January 1989: Anita Baker (Still) Rules with GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT

By the end of the '80s, Anita Baker had elevated to the upper reaches of the soul music mountain, enrapturing fans with her powerful voice spread across her first two studio albums, The Songstress and Rapture. The singer would hit her commercial peak with album number three, Giving You the Best That I Got.

The full-length was preceded by the album's title cut, released as a single in September 1989. The sublime and quietly stormy track soared up the charts to peak at #3 on the Hot 100 for the week of December 17, 1989. The #1 song in the country that week: Chicago's "Look Away." The tune at #2: Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."

The second single from the full-length, "Just Because," also had a strong chart run, peaking at #14 for the week of April 1, 1990. The #1 track in America that week: the Bangles' "Eternal Flame."

The third and final single from Giving You the Best That I Got, "Lead Me Into Love," would have the most impact on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it crashed the top 40 to peak at #32 for the week of May 20, 1989. The top tune on that chart for the week was another crossover act treading in MOR waters: Thirty Eight Special and "Second Chance."

Released on October 18, 1988, Giving You the Best That I Got took America by (quiet) storm, charging up the charts to peak at #1 for the week of Christmas Eve that year. It held that top spot into 1989, maintaining the pole position for the first two weeks of the year. Bobby Brown and the Don't Be Cruel LP finally took over #1 for the week of January 21, 1989.