''I Am What I Am'' is the second album by English singer Ruth Copeland. The album was released by

Invictus Records Invictus Records was an American record label based in Detroit, Michigan. It was created by former top Motown producers Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, Jr. (known collectively as Holland–Dozier–Holland). It was the sister l ...

in 1971 and was produced and arranged by Ruth Copeland, though it is widely believed that the actual producer of the album was her then husband Jeffrey Bowen. As with her debut, ''

Self Portrait A self-portrait is a representation of an artist that is drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by that artist. Although self-portraits have been made since the earliest times, it is not until the Early Renaissance in the mid-15th century tha ...

'', ''I Am What I Am'' contains contributions from George Clinton and the musicians from

Parliament-Funkadelic Parliament-Funkadelic (abbreviated as P-Funk) is an American music collective of rotating musicians headed by George Clinton, primarily consisting of the funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, both active since the 1960s. Their distinctive ...

, as well as local Detroit session players such as guitarist Ray Monette. In 1996, Ruth Copeland's first two albums were licensed by HDH Inc. and reissued by

P-Vine P-Vine Records is an independent record label based in Tokyo, Japan. History It was started in 1976 by Blues Interactions, a firm founded in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi, as a record label focused on black music. The label name c ...

Records individually. In 1997 these albums were reissued on one CD under the juxtaposed title ''Self Portrait''/''I Am What I Am'' (Deepbeats DEEPM 022). It was then issued under the title ''Gimme Shelter - The Invictus Sessions'' (Castle Music CMRCD 576). Both compilations omitted the track "Un Bel Di (One Fine Day)". The two (complete) albums, plus bonus single mixes of some of the songs, were released in a two-disc set by Edsel records in October 2009.

Track listing

#"The Medal" (Ruth Copeland,

Donald Charles Baldwin Donald Charles Baldwin (born 20 April 1953) is an American musician, arranger, and composer. He achieved significant commercial success with recordings he wrote, arranged, and performed for Motown Records and Invictus/ Hot Wax Records from 1970 to 1 ...

) #"Crying Has Made Me Stronger" (Ruth Copeland, George Clinton) #"Hare Krishna" (Ruth Copeland, George Clinton) (released as a single-Invictus Is 9088) #"Suburban Family Lament" (Ruth Copeland,

Eddie Hazel Edward Earl Hazel (April 10, 1950 – December 23, 1992) was an American guitarist and singer in early funk music who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic. Hazel was a posthumous inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 19 ...

) #" Play with Fire" (

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943), often referred to during the 1960s and 1970s as "Keith Richard", is an English musician and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-princi ...

) #"Don't You Wish You Had (What You Had When You Had It?)" (Ruth Copeland, George Clinton) #"

Gimme Shelter "Gimme Shelter" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones. Released as the opening track from band's 1969 album ''Let It Bleed''. The song covers topics of war, murder, rape and fear. It features prominent guest vocals by American singe ...

" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)

Personnel

*Ruth Copeland - vocals, backing vocals, arrangements *

Billy Bass Nelson William "Billy Bass" Nelson (born January 28, 1951) is a U.S. musician, who was the original bassist for Funkadelic. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. Career ...

, Dawn Hatcher - bass *

, Ron Bykowski, Ray Monette - guitar *

Tiki Fulwood Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood (May 23, 1944 – October 29, 1979) was an American musician. He was the drummer for the funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, as well as a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other membe ...

- drums *

Bernie Worrell George Bernard Worrell, Jr. (April 19, 1944 – June 24, 2016) was an American keyboardist and record producer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Rol ...

, David Case - piano, organ ;Technical *Barney Perkins - engineer

References

{{Authority control 1971 albums Ruth Copeland albums Invictus Records albums Albums produced by Ruth Copeland