Perfect Angel is the second studio album by American singer Minnie Riperton, released on August 9, 1974 by Epic Records.[5] 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.
In 1973, a college intern for Epic Records found Riperton in semi-retirement.[6] She had become a homemaker and a mother of two in Florida. After he heard a demo of the song "Lie In The World", the rep took the tape to Gracie Allen, VP of A&R for Epic. Riperton signed with Epic Records, and the family moved to Los Angeles.[6]
Riperton's husband, Richard Rudolph, said that shortly after she was signed to Epic, Ellis asked them who they wanted to produce the album. Riperton requested Stevie Wonder, who was very busy at the time with his band Wonderlove. Rudolph said that Wonder was a huge fan of Riperton and agreed to produce Perfect Angel under one condition.[7] According to Rudolph, Wonder was signed to Motown and concerned that they would not allow him to work on the project.[6] Wonder then said that he would only produce it under a pseudonym and with Rudolph as co-producer. Therefore, Rudolph recounted, they created the name El Toro Negro for Wonder and a production company called Scorbu Productions.[8]
Production
With associate producers Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff on hand engineering and programming the synthesizers, Riperton and company recorded Perfect Angel at the Record Plant in LA, Stevie Wonder's choice of studio on the West Coast. Perfect Angel was a musical romp through rock (“Reasons”), easy-going pop (“Seeing You This Way”) with a wonderful message song that closed out side one (“The Edge Of a Dream” – written in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.). Wonder wrote the title tune as well as “Take a Little Trip”.
At the end of production, there were eight completed songs; Wonder wanted one additional song to bring the album closer to the industry standard of a 40-minute run time. He asked Riperton and songwriter-husband Richard Rudolph to come up with a tune that they considered to be their “most embarrassing song”. With hesitation, Riperton did mention a lullaby she sang to her daughter Maya to put her to sleep at night so that she and Rudolph could spend “grown-up time”.[6] With Rudolph's help, Riperton eventually created "Lovin’ You" from that lullaby, and the song was quickly recorded with Wonder on electric piano and synthesizers. Rudolph supplied the chirping birds from a sound effects reel.
Commercial reception
Epic released Perfect Angel in June 1974, one month before Wonder's Fulfillingness' First Finale hit the record stores. While the album represented Riperton's eclectic musical directions, it posed a marketing dilemma with the label: is she a rock, soul or pop singer?[6] As for radio, "Reasons", the first single, was embraced by the rock stations, but R&B radio weren't too keen on the hard-rocking guitar work heard on the disc. "Every Time He Comes Around" and "Seeing You This Way" hit a similar brick wall.[6]
Sales started slow, and Epic was ready to move on to the next project[6] However, a few MOR (Middle Of the Road) radio stations were playing "Lovin' You" as an album cut. Riperton and Rudolph heard this and asked Epic to give the song a shot as a single release. The label agreed and "Lovin' You" was on 45 in November 1974.
The single made a slow three-month climb to #1 on the pop charts in April (#3 R&B), thanks to an intense promotional schedule (her TV appearances on American Bandstand and Soul Train aired the same Saturday afternoon) and several in-person concert appearances. The album went Gold on the strength of "Lovin' You" and remains the only Gold Album in Riperton's career. Minnie Riperton was finally revered as the "lady with the high voice and flowers in her hair." The album also featured the song "Every Time He Comes Around", with Deniece Williams singing the background vocals.
Reissue
In December 2017, Capitol Records released a deluxe edition of Perfect Angel as a two CD set with outtakes and previously unreleased alternate versions of the original songs.[9]
Track listing
All songs written by Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph except where indicated.
Four artists who performed on this album (Stevie Wonder, Deniece Williams, Michael Sembello, and Ollie Brown [of Ollie & Jerry]) would all find themselves sharing space on the pop singles charts within a year of each other, a decade after this album's release.
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Perfect Angel is the second studio album by American singer Minnie Riperton released on August 9 1974 by Epic Records 5 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 Perfect AngelStudio album by Minnie RipertonReleasedAugust 9 1974Recorded1973 1974StudioThe Record Plant Los AngelesGenreSoul R amp BLength36 43LabelEpicProducerStevie WonderRichard Rudolph as Scorbu Productions Minnie Riperton chronologyCome to My Garden 1970 Perfect Angel 1974 Adventures in Paradise 1975 Singles from Perfect Angel Reasons Every Time He Comes Around Released May 28 1974 Seeing You This Way The Edge of a Dream Released August 21 1974 Lovin You The Edge of a Dream Released January 18 1975Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusic 1 Christgau s Record GuideB 2 Dzuboks Favorable 3 Pitchfork9 0 4 Contents 1 Background 2 Production 3 Commercial reception 4 Reissue 5 Track listing 6 Personnel 7 Charts and certifications 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Certifications 8 Trivia 9 External links 10 See also 11 ReferencesBackground EditIn 1973 a college intern for Epic Records found Riperton in semi retirement 6 She had become a homemaker and a mother of two in Florida After he heard a demo of the song Lie In The World the rep took the tape to Gracie Allen VP of A amp R for Epic Riperton signed with Epic Records and the family moved to Los Angeles 6 Riperton s husband Richard Rudolph said that shortly after she was signed to Epic Ellis asked them who they wanted to produce the album Riperton requested Stevie Wonder who was very busy at the time with his band Wonderlove Rudolph said that Wonder was a huge fan of Riperton and agreed to produce Perfect Angel under one condition 7 According to Rudolph Wonder was signed to Motown and concerned that they would not allow him to work on the project 6 Wonder then said that he would only produce it under a pseudonym and with Rudolph as co producer Therefore Rudolph recounted they created the name El Toro Negro for Wonder and a production company called Scorbu Productions 8 Production EditWith associate producers Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff on hand engineering and programming the synthesizers Riperton and company recorded Perfect Angel at the Record Plant in LA Stevie Wonder s choice of studio on the West Coast Perfect Angel was a musical romp through rock Reasons easy going pop Seeing You This Way with a wonderful message song that closed out side one The Edge Of a Dream written in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Wonder wrote the title tune as well as Take a Little Trip At the end of production there were eight completed songs Wonder wanted one additional song to bring the album closer to the industry standard of a 40 minute run time He asked Riperton and songwriter husband Richard Rudolph to come up with a tune that they considered to be their most embarrassing song With hesitation Riperton did mention a lullaby she sang to her daughter Maya to put her to sleep at night so that she and Rudolph could spend grown up time 6 With Rudolph s help Riperton eventually created Lovin You from that lullaby and the song was quickly recorded with Wonder on electric piano and synthesizers Rudolph supplied the chirping birds from a sound effects reel Commercial reception EditEpic released Perfect Angel in June 1974 one month before Wonder s Fulfillingness First Finale hit the record stores While the album represented Riperton s eclectic musical directions it posed a marketing dilemma with the label is she a rock soul or pop singer 6 As for radio Reasons the first single was embraced by the rock stations but R amp B radio weren t too keen on the hard rocking guitar work heard on the disc Every Time He Comes Around and Seeing You This Way hit a similar brick wall 6 Sales started slow and Epic was ready to move on to the next project 6 However a few MOR Middle Of the Road radio stations were playing Lovin You as an album cut Riperton and Rudolph heard this and asked Epic to give the song a shot as a single release The label agreed and Lovin You was on 45 in November 1974 The single made a slow three month climb to 1 on the pop charts in April 3 R amp B thanks to an intense promotional schedule her TV appearances on American Bandstand and Soul Train aired the same Saturday afternoon and several in person concert appearances The album went Gold on the strength of Lovin You and remains the only Gold Album in Riperton s career Minnie Riperton was finally revered as the lady with the high voice and flowers in her hair The album also featured the song Every Time He Comes Around with Deniece Williams singing the background vocals Reissue EditIn December 2017 Capitol Records released a deluxe edition of Perfect Angel as a two CD set with outtakes and previously unreleased alternate versions of the original songs 9 Track listing EditAll songs written by Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph except where indicated Side One Reasons 3 25 It s So Nice To See Old Friends 4 47 Take a Little Trip Stevie Wonder 4 11 Seeing You This Way 2 51 The Edge of a Dream 4 20Side Two Perfect Angel Stevie Wonder 3 41 Every Time He Comes Around 3 55 Lovin You 3 44 Our Lives 5 42Personnel EditInformation adapted from the original album s Liner Notes 10 Minnie Riperton vocals A1 A4 B3 B4 lead on A5 B2 Stevie Wonder as El Toro Negro acoustic piano electric piano A2 B4 drums A1 cymbals bass drum A4 harmonica B4 Marlo Henderson lead guitar A1 A2 A5 B2 rhythm on A3 Michael Sembello lead guitar A3 A4 B4 Richard Rudolph guitar B3 Reggie McBride bass A1 B2 B4 Ollie E Brown drums A2 A3 B1 B2 B4 Rocki Dzidzornu congas A5 B4 Deniece Williams backing vocals A5 B2 Yvonne Wright backing vocals A5 Shirley Brewer backing vocals A5 Lani Groves backing vocals A5 B1 Production Baker Bigsby assistant remix engineer Malcolm Cecil engineer associate producer Kent Duncan mastering Barry Feinstein cover author Ann Garner artwork Robert Margouleff engineer associate producer Gary Olazabal assistant engineer Richard Rudolph producer Stevie Wonder as Wonderlove arranger producerCharts and certifications EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1975 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 11 17US Billboard Pop Albums 12 4US Billboard R amp B Albums 1Singles Year Title USPop 13 USR amp B 14 USAdult1975 Lovin You 1 3 4 Certifications Edit Region Certification Certified units salesUnited States RIAA 15 Gold 500 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Trivia EditFour artists who performed on this album Stevie Wonder Deniece Williams Michael Sembello and Ollie Brown of Ollie amp Jerry would all find themselves sharing space on the pop singles charts within a year of each other a decade after this album s release External links EditMinnie Riperton Perfect Angel at DiscogsSee also EditList of number one R amp B albums of 1975 U S References Edit https www allmusic com album r16613 review Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s R Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved March 12 2019 via robertchristgau com Konjovic Slobodan Minnie Riperton Perfect Angel Dzuboks in Serbian Gornji Milanovac Decje novine 8 second series 23 Moore Marcus J December 5 2017 Minnie Riperton Perfect Angel Pitchfork Perfect Angel at Amazon com a b c d e f g Minnie Riperton Petals The Minnie Riperton Collection CD liner notes The Right Stuff Capitol Records 7243 5 29343 2 Eskow Gary Classic Tracks Minnie Riperton s Lovin You mixonline com New Bay Media Retrieved 2016 12 05 Eskow Gary February 1 2008 Classic Tracks Minnie Riperton s Lovin You Mix Archived from the original on April 23 2013 Retrieved June 22 2013 Moore Marcus J Minnie Riperton Perfect Angel pitchfork com Pitchfork Media Retrieved 2019 04 07 Riperton Minnie Perfect Angel Album Notes Epic 1974 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 252 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Minnie Riperton US albums chart history allmusic com Retrieved 2015 06 11 Minnie Riperton Chart History Billboard Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 489 American album certifications Riperton Minnie Perfect Angel Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved June 11 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Perfect Angel amp oldid 1134642698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
