The Best of Anita Baker

by Anita Baker

Overview

With her rich, jazz- and gospel-informed contralto, Anita Baker is one of the modern era's best soul singers. And this 18-song collection pays fine tribute to the sophisticated chanteuse, who sadly hasn't released a new recording since 1994's Rhythm of Love. The opening ballad, "Angel," taken from Baker's excellent yet oft-overlooked 1983 debut, The Songstress, is still a real tear-jerker. Likewise, her breakthrough hits "Sweet Love, "You Bring Me Joy," and "Caught Up in the Rapture," from her Grammy-winning sophomore disc, Rapture, sound as endearing and vibrant as ever. Baker continued her reign as Queen of the Quiet Storm with 1988's Giving You the Best That I Got, which spawned several gems, including the hymnlike "Lead Me into Love" and the bluesy "Good Love." Even more reflective of her jazz influences (Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Nancy Wilson) was 1990's Compositions, which produced the wistful "Fairy Tales" and the encouraging "Talk to Me." The nostalgic disc ends with three highlights from Rhythm of Love, including the piano- and harmony-driven "Body and Soul." Baker's vocal ingenuity, feminine grace, and romantic sense of style -- remember her classy but curvaceous dresses with the flowing hemlines? -- make her a clear precursor of the new legion of female R&B singers, including Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, and Alicia Keys, who have found the courage to sing from the soul and forge their own identities. Baker has always given her fans the best that she's got, and The Best of Anita Baker leaves us anxiously awaiting more.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/18/2002
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0081227820923
catalogNumber:	78209
Rank:	13427

Tracks

1. Angel
2. You're the Best Thing Yet
3. No More Tears
4. Sweet Love
5. Caught Up in the Rapture
6. You Bring Me Joy
7. Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)
8. No One in the World
9. Ain't No Need to Worry
10. Giving You the Best That I Got
11. Good Love
12. Just Because
13. Lead Me into Love
14. Fairy Tales
15. Talk to Me
16. Body and Soul
17. I Apologize
18. It's Been You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Anita Baker   Primary Artist
Gary Taylor   Keyboards
Vesta   Background Vocals
George Duke   Piano
Omar Hakim   Drums
Bobby Lyle   Piano
David T. Walker   Guitar
Thomas Whitfield   Keyboards
Ron Winans   Background Vocals
Bunny Hull   Background Vocals
Melvin Williams   Background Vocals
Alex Acuña   Percussion
Herschel Boone   Background Vocals
Alex Brown   Background Vocals
Lorenzo Brown   Percussion
Robbie Buchanan   Synthesizer,Keyboards
Raymond Calhoun   Drums
Gordon Chambers   Background Vocals
Paul Chiten   Synthesizer Overdubs
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Lynn Davis   Background Vocals
Nathan East   Bass
Barry J. Eastmond   Synthesizer,Piano,Strings,fender rhodes
Angel Edwards   Background Vocals
Vernon D. Fails   Keyboards
Steve Ferrone   Drums
Lawrence Fratangelo   Percussion
Gant   Keyboards
Jim Gilstrap   Background Vocals
Andrew Gouche   Bass
Hadley Hockensmith   Guitar
Loris Holland   Keyboards
Phillip Ingram   Background Vocals
Paul Jackson   Guitar
Clydene Jackson   Background Vocals
Randy Kerber   Keyboards
Marva King   Background Vocals
Ricky Lawson   Drums
Donnie Lyle   Guitar
James Macon   Guitar
Arthur Marbury   Drums
Bill Maxwell   Drums
Sammy Merendino   Synthesizer
Greg Moore   Guitar
Patrick Moten   Keyboards
Don Myrick   Saxophone
Lori Perry   Background Vocals
Dean Parks   Guitar
Carol Perri   Background Vocals
Darlene Perri   Background Vocals
Sharon Perri   Background Vocals
Greg Phillinganes   Piano,Synthesizer Overdubs
Valerie Pinkston-Mayo   Background Vocals
Michael J. Powell   Guitar
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Ira Siegel   Guitar
Neil Stubenhaus   Bass
Steve Thornton   Percussion
Carmen Twillie   Background Vocals
Joseph Vitarelli   Synclavier
David B. Washington   Bass
Maxine Willard Waters   Background Vocals
Luther Waters   Background Vocals
Oren Waters   Background Vocals
Carvin Winans   Background Vocals
Marvin Winans   Vocals
Michael Winans   Background Vocals
Julia Waters   Background Vocals
James Godson   Drums
Eddie Howard   Piano
Lori Perri   Background Vocals
"Ready" Freddie Washington   Bass
Georg "Jojje" Wadenius   Guitar

Technical Credits

Anita Baker   Arranger,Producer,Executive Producer,Vocal Arrangements
Quincy Jones   Executive Producer
Gene Page   String Arrangements
Ron Winans   Producer
Alex Brown   Vocal Arrangements
Hugh Brown   Art Direction
Mike Brown   Engineer
Robbie Buchanan   Programming,String Arrangements
Craig Burbidge   Engineer
Gordon Chambers   Vocal Arrangements
Milton Chan   Engineer
Earl Cohen   Engineer
Barry J. Eastmond   Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements
Robert Feist   Engineer
Johnny Green   Composer
Darroll Gustamachio   Engineer
Jerry Hey   Horn Arrangements
Edward Heyman   Composer
Ben Keys   Programming
Win Kutz   Engineer
Fred Law   Engineer
Benny Medina   Executive Producer
Sammy Merendino   Programming
Patrick Moten   Arranger,Producer,Vocal Arrangements
Bruce Nazarian   Engineer
Rick Nowels   Arranger
Michael O'Reilly   Engineer
Barney Perkins   Engineer
Valerie Pinkston-Mayo   Vocal Arrangements
Michael J. Powell   Producer,String Arrangements
Paul Riser   String Arrangements
Schmitt   Engineer
Marti Sharron   Producer
Gary Skardina   Producer,Engineer
Gerard Smerek   Engineer
Otis Smith   Producer,Executive Producer,Vocal Arrangements
Barton Stevens   Engineer
Stan Wallace   Engineer
Carvin Winans   Producer
Marvin Winans   Producer
Michael Winans   Producer
Warren Woods   Engineer
Carol Friedman   Cover Photo
Reggie Collins   Discographical Annotation
Steve Gallagher   Engineer
Barry Hankerson   Producer,Executive Producer
David "E-Man" Ward   Programming
Robert Sour   Composer
Frank Eyton   Composer
Tim Scanlin   Liner Note Coordination
D. Cooper   Engineer
Tom Beiner   Engineer
Geronne C. Turner   Composer
Rietz   Composer
Larry Prentiss   Composer
Elliott Peters   Engineer