Rapture (Anita Baker album)

Last updated
Rapture
Anita Baker - Rapture.jpg
Studio album by
Anita Baker
ReleasedMarch 20, 1986
Recorded1985
StudioYamaha R & D Studio (Glendale, California); United Sound Systems (Detroit, Michigan); Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length37:09
Label Elektra
Producer Bobby Bell
Anita Baker chronology
The Songstress
(1983)		Rapture
(1986)		 Giving You the Best That I Got
(1988)
Singles from Rapture
  1. "Sweet Love"
    Released: May 27, 1986
  2. "Caught Up in the Rapture"
    Released: October 3, 1986
  3. "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)"
    Released: February 1987
  4. "No One in the World"
    Released: July 1987

Rapture is the second album by American vocalist Anita Baker, released in 1986. This became Baker's breakout album and earning her two Grammy Awards. The album's first track, "Sweet Love", was a top 10 Billboard hit in addition to winning a Grammy Award. The album has sold over eight million copies worldwide, including five million in the US alone.

Contents

Background

In 1984, while Baker was signed to Beverly Glen Music which had released her 1983 album The Songstress , she was offered a considerably better recording contract with Elektra Records, part of Warner Communications. As she was having some difficulties with Beverly Glen, she accepted Warner's offer and notified Beverly Glen that she was no longer willing to perform under the terms of her contract with them. [1] As Baker commenced working on her first album for Elektra, teaming up with her former Chapter 8 colleague Michael Powell as producer, Beverly Glen Music then attempted to sue Baker and subsequently Elektra/Warner to prevent the release of any new recordings by her. Baker's album was finished as the case was heard, and ultimately Beverly Glen Music's legal actions failed. The case was decided March 19, 1986 in favor of Baker/Elektra/Warner Communications [1] Rapture was released the following day.

Critical reception

Retrospective professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide B− [3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
MusicHound R&B Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [5]
Pitchfork 9.0/10 [6]

In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone , Rob Hoerburger regarded Rapture as a relatively "modest" album compared to more histrionic female singers, while praising the symbiotic relationship Baker shared with her band. Occasionally, he believed, the groove-based music lacked variety, and the singer drifted into "some superfluous scatting and pseudo-jazz harmony", but Hoerburger ultimately deemed her "an acquired but enduring taste". [7] At the end of 1986, Rapture was ranked number 2 among the "Albums of the Year" by NME . [8] It was voted the 23rd best album of the year in the Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of American critics, published by The Village Voice . [9] Robert Christgau, the newspaper's lead music critic, was less impressed and viewed the record as merely a soulful, sexier version of soft rock and easy listening: "it's all husky, burnished mood, the fulfillment of the quiet-storm format black radio ... a reification of the human voice as vehicle of an expression purer than expression ever ought to be". [10]

In 1989, Rapture was ranked number 36 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest albums from the 1980s. [11] The same publication would later include the album as number 404 on their 2020 list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. [12] In retrospect, AllMusic's Alex Henderson said, "Rapture's tremendous success made it clear that there was still a sizeable market for adult-oriented, more traditional R&B singing." [2] According to The Mojo Collection (2007), "when provocative new trends in black music were exploding from the street by the month, Baker kept her head and made a traditional (i.e., with its roots in the '70s) soul record with brooding, slow-burn minor tunes of romantic celebration and earthy longing." [13] According to CBC Music journalist Amanda Parris, "Baker defined quiet storm in the '80's and her album Rapture is one of the subgenre's milestones." [14] Pitchfork placed the album at number 149 on its list of The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s. [15]

Commercial performance

Rapture peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and number 13 on the UK Albums Chart. [13] Promoted with two hit singles in "Sweet Love" and "Caught Up in the Rapture", [13] the album received significant airplay on both black radio and Top 40 formats, unlike Baker's 1983 debut The Songstress . [16] By October 1987, Rapture had sold three million copies. [17] It propelled Baker to stardom in soul and pop music during the late 1980s, winning two Grammy Awards and eventually sold over eight million copies worldwide. [18]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sweet Love"Anita Baker, Bobby Bell, Louis A. Johnson, Gary Bias 4:26
2."You Bring Me Joy" David Lasley, Bobby Bell4:24
3."Caught Up in the Rapture" Garry Glenn, Bobby Bell, Dianne Quander 5:17
4."Been So Long"Baker5:07
5."Mystery" Rod Temperton 4:56
6."No One in the World" (Produced by Marti Sharron and Gary Skardina) Ken Hirsch, Marti Sharron4:10
7."Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)" Marilyn McLeod, Darryl K. Roberts4:05
8."Watch Your Step"Baker4:54

Personnel

Musicians

  • Anita Baker – lead vocals, backing vocals (1–6), keyboards (8)
  • Dean "Sir" Gant – keyboards (1, 2, 4, 7, 8), arrangements
  • Vernon D. Fails – keyboards (3, 5)
  • Randy Kerber – keyboards (6)
  • Greg Phillinganes – synthesizer overdubs (6)
  • Paul Chiten – synthesizer overdubs (6)
  • Greg Moore – guitar (1, 2, 7)
  • Michael J. Powell – guitar (3, 5)
  • Donald Griffin – guitar (4, 8)
  • Dean Parks – lead guitar (6)
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – rhythm guitar (6)
  • Freddie Washington – bass (1, 2, 7)
  • David B. Washington – bass (3, 5, 8)
  • Jimmy Haslip – bass (4)
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass (6)
  • Ricky Lawson – drums (1, 2, 4, 7, 8)
  • Arthur Marbury – drums (3, 5)
  • John Robinson – drums (6)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2, 6, 7, 8)
  • Lorenzo Brown – percussion (3)
  • Lawrence Fratangelo – percussion (3, 5)
  • Don Myrick – saxophone (2)
  • Donald Albright – saxophone (8)
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 8)
  • Bunny Hull – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 8)
  • Daryl Phinnessee – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8)
  • Alex Brown – backing vocals (2, 8)
  • Vesta Williams – backing vocals (2, 8)
  • Natalie Jackson – backing vocals (5)
  • Lynn Davis – backing vocals (6)
  • Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (6)

Production

Accolades

Grammy Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1987 Rapture Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Won
"Sweet Love" Best R&B Song Won

American Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1987 Anita Baker Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist Nominated
Rapture Favorite Soul/R&B Album Nominated
1988 Anita BakerFavorite Soul/R&B Female ArtistWon
RaptureFavorite Soul/R&B AlbumWon

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Rapture
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [32] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [33] Platinum300,000^
United States (RIAA) [34] 5× Platinum5,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide—8,000,000 [35]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Baker</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1958)

Anita Denise Baker is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for her soulful ballads, particularly from the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s.

<i>Panorama</i> (The Cars album) 1980 studio album by the Cars

Panorama is the third studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on August 15, 1980, by Elektra Records. Like its predecessors, it was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released on Elektra Records.

<i>No Secrets</i> (Carly Simon album) 1972 studio album by Carly Simon

No Secrets is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records on November 28, 1972.

<i>Hotcakes</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Carly Simon

Hotcakes is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on January 11, 1974. Featuring the major hits "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" and "Mockingbird", the latter a duet with her then-husband James Taylor, Hotcakes became one of Simon's biggest selling albums. Her first concept album, the autobiographical songs portray Simon happily married and beginning a family.

<i>Boys in the Trees</i> 1978 studio album by Carly Simon

Boys in the Trees is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records in April 1978.

<i>The Dream of the Blue Turtles</i> 1985 studio album by Sting

The Dream of the Blue Turtles is the debut solo album by English musician Sting, released in June 1985. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200.

<i>City to City</i> 1978 studio album by Gerry Rafferty

City to City is the second solo studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, released on 20 January 1978 by United Artists Records. It was Rafferty's first solo release in six years—and first release of any kind since 1975—due to his tenure in the band Stealers Wheel and subsequent legal proceedings which prevented Rafferty from releasing any new solo recordings for the next three years. The album was well received, peaking at No. 1 in the US and going Platinum, as well as reaching No. 6 in the UK Albums Chart and achieving Gold status. "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line" and "Home and Dry" were hits on the American charts.

<i>The Songstress</i> 1983 studio album by Anita Baker

The Songstress is the debut solo album by the American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was originally released in 1983 by Beverly Glen Music, and was Baker's only album for that label prior to signing with Elektra Records with whom she had a string of hit albums. The Songstress was not a commercial success upon its initial release, though the album met with moderate success on the R&B charts. It did have a 1984 compact disc release and was one of the first independently released compact Discs. Notorious drug trafficker "Freeway" Rick Ross helped provide the money for the album.

<i>Break Out</i> (Pointer Sisters album) 1983 studio album by the Pointer Sisters

Break Out is the tenth studio album by American female vocal group the Pointer Sisters, released on November 1, 1983, on Planet Records, distributed by RCA Records. It is the Pointer Sisters' most successful album to date, peaking at number eight on the Billboard 200 and being certified triple-platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Winner in You</i> 1986 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Winner in You is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on April 28, 1986, in the United States. Recording sessions took place during 1985–1986. Production was handled by several record producers, including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Nickolas Ashford, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Love (Anita Baker song)</span> 1986 single by American singer Anita Baker

"Sweet Love" is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Anita Baker from her second studio album, Rapture (1986). It was written by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson, and Gary Bias, and produced by Michael J. Powell. It was released in May 1986 as the album's first single.

<i>Any Love</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Luther Vandross

Any Love is the sixth studio album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released by Epic Records on September 20, 1988, in the United States. Produced by Vandross and Marcus Miller, the album features a cover of Major Harris' hit single "Love Won't Let Me Wait" as well as "The Second Time Around," a re-recording of a song featured on Vandross's band Luther's 1976 album of the same name.

<i>Giving You the Best That I Got</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Anita Baker

Giving You the Best That I Got is the third album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1988. It was Baker's first and only #1 album in the US, her second #1 R&B Album, and was certified 3× platinum in 1989 by the RIAA. The title track was released as the first single from the album and became Baker's highest-charting single in the US, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album earned Baker three Grammy Awards and three Soul Train Music Awards.

<i>Compositions</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Anita Baker

Compositions is the fourth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. The album peaked at #5 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in 1990, making it Baker's third platinum selling album. The album also won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards. Two of its tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Talk to Me" peaking at number 44 for three consecutive weeks on July 28 and August 4 and 11 and "Soul Inspiration" at number 72 on October 13, 1990. Compositions would be the last album and collaboration between Baker and producer Michael J. Powell.

<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Anita Baker album) 1994 studio album by Anita Baker

Rhythm of Love is the fifth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1994. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and was certified double platinum, giving Baker her fourth platinum selling album.

<i>My Everything</i> (Anita Baker album) 2004 studio album by Anita Baker

My Everything is the sixth studio album by American singer Anita Baker. It was released by Blue Note Records on September 7, 2004 in the United States. It was Baker's first album for the label and her first album of new material in ten years. For her comeback album, Baker wanted to be "in control" of everything, and once again teamed up with Barry J. Eastmond and George Duke. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds also contributed. Baker wrote or co-wrote eight of the album's ten tracks. The last track, "Men in My Life" was written for her then-husband and two sons.

The Rapture Tour was the first headlining concert tour by American recording artist Anita Baker in support of her second studio album Rapture (1986). The tour started in mid-March 1986, visiting several cities throughout North America and Europe. In 1987, Baker kicked off a North America second leg trek, which included seven dates in Los Angeles at the Beverly Theatre in January, including two and three-night dates in Merrillville, Indiana, New York City and Miami, Florida. The outing included four sold-out shows scheduled in Washington, D.C., and three consecutive dates for the second visit in Merrillville, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anita Baker discography</span>

American singer-songwriter Anita Baker has released six studio albums, one compilation & live album, and twenty-four singles. Referred as the "Queen of Romantic Quiet-Storm R&B/Soul", she is considered to be one of the most successful and influential R&B artists of the 1980s. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Baker has sold 13 million certified albums in the United States, including three multi-platinum albums. She has also scored 5 number-one hits on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay and 13 top ten hits on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caught Up in the Rapture</span> 1986 single by Anita Baker

"Caught Up in the Rapture" is a 1986 ballad song by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was released as the follow-up single after "Sweet Love" from her album Rapture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunny Hull</span> American songwriter

Jeri Keever "Bunny" Hull is an American songwriter, musician, and author. Her catalog includes music, film and television projects. She is a recipient of 20 Gold and Platinum Certifications, a Grammy Award and two nominations, an Emmy nomination, a GMA Dove Award, a BMI Performance Award, and multiple Parents' Choice Awards. In 2021, Hull was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

References

  1. 1 2 Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 4, California., Docket No: No. B015417 (1986). "BEVERLY GLEN MUSIC INC v. WARNER COMMUNICATIONS INC (1986)". FindLaw. Retrieved February 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 Henderson, Alex. Rapture > review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1990). "B". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s . Pantheon Books. ISBN   0-679-73015-X. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020– via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus. p. 101. OL   11913831M.
  5. ↑ Graff, Gary; Freedom du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim, eds. (1998). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink. p. 27. OL   690592M.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Brad (March 21, 2021). "Anita Baker: Rapture". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ Hoerburger, Rob (September 11, 1986). "Anita Baker: Rapture : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  8. ↑ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME . 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-09-20. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  9. ↑ Anon. (March 3, 1987). "The 1986 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (February 3, 1987). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Rapture CD Album". CD Universe. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Agarwal, Manish; et al. (2007). The Mojo Collection (4th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 501. ISBN   978-1847676436.
  14. ↑ Parris, Amanda (November 24, 2017). "From Smokey Robinson to Anita Baker: an ode to quiet storm". CBC Music . Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  15. ↑ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s". Pitchfork . 10 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  16. ↑ Johnson, Connie (December 29, 1986). "Anita Baker Breaks Out Of Pop Pack". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ Hunt, Dennis (October 30, 1987). "Pop Lp Chart". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Revisiting Anita Baker's 'Rapture' (1986) | Retrospective Tribute". Albumism. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  19. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  20. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 45, No. 24". RPM . 1987-03-14. Archived from the original (PHP) on 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
  21. ↑ "charts.nz Anita Baker – Rapture" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
  22. ↑ "swedishcharts.com Anita Baker – Rapture" (ASP) (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
  23. ↑ "Anita Baker > Artists > Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  24. 1 2 3 "Allmusic: Rapture : Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  25. ↑ "Album Search: Anita Baker – Rapture" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  26. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ  – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1986". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  27. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1986". Billboard . 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Top Pop Albums of 1987". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
  29. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1987". Billboard . 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ: Top Pop Albums of 1988". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  31. ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1988". Billboard . 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Anita Baker – Rapture". Music Canada.
  33. ↑ "British album certifications – Anita Baker – Rapture". British Phonographic Industry.
  34. ↑ "American album certifications – Anita Baker – Rapture". Recording Industry Association of America.
  35. ↑ "#404 Anita Baker, 'Rapture' (1986)".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.