Minnie Riperton – Perfect Angel
An essential soul album produced by Stevie Wonder (as Scorbu Productions), Minnie Riperton’s Perfect Angel is best known for its international hit “Lovin’ You.” The album crucially featured Malcolm Cecil’s legendary TONTO (The Original New Timbral Orchestra) synthesizer that was used on a number of ’70s hits by the Isley Brothers, Joan Baez, the Doobie Brothers, Quincy Jones, Randy Newman, Bobby Womack, Weather Report, Gil Scott-Heron, Dave Mason, Steven Stills, Little Feat, James Taylor, Diana Ross and Harry Nilsson. Perfect Angel showcases Riperton’s infamous five-octave vocal range (which was even featured as a joke on South Park) a number of incredible tracks including the upbeat soul-rock “Reasons,” where Riperton’s piercing high notes duet with a guitar solo, and the smokey “Every Time He Comes Around,” which features the great Deniece Williams on the operatic background vocal.
Recommended – A1 Reasons, B3 Lovin’ You, B2 Every Time He Comes Around
A1 Reasons
A2 It’s So Nice (To See Old Friends)
A3 Take A Little Trip
A4 Seeing You This Way
A5 The Edge Of A Dream
B1 Perfect Angel
B2 Every Time He Comes Around
B3 Lovin’ You
B4 Our Lives
Arranged By – Wonderlove
Bass – Reggie McBride (tracks: A1 to B2, B4)
Congas – Rocki Dzidzornu (tracks: A5, B4)
Design – Anne Garner*
Drums – Ollie E. Brown* (tracks: A2, A3, B1, B2, B4)
Engineer [Assistant] – Gary Olazabal
Engineer, Producer [Associate] – Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff
Guitar – Marlo Henderson (tracks: A1 to A3, A5 to B2)
Lead Guitar – Michael Sembello (tracks: A3, A4, B4)
Mastered By – Kent Duncan
Photography By [Cover] – Barry Feinstein
Piano – El Toro Negro (tracks: A2 to B4)
Producer – Scorbu Productions
Remix, Engineer [Assistant Remix Engineer] – Baker Bigsby
Vocals, Liner Notes – Minnie*
Written-By – Minnie Riperton (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B2 to B4), Richard Rudolph (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B2 to B4), Stevie Wonder (tracks: A3, B1)