Sweet Love

Album: Rapture (1986)
Charted: 13 8
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Songfacts®:

  • "Sweet Love" celebrates the joys and intensity of romantic love. The song doesn't delve into deep complexities, instead offering a straightforward and relatable portrayal of love's bliss.
  • Anita Baker wrote "Sweet Love" with:

    Bass guitarist Louis A. Johnson. He was best known for his work with the group the Brothers Johnson, and for playing on Michael Jackson's Thriller album.

    Saxophonist, flutist and composer Gary Bias. He became a member of The Earth, Wind & Fire horn section in 1987.
  • Baker's longtime producer Michael J. Powell helmed the song. The two started working together in 1975 when Baker joined Chapter 8, a band Powell formed the previous year.
  • The musicians are:

    Freddie Washington: bass
    Greg Moore: guitar
    Sir Gant: keyboards
    Ricky Lawson: drums
    Paulinho da Costa: percussion
    Jim Gilstrap: backing vocals
    Bunny Hull: backing vocals
    Daryl Phinnessee: backing vocals
  • Released as the second single from her second studio album, Rapture, "Sweet Love" was Baker's first big hit, peaking at #8 on the Hot 100. She had four more Top 40 hits, including "Giving You The Best That I Got," scoring #1 on both the Adult Contemporary and R&B charts, plus #3 on the Hot 100.
  • "Sweet Love" won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song. Also, Rapture won in the category Best Female R&B Vocal performance.
  • The song has charted on two further occasions on the UK Singles chart.

    1994 British jungle musician M-Beat version with Nazlyn on vocals peaked at #18

    2000 Three Degrees-clones Fierce reached #3 with their cover, titled "Sweet Love 2K."
  • The song was used in these movies:

    Dog Days (2018)
    Blockers (2018)

    And in these TV shows:

    Atlanta ("Work Ethic!" - 2022)
    City On A Hill ("Ugly, Like I Said " - 2022)
    Hacks ("On The Market" - 2022)
    I Know This Much Is True ("Three" - 2020)
    Superstore ("Employee App" - 2020)
    Mad For It (Episode 2:5 - 2000)

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