Love Lives Forever

Love Lives Forever
Studio album by Minnie Riperton
Released	October 18, 1980
Recorded	1978 (Minnie's Vocals) 1980 (overdubs)
Genre	R&B soul
Length	37:33
Label	Capitol
Producer	Richard Rudolph Johnny Pate
Minnie Riperton chronology
Minnie (1979)Minnie1979 Love Lives Forever (1980) The Best of Minnie Riperton (1981)The Best of Minnie Riperton1981

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Love Lives Forever is the sixth and final studio album by 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 Riperton recorded in vocal sessions prior to her death, and music recorded after her death .^[2]

Background

All of Riperton's vocals were stripped from earlier, original music tracks, and the backing tracks were completely redone.^[3] Completed with new musicians, vocalists and arrangements. Producer Quincy Jones described the project as "keeping the bridge, but moving the water".^[4]

The back cover of the vinyl album featured a quote about Riperton from each artist who participated, and their signature (a thumbprint for Stevie Wonder).^[5] Wonder's quote inspired the album title: "I miss you because I cannot touch you...but then again, I guess that I can because you're touching me...so, Love lives forever".^[6]

Commercial reception

The song "Here We Go" was released as a single and hit the top twenty. The single peaked at no. 14 on the Billboard R&B Songs chart. The second release was "Give Me Time," featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Here We Go" (Minnie Riperton, Richard Rudolph, Arthur Phillips) – 6:12
   • Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson – additional vocals
   • Tom Scott – tenor sax solo
2. "I'm in Love Again" (Riperton, Rudolph) – 4:05
   • Michael Jackson – additional vocals
   • Hubert Laws – flute solo
3. "Strange Affair" (Riperton, Rudolph, Marlo Henderson) – 8:55
   • Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
4. "Island in the Sun" (Riperton, Rudolph) – 4:45
   • Tom Scott – tenor sax solo

Side Two

1. "Give Me Time" (Leonard Caston, Jr., Lila Hurtado) – 4:25
   • Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo
   • Gerry Vinci – violin solo
2. "You Take My Breath Away" (Riperton, Rudolph, Randy Waldman) – 4:35
   • George Benson – additional vocals
3. "The Song of Life (La-La-La)" (Riperton, Rudolph, Caston, Weider) – 4:10
   • Patrice Rushen – vocals, electric piano

Personnel

• Minnie Riperton - vocals
• Michael Jackson, George Benson, Patrice Rushen, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack - additional vocals
• Tennyson Stephens – acoustic piano
• Patrice Rushen - electric piano
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, synthesizers
• Lee Ritenour, Paul Jackson – guitar
• Gayle Levant – harp
• Abraham Laboriel – bass
• Harvey Mason – drums
• Tom Scott - tenor saxophone
• Hubert Laws - flute
• Stevie Wonder - Harmonica
• Lenny Castro, Paulinho da Costa – percussion
• Gerry Vinci – concertmaster
• Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals

Charts

Singles

References