Vintage Vault: Minnie Riperton – ‘Come To My Garden (1970)’
A gem that missed the attention of the masses, the true magnum opus of one of the most underrated musicians—Come To My Garden shows the Unsung talent Minnie Riperton poignantly stepping into her own. We take a walk into her garden of love opening with one of the album’s most defining tracks, “Les Fleurs,” French for “the flowers.” Riperton takes form as an alluring flower wanting to be “worn to the fair” and “pinned in a lady’s hair.” The song effortlessly climaxes, courtesy of “orchestral soul” producer Charles Stepney (co-creator of the band that featured Riperton, Rotary Connection) and her husband Richard Rudolph; both who helmed the album’s production.
Riperton’s multi-octave range, a reoccurrence on ‘Garden,’ soars above the orchestrated arrangements with ease, often leading the album’s high points throughout. Opening with elegantly dreamy layers of strings and harmonies, Riperton coos the plea of the album’s title track. The album plays like a soundtrack to a stage production as the music experiences different movements that add to ‘Garden’s’ texture and depth. This is exemplified as “Memory Band” glides in with its Jazz undertones. Riperton, Stepney, and Rudolph created the visual of a vibrantly colorful garden and vast wonderland. Even if you’ve never been to a place as brilliantly described, as “Close Your Eyes and Remember” begins, you’re instantly taken back to an unforgettable paradise of your past.
“Oh, By the Way,” one of the album’s charming highlights, follows. In the song, Riperton finds a way to tell her mate that she loves him without actually saying it. “Only in the time it takes to tell you/for not to tell, but to know, is wrong,” she coyly sings. Lines following that build the anticipation to her postscript declaration of love. Delicately floating in after is arguably the most beautifully sung ballad on underage pregnancy. On the delightfully haunting “Expecting,” Riperton sings of a (possibly) 16-year-old girl reflecting, musing, and expecting. One would assume she was pregnant at her young age as ‘she thinks of the year, sixteen’ and ‘takes down her thoughts.’ But she could also be awaiting a move from her companion since “she is certain that she likes his schemes” and “is waiting in the woods.” The vague storyline does its job of creating an eerie intrigue as Riperton once again ascends into the heavens with her airy whistle notes.
Come to My Garden can be described as a wonderfully lush album of orchestral romance filled with striking moments of grandeur. A truly stunning introduction to an artist that has yet to be fully appreciated. Although she has tragically passed, Minnie Riperton will continue to shine through her finest musical accomplishments.
Stream Come to My Garden on Spotify.
Written by Ashton Martin (@ashtnmrtn)