"IT'S NEW TO ME" WEEK (OCTOBER 20-26, 2013)
Note: the CD I listened to was the 2004 UK reissue.
Prior to purchasing this 2-fer disc, I was only familiar with Riperton through her presence on various compilation and soundtrack discs and her 1975 #1 hit, Lovin' You. I've only had this CD for a few weeks, but I've listened to it almost every day since its purchase. Tooting my own horn, this was a smart (if not overdue) purchase. I doubt I would have bought these albums at the time of release, but I sure wish I would have come across them in the '80s around the same time I was discovering early '70s Stevie Wonder or, at the very least, when all the acid jazz groups of the '90s were copping Riperton's sound.
Is it soul? R&B? Soft rock? Let's take the easy way out and just call it a beautifully simple combination of all three. Riperton's impressive vocal range would be enough to make her a star, but I'm also impressed by the varied songwriting here. Not a bad crew of backing musicians here, either: Stevie Wonder, Michael Sembello, Deniece Williams, Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, and Tom Scott.
PERFECT ANGEL (1974)
Press of the time:
- Rolling Stone: "most of the songs are too temperately paced"
- Robert Christgau (B): "she achieves a sensuous spirituality that may be overdomesticated but at least seems real-life."
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard 200: #4
- Billboard R&B: #1 (3 weeks)
Tracks: The Perfect Angel album is better than its follow-up, but it's a very close race. There's not a bad track on the Perfect Angel album (tracks 1-9); my favorites are Reasons, Take A Little Trip, Perfect Angel, and, of course, Lovin' You.
ADVENTURES IN PARADISE (1975)
Press of the time:
- Rolling Stone: "fulfills its intention to be joyously uplifting."
- Record World: "unique vocals surrounded by lushly mellow music"
- Stereo Review: "Riperton is a good-time girl, and her new album provides a good time."
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard 200: #18
- Billboard R&B: #5
Tracks: Tracks 10-19 make up 1975's Adventures In Paradise. Top tracks on the latter album include Baby This Love I Have, Love And It's Glory, and Inside My Love.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
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