Classic Pop Icons

Minnie Riperton’s signature hit “Lovin’ You” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Lovin’ You” was released on the album “Perfect Angel” in June, 1974 and on single seven months later, backed with “The Edge Of A Dream.”

Minnie had already been performing professionally for 12 years when “Lovin’ You'” was recorded. She began aged 15 as a member of the Gems, who provided backing vocals for many Chess Records artists, including Etta James, Fontella Bass and Johnny Nash. For a time she combined this work with a job as a receptionist for Chess, before spending a year singing under the alias “Andrea Davis”. Next up was four years with the experimental rock group, Rotary Connection, which she recorded six albums with between 1967 to 1971. After recording the solo album, “Come to My Garden”, Minnie went into semi-retirement to start a family. It wasn’t long before her services were in demand though, and the decision to sign with Epic in 1973 would lead to the most successful period of her career.

Stevie Wonder would prove to be a great champion for Minnie Riperton and an important figure in her success. He penned a couple of tracks on the album “Perfect Angel” and also co-produced the album with Minnie’s husband Richard Rudolph. It was also Wonder’s call for a ninth song for the album that prompted the composition of “Lovin’ You.” Minnie and Rudolph modified a lullaby that they had sung to their daughter, Maya, and came up with the most significant song of her career. “Lovin’ You” is one of many classic songs that began life as a last minute composition.

Minnie Riperton had one of the most distinctive and memorable voices of the 1970s, not least because of her impressive command of the so-called whistle register, which is used to such great effect during “Lovin’ you”. With such a party piece, the temptation might be to overuse it, but her instincts are spot on and the remarkably high notes are delivered with incredible skill and good judgement.

On the page, the “la la la la la…do do do do do” lyric gives no hint that this will be the most memorable and celebrated part of the song, but the gentle delivery, followed by the octave leap into the whistle range ensure that is the case. The “nothing” lyrical content in this part of the song is not a weakness as the intent is to communicate a mood through joyous singing – to act as a climax to the previous romantic declarations, eg “Lovin’ you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful/Makin’ love with you is all I wanna do/Lovin’ you is more than just a dream come true/ And everything that I do is out of lovin’ you”.

“Lovin’ You” – Minnie Riperton

Minnie’s success was sadly shortlived. She passed away from breast cancer on July 12, 1979 aged 31. The epitaph on her headstone is “Lovin’ you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful.”

Authorship

The words and music for “Lovin’ You” were written by Minnie Riperton and her husband Richard Rudolph.

Recording date/location

“Lovin’ You” was recorded in early 1974 at The Record Plant, Los Angeles.

Musicians

“Lovin’ You” featured just Minnie on vocals, Stevie Wonder on electric piano and synthesisers, and Richard Rudolph on guitar.

A sound effect reel was used to provide the chirping birds sound.

Chart performance

“Lovin’ You” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US on March 30, 1975.

The song peaked at number two on the UK singles chart.

The album “Perfect Angel” reached number four on the US album chart and number 33 in the UK.

There will be a new Song of the Week on April 23.

Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You” is available on the album “Perfect Angel” and various compilations, including “Les Fleurs – The Minnie Riperton Anthology”.

Title
Minnie Riperton – Perfect Angel (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Les Fleurs – The Minnie Riperton Anthology (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now