The pinnacle of classy crossover soul at the end of the 80s – and a landmark album that's probably still helping Anita pay her bills! The feel is mellow and laidback without being too cheesy or too adult contemporary – drawing from mellow soul traditions of the 70s, and filtering it through production styles of the 80s without losing too much of the warmth. Titles include "Talk To Me", "Fairy Tales", "Lonely", "No One To Blame", "More Than You Know", and "Whatever It Takes". CD

A mega-hit, but for good reason – as the record brought sophistication back to chart soul at the end of the 80s – proof that well-done, deeply-voiced records could still beat the schmaltz of the geri-curl generation! Anita's working here in territory that draws from the classics, but is certainly all her own – a space between jazz and soul that was hardly ever handled this well by other artists at the time. Titles include "Priceless", "Lead Me Into Love", "Giving You The Best That I Got", "Good Love", "Rules", "Good Enough", and "You Belong To Me". CD

A classic album of classy vocals – one that helped set a whole new tone in 80s soul music! Anita had already gained a bit of experience on the soul scene before this set, but with this record she emerged as a full-formed diva who could effortlessly blend jazz and soul into a magnificent new sound. The production has a few touches that date the record a bit, but there's a timelessness to the set that was apparent to listeners the moment it was released. Titles include "Mystery", "No One In The World", "Sweet Love", "You Bring Me Joy", and "Caught Up In The Rapture". CD

From the female singer in the obscure group Chapter 8, Anita went onto become one of the biggest selling soul music acts during the 80s – and this album's her first effort as a solo act. The record's a smooth sophisticated batch of soul tunes, with lots of nice jazzy touches, and a classy sound that was quite refreshing in the face of some of the overly-synthesized soul work of the time. Patrick Moten produced and wrote most of the cuts – but it's Anita's deep vocals that make the record work so well. Titles include "You're The Best Thing Yet", "Feel The Need", "No More Tears", "Will You Be Mine", and "Do You Believe Me". CD

Always classy soul from Anita Baker – her first album in years, wrapped up in a lush and laidback style that's perfect for her Blue Note debut! There's lots of jazzy undercurrents in the mix, and if anything, Anita's letting her vocals up even more – at times scatting with a tone and sense of freedom that reminds us of Betty Carter. But the album's also still very much a soul record at heart – and is produced with a style that steps nicely off of Anita's classic work for Elektra, updating that sound strongly for the 21st century! Titles include "Serious", "You're My Everything", "Close Your Eyes", "I Can't Sleep", "Men In My Life", and "How Does It Feel". CD

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From the female singer in the obscure group Chapter 8, Anita went onto become one of the biggest selling soul music acts during the 80s – and this album's her first effort as a solo act. The record's a smooth sophisticated batch of soul tunes, with lots of nice jazzy touches, and a classy sound that was quite refreshing in the face of some of the overly-synthesized soul work of the time. Patrick Moten produced and wrote most of the cuts – but it's Anita's deep vocals that make the record work so well. Titles include "You're The Best Thing Yet", "Feel The Need", "No More Tears", "Will You Be Mine", and "Do You Believe Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A wide ranging collection that includes tracks by The Cure, Billy Bragg, The Sugarcubes, Kronos Quartet, Lynch Mob, Anita Baker, Teddy Pendergrass, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Bill Frisell, They Might Be Giants, The Beautiful South, and John Zorn. 39 tracks in all. Cassette

The first album from Chapter 8 – a set that's probably best remembered for introducing the world to Anita Baker, but one that's also pretty darn great on its own! Chapter 8 have a sharply soulful focus, one that takes them a bit above some of the other mainstream ensembles of the time – a balance of grooving rhythms and deeper feelings that's just about perfect – about at the level you might get from Maze or LTD, two other groups who both sported equally soulful lead singers! Gerald Lyles sings the male parts alongside Anita, and the blend is perfect – one that should have made the record even bigger than it was at the time, but maybe all that much better, since the lack of hit quality really keeps things fresh. Titles include the singles "Ready For Your Love" and "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl", plus "Don't You Like It", "Let's Get Together", "Come & Boogie", "I Go Disco", and "We Need Love". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Cyrus Chestnut on piano, James Carter on alto, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums – with guest work from Joe Lovano on tenor, plus vocals from Anita Baker! CD

Music from Louis Armstrong With Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, Chet Baker, Astrud Gilberto, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Nina Simone, Anita O'Day, Jack Teagarden, Sarah Vaughan, and more. CD

A wide ranging collection that's actually a lot better than any of the regular US "Now" releases – and a solid companion to the 1986 volume. Includes 60 songs by Queen, Sade, Bryan Ferry, Tina Turner, Anita Baker, Style Council, Kenny Loggins, Spandau Ballet, Cock Robin, Jennifer Rush, The Smiths, Housemartins, Pat Benatar, Culture Club, Billy Ocean, and more! CD