Trends in African-American music changed considerably between Anita Baker's first taste of national exposure in 1979 (when she was a member of Detroit soul band Chapter 8 and sang lead on the hit ballad "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl") and her debut solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. While 1979's black music charts were full of large funk bands, standup vocal harmony groups, and disco divas, rappers and techno-funksters like the System were very much in vogue in 1983. Instead of following trends, Baker excelled by doing what she does best: gospel-influenced, '70s-type soul/pop with jazz overtones. The Songstress, released by the small Beverly Glen label and reissued by Elektra in 1991 is her best album.

Chapter 8 is the debut studio album by the Detroit, Michigan-based group Chapter 8. It was released in 1979. It was their only album to include lead vocals from Anita Baker before she went on to solo stardom. The album for the company that was little noticed, except for the Baker-led minor hit single "Ready for Your Love". The single, written by David Washington, prefigured Baker's solo career in a duet with bandmate Gerald Lyles, backed by Michael Powell on guitar and Courtten Hale on sax.