Come to My Garden | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 23, 1970 | |||
Recorded | November 24–26, 1969 Ter Mar Studios (Chicago, Illinois) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 37:01 | |||
Label | GRT | |||
Producer | Charles Stepney | |||
Minnie Riperton chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Billboard | (favorable) [2] |
Cashbox | (favorable) [3] |
Come to My Garden is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton which was produced, arranged and orchestrated by Charles Stepney and released in 1970 under GRT Records. It was re-released in 1974 on the Janus label, in the same time frame as Riperton's album Perfect Angel and her hit "Lovin' You." [4]
The album was first released on CD in 1990, and has since been made available in digital form. None of the CD editions have material transferred directly from the original master tapes. All CD editions were mastered in UK, USA and other countries using LP records and different noise reduction methods. It is quite possible that original tapes that belonged to GRT were lost forever. [5]
The album peaked at number 160 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart in 1974. [6] Some versions of the CD release do not include the last track, "Whenever, Wherever." Riperton said she wanted a sound like the great Dionne Warwick / Burt Bacharach collaborations for the album.
Minnie Riperton was presented as a solo artist by Ramsey Lewis on Saturday, December 26, 1970, at Chicago's famed London House. She performed several numbers from the album accompanied by Charles Stepney, the album's producer. Although commercially unsuccessful, Come to My Garden is considered a masterpiece by critics. [7] [8] [9] [10] "Les Fleur" [a] is probably the album's best known song, [12] and "Expecting" remains a favorite among fans.
The heavy rock aspect of Riperton's band Rotary Connection is absent here, replaced by lush orchestrations. The songs, mostly by Stepney and Riperton's husband Richard Rudolph, are largely minor-key ballads.
The album opener "Les Fleur" got to No. 34 on both the UK Vinyl Singles and UK Physical Singles charts in mid-October 2020. [13]
The album has been featured in various samples and covers.
Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph was an American soul singer and songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You", her five-octave vocal range, and her use of the whistle register.
Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966.
Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
Fleur(s) is French for flower(s).
Richard James Rudolph is an American songwriter, musician, music publisher, and producer.
"Lovin' You" is a song recorded by American singer Minnie Riperton from her second studio album, Perfect Angel (1974). It was written by Riperton and her husband, Richard Rudolph, produced by Rudolph and Stevie Wonder, and released as the album's third single on November 29, 1974. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on April 5, 1975. Additionally, it reached number two on the UK Singles chart, and number three on the Billboard R&B chart. In the US, it ranked number 13 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1975.
Love Lives Forever is the sixth and final studio album by the American soul singer Minnie Riperton. Released posthumously in 1980, it was co-produced by her husband Richard Rudolph and released on her then-label Capitol Records. It consists of tracks that she recorded in 1978 during vocal sessions before her death, and music recorded after her early death, occurred on July 12, 1979.
Perfect Angel is the second studio album by American singer Minnie Riperton, released on May 24, 1974 by Epic Records. The album contains the biggest hit of Riperton's career, "Lovin' You", which topped the U.S. Pop Singles chart for one week in early April 1975.
Adventures in Paradise is the third studio album by Minnie Riperton issued in May 1975 by Epic Records. The album rose to No. 5 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 18 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Stay in Love is the fourth studio album by American singer Minnie Riperton, released under Epic Records. The album features the hits "Young Willing and Able" and the Stevie Wonder collaboration "Stick Together". Unlike her previous works, the soft soul elements here tend to fade, replaced by a more upbeat disco sound which was the musical trend at the time. "Stick Together" peaked at no. 23 on Billboard's Hot Dance Play, an alternate version known as "Stick Together " reached no. 57 on the U.S. Hot Black Singles chart.
Minnie is the fifth studio album by American R&B/jazz singer Minnie Riperton. This was her first album for Capitol Records. With a new record deal under her belt and a guarantee from the label of priority marketing and promotion, Minnie went right to work on what would be her final album. With husband Richard Rudolph, Keni St. Lewis, Gene Dozier, Randy Waldman, Marlo Henderson and Bill Thedford contributing songs, the album served as Minnie’s final statement to the music world and fans, as she died of cancer two months after its release.
Charles Stepney was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and musician. Stepney is noted for his work with artists such as The Dells, Ramsey Lewis, Rotary Connection and Earth, Wind & Fire.
The Best of Minnie Riperton is a posthumous greatest hits album by American singer Minnie Riperton, released in 1981 and issued by Capitol Records. The album consists of the hits like "Perfect Angel," "Lovin' You," "Inside My Love" and "Adventures in Paradise". Also included are her last two released singles "Here We Go" and "You Take My Breath Away," both from the album Love Lives Forever.
The Piano Player is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis, released in March 1970 on Cadet Records. The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs chart.
Petals: The Minnie Riperton Collection is a posthumous 2-disc set compilation album by American R&B and soul singer Minnie Riperton, released in 2001 and issued by Capitol Records. The compilation consists of songs from her albums released on Epic Records and Capitol Records. The collection includes her number-one pop hit "Lovin' You", the popular "Perfect Angel", "Inside My Love", "Adventures in Paradise" and "Memory Lane".
Gold: The Best of Minnie Riperton is a 1993 greatest hits album by American singer Minnie Riperton, released by Capitol Records. The hits album features many of Riperton's popular hits, "Memory Lane", "Perfect Angel", "Inside My Love", and the No. 1 pop hit "Lovin' You".
Les Fleurs is a studio album by American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis released in 1983 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 32 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart.
"Come Live with Me Angel" is a smooth soul song by soul singer Marvin Gaye. The song was co-written by singer-songwriter Leon Ware and lyricist Jacqueline Dalya-Hilliard for the former's album Musical Massage. However, Ware gave it to Gaye as he showed interest in it, as well as the other songs Ware had written with Arthur Ross. The song first appeared on Gaye's album I Want You as the second track.
Dinner Music is a 1970 studio album by American psychedelic soul group Rotary Connection, released by Cadet Records.
Hey, Love is a 1971 studio album by American psychedelic soul group Rotary Connection released by Cadet Records.