What 1975 song by Minnie Riperton features a famous whistle register?

The 1975 song by Minnie Riperton famous for its whistle-register vocals is “Lovin’ You.”

Riperton recorded the song for her 1974 album Perfect Angel, and Epic Records released it as a single on November 29, 1974. It became her signature hit after reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on April 5, 1975, which explains its common classification as a 1975 song.

The recording was written by Riperton and her husband, Richard Rudolph, and produced by Rudolph with Stevie Wonder, who also played electric piano. Its most recognizable feature is Riperton’s exceptionally high vocal line in the bridge, often described as whistle-register singing. The song also includes chirping birds, which Riperton said were accidentally captured during the demo and kept because they suited the music.

A commonly overlooked detail is that the melody began as a distraction for the couple’s young daughter, Maya Rudolph. The album version ends with Riperton quietly singing Maya’s name, while many radio edits fade out earlier. “Lovin’ You” was also unusual for topping the Hot 100 without a percussion instrument.