#404 of 500
· Rolling Stone
“The back half of the RS500 is where the interesting debates live. Anita Baker brought everything to Rapture (1986) — the kind of record that reminds you why you started collecting vinyl in the first place. The original pressing does it justice.”
Anita Baker is an American jazz and R&B vocalist born in 1958 in Toledo, Ohio, known for her distinctive contralto voice and sophisticated interpretations of standards and contemporary songs. She rose to prominence in the 1980s after signing with Elektra Records, achieving commercial success with her albums 'Rapture' (1986) and 'Giving You the Best That I Got' (1988), both of which went multi-platinum. Baker's career encompasses work across jazz, soul, and pop genres, with her recordings frequently featuring lush orchestral arrangements that appeal to both jazz enthusiasts and mainstream audiences. Her albums have become staples in vinyl collections, particularly prized for their warm, dynamic sound quality on vinyl format.
Style
Baker's style blends jazz sophistication with R&B sensibility, characterized by her rich, emotionally expressive contralto voice and preference for orchestral arrangements reminiscent of classic jazz vocalists. Her music emphasizes lyrical interpretation and emotional depth over technical showiness, creating an intimate, timeless quality.
Significance
Anita Baker is highly significant to vinyl collectors for her exceptional vocal clarity and the superior sonic qualities of her recordings on vinyl, which showcase the warmth and depth her voice demands. Her albums represent some of the finest examples of 1980s-90s soul and jazz production values, making them essential additions to any serious collector's library.
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