Customer Reviews

Come to My Garden

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well first of all I came to this album knowing very little of Minnie's work except "Lovin' You" which was a big radio hit here in the UK when I was a kid. I heard this album by chance playing in a store and was straight away thrown in a panic trying to find someone in the store who knew what was playing. I couldn't leave until it had finished playing...and it was only on the 2nd track when I arrived.
The arrangements are like a funkier Burt Bacharach meets Jimmy Webb, some of the songwriting is also Webb-esque...especially the magnificent "Rainy Day in Centerville", which with all it's twists and turns wouldn't have sounded out of place on one of Jimmy's Richard Harris albums. "Rainy Day..." also features one of the most soulful and moving vocal performances you are ever likely to hear. This is the when great soul singers weren't frightened to sing the melody and Minnie's remarkable voice never sounds pompous of like she's showing off, like too many soul divas today. Another major highlight is the title track "Come to my Garden", with Minnie almost sounding like Yma Sumac in places.This is a track to chase away dark clouds and demons...it's like a fresh mountain stream trickling and winding it's way around a green mountain in the sunshine.
The album's orchestrations and rhythm section couldn't be better, never overly lush or flowery and it keeps an edge and real human warmth from start to finish. Also I don't mind some of the dirt left over on the remastering, everything sounds too clean these days anyway. BUT most importantly it's that incredible beautiful voice...WOW. Come to this garden and you'll never want to leave.

In the late 60s, early 70s, Miami AM radio genius China Valles introduced us to Rotary Connection and Minnie Riperton. He was a big Minnie fan and was the first to showcase her solo album "Come to My Garden" on his late night show. Minnie and Rotary were never mainstream - so if you didn't hear them on China's show you didn't hear them at all.

I found the album languishing in a seconds bin about a year after its release and felt I'd found gold. Over the years I nearly wore the vinyl out - and once again, happened upon another vinyl about 10 years ago. To have "Come to My Garden" released on CD is manna from heaven.

"Come to My Garden" is magnificently produced and arranged by Charles Stepney (who went on to Earth Wind and Fire) with lush orchestrations that complement Minnie's five octave vocal range.

I interviewed Minnie in August 1977 as she came through my college town in North Central Florida. She had gone public with her breast cancer and felt she had won the battle. Sadly, in July 1979, we lost her, but her angelic voice and the beautiful songs, many written by her husband Dick Rudolph in collaboration with Stepney, will live on.

We are all blessed to have been in the presence of such a beautiful spirit.Come To My Garden is a rare collection of polished gems,showcasing Minnie's collective talents as singer,artist,communicator and visionary..Each cut is timeless and a masterpiece in it's own right.In my honest opinion I don't think there has ever been a recorded work as beautiful as CTMG.

Minnie Riperton is One of My All-time Favorite Artists Ever.Her Voice still gives me Chills to this day.together here with Charles Stepney everything comes together as one.I really Miss Her.She went away so Young.what a Vibrant&Very Talented Human Being.How I Wish Mariah Carey would follow the Blue-Print of Minnie.these songs are another indication of the Soul,Warmth&Personality that Minnie Riperton Brought to Music.RIP to Her&Charles Stepney who Co-Produced My All-Time Favorite Group The Elements Earth,Wind&Fire.

I remember when I picked up this album by chance at a record store. I wasn't very knowledgable about Minnie Riperton except the mainstream hits and her later R&B, which I never really got into. This album is where Minnie's voice is used the way the gift was supposed to be - taking listeners to soaring heights, into dreamscapes, into any fantasy or concept that one can ponder upon. It is very difficult to find the words to describe this masterpiece - my attempt was probably pretty lame. But this album is such a must have for all who want to hear innovative and original music. The writing, the orchestration, and Minnie's otherwordly, highly trained, unique voice make this a complete treasure. Though Minnie is gone from us, as well as the arranger of this masterpiece Charles Stepney, they left this awesome work for all to enjoy - please add it to your collection.

I love Minnie! This has got to be the gteatest of all times. She takes you on a trip and keeps you there!! Each song is equal to the next. This cd takes you away from reality and puts you in a wonderful dream world!! It makes you forget your problems,and believe. Take this trip and get away from it all. I guarantee you won't be disappointed Mimmie Ripperton is an angel!! God let us have her for a little while. He left us her spirit amd her angelic voice to enjoy forever! I bought two cds of come to my garden just in case something should happen to one if them.

1 I thank him for his wonderful gift!! To be able to purchase this masterpiece as well as all the others is truly a blessing !!

Easily her best work, and probably one of the best albums by a female vocalist ever! Mainly thanks to a man (composer/conductor/mentor) named CHARLES STEPNEY (the Dells, Earth Wind & Fire, Muddy Waters, Ramsey Lewis, the Emotions). Stepney was a GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!! May he rest in peace.

This record is really truly an unbelievable masterpiece....she sounds so so so so pretty on this Album (as though all of her albums) but this one shines like crystal.... amazing vocal acrobats ,and the most beautiful part about it , she was a black woman with incredible talent and remarkable ability .... she brought the opera + r&B + soul = Minnie Riperton ...... i love all of her music but my songs that I have to repeat at least 2 times are definitly "Close You're Eyes And Remember" , "Completeness" , "Les Fleur ( The Flower )" , "Rainy Day In Centreville" .... the closing of the song "Close You're Eyes & Remember" the way she turns her octaves at the end when her backup singers are harmonizing the words "close your eyes and remember,fireflies,close your eyes and remember,summertime" so pretty ... I really love Mrs.Riperton ,I really honestly do .... she was one of those type of singers who could do it alllll .... hit unbelievable notes and still have a dynamite singing voice....i can literally say there will never be another Minnie Riperton EVER AGAIN!!!! that is why i am such a huge fan of hers.....god really did make you special Minnie ......

This is the collaboration of two great talents who are unfortunately no longer with us: Minnie and Charles Stepney. Stepney's gorgeous production of jazzy bossanova and lush strings are a perfect fit for Minnie's angelic voice. The songs are at once romantic, dramatic, engaging, relaxing, joyful, and sweetly sad...similar to Bacharach, but different. The best way I can describe this sound is progressive easy listening -- but even that's unfair.

This is music that is a far cry from Minnie's later hit-driven work. It is music to come home to relax to. It is music to chill out to with a special one. It is music to challenge your way of thinking (the trippy lyrics).

When I first heard this album I was with my special one on a rainy weekend we had together. It was a perfect soundtrack to a perfect time. But even apart from that personal association, "Come To My Garden" is a timeless piece of work that belongs in your collection.

Easily her best work, and probably one of the best albums by a female vocalist ever! Mainly thanks to a man (composer/conductor/mentor) named CHARLES STEPNEY (the Dells, Earth Wind & Fire, Rotary Connection, Muddy Waters, Ramsey Lewis, the Emotions). Stepney was a GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!! May he rest in peace.