Rapture

Rapture was recorded mostly at Yamaha R&D Studio in Glendale, with No One in the World recorded and mixed at Music Grinder in Los Angeles and extra recording at United Sound Systems in Detroit. Michael J. Powell produced seven of the eight tracks and mixed the album with engineer Barney Perkins. Marti Sharron and Gary Skardina produced No One in the World, and Baker was executive producer. Baker said Elektra gave her a budget and left her alone, and that she wanted a minimalist approach. The record was made in a couple of months, with a good deal of that time spent choosing material and working out arrangements. She said she wanted a smooth product with energy and heart, and that she had surprised herself. It closes with Watch Your Step, and Baker said she did not like to leave people relaxed.

At the time Easlea quoted a description of the songs as fireside love songs with a little edge. He said her voice rings like a bell, and that her gospel past shines through on Been So Long and You Bring Me Joy. Rolling Stone's Rob Hoerburger found some of the groove-based music short on variety but called her an acquired but enduring taste. Robert Christgau was less impressed, hearing a soulful, sexier version of soft rock and easy listening. NME ranked it second among its albums of 1986, and Rolling Stone later put it at number 36 among the albums of the 1980s. Albumism notes that it reached number one on the R&B albums chart as well as number 11 on the Billboard 200. SoulTracks called it an instant classic that virtually defined adult soul for the next decade.