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.[4]
Baker became a major international success after signing with Elektra Records (a division of Warner Music Group) in 1986, and Elektra acquired the rights to The Songstress and re-released it with a new cover in 1991. Between 1992-2007, the album sold 307,000 copies in the US according to SoundScan figures.
"No More Tears" peaked at number 49 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, becoming Baker's first entry on the Billboard's singles chart;[5] "Angel," number five on the same chart;[6] "You're the Best Thing Yet," number 28.[6]
Alex Henderson of AllMusic rated the album three and a half stars, praising her ballads and 'slow jams' (such as "No More Tears", "Angel", and "You're the Best Thing Yet"), calling them "honest [and] heartfelt", along with faster material such as "Squeeze Me" (which he referred to as "a sweaty taste of gospel-drenched funk.[7]
^Henderson, Alex (2003) [circa 1991]. "Anita Baker – The Songstress". All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. p. 30. ISBN0879307447.
Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 R&B and Hip-hop Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN9780823082834. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
January 01, 1970
songstress, film, film, debut, solo, album, american, soul, singer, anita, baker, originally, released, 1983, beverly, glen, music, baker, only, album, that, label, prior, signing, with, elektra, records, with, whom, string, albums, commercial, success, upon, . For the film see The Songstress film The Songstress is the debut solo album by the American R amp 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 amp 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 4 The SongstressCover of the original 1983 releaseStudio album by Anita BakerReleasedMay 31 1983November 12 1991 reissue StudioKendun Recorders Burbank California GenreR amp B soul soul jazzLength42 00LabelBeverly GlenElektra reissue ProducerPatrick MotenOtis SmithAnita Baker chronologyThe Songstress 1983 Rapture 1986 Singles from The Songstress Angel Released 1983 You re the Best Thing Yet Released 1983 No More Tears Released 1983 Feel the Need Released 1984 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusic 1 BBC positive 2 Christgau s Record GuideB 3 Baker became a major international success after signing with Elektra Records a division of Warner Music Group in 1986 and Elektra acquired the rights to The Songstress and re released it with a new cover in 1991 Between 1992 2007 the album sold 307 000 copies in the US according to SoundScan figures Contents 1 Reception 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 3 1 Production 4 Charts 5 ReferencesReception edit No More Tears peaked at number 49 on Billboard s Hot Black Singles chart becoming Baker s first entry on the Billboard s singles chart 5 Angel number five on the same chart 6 You re the Best Thing Yet number 28 6 Alex Henderson of AllMusic rated the album three and a half stars praising her ballads and slow jams such as No More Tears Angel and You re the Best Thing Yet calling them honest and heartfelt along with faster material such as Squeeze Me which he referred to as a sweaty taste of gospel drenched funk 7 Track listing edit Angel Patrick Moten Sandra Sully 4 57 You re the Best Thing Yet Moten Geronne C Turner 5 36 Feel The Need Moten 5 35 Squeeze Me Moten 4 40 No More Tears Michael J Powell 5 38 Sometimes Moten Sully 5 53 Will You Be Mine Moten Carlos Turrentine 5 24 Do You Believe Me Moten 3 55Personnel editAnita Baker lead vocals Patrick Moten keyboards rhythm section arrangements BGV arrangements David T Walker guitar Paul Jackson Jr guitar James Macon guitar Craig Cooper guitar Nathan East bass Raymond Calhoun drums James Gadson drums Otis Smith backing vocals arrangements Gene Page string arrangements Anthony T Coleman string contractor Billy Page string contractor The Waters Maxine Waters Julia Waters Luther Waters and Oren Waters backing vocals Carmen Twillie backing vocals Phil Perry backing vocals Jim Gilstrap backing vocals Clydene Jackson backing vocals Bunny Hull backing vocals Production edit Executive Producer Otis Smith Producers Patrick Moten and Otis Smith Engineer Barney Perkins Assistant Engineer Tom Cummings Recorded at Kendun Recorders Burbank CA Mastered by John Matousek at Hitsville Studios Hollywood CA Digital Remastered and Edited by John Matousek and Gerard Smerek at Soundworks West Hollywood CA Art Direction and Design John Coulter Design Artwork Ginny Livingston Original Photography Richard Arrindell Front Cover and Inside Photo Kevin Winter Back Cover Photo Adrian BuckmasterCharts editChart 1983 Peakposition US Billboard 200 138 US Billboard Top R amp B Albums 12References edit Henderson Alex The Songstress gt review at AllMusic Retrieved 2013 04 11 O Donnell David December 11 2008 The Songstress gt review BBC Retrieved 2013 04 13 Christgau Robert 1990 B Christgau s Record Guide The 80s Pantheon Books ISBN 0 679 73015 X Retrieved August 16 2020 via robertchristgau com Freeway Rick Ross Reality Check 7 February 2011 VH1 Rock Stars Encyclopedia p 58 a b Whitburn 2006 p 25 Henderson Alex 2003 circa 1991 Anita Baker The Songstress All Music Guide to Soul The Definitive Guide to R amp B and Soul p 30 ISBN 0879307447 Whitburn Joel 2006 The Billboard Book of Top 40 R amp B and Hip hop Hits Billboard Books ISBN 9780823082834 Retrieved October 30 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Songstress amp oldid 1219658370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
