Minnie (album)
Encyclopedia
Minnie is the fifth and final studio album (not counting a posthumous release the following year) by Minnie Riperton
. She died of cancer two months after its release. It was also her first album for Capitol Records.
With a new record deal under her belt and a guarantee from the label of priority marketing/promotion, Minnie went right to work on what would be her final album. With husband Richard Rudolph
, Keni St. Lewis, Gene Dozier, Randy Waldman, Marlo Henderson & Bill Thedford contributing songs, the album served as Minnie’s final statement to the music world and fans.
Minnie brought son, Marc and daughter Maya Rudolph
into the studio to sing background on “Dancin’ & Actin’ Crazy,” while the tender “Lover & Friend” was the perfect ode to her relationship with Richard. Minnie was at her most playful self on her remake of the Doors’ “Light My Fire”, a duet with José Feliciano (who had a hit with his own version of this rock classic in 1968). It's been said that the reason we don't hear José until the second half of the song, is because he had just happened to be at the studio when it was being recorded and popped in.
If there was a track that would be described as her “goin’ home” song, no doubt it was “Memory Lane” – Minnie’s reflection of her past while knowing what indeed was in the future. "Memory Lane" was a hit. Riperton incorporated the sadness of the ending of a relationship while suddenly shifting to cries of "I don't want to go" and "save me." It is thought that the song was her farewell to her family and the world.
When not recording, Minnie was busy as the national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, lobbying the cause for early breast cancer detection. As a result of her efforts, she was presented with the A.C.S. Courage Award at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. While promoting this album, TV appearances kept her busy – the Mike Douglas Show, Merv Griffin, the Tonight Show. Despite her radiant and expressive face, the cameras could not hide how the cancer was ravaging her body. On her famous last appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show", her right arm was in a fixed position from the cancer's progression. At a concert appearance, Minnie appeared rail thin in a long robe and wearing a head wrap to hide her hair loss from chemotherapy.
Minnie Riperton
Minnie Julia Riperton was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You". She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in the summer of 1979. They had two children - music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya...
. She died of cancer two months after its release. It was also her first album for Capitol Records.
With a new record deal under her belt and a guarantee from the label of priority marketing/promotion, Minnie went right to work on what would be her final album. With husband Richard Rudolph
Richard Rudolph
Richard "Dick" Rudolph is an American composer, guitarist, musician, songwriter, and producer. He was the husband of late soul singer icon Minnie Riperton, and he co-wrote many of her songs including her hits "Lovin' You" and "Memory Lane" . He produced Teena Marie's second album, Lady T...
, Keni St. Lewis, Gene Dozier, Randy Waldman, Marlo Henderson & Bill Thedford contributing songs, the album served as Minnie’s final statement to the music world and fans.
Minnie brought son, Marc and daughter Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph
Maya Khabira Rudolph is an American actress, comedienne and singer known for her comedic roles as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007, and for appearing in films such as Away We Go, Bridesmaids, Grown Ups, A Prairie Home Companion and MacGruber...
into the studio to sing background on “Dancin’ & Actin’ Crazy,” while the tender “Lover & Friend” was the perfect ode to her relationship with Richard. Minnie was at her most playful self on her remake of the Doors’ “Light My Fire”, a duet with José Feliciano (who had a hit with his own version of this rock classic in 1968). It's been said that the reason we don't hear José until the second half of the song, is because he had just happened to be at the studio when it was being recorded and popped in.
If there was a track that would be described as her “goin’ home” song, no doubt it was “Memory Lane” – Minnie’s reflection of her past while knowing what indeed was in the future. "Memory Lane" was a hit. Riperton incorporated the sadness of the ending of a relationship while suddenly shifting to cries of "I don't want to go" and "save me." It is thought that the song was her farewell to her family and the world.
When not recording, Minnie was busy as the national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, lobbying the cause for early breast cancer detection. As a result of her efforts, she was presented with the A.C.S. Courage Award at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. While promoting this album, TV appearances kept her busy – the Mike Douglas Show, Merv Griffin, the Tonight Show. Despite her radiant and expressive face, the cameras could not hide how the cancer was ravaging her body. On her famous last appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show", her right arm was in a fixed position from the cancer's progression. At a concert appearance, Minnie appeared rail thin in a long robe and wearing a head wrap to hide her hair loss from chemotherapy.
Track listing
- "Memory Lane" (Minnie Riperton, Richard RudolphRichard RudolphRichard "Dick" Rudolph is an American composer, guitarist, musician, songwriter, and producer. He was the husband of late soul singer icon Minnie Riperton, and he co-wrote many of her songs including her hits "Lovin' You" and "Memory Lane" . He produced Teena Marie's second album, Lady T...
, Keni St. Lewis, Gene Dozier) – 4:23 - "Lover and Friend" (Riperton, Rudolph, Lewis, Dozier) – 4:13
- "Return to Forever" (Rudolph, Randy Waldman) – 4:07
- "Dancin' & Actin' Crazy" (Rudolph, Waldman) – 6:03
- "Love Hurts" (Riperton, Rudolph, Marlo Henderson) – 3:35
- "Never Existed Before" (Riperton, Rudolph, Bill Thedford) – 4:17
- "I'm a Woman" (Riperton, Rudolph, Thedford) – 4:00
- "Light My FireLight My Fire"Light My Fire" is a song by The Doors which was recorded in August 1966 and released the first week of January 1967 on the Doors' debut album. Released as a single in April, it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after...
" (Jim MorrisonJim MorrisonJames Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
, Ray ManzarekRay ManzarekRaymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
, Robby KriegerRobby KriegerRobert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
, John DensmoreJohn DensmoreJohn Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
) – 5:09
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Pop Albums Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
29 |
| U.S. Billboard Black Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
5 |