Sweet Love (Anita Baker song)

"Sweet Love" is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Anita Baker from her second studio album, Rapture (1986). It was written by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson, and Gary Bias, and produced by Michael J. Powell. It was released in May 1986 as the album's first single.

"Sweet Love"
A-side label of U.S. vinyl pressing
Single by Anita Baker
from the album Rapture
B-side"Watch Your Step"
ReleasedMay 27, 1986
Recorded1985
Genre
Length4:26
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael J. Powell
Anita Baker singles chronology
"Sweet Love"
(1986)		 "Caught Up in the Rapture"
(1986)
Alternative release
Cover art for German vinyl pressings,[3] distributed in continental Europe

The song was Baker's first big hit single, peaking at number two on the US Billboard R&B chart, number three on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1986.[4] In the UK, it reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 21 on Canada's Top Singles chart.[5][6]

"Sweet Love" won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987).

Composition

"Sweet Love" was originally published in the key of B♭ major, and is written in common time with a tempo of 89 beats per minute.[7] Baker's vocals span from E3 to D5.[8]

Critical reception

Daryl Easlea of the BBC said that Baker's voice "rings like a bell", and that "Sweet Love" is one of the three most memorable tracks on Rapture. He felt that the lyrics might have sounded trite if sung by a different artist, but that Baker imbued them with "so much passion and wonderment" that they sound like "old love sonnets" brought back to life.[9]

Awards

Baker won two Grammys at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987). "Sweet Love" was selected as Best R&B Song, earning her (along with Gary Bias and Louis Johnson) a songwriting award.[10] Also, the album containing this song, Rapture, won in the category Best Female R&B Vocal performance.[11]

Personnel

Track listings

7" single Elektra 969 557, 8/1/1986 [12]

  1. "Sweet Love" – 4:26
  2. "Watch Your Step" – 4:56

Limited edition gatefold - 7" single Elektra EKR 44F [UK], 9/30/1986 [12]
7" single 1:

  1. "Sweet Love" – 4:26
  2. "No One in the World" – 4:10

7" single 2:

  1. "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)" (Live) – 4:01
  2. "You Bring Me Joy" (Live) – 4:31

(Extras: Live tracks recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, July 26 & 27)

7" single Elektra EKR 44 [UK], 11/3/1986 [12]

  1. "Sweet Love" – 4:26
  2. "No One in the World" – 4:10

Chart performance

Other versions

M-Beat version

British jungle musician M-Beat covered the song in 1994 with singer Nazlyn on vocals. This version peaked at No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart.[22]

Fierce version

British R&B female trio Fierce covered the song in 1999 which appears on their debut album Right Here Right Now. It was released as a single in 2000 with new production by Stargate, titled "Sweet Love 2K". This version peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.[23]

References
  1. Larkin, Colin (1999). All-Time Top 1000 Albums. Virgin Books. pp. 111–110. ISBN 0-7535-0354-9. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021.
  2. "80 best love songs of the 1980s". Cleveland. August 31, 2018.
  3. "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker. Photo by Mark Weiss. Elektra Records. 7": catalog no. 969 557-7. 12": Catalog no. 966 845-0. "Manufactured in Germany by Record Serve GmbH."
  4. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications)
  5. "Anita Baker - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  6. "RPM Weekly Top 100 Singles - November 8, 1986 (Volume 45, No. 7)". Library and Archives Canada. RPM Weekly (archived). Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  7. "Anita Baker - Sweet Love". songbpm.com. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  8. "Anita Baker - Sweet Love". musicnotes.com. 30 January 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  9. Easlea, Daryl (2010). "BBC Review - Baker's career high is an 80s equivalent of Dusty in Memphis". BBC. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  10. "Best R&B Song - The 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1986)". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  11. "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - The 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1986)". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  12. "Anita Baker - Sweet Love (Song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8219." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  14. "RPM Weekly Top Singles Chart - November 8, 1986 (Volume 45, No. 7)". Library and Archives Canada. RPM Weekly (archived). Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sweet Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  16. "Anita Baker – Sweet Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  17. "UK Official Singles Chart", Official Charts Company, August 16, 1986, retrieved January 25, 2019
  18. "Music: Top 100 - Billboard Hot 100 chart", Billboard
  19. "Adult Contemporary Chart", Billboard
  20. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs", Billboard
  21. "Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart - 1986". Music Outfitters. 1986. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  22. "M-BEAT FEAT. NAZLYN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  23. "Fierce - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
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