Is “Les Fleur” by Minnie Ripperton the greatest song ever?

Sparse guitars and soft drums and Minnie Riperton’s whisper-high vocals.

Swooning strings glide in and under and lift the song ever higher as the orchestra swells and the choir skitters in psychedelic wonderment.

“Les Fleur” was written and arranged by master producer Charles Stepney and Minnie’s husband, Richard Rudolph. It’s the first track on her debut album, “Come to My Garden”.

The album was recorded over two days in late November 1969 at Ter Mar Studios in Chicago. Released a year later, the song was a commercial failure but a critical triumph.

Horns herald a sumptuous bridge that climbs and shimmers higher and higher into reverence.

Ring all the bells, sing and tell the people everywhere that the flower has come.

Light up the sky with your prayers of gladness and rejoice for the darkness is gone.

Throw off your fears, let your heart beat freely at the sign that a new time is born.