Anita Baker - Rapture (30th anniversary)

Today (March 20th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Rapture, the second studio album from Anita Baker. This 1986 release went to number 50 in Germany, number 33 in Australia, number 32 in Sweden, number 25 in Canada, number 13 in the UK and number 12 in New Zealand. Here in the US, it spent one hundred and fifty-seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 11. It also went to number 12 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

For my full review, click here.

For more from Anita Baker, click here.

Anita Baker - The Songstress

This week (May 31st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Songstress, the solo debut album from American R&B singer Anita Baker (prior to that, Baker was part of the Detroit-based band Chapter 8 who released a self-titled album in the fall of 1979). Her 1983 record was released by Beverly Glen Music and went to number 139 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 12 on the US Billboard R&B charts; in 1991 it was re-released when her new label Elektra acquired the rights.

Anita Baker - Rapture

With her second studio release, 1986’s Rapture, R&B vocalist Anita Baker’s career jumped to the next level. The album sold 8 million copies (5 million in the US alone) and earned her two Grammy Awards (Best R&B Vocal Performance Female and Best R&B Song). Rolling Stone magazine ranked the record as number 36 on their list of 100 Greatest Albums of the 80’s. Chartwise, it went to number 50 in Germany, number 33 in Australia, number 32 in Sweden, number 25 in Canada, number 13 in the UK and number 12 in New Zealand. Here in the US, it spent one hundred and fifty-seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 11. It also went to number 12 on the US Billboard R&B chart.