Anita Baker ‎– The Songstress / Elektra ‎Audio CD 1991 / 7559-61116-2

UPC 07559-61116-21

Baker's deservedly obscure 1983 debut was reissued in 1991, long after her 1986 Rapture CD had garnered a Grammy and established her as a sophisticated, sensuous balladeer. Baker's smoky alto is recognizable enough, but it lacks the emotional immediacy and dramatic phrasing of her later work. The best track here is obviously "Angel," which sounds like a less polished version of Baker's breakthrough hit, "Sweet Love." Otherwise, Baker fans will wince at the turgid arrangement of "Feel the Need," and chuckle over the kitsch horror of Baker trying to negotiate her way through the swirling clutter of the postdisco dance track "Squeeze Me." For completists only. --Britt Robson

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. Notorious drug trafficker "Freeway" Rick Ross helped provide the money for the album.

Baker became a major international success after signing with Elektra Records (a division of Warner Music Group) in 1986, and Elektra acquired the rights to The Songstress and re-released it with a new cover in 1991. Between 1992-2007, the album sold 307,000 copies in the US according to SoundScan figures.

• 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 – BGV 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

Production

• 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