Episode notes

The Album: Minnie Riperton’s Adventures in Paradise (1975)

2018 has been a breakout year for this weeks guest, Taura Stinson. “Mighty River“, the song she co-wrote with Raphael Saadiq for Dee Rees’ critically acclaimed film Mudbound was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. She is a singer’s singer who understands the nuances of song creation, production and arrangement. We couldn’t have asked for a better guest and a better album to discuss and were thrilled to have her wax poetic about Minnie Riperton’s 1975 Adventures In Paradise.

We dug deep on this one – discussing both Minnie’s supreme vocal prowess and the sonic and lyrical legacy she left us when she left us just four years after this album was released. With production help from The Crusaders, Stewart Levine and Leon Ware, this peek into Minnie’s world is quite the adventure. Get thoroughly into our chat with Taura Stinson and then revisit Adventures in Paradise for the culture.

About Taura:

Taura’s book

Taura’s Oscar & Golden Globe Nominated song “Mighty River”

Taura’s single “Gossypium Thorns”

Show Tracklist (all songs from “Adventures in Paradise” unless indicated otherwise):

“Baby, This Love I Have”

Taura Stinson: Gossypium Thorns (Freedom) “Gossypium Thorns (Freedom)”

“Gossypium Thorns (Freedom)” The Gospel Clouds: “Let Us Pray”

“Inside My Love”

“Inside My Love”

Minnie Riperton: Perfect Angel “Lovin’ You”

“Lovin’ You” Rotary Connection: Aladdin “Life Could”

“Life Could” Mariah Carey: Emotions “Emotions”

“Emotions” Rotary Connection: Hey, Love “I Am the Blackgold of the Sun”

“I Am the Blackgold of the Sun” “Adventures in Paradise”

“Inside My Love”

A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders “Lyrics to Go”

“Lyrics to Go” The Pointer Sisters: Steppin’ “How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)”

“How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)” Gwen McCrae: Lady Soul “Rockin’ Chair”

“Rockin’ Chair” Natalie Cole: Inseparable “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”

“This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” Labelle: Nightbirds “Lady Marmalade”

“Lady Marmalade” “Feelin’ that the Feeling’s Good”

Minnie Riperton: Perfect Angel “Take a Little Trip”

“Take a Little Trip” Minnie Riperton: The Best of Minnie Riperton “Woman of Heart and Mind”

“Woman of Heart and Mind” Quincy Jones: Body Heat “If I Ever Lose This Heaven”

“If I Ever Lose This Heaven” “Love and It’s Glory”

“Adventures in Paradise”

“When It Comes Down to It”

“Alone in Brewster Bay”

“Baby, This Love I Have”

“Simple Things”

Minnie Riperton: Le Fleur “Young Willing and Able”

“Young Willing and Able” “Feelin’ that the Feeling’s Good”

“Simple Things”

“Minnie’s Lament”

Prince: Parade-Music from the Motion Picture “Under the Cherry Moon” “Sometimes It Snows in April”

“Sometimes It Snows in April” Emage: “Inside My Love”

“Don’t Let Anyone Bring You Down”

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