The Songstress
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| The Songstress | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the original 1983 release. | ||||
| Studio album by Anita Baker | ||||
| Released |
May 31, 1983 November 12, 1991 (reissue) | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 42:00 | |||
| Label |
Beverly Glen Elektra (reissue) | |||
| Producer | Patrick Moten, Otis Smith | |||
| Anita Baker chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Cover of the 1991 re-release from Elektra Records. |
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| BBC | (positive) [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B+ [3] |
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.
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.
Singles
- "Angel" b/w "Do You Believe Me"
- "You're The Best Thing Yet" b/w "Squeeze Me"
- "No More Tears" b/w "Will You Be Mine"
- "Feel The Need" b/w "Sometimes"
Track listing
- "Angel" (Baker, Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully) 4:57
- "You're The Best Thing Yet" (Moten, Geronne C. Turner) 5:36
- "Feel The Need" (Moten) 5:35
- "Squeeze Me" (Moten) 4:40
- "No More Tears" (Michael Powell) 5:38
- "Sometimes" (Moten, Sully) 5:53
- "Will You Be Mine" (Moten, Carlos Turrentine) 5:24
- "Do You Believe Me" (Moten) 3:55
Personnel
- Nathan East - Bass
- David T. Walker - Guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
- James Macon - Guitar
- Craig Cooper - Guitar
- Raymond Calhoun - Drums
- James Gadson - Drums
- Patrick Moten - Keyboard
- "The Waters": Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, Luther Waters & Oren Waters - Background Vocals
- Carmen Twillie - Background Vocals
- Phil Perry - Background Vocals
- James Gilstrap - Background Vocals
- Clydene Jackson - Background Vocals
- Bunny Hull - Background Vocals
Production
- Executive Producer: Otis Smith
- Producers: Patrick Moten & Otis Smith
- Background Vocal Arrangers: Patrick Moten & Otis Smith
- Contractors: Antony T. Coleman, Billy Page
- Rhythm Section Arranger: Patrick Moten
- Engineer: Barney Perkins
- Assistant Engineer: Tom Cummings
- Mastering: John Matousek, Hittsville Studios, Hollywood
- Digital Remastered & Edited: John Matousek & Gerard Smerek at Soundworks West, Hollywood
- Art Direction & Design: John Coulter Design
- Front Cover & Inside Photo: Kevin Winter
- Back Cover Photo: Adrian Buckmaster
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 138 |
| US Billboard Top R&B Albums | 12 |
Singles
| Year | Title | US R&B |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "No More Tears" | 49 |
| "Angel" | 5 | |
| "You're The Best Thing Yet" | 28 | |
| "Will You Be Mine" | 87 | |
References
- ↑ Henderson, Alex. The Songstress > review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
- ↑ O'Donnell, David (December 11, 2008). "The Songstress > review". BBC. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "The Songstress > review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
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