Best Of Anita Baker CD

Personnel includes: Anita Baker (vocals); Marvin Winans (vocals); James Macon, David T. Walker, Dean Parks (guitar); Vernon Fails, Patrick Moten, Michael J. Powell (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Raymond Calhouun, Stephen Ferrone, Ricky Lawson (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Bunny Hull, Phil Perry, Carmen Twillie, Doug Williams, Melvyn Williams, Ronald Winans, Carvin Winans, Valerie Pinkston Mayo (background vocals).
Producers include: Patrick Moten, Otis Smith, Michael J. Powell, Marti Sharoron, Gary Skardina.
Compilation producer: Barry "Rockbarry" Benson.
Includes liner notes by Janine Coveney.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Personnel: Marvin Winans (vocals); David T. Walker, Dean Parks, Donnie Lyle, George Wadenius, Hadley Hockensmith, Ira Siegel, James Macon, Michael J. Powell, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Greg Moore (guitar); Barry Eastmond (strings, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Don Myrick (saxophone); Eddie Howard, Jr. , George Duke, Greg Phillinganes, Bobby Lyle (piano); Robbie Buchanan (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Gary Taylor, Sir Gant, Loris Holland, Patrick Moten, Thomas Whitfield, Vernon D. Fails, Randy Kerber (keyboards); Sammy Merendino (synthesizer, programming); Joseph Vitarelli (Synclavier); John "J.R." Robinson , James Godson, Arthur Marbury, Omar Hakim, Raymond Calhoun, Ricky Lawson, Bill Maxwell, Steve Ferrone (drums); Lorenzo Brown, Lawrence Fratangelo, Alex Acuña, Paulinho Da Costa, Steve Thornton (percussion); David "E-Man" Ward, Ben Keys (programming); Clydene Jackson, Luther Waters, Lori Perri, Valerie Pinkston-Mayo, Sharon Perri, Herschel Boone, Darlene Perri, Gordon Chambers, Angel Edwards, Carol Perri, Jim Gilstrap, Julia Waters, Lori Perry, Alex Brown, Lynn Davis , Marva King, Maxine Willard Waters, Melvin Williams, Michael Winans, Oren Waters, Phillip Ingram, Ron Winans, Vesta Williams, Bunny Hull, Carmen Twillie, Carvin Winans (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Erik Zobler; George Duke; Gerard Smerek; Michael J. Powell; Barney Perkins.
Recording information: Aire L.A Studios, Glendale, CA; Ambience Studio, Detroit, MI; Anita Baker's House; Clinton Studio, New York, NY; East Bay Studios, Tarrytown, NYPearl Sound, Detroit, MI; Electric Lady Studio, New York, NY; Encore Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Gnome Studios; Greene Street Studio, New York NY; Hitsville; Kendun Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Music Grinder Recording Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA; Power Station, New York, NY; Producers I & II; Selah Recording Studio, Detroit, MI; Skyline Studios, New York, NY; Sound Castle, Los Angeles, CA; Sound Lab I, Detroit, MI; Sound Suite, Detroit MI; Soundtracks Recording Studio, New York, NY; Studio A, Detroit, MI; Studio Ultimo, Los Angeles, CA; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; TMF Studios, New York, NY; United Sound Systems, Inc., Detroit, MI; Yamaha R&D Studio, Glendale, CA.
Photographers: Harry Langdon; Carol Friedman.
Arrangers: Patrick Moten; Anita Baker; Rick Nowels; Barry Eastmond.
Rhino's 2002 compilation The Best of Anita Baker contains all of her hits -- both the pop crossovers and songs that were big only on the R&B charts. Many of these songs are presented in their single edits, not the album versions, which is a plus, since these are the versions that were played on the radio. Although it is true that nothing Anita Baker did was ever as sublime as Rapture, she did continually turn out fine adult contemporary and urban soul ballads throughout the late '80s and early '90s, all of which are here, making this not just a good summary/introduction, but a nice disc of highlights for those searching for more than Rapture. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
THE BEST OF ANITA BAKER contains all the single hits from the doyenne of Quiet Storm, plus a plethora of album cuts and nuggets that will make investigation of this summation of Anita Baker's career thus far a pleasure for neophytes and longtime fans alike. From her fir