Love Lives Forever

Love Lives Forever is the sixth 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 1978 during vocal sessions prior to her death, and music recorded after her early death,[2] occurred on July 12, 1979.

Love Lives Forever
Studio album by Minnie Riperton
Released	August 11, 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) Love Lives Forever (1980) The Best of Minnie Riperton (1981)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Background

All of Riperton's vocals were stripped from earlier, original music tracks, and the backing tracks were completely redone.[2] Completed with new musicians, vocalists and arrangements. Producer Quincy Jones described the project as "keeping the bridge, but moving the water".[2]

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).[2] 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".[2]

Commercial reception

The song "Here We Go" is a duet with R&B singer Peabo Bryson,[3] released as a single and hit the top twenty. The single peaked at no. 14 on the Billboard R&B Songs chart and also features additional Roberta Flack vocals. The second song from the album released as a single was "Give Me Time," featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The single peaked at no. 72 on the Billboard R&B Songs chart.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Here We Go" (Minnie Riperton, Richard Rudolph, Art Phillips) – 6:12
   • Peabo Bryson – vocals (duet) [3]
   • Roberta Flack – 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

Side Two

1. "Island in the Sun" (Riperton, Rudolph) – 4:45
   • Tom Scott – tenor sax solo
2. "Give Me Time" (Leonard Caston, Jr., Lila Hurtado) – 4:25
   • Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo
   • Gerry Vinci – violin solo
3. "You Take My Breath Away" (Riperton, Rudolph, Randy Waldman) – 4:35
   • George Benson – additional vocals
4. "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 Jr. – 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

Chart (1980)[4]	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Pop Albums	35
U.S. Billboard Black Albums	11

Singles

Year	Title	US R&B[5]
1980	"Here We Go" (with Peabo Bryson) [3]	14
1981	"Give Me Time"	72

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Minnie Riperton - Petals: The Minnie Riperton Collection (CD liner notes) The Right Stuff/Capitol Records 7243 5 29343-2
3. Apple Inc. (October 22, 1977). "Love Lives Forever - Minnie Riperton". Retrieved May 22, 2017.
4. "Love Lives Forever > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 490.