush on her. I thought she was the world’s most beautiful woman. Whenever the radio played, “Lovin’ You,” I’d turn it up. I particularly loved the part at the end where she starts chirping like a bird. In fact, I still make chirping sound whenever I hear that song.

Anyway, I put on “It Ain’t No Use.” And, yes, there she is. Minnie Riperton. Singing back up. In the part where the chorus goes: “Bye, bye, bye, bye.” My favorite part of the song.

In 1979, Minnie Riperton died of breast cancer. She was so young — thirty-something years old — and so talented. I wish I’d known her. But, of course, I never will.

So Minnie Riperton’s just one more reason — as if I need any others — to love Fulfillingness’ First Finale.

But, wait, there’s more. Years pass. I get married. Have kids. They grow up. We’re watching “Saturday Night Live,” and we discover Maya Rudoph, this light-skinned comic who does hilarious imitations of everyone from Oprah to Barbra Streisand. We love her, especially my kids. If I’m watching alone and she comes on, I yell up the stairs: “Hurry up — Maya Rudolph.” And my kids will come running down to watch. Over time, Maya Rudolph comes to symbolize the sound of my daughters laughing, one of the greatest sounds in the world.

Fast forward to early August — we drive up to Michigan to watch my cousin, Josh, in a play. And afterward we’re sitting around in a restaurant eating barbecue chicken — God, I love chicken. And Robert, Josh’s father, who’s knows absolutely everything about everything, asks if we have seen the movie, “Away We Go.”

No.

Robert says you gotta see it. Maya Rudolph’s great. She plays this girl — half-white/half-black — whose mother dies. Which is just like in real life cause Maya’s mother’s Minnie Riperton….

Hold it — Minnie Riperton’s Maya Rudolph’s mother?

You didn’t know that?

I thought I did but I wasn’t sure….

When I get home, I look it up on the computer and, sure enough, Robert’s right (and why, prey tell, do I ever doubt him?): Minnie Riperton is Maya Rudolph’s mother. In fact, Minnie is saying her name — Maya — as “Loving You” fades out. At least, that’s what the article says.

Maya was seven-years-old when her mother died.

Following my cousin’s advice, my younger daughter and I see “Away We Go” at the 400 Theater over on Sheridan Road in Rogers Park. We see it the last day it’s playing, and there’s only two people in the theater — me and my daughter. Reminds me of the time I saw “Dirty Harry” back in 1972. But, I’ll save that for another day.

Anway, we love it. Once again, cousin Robert’s right — great flick….

Well, fast forward one more time — we’re driving across the state of Indiana. And I put on “Fulfillingness’ First Finale.” And on comes the greatest song of all — “It Ain’t No Use.” And I’m going — that’s Maya Rudolph’s mother singing backup! And the kids are saying, shh — turn it up! Cause there are some songs that are so good you just have to hear them loud. So I crank up the car stereo and soon we’re all singing along — me, my wife and our kids. Singing it loud. Joining in the chorus for those bye, bye — bye, bye byes….

What a great song!

I’m imagining what it was like in that studio the day Stevie Wonder recorded it. I wish I was there. Singing back up with the great Minnie Riperton. Alive forever on a song.