Life in the Tropics

Life in the Tropics
Studio album by The Rippingtons
Released	October 10, 2000
Recorded	2000
Studios	Swamp Rat Studios (Boca Raton, Florida) Rumbo Recorders (Canoga Park, California) Sapphire Sound (Las Vegas, Nevada) Remidi Studios (Dobbs Ferry, New York) Sound On Sound Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	Smooth jazz
Length	48:14
Label	Peak
Producers	Russ Freeman Gary Brown
The Rippingtons chronology
Topaz (1999) Life in the Tropics (2000) Live Across America (2002)

Life in the Tropics is the eleventh studio album by the American jazz group the Rippingtons. Released in 2000, it was the group's first release on Peak Records. The album reached No. 3 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.

Track listing

All tracks written by Russ Freeman except "Rhythm of Your Life" written by Michael Angelo Saulsberry and "I Found Heaven" written by Gary Brown and Russ Freeman.

1. "Club Paradiso" – 4:23
2. "Caribbean Breeze" – 4:23
3. "Cruisin' Down Ocean Drive" – 4:38
4. "Be Cool" – 4:25
5. "Rhythm of Your Life" – 4:00
6. "Love Child" – 4:20
7. "Avenida del Mar" – 5:17
8. "I Found Heaven" – 4:24
9. "South Beach Mambo" – 4:47
10. "Life in the Tropics" – 4:56
11. "Island Aphrodisiac" – 4:41

Personnel

The Rippingtons

• Russ Freeman – keyboards (1–4, 6, 7, 9, 11), acoustic guitar (1), bass (1, 3, 4, 11), rhythm programming (1), classical guitar (2, 5, 8), guitars (3, 4, 6, 7, 9–11), vocals (9), additional keyboards (10)
• David Kochanski – keyboards (does not play on album)
• Kim Stone – bass (2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10)
• David Hooper – drums (1–5, 7, 9–11), vocals (9)
• Ramon Yslas – percussion (2–5, 7, 9–11)

Guest Musicians

• Bill Heller – acoustic piano (3, 7), keyboards (5, 6), arrangements (5), rhythm programming (6)
• Gary Brown – keyboards (8), bass (8), rhythm programming (8), backing vocals (8)
• Bob James – keyboards (10)
• Mark Binder – additional programming (10)
• Peter White – classical guitar (2)
• Eric Marienthal – saxophone (1, 3), tenor saxophone (6)
• Dave Koz – saxophone (4)
• Paul Taylor – alto saxophone (6)
• Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone (5, 7, 9)
• Gary Grant – trumpet (5, 7, 9)
• Jerry Hey – trumpet (5, 7, 9)
• Ramon Flores – trumpet solo (9), trumpet (11)

Guest Vocalists

• Daisy Villa – lead vocals (5), backing vocals (5), vocals (9)
• Michael Angelo – backing vocals (5)
• Andi Howard – backing vocals (5)
• Howard Hewett – lead vocals (8)
• Laurie Hooper – vocals (9)

Production

• Andi Howard – executive producer, production manager, management
• Russ Freeman – executive producer, producer, recording, mixing
• Michael Angelo Salusberry – vocal producer (5)
• Gary Brown – producer (8)
• Mark Binder – additional engineer
• Ken Freeman – additional engineer
• Posie Muladi – additional engineer
• Nick Sodano – additional engineer
• Robert Hadley – mastering
• Doug Sax – mastering
• The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California) – mastering location
• Alexis Davis – A&R
• MAD Design – art direction
• Bill Mayer – cover artwork
• David Hooper – studio photography

Charts

Chart (1992)	Peak position
US Billboard Jazz Albums	3

External links

• The Rippingtons-Life in the Tropics at CD Universe
• The Rippingtons-Life in the Tropics at AllMusic
• The Rippingtons Official Website