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Compositions
Studio album by Anita Baker
Released	July 3, 1990
Recorded	1990 at Encore Studios (Burbank, CA); Ocean Way Recording and Studio Ultimo (Los Angeles, CA); Sound Lab 1 (Detroit, MI); Ambience Recorders (Farmington Hills, MI). Unique Recording Studios, New York City
Genre	R&B soul jazz smooth jazz
Length	50:27
Label	Elektra
Producer	Michael J. Powell
Anita Baker chronology
Giving You the Best That I Got (1988) Compositions (1990) Rhythm of Love (1994)
Singles from Compositions
"Talk to Me" Released: June 1990 "Soul Inspiration" Released: September 1990 "Fairy Tales" Released: December 1990

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Calgary Herald	A
Chicago Tribune
Robert Christgau
Entertainment Weekly	B
Rolling Stone
Select	4/5

Compositions is the fourth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. 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. Compositions would be the last album and collaboration between Baker and producer Michael J. Powell.

Track listing

1. "Talk to Me" (Baker, Vernon Fails, Michael Powell) - 5:03
2. "Perfect Love Affair" (Baker, Joel Davis) - 5:19
3. "Whatever It Takes" (Baker, Marc Gordon, Gerald LeVert) - 5:35
4. "Soul Inspiration" (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle) - 5:17
5. "Lonely" (Baker) - 4:29
6. "No One to Blame" (Baker, Fails) - 4:41
7. "More Than You Know" (Baker, Vernon Fails, Michael Powell) - 4:48
8. "Love You to The Letter" (James McBride) - 7:20
9. "Fairy Tales" (Baker, Fails, Powell) - 7:55

Personnel

• Anita Baker – lead and backing vocals
• Vernon Fails – keyboards
• Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano, backing vocals (7)
• Ben Keys – programming
• David Ward – programming
• Michael J. Powell – guitar (1-4, 6, 7, 9), backing vocals (7)
• Earl Klugh – guitar (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 arrangement (4)

Production

• Producer – Michael J. Powell
• Executive Producer – Anita Baker
• Engineer – Barney Perkins
• Second Engineers – Tom Beiner, Steve Gallagher and Bart Stevens.
• Assistant Engineer – Milton Chan
• Additional Engineers – Darroll Gustamachio, Elliott Peters and Gerard Smerek.
• Mixing – Barney Perkins (Tracks 1, 3 & 5-9); Gerard Smerek (Tracks 2 & 4).
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
• Art Direction – Anita Baker and Carol Bobolts
• Photography – Adrian Buckmaster
• Management – Randy Bash, Sherwin Bash and Ricki Sellner for BNB Associates, Ltd.

Awards

Grammy Awards

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Nathan, David (1990-07-07). "Baker Issues Mature 'Compositions': Singer's Success Paves Way for Peers" (PDF). Billboard. No. 27. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021. The result is "Compositions," Baker's latest work, which arrives at retail Tuesday (3)."
2. https://www.facebook.com/UniqueRecordingStudios/photos/a.649655181769411/649656421769287/?type=3&theater
3. Henderson, Alex. Compositions > review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
4. Haynes, Dave (August 2, 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
5. DeKnock, Jan (July 26, 1990). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
6. Christgau, Robert. "Compositions > review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
7. Sandow, Greg (July 6, 1990). "Compositions > review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
8. Goodman, Fred (August 9, 1990). "Anita Baker: Compositions : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
9. Hewitt, Paolo (August 1990). "A Return to Rapture". Select. p. 88.
10. Anita Baker, Billboard Hot 100 – Billboard.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
11. Billboard Hot 100, Week of August 11, 1990 – Billboard.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
12. "Week commencing 3 September 1990". Bubbling Down Under. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
13. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8000". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Anita Baker – Compositions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
15. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 29. July 21, 1990. p. VIII. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Anita Baker – Compositions" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
17. "Charts.nz – Anita Baker – Compositions". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
18. "Swedishcharts.com – Anita Baker – Compositions". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
20. "Anita Baker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
21. "Anita Baker Chart History (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
22. "Anita Baker Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
23. "Top 100 Albums of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
24. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
25. "Contemporary Jazz Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
26. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
27. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
28. "British album certifications – Anita Baker – Compositions". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
29. "American album certifications – Anita Baker – Compositions". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

• 1990 albums
• Anita Baker albums
• Elektra Records albums
• Albums produced by Michael J. Powell
• Albums recorded at Unique Recording Studios