Rhythm of Love (Anita Baker album)

Rhythm of Love
Studio album by
Anita Baker
ReleasedAugust 23, 1994
Recorded1993–1994
Genre
Length61:20
LabelElektra
ProducerAnita Baker, Tommy LiPuma, Gerard Smerek, Barry J. Eastmond, Arif Mardin
Anita Baker chronology
Compositions
(1990) 		Rhythm of Love
(1994) 		The Best of Anita Baker
(2002)
Singles from Rhythm of Love
  1. "Body and Soul"
    Released: August 1994
  2. "I Apologize"
    Released: October 1994
  3. "It's Been You"
    Released: March 1995
  4. "You Belong to Me"
    Released: 1995
  5. "My Funny Valentine"
    Released: 1995
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Cash Box(favorable)[2]
Chicago Reader(favorable)[3]
Robert Christgau(dud)[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[6]
The Guardian(favorable)[7]
Knoxville News Sentinel[8]
NME3/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
Spin(favorable)[11]

Rhythm of Love is the fifth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1994. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200[12] and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and was certified double platinum, giving Baker her fourth platinum selling album.

This is the first album since 1983's The Songstress by Baker not to be produced by longtime collaborator Michael J. Powell, who had agreed to split the arrangement after the release of Baker's 1990 album, Compositions. The album's first single, "Body and Soul", gave Baker her first top 40 hit since 1989. "You Belong to Me" is a cover of the Carly Simon classic, not to be confused with the song of the same title that Baker recorded for her 1988 album Giving You the Best That I Got.

Baker also received a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "I Apologize". "Body and Soul" was nominated for 1995 Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, and Rhythm of Love was nominated for Best R&B Album.

Rhythm of Love is Baker's last album for Elektra Records. Because of dissatisfaction with the album's promotion, Baker filed a lawsuit against Elektra, requesting a transfer to another label within Warner Music Group. Finally she signed with Atlantic Records in September 1996.[13]

  1. ^ Henderson, Alex. Rhythm of Love > review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  2. ^ Martinez, M.R. (October 1, 1994). "Urban — Reviews: Pick of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Johnson, Martin (December 1, 1994). "The Best She's Got". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Rhythm of Love > review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  6. ^ Ehrlich, Dimitri (September 16, 1994). "Rhythm of Love > review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (September 23, 1994). "Music: Pop". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Campbell, Chuck (October 7, 1994). "R.E.M. Rocks Anew On Heady 'Monster'". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  9. ^ IM (November 5, 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 45. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Dyson, Michael Eric (February 23, 1995). "Anita Baker: Rhythm of Love : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  11. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (November 1994). "Heavy Rotation". Spin. p. 24. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  12. ^ "Anita Baker Rhythm Of Love Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  13. ^ "Songstress Anita Baker Successfully Orchestrates Unprecedented Record Label Transfer; Leaves Elektra Records for Atlantic Records". PR Newswire. September 6, 1996. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014.