Compositions is the fourth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was released on July 3, 1990, by Elektra Records. The album peaked at #5 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in 1990, making it Baker's third platinum selling album. The album also won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1991 Grammy Awards. Two of its tracks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Talk to Me" peaking at number 44 for three consecutive weeks on July 28 and August 4 and 11 and "Soul Inspiration" at number 72 on October 13, 1990.Anita Baker, Billboard Hot 100 – Billboard.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.Billboard Hot 100, Week of August 11, 1990 – Billboard.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024. Compositions would be the last album and collaboration between Baker and producer Michael J. Powell.
Track listing "Talk to Me" (Baker, Vernon Fails, Michael Powell) – 5:03 "Perfect Love Affair" (Baker, Joel Davis) – 5:19 "Whatever It Takes" (Baker, Marc Gordon, Gerald LeVert) – 5:35 "Soul Inspiration" (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle) – 5:17 "Lonely" (Baker) – 4:29 "No One to Blame" (Baker, Fails) – 4:41 "More Than You Know" (Baker, Vernon Fails, Michael Powell) – 4:48 "Love You to the Letter" (James McBride) – 7:20 "Fairy Tales" (Baker, Fails, Powell) – 7:55
Personnel
Musicians Anita Baker – vocals, backing vocals Vernon Fails – keyboards Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano, backing vocals (7) Ben Keys – programming David Ward – programming Michael J. Powell – guitars (1–4, 6, 7, 9), backing vocals (7) Earl Klugh – guitars (7) Nathan East – bass, backing vocals (7) Ricky Lawson – drums (1, 4, 5, 7) Steve Ferrone – drums (2, 3, 6, 8, 9) Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2, 4–9) Perri (Carol, Darlene, Lori and Sharon Perry) – backing vocals (2, 4, 7), BGV arrangements (4)
Production Anita Baker – executive producer, art direction, hair styling Michael J. Powell – producer Tweed and Tominaga – production coordination Carol Bobolts – art direction Adrian Buckmaster – photography Alexander White – styling Reggie Wells – make-up John Stevens – lettering BNB Associates, Ltd. – management
Technical credits Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California) Michael J. Powell – mixing Barney Perkins – engineer, mixing (1, 3, 5–9) Milton Chan – assistant engineer, additional engineer Darroll Gustamachio – additional engineer Elliot Peters – additional engineer Gerard Smerek – additional engineer, mixing (2, 4) Tom Beiner – second engineer Steve Gallagher – second engineer Bart Stevens – second engineer
Awards Grammy Awards YearWorkCategoryResult1991CompositionsBest Female R&B Vocal PerformanceWonBest Album Package Nominated
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Compositions Chart (1990) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 54 European Albums (Music & Media) 29
Year-end charts + 1990 year-end chart performance for Compositions Chart (1990) PositionCanada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)71 US Billboard 200 56 US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard) 22 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 28
+ 1991 year-end chart performance for Compositions Chart (1991) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 59
Certifications
References