Album dossier / 1986

Rapture

Anita Baker · Soul/R&B

Rapture was recorded in 1985 at Yamaha R&D Studio (Glendale), Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood) and United Sound Systems in Baker's adopted hometown of Detroit, reuniting her with Michael J. Powell, her former bandmate from the Detroit funk/R&B group Chapter 8, who produced seven of the album's eight tracks while Baker served as executive producer and co-wrote three songs. The record was finished amid an ongoing lawsuit from Baker's former label, Beverly Glen Music, which tried to block its release; the case was decided in Baker/Elektra's favor on March 19, 1986, one day before Rapture came out. Lead single 'Sweet Love' climbed slowly but hit #1 on the R&B chart and won Baker her first Grammy, and the album's understated blend of gospel-inflected contralto vocals and smooth jazz arrangements helped define mid-80s 'quiet storm' R&B.