ANITA BAKER – THE SONGSTRESS LP – Nr MINT 1991 SOUL

Anita Baker – The Songstress
(Elektra Records  1991  EKT100)
Matrix No’s: A2/B2

Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

Anita Denise Baker (born January 26, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her platinum-selling second album, Rapture, which included the Grammy-winning single “Sweet Love”. She is regarded as one of the most popular singers of soulful romantic ballads during the height of the quiet storm period of contemporary R&B in the 1980s.

As of 2017, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards and has five platinum albums and one gold album. Her vocal range is contralto.

The Songstress is the debut solo album by the American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was originally released in 1983 by Beverly Glen Music, and was Baker’s only album for that label prior to signing with Elektra Records with whom she had a string of hit albums. The Songstress was not a commercial success upon its initial release, though the album met with moderate success on the R&B charts. It did have a 1984 compact disc release and was one of the first independently released compact Discs. Notorious drug trafficker “Freeway” Rick Ross helped provide the money for the album.

1. “Angel” (Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully) – 4:57
2. “You’re the Best Thing Yet” (Moten, Geronne C. Turner) – 5:36
3. “Feel the Need” (Moten) – 5:35
4. “Squeeze Me” (Moten) – 4:40
5. “No More Tears” (Michael J. Powell) – 5:38
6. “Sometimes” (Moten, Sully) – 5:53
7. “Will You Be Mine” (Moten, Carlos Turrentine) – 5:24
8. “Do You Believe Me” (Moten) – 3:55

• Anita Baker – lead vocals
• Patrick Moten – keyboards, rhythm section arrangements, BGV arrangements
• David T. Walker – guitar
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
• James Macon – guitar
• Craig Cooper – guitar
• Nathan East – bass
• Raymond Calhoun – drums
• James Gadson – drums
• Otis Smith – backing vocals arrangements
• Gene Page – string arrangements
• Anthony T. Coleman – string contractor
• Billy Page – string contractor
• “The Waters”: Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, Luther Waters and Oren Waters – backing vocals
• Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
• Phil Perry – backing vocals
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
• Clydene Jackson – backing vocals
• Bunny Hull – backing vocals

• Executive Producer – Otis Smith
• Producers – Patrick Moten and Otis Smith
• Engineer – Barney Perkins
• Assistant Engineer – Tom Cummings
• Recorded at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
• Mastered by John Matousek at Hitsville Studios (Hollywood, CA).
• Digital Remastered and Edited by John Matousek and Gerard Smerek at Soundworks West (Hollywood, CA).
• Art Direction and Design – John Coulter Design
• Artwork – Ginny Livingston
• Original Photography – Richard Arrindell
• Front Cover and Inside Photo – Kevin Winter
• Back Cover Photo – Adrian Buckmaster