The Songstress

Released in 1983 on the independent Beverly Glen label, The Songstress serves as the foundational document of Anita Baker's solo career. Produced by Patrick Moten and Otis Smith, the album predates her massive commercial breakthrough with Elektra but contains all the hallmarks of her signature sound: the deep contralto range, the jazz-standard phrasing, and the sophisticated 'Quiet Storm' arrangements. While 'Angel' became a significant R&B hit, the album remained a cult favorite until it was re-released in 1991 following her international stardom. Sonically, it is more grounded and less synthesized than many of its 1983 contemporaries, favoring a live-band feel that highlights her gospel roots, particularly on the funkier 'Squeeze Me.' The record is historically significant for establishing the blueprint of 'sophisti-soul,' a subgenre that would dominate R&B airwaves throughout the late 1980s.