The Songstress

The Songstress is the debut solo album by the American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was originally released in 1983 by Beverly Glen Music, and was Baker's only album for that label prior to signing with Elektra Records with whom she had a string of hit albums. The Songstress was not a commercial success upon its initial release, though the album met with moderate success on the R&B charts. It did have a 1984 compact disc release and was one of the first independently released compact Discs. Notorious drug trafficker "Freeway" Rick Ross helped provide the money for the album.

Baker became a major international success after signing with Elektra Records (a division of Warner Music Group) in 1986, and Elektra acquired the rights to The Songstress and re-released it with a new cover in 1991. Between 1992-2007, the album sold 307,000 copies in the US according to SoundScan figures.

Reception
"No More Tears" peaked at number 49 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, becoming Baker's first entry on the Billboard's singles chart; "Angel," number five on the same chart; "You're the Best Thing Yet," number 28.

Alex Henderson of AllMusic rated the album three and a half stars, praising her ballads and 'slow jams' (such as "No More Tears", "Angel", and "You're the Best Thing Yet"), calling them "honest [and] heartfelt", along with faster material such as "Squeeze Me" (which he referred to as "a sweaty taste of gospel-drenched funk.

Track listing

 * 1) "Angel" (Patrick Moten, Sandra Sully) - 4:57
 * 2) "You're the Best Thing Yet"  (Moten, Geronne C. Turner) - 5:36
 * 3) "Feel the Need"  (Moten) - 5:35
 * 4) "Squeeze Me"  (Moten) - 4:40
 * 5) "No More Tears"  (Michael J. Powell) - 5:38
 * 6) "Sometimes"   (Moten, Sully) - 5:53
 * 7) "Will You Be Mine"   (Moten, Carlos Turrentine) - 5:24
 * 8) "Do You Believe Me" (Moten) - 3:55

Personnel

 * Anita Baker – lead vocals
 * Patrick Moten – keyboards, rhythm section arrangements, BGV arrangements
 * David T. Walker – guitar
 * Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
 * James Macon – guitar
 * Craig Cooper – guitar
 * Nathan East – bass
 * Raymond Calhoun – drums
 * James Gadson – drums
 * Otis Smith – backing vocals arrangements
 * Gene Page – string arrangements
 * Anthony T. Coleman – string contractor
 * Billy Page – string contractor
 * "The Waters": Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, Luther Waters and Oren Waters – backing vocals
 * Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
 * Phil Perry – backing vocals
 * Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
 * Clydene Jackson – backing vocals
 * Bunny Hull – backing vocals

Production

 * Executive Producer – Otis Smith
 * Producers – Patrick Moten and Otis Smith
 * Engineer – Barney Perkins
 * Assistant Engineer – Tom Cummings
 * Recorded at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA).
 * Mastered by John Matousek at Hitsville Studios (Hollywood, CA).
 * Digital Remastered and Edited by John Matousek and Gerard Smerek at Soundworks West (Hollywood, CA).
 * Art Direction and Design – John Coulter Design
 * Artwork – Ginny Livingston
 * Original Photography – Richard Arrindell
 * Front Cover and Inside Photo – Kevin Winter
 * Back Cover Photo – Adrian Buckmaster