Sweet Love

'Sweet Love' is a super compilation of love songs by sweet-voiced Anita Baker – and her fans are going to love it.

It is a well-timed release because Ms Baker is reported to be taking the year 2002 off to raise her children and to assess her life and career. So this album is obviously intended to keep the Baker image alive and a good job it will do, I am sure.

There are 18 cool numbers on this CD, including favourites such as 'Body and Soul'; 'Rhythm of Love', 'Angel' and 'When You Love Someone'.

Baker swept on to the music scene in the ‘80’s with a striking style…. a nice mellow mix of R&B, jazz, a touch of blues and Down South sugary sentimentality.

With her cutesy girl-next-door look, simple lyrics and silky voice she easily sang herself into the hearts of American youth. And her popularity spread quickly.

She recorded her first album, 'Songstress' in 1983, but it was the single 'Angel' which really launched her solo career. Then in 1986 came the album 'Rapture' which turned into a multi-platinum great.

Her follow-up albums, 'Giving You The Best I’ve Got' (1988) and 'Compositions' (1990) both did reasonably well, but clearly she had hit the crossroads. It was only in 1994 that her next album, 'Rhythm of Love', was produced – but it came armed with several hits, including 'Body and Soul', 'I Apologize' (for which she won a Grammy) and 'Rhythm of Love'.

Stardom was hers and it rocketed even higher in 1995 when she paired up with crooner James Ingram to record 'When You Love Someone' for the sound track of the movie 'Forget Paris'.

But, alas, since then, very little to keep her fans happy. Until this compilation. Buy it and look after it…. There might not be another one for some time.