Throwing back to the week of March 29, 1975, we find Labelle atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Lady Marmalade,’ one of only nine songs to reach #1 recorded by two different artists (the other version was by Lil’ Kim, Mýa, Christina Aguilera, and Pink for the 2001 Moulin Rouge soundtrack).
At #2 that week was ‘Lovin’ You’ by Minnie Riperton, a song that would reach #1 the following week. This was the third single from Riperton’s 1974 album Perfect Angel, and the only hit in the singer’s brief career.
Riperton wrote ‘Lovin’ You’ with her husband, Richard Rudolph. Richard composed the melody as a distraction for the couple’s toddler daughter, Maya, and Riperton wrote the lyrics about Richard. She repeats Maya’s name at the end, as the future star of TV and movies was in the studio during the recording.
The line “stay with me while we grow old” is especially poignant because, just two years later, Riperton learned she had breast cancer, which quickly spread throughout her body. She died in July of 1979 with Richard by her side.
Lovin’ you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful
Makin’ love with you is all I wanna do
Lovin’ you is more than just a dream come true
And everything that I do is out of lovin’ you
[Chorus]
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Do do do do do, ooh
[Verse 2]
No one else can make me feel
The colors that you bring
Stay with me while we grow old
And we will live each day in springtime
‘Cause lovin’ you has made my life so beautiful
And every day of my life is filled with lovin’ you
Lovin’ you I see your soul come shinin’ through
And every time that we, ooh, I’m more in love with you
[Chorus]
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Do do do do do, ooh
[Verse 3]
No one else can make me feel
The colors that you bring
Stay with me while we grow old
And we will live each day in springtime
‘Cause lovin’ you is easy cause you’re beautiful
And every day of my life is filled with lovin’ you
Lovin’ you I see your soul come shinin’ through
And every time that we, ooh, I’m more in love with you
[Chorus]
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Do do do do do, ooh
Lovin’ you
La la la la la, la la la la la
Do do do do do
Dee do, dee do, dee do
Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya
Maya, Maya
La la la la la la la la
Dee do, dee do, dee do
Meet Me In Montauk 
Wow! I know this song well from my childhood, but had no idea who recorded it (I thought it might have been Diana Ross), that she was Maya Rudolph’s mother or about her tragic young death. So sad, and I will never hear this poignant song the same way again!
I knew this song was sung by Maya Rudolph’s mom but did not know that it was written with her dad nor that Ms. Riperton (wearing overalls on this album cover, bless her!) died so young. Deep sigh. Maya sure looks like her mom!
I loved this song and knew Minnie Riperton and also remember that she died young from cancer 😢 but I didn’t know she was Maya Rudolph’s mother.