| | Anita Baker Compositions CD Anita Baker Discography of CDs
 (4 Customer Reviews)
A special limited edition packaged like an old fashioned 78 LP.
On Rapture and Giving You the Best That I Got, Anita Baker embraced a blend of technology and "real instruments" -- a definite contrast to the completely high-tech approach of so much '80s and '90s R&B. But on Compositions, producer Michael J. Powell moved even closer to a '70s-like approach to R&B -- recording Baker's vocals live in the studio, employing a live rhythm section, and avoiding drum machines altogether. What stayed the same was the type of material. Once again, Baker rejects hip-hop, techno-funk, new jack swing, and other '80s and '90s black music styles in favor of a consistently relaxed soul/pop mood. Though there's a lot to admire here -- including "No One to Blame," "Soul Inspiration," and "Whatever It Takes," a song Baker wrote with Gerald LeVert and Marc Gordon of LeVert -- Baker's approach was beginning to sound formulaic in 1990. Clearly blessed with a magnificent range and lots of soul, Baker needs to experiment and take more risks. And one way to go just might be jazz. The torchy and captivating "Lonely" shows that she has the ability to record a first-rate jazz album (if Elektra would okay such a project for her). Imagine Baker backed by James Moody, Tom Harrell, Chick Corea, Ray Brown, and Grady Tate. ~ Alex Henderson
Live Recording
Recorded at Encore Studios; Studio Ultimo; Sound Lab 1; Ambience; Oceanway.
Personnel: Anita Baker (vocals), Earl Klugh, Michael J. Powell (guitar), Nathan East (bass), Greg Phillinganes (piano), Vernon Fails (keyboards), Ricky Lawson, Stephen Ferrone (drums), Paulinho da Costa (percussion), Darlene, Lori, Sharon, Carol, Michael J. Powell, Greg Phillinganes, Nathan East (background vocals).
Personnel: Anita Baker (vocals); Earl Klugh, Michael J. Powell (guitar, background vocals); Greg Phillinganes (piano, background vocals); Vernon Fails (keyboards); Nathan East (bass, background vocals); Stephen Ferrone, Ricky Lawson (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Perri (background vocals).
Anita Baker Compositions Songs Compositions Music Review Average Rating: (4.8 out of 5 stars)   Simply beautiful
This album is absoluty classy and soulful down to the last second of each song. Anita Baker proved to be a great songstress through the 80s and 90s with simply excellent ballads. This album is so beautiful and uplifting. The three best songs I recommend are "Talk To Me" "Soul Inspiration" and "Fairy Tales"
Submitted by dillonc91 (Columbus, Ohio)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Pure Class!
Well here she does it again, simply timeless, classy material. I mean really was there anyone else more consistent from 1986-1990? I think not. Anita Baker is simply legendary and this album is one of the pillars to support that claim. Nothing to skip here. It is nearly impossible to say which one of these (Rapture, Compositions and Giving You the Best That I Got) is the best. She manages to have a "sound" and not sound the same on every song. Simply beyond reproach. A must have.
Submitted by marcusj_j (Aurora, IL, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Anita In Her Element
This is the way Anita should best be listened to, in front of live instruments and with minimal production (just about all the tracks on this album were recorded LIVE in the studio). An added plus is the fact that she wrote/co-wrote a good share of the material on 'Compositions', thereby making it Anita's most personal album to date. Her singing as always is on point and hard to resist. Critics took a dump on this release back in the day because it wasn't commericial fare like 'Rapture' or 'Giving You The Best That I Got', but what do THEY know!?!?!? No serious Anita collection is complete without it, though.
Submitted by Manuel (California)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Wonderful Music From A Beautiful Songtress!!!
This woman sings beautiful ballads and melodies. This is one of the best albums for any music lover. The ballads are just right.
Submitted by a reviewer (San Bernardino,CA)
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Purchase Compositions CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Anita Baker Rapture CD (1986)
Compositions album
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Anita Baker's follow-up to her 1986 breakthrough, RAPTURE, closely follows the template of that album, reconvening the same producer, musicians, and some of the same songwriters for an outing that sounds more like ...
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Digitally remastered by John Matousek & Gerard Smerek (Soundworks West, Hollywood, California).
Legions ...
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"I Apologize" won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
"Body And Soul" was nominated for 1995 Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, and RHYTHM OF LOVE was nominated for Best R&B Album.
Out of sight, out of mind is the rule in popular music, so you'd have thought that during the four years Anita Baker stepped back from the recording industry to have a family, her popularity would have subsided. But radio never stopped playing her rapturous love songs, primary colors of the new romanticism.
With RHYTHM OF LOVE, Anita Baker reclaims her quiet storm torch from descendants such as Toni Braxton. The rich ornaments and expressive vibrato of her bass range evoke images of Sarah Vaughan, while she demonstrates a breathy, horn-like fluency in the upper registers. In ...
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