It fit quite snuggly on the Rod Temperton-influenced ‘Bodies and Souls’ LP by Manhattan Transfer (containing the wonderful ‘This Independence’ song), but doesn’t feel quite mature enough for an album like this.
And bless you Anita for making the human voice the match of any other instrument or its master, and so much more !! For me, “Been So Long” is one of her greatest achievements right here. Forget the vocal histrionics that cloud our judgement today – the ability to make your own music around the melody is the mark of a true artist. It is the thought that this song started from a blank page and Anita turned out a Renoir in just over 5 minutes. Forget the song being an exceptional showcase for her songwriting skills. Oh my – BIG highlight for me coming up next !! Forget the fact that Anita Baker can out sing anyone out there today. And one to sway the ‘wafting beauty’ of your life in the security of your arms and demonstrate how the synchronicity of the movement of two can become one. “Caught Up In A Rapture” has a strong resonance from her “The Songstress” debut, in particular “Will you be mine”, and captures the term ‘wafting beauty’ with utmost ease. Probably the most gentle track on display. You need to play this several times to really appreciate the genius subtly gracing its majesty. The production is exceptional and provides the perfect framework for Anita to take your tender heart on a giddying, entrancing swirl on the whirlwind of love. But Anita takes this to a whole new level. Far more satisfying is David Lasley’s own falsetto workout. To my knowledge, this first appeared on Norman Connors’ “Take It To The Limit” sung by the utterly brilliant Adaritha (another one of my favourite songbirds), although her treatment was poor by her standards. “You Bring Me Joy” is a song written by blue-eyed soulster David Lasley. A song that should be heard on every planet in the Universe to understand what the intrinsic power of the human race sounds like !! What must the studio session have felt like after killing it with this take – and what would I give to have been there ? Anyone even attempting one note of this song is purely making a mockery of themselves. Like Al Pacino in the Godfather, she was born to play this part. “Sweet love” is probably the most perfect song for someone of Anita’s incredible vocal stature. Lead out with the big guns why don’t you. And in memory of this monumental event, I will try and break it down track by track. This time every DJ played the whole of “Rapture” over a single weekend – no-one could decide what was the best track, and ended up playing different tracks on different shows – always a rubber stamp of something very special in the offing.
But boy oh boy, was the wait worth the anguished pain. And then I had to wait 3 years to hear her grace my speakers again, with “The Songstress” now worn to a wafer.
And playing those first tracks of Side A simply cannot be measured by time or space. A few months later I managed to get my own beautiful gatefold copy on import. Then it appeared in the import shops and they couldn’t get it on the turntables quick enough. And to those of you who haven’t heard of this LP – I hope you come in peace – and welcome to our planet.īack in 1983 there was a buzz going around about someone called Anita Baker, but none of the UK deejays had managed to grab a copy of the LP. Goodness – and you’re willing for me to do the review ? That’s delegation at its most vicious ! Well, I will try and do justice to the importance of this post.Īnd for those in the know, dust off and relive the experience with me and brother Nikos. And could you really pick a better LP to represent the decade ? This is in Nikos’ Top 5 for the 1980s. And one album that always pops out as a united chorus is Anita Baker‘s “Rapture”. Here is one that Nikos and I (Trakbuv) have been discussing for a while – the idea to have a few more posts from the 1980s, and a few more of those all-time classics.