March 1986: Anita Baker Releases RAPTURE

After making waves in the world of R&B with her independent debut, The Songstress (1983), singer Anita Baker went big for the follow-up by signing with Elektra Records. Working with producer Michael J. Powell, a former bandmate from Baker's first musical group, Chapter 8, the pair would hammer out eight new songs over the year 1985.

Released on March 20, 1986, Anita Baker's Rapture album took a slow but steady ascension up the Billboard charts. It got a strong boost with the release of first single, "Sweet Love," in late May 1986. Much like the album, "Sweet Love" would take its time working up the charts, but it was worth the wait. The track peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 on Halloween 1986.

 Baker's powerful, sublime vocal styling was on full display with the second single from Rapture, "Caught Up in the Rapture." Coming with a live performance music video, the tune crashed the top 40, peaking at #37 on the Hot 100. It did considerably better on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it hit #9.

"Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year)" served as the album's third single, released in February 1987. Another hit across multiple genres, the song hit the top 10 on R&B and Adult Contemporary lists, peaking at #44 on the Hot 100.

The official music video for "Same Ole Love" featured Baker highlighting her adopted hometown of Detroit, Michigan, with a performance at the city's historic Baker's Keyboard Lounge.

In an interesting twist of fate, Rapture peaked on the Billboard album charts exactly one year after its March 20, 1986 release date. On March 20, 1987, it would almost make the top 10, reaching #11.

Given the long-legged success of the full-length, a fourth single was plucked from Rapture with the July 1987 release of "No One in the World." Going top 5 on the Hot Black Singles chart, and top on the Adult Contemporary chart, the tune peaked at #44 on the Hot 100. The music video featured a cameo by film director Spike Lee.