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) Love Lives Forever (1980) The Best of Minnie Riperton (1981)

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
• Tennyson Stephens – acoustic piano
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, synthesizers
• Lee Ritenour, Paul Jackson – guitar
• Gayle Levant – harp
• Abraham Laboriel – bass
• Harvey Mason – drums
• Gerry Vinci – concertmaster
• Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals
• Lenny Castro, Paulinho da Costa – percussion

Charts

Singles

References