Chart Performance: Pop (#8), R&B (#2) and Adult Contemporary (#3); 1986
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
By the time Anita Baker joined Detroit’s Chapter 8 as lead singer in 1976, the group had already done time as the Detroit Emeralds backing band, and were popular, yet, without a label deal. In 1979 and 1980, Chapter 8 landed several singles on the lower half of the R&B chart on Ariola America. Unfortunately, Ariola was soon acquired by Arista, which didn’t like Anita’s singing and promptly dropped the band. Anita ended up supporting herself through clerical work until signed up by an indie label in 1983. The resulting Songstress album reached #12 on the R&B list, paving the way for her major label debut, Rapture. After Watch Your Step hit #23 R&B, Sweet Love – written by Anita, jazz saxophonist Gary Bias, and writing partner Louis Johnson – stormed the charts, and kicked Rapture sales into multi-platinum territory. At the Grammies, Sweet Love took home the Best R&B Song award.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2023 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Michael J. Powell
Lyrics Written by:
- Anita Baker
- Louis A. Johnson
- Gary Bias
Awards:
- “Sweet Love” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987)
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).
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