Compositions (album) explained

Compositions
Type:	studio
Artist:	Anita Baker
Cover:	Compositions cover.jpg
Released:	July 3, 1990^[1]
Recorded:	1990 at Encore Studios (Burbank, CA); Ocean Way Recording and Studio Ultimo (Los Angeles, CA); Sound Lab 1 (Detroit, MI); Ambience Recorders (Farmington Hills, MI). Unique Recording Studios, New York City^[2]
Length:	50:27
Label:	Elektra
Producer:	Michael J. Powell
Prev Title:	Giving You the Best That I Got
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Rhythm of Love
Next Year:	1994

Compositions is the fourth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. The album peaked at #5 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in 1990, making it Baker's third platinum selling album. The album also won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards. Two of its tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Talk to Me" peaking at number 44 for three consecutive weeks on July 28 and August 4 and 11 and "Soul Inspiration" at number 72 on October 13, 1990.^{[3] [4]} Compositions would be the last album and collaboration between Baker and producer Michael J. Powell.

Track listing

1. "Talk to Me" (Baker, Vernon Fails, Michael Powell) - 5:03
2. "Perfect Love Affair" (Baker, Joel Davis) - 5:19
3. "Whatever It Takes" (Baker, Marc Gordon, Gerald LeVert) - 5:35
4. "Soul Inspiration" (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle) - 5:17
5. "Lonely" (Baker) - 4:29
6. "No One to Blame" (Baker, Fails) - 4:41
7. "More Than You Know" (Baker, Vernon Fails, Michael Powell) - 4:48
8. "Love You to The Letter" (James McBride) - 7:20
9. "Fairy Tales" (Baker, Fails, Powell) - 7:55

Personnel

• Anita Baker – lead and backing vocals
• Vernon Fails – keyboards
• Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano, backing vocals (7)
• Ben Keys – programming
• David Ward – programming
• Michael J. Powell – guitar (1-4, 6, 7, 9), backing vocals (7)
• Earl Klugh – guitar (7)
• Nathan East – bass, backing vocals (7)
• Ricky Lawson – drums (1, 4, 5, 7)
• Steve Ferrone – drums (2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2, 4-9)
• Perri (Carol, Darlene, Lori and Sharon Perry) – backing vocals (2, 4, 7), BGV arrangement (4)

Production

• Producer – Michael J. Powell
• Executive Producer – Anita Baker
• Engineer – Barney Perkins
• Second Engineers – Tom Beiner, Steve Gallagher and Bart Stevens.
• Assistant Engineer – Milton Chan
• Additional Engineers – Darroll Gustamachio, Elliott Peters and Gerard Smerek.
• Mixing – Barney Perkins (Tracks 1, 3 & 5-9); Gerard Smerek (Tracks 2 & 4).
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
• Art Direction – Anita Baker and Carol Bobolts
• Photography – Adrian Buckmaster
• Management – Randy Bash, Sherwin Bash and Ricki Sellner for BNB Associates, Ltd.

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year	Work	Category	Result
1991	Compositions	Best Female R&B Vocal Performance	Won
			Nominated

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[5]	54
European Albums (Music & Media)^[6]	29

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)! scope="col"

Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[7]	71
US Billboard 200^[8]	56
US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard)^[9]	22
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[10]	28

Chart (1991)! scope="col"

Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[11]	59

Notes and References

1. Nathan, David . Baker Issues Mature 'Compositions': Singer's Success Paves Way for Peers . 24 February 2021 . Billboard . 27 . 1990-07-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121043945/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-07-07.pdf . January 21, 2021 . 28 . English . The result is "Compositions," Baker's latest work, which arrives at retail Tuesday (3).".
2. https://www.facebook.com/UniqueRecordingStudios/photos/a.649655181769411/649656421769287/?type=3&theater
3. https://www.billboard.com/artist/anita-baker/chart-history/hsi/# Anita Baker, Billboard Hot 100  - Billboard.com.
4. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1990-08-11/ Billboard Hot 100, Week of August 11, 1990  - Billboard.com.
5. Web site: Week commencing 3 September 1990. Bubbling Down Under. September 3, 2021. September 4, 2021.
6. European Top 100 Albums. Music & Media. 7. 29. July 21, 1990. VIII. 29800226. World Radio History.
7. Top 100 Albums of 1990. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 27, 2022.
8. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726093551/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/top-billboard-200-albums. July 26, 2020.
9. Contemporary Jazz Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. May 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726085541/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/contemporary-jazz-albums/. July 26, 2020.
10. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726093618/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. July 26, 2020.
11. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991. Billboard. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726114712/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1991/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. July 26, 2020.