Rapture (Anita Baker album) explained

Rapture
Type:	studio
Artist:	Anita Baker
Cover:	Anita Baker - Rapture.jpg
Released:	March 20, 1986
Recorded:	1985
Studio:	Yamaha R & D Studio (Glendale, California); United Sound Systems (Detroit, Michigan); Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre:	R&B soul quiet storm
Length:	37:09
Label:	Elektra
Producer:	Bobby Bell Michael J. Powell Marti Sharron Gary Skardina
Prev Title:	The Songstress
Prev Year:	1983
Next Title:	Giving You the Best That I Got
Next Year:	1988

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.

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 Rapture was released the following day.

Critical reception

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".^[2] At the end of 1986, Rapture was ranked number 2 among the "Albums of the Year" by NME.^[3] 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.^[4] 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".^[5]

In 1989, Rapture was ranked number 36 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 greatest albums from the 1980s.^[6] The same publication would later include the album as number 404 on their 2020 list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.^[7] In retrospect, AllMusic's Alex Henderson said, "Raptures tremendous success made it clear that there was still a sizeable market for adult-oriented, more traditional R&B singing." 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."^[8] 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."^[9] Pitchfork placed the album at number 149 on its list of The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s.^[10]

Commercial performance

Rapture peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and number 13 on the UK Albums Chart.^[8] Promoted with two hit singles in "Sweet Love" and "Caught Up in the Rapture",^[8] the album received significant airplay on both black radio and Top 40 formats, unlike Baker's 1983 debut The Songstress.^[11] By October 1987, Rapture had sold three million copies.^[12] 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.^[13]

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

• Executive producer – Anita Baker
• Producers – Michael J. Powell (tracks 1–5, 7 & 8); Marti Sharron and Gary Skardina (track 6)
• Engineers – Barney Perkins (tracks 1–5, 7 & 8); Robert Feist and Gary Skardina (track 6)
• Assistant engineers on tracks 1–5, 7 & 8 – Keith "KC" Cohen, Fred Law, Tony Ray and Keith Seppanen
• Mixing – Barney Perkins and Michael J. Powell
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Art direction and photography – Carol Friedman
• Creative director – Hale Milgrim
• Design – Sue Keston

Accolades

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1987	Rapture	Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
	"Sweet Love"	Best R&B Song

American Music Awards

|-|rowspan="2"| ||| Anita Baker || Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist || |-| Rapture || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || |-|rowspan="2"| ||| Anita Baker || Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist || |-| Rapture || Favorite Soul/R&B Album || |-

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart! scope="col"

Position
Australian Kent Music Report^[14]	33
Canadian RPM Albums Chart^[15]	25
New Zealand Albums Chart^[16]	12
Swedish Albums Chart^[17]	32
UK Albums Chart^[18]	13
US Billboard 200^[19]	11
US Billboard R&B Albums	1
US Billboard Jazz Albums	24
West German Media Control Albums Chart^[20]	50

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)! scope="col"

Position
US Billboard 200^[21]	59
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[22]	7

Chart (1987)! scope="col"

Position
US Billboard 200^[23]	9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[24]	3

Chart (1988)!scope="col"

Position
US Billboard 200^[25]	51
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[26]	57

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1986 (U.S.)

External links

• Rapture (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
• "Rapture" at Discogs; click the "more images" link for publishing

Notes and References

1. Web site: Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 4, California. . Docket No: No. B015417 . 1986 . BEVERLY GLEN MUSIC INC v. WARNER COMMUNICATIONS INC (1986) . February 5, 2024 . FindLaw.
2. Hoerburger . Rob . Anita Baker: Rapture : Music Reviews . . 2013-04-11 . September 11, 1986 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080512014915/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/anitabaker/albums/album/300992/review/5942448/rapture . 2008-05-12 . dead.
3. Albums and Tracks of the Year . 2018 . . September 19, 2018 . 2018-09-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011238/https://www.nme.com/bestalbumsandtracksoftheyear/1986-2-1045387 . live .
4. News: Anon.. March 3, 1987. The 1986 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll. The Village Voice. March 25, 2017. November 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124033136/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres86.php. live.
5. News: Christgau. Robert. February 3, 1987. Consumer Guide. The Village Voice. March 25, 2017. February 5, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170205013324/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv2-87.php. live.
6. Web site: Rapture CD Album. CD Universe. March 25, 2017. June 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130617175020/http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1095424/a/rapture.htm. live.
7. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. September 25, 2020. September 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925005835/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063. live.
8. Book: Agarwal . Manish . . Alexander . Phil . Aston . Martin . Barnes . Mike . Batey . Agnus . Black . Johnny . Bradley . Lloyd . . 2007 . 978-1847676436 . 4th . 501 . 1.
9. Web site: Parris. Amanda. November 24, 2017. From Smokey Robinson to Anita Baker: an ode to quiet storm. CBC Music. September 19, 2018. September 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180919211515/https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/19341/smokey-robinson-anita-baker-quiet-storm-cbc. live.
10. Web site: The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s . . 10 September 2018 . December 4, 2019 . 5 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191205124451/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/?page=3 . live .
11. News: Johnson. Connie. December 29, 1986. Anita Baker Breaks Out Of Pop Pack. Los Angeles Times. March 28, 2017. March 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170328195727/http://articles.latimes.com/1986-12-29/entertainment/ca-1063_1_anita-baker. live.
12. News: Hunt. Dennis. October 30, 1987. Pop Lp Chart. Los Angeles Times. March 28, 2017. March 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170328195445/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-10-30/entertainment/ca-11496_1_sting-album. live.
13. Web site: Revisiting Anita Baker's 'Rapture' (1986) Retrospective Tribute . 2022-03-20 . Albumism . en-US.
14. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6 .
15. Top Albums/CDs - Volume 45, No. 24. RPM. PHP. 1987-03-14. 2014-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20140303073834/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0789&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5. 2014-03-03. dead.
16. Web site: charts.nz Anita Baker – Rapture. Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. ASP. 2014-05-15. 2019-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20191128035935/https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Anita+Baker&titel=Rapture&cat=a. live.
17. Web site: swedishcharts.com Anita Baker – Rapture. ASP. Swedish. 2014-05-15. 2012-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20121114132422/http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Peter+Gabriel&titel=So&cat=a. live.
18. Web site: Anita Baker > Artists > Official Charts. Official Charts Company. 2014-05-18. 2014-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20140709224726/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/anita%20baker/. live.
19. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1984103/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic: ''Rapture'' : Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums]. allmusic.com. 2014-05-16.
20. Web site: Album Search: Anita Baker – Rapture. German. Media Control. 2014-05-11. 2021-11-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20211109083235/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/. live.
21. Web site: Billboard.BIZ  – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1986. billboard.biz. 2012-12-08. 2012-12-09. https://archive.today/20121209212901/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/1986/the-billboard-200. live.
22. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1986. Billboard. 2 January 2013. January 17, 2020. July 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190709001118/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1986/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. live.
23. Web site: Top Pop Albums of 1987. billboard.biz. 2012-12-31. 2012-08-02. https://archive.today/20120802034725/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.biz%2Fbbbiz%2Fcharts%2Farchivesearch%2Farticle_display%2F855248. live.
24. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1987. Billboard. 2 January 2013. January 17, 2020. January 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115004715/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1987/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. live.
25. Web site: Billboard.BIZ: Top Pop Albums of 1988. billboard.biz. 2013-01-01. 2013-01-01. https://archive.today/20130101023827/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/854919?imw=Y. live.
26. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1988. Billboard. 2 January 2013. January 17, 2020. July 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180705184242/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. live.