Life in the Tropics
Studio album by The Rippingtons
Released	October 10, 2000
Recorded	2000
Genre	Smooth jazz
Length	48:14
Label	Peak
Producer	Russ Freeman
The Rippingtons chronology
Topaz (1999) Life in the Tropics (2000) Live Across America (2002)

Life in the Tropics is the 11th album by the American Jazz group The Rippingtons. It was released in 2000, and was the group's first release for Peak label. The album reached No. 3 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.^[1]

Track listing

All tracks written by Russ Freeman except as noted.

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, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, bass (1, 4, 5, 11), rhythm programming, vocals (9)
• David Kochanski – keyboards
• Kim Stone – bass (2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10)
• David Hooper – drums (1-5, 7, 9, 10, 11), vocals (9)

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)
• Peter White – classical guitar (2)
• Ramon Yslas – percussion (2-5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
• Mark Binder – additional programming (10)
• Eric Marienthal – saxophone (3), tenor saxophone (1, 6)
• Dave Koz – soprano 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

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

Studios

• Recorded at Swamp Rat Studios (Boca Raton, FL); Rumbo Recorders (Canoga Park, CA); Sapphire Sound (Las Vegas, NV); Remidi Studios (Dobbs Ferry, NY).
• Tracks 1–7, 9, 10 & 11 mixed at Swamp Rat Studios; Track 8 mixed at Sound On Sound Studios (New York, NY).
• Mastered at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, CA).

Charts