Sweet Love is a 1986 R&B and soul ballad by American singer Anita Baker from her second studio album Rapture. It was written by Anita Baker with Louis A. Johnson and Gary Bias and produced by Michael J. Powell. Released in May 1986 as the album’s lead single, the track became Baker’s breakthrough hit, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 2 on the R&B chart and number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and charting in the UK and Canada. The song won the Grammy for Best R&B Song at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards in 1987. Musically it is in B-flat minor with a tempo of about 89 BPM, and Baker’s vocals range from E3 to F5. The arrangement features piano, warm strings and subtle horns, delivering a romantic, sophisticated quiet storm vibe. Sweet Love is often considered Baker’s signature song, helped Rapture sell millions of copies worldwide, and remains a wedding and adult contemporary staple.
