You know that feeling when you discover a "new" song by your favorite artist, only to realize it’s actually forty years old? That’s the magic of Anita Baker’s early catalog. While most of the world met her through the polished, multi-platinum sheen of Rapture in 1986, there’s a whole group of us who swear by her debut.
Feel The Need In Me Anita Baker isn't just a track; it's a timestamp. It’s the sound of a legend before she was "The Songstress" in the eyes of the Grammy voters. Honestly, it’s arguably one of the most soulful moments of her career, tucked away on an album that almost didn't survive a legal battle.
The Beverly Glen Era: Where it All Started
Before she was selling out arenas, Anita was signed to Beverly Glen Music. The label was run by Otis Smith. Now, the history here is messy. Really messy. Baker eventually had to sue to get out of her contract so she could move to Elektra, but during that brief window in 1983, she recorded her debut solo album, The Songstress.
"Feel the Need" (often titled as "Feel the Need in Me" by fans due to the iconic Detroit Emeralds hook) was a standout. It wasn't a ballad. Not really. It had this mid-tempo, funky strut that showed off a different side of her contralto.
- Producer: Patrick Moten and Otis Smith.
- Musicians: You had heavy hitters like Nathan East on bass and James Gadson on drums.
- The Vibe: Pure, unadulterated 80s R&B with a gospel backbone.
Most people forget that this was her transition period. She had just left the funk band Chapter 8. You can still hear that band energy in the rhythm section of this track. It’s gritty. It’s less "smooth jazz" and more "Sunday morning after a Saturday night."
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Why the Song "Feel The Need" Hits Differently
Let's talk about that voice. In 1983, R&B was dominated by synth-pop and high-pitched vocalists. Then comes Anita. Her voice on this track is thick, resonant, and remarkably mature for someone in her mid-20s.
When she sings the hook, she isn't just reciting lyrics. She’s pleading. The song was written by Patrick Moten, who really understood how to frame her range. It’s got these soaring backing vocals (courtesy of The Waters and Bunny Hull) that create this wall of sound.
A lot of people confuse this with a direct cover of the Detroit Emeralds' 1972 hit "Feel the Need in Me." While it shares the sentiment and a similar title, Baker's version on The Songstress is its own beast. It’s soul-jazz at its finest.
The Chart Struggle
Interestingly, "Feel the Need" wasn't the monster hit "Angel" was. It was released as a single in 1984 and actually stalled out around number 67 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.
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Why?
Basically, Beverly Glen didn't have the promotional muscle of a major label. They were an indie. By the time the song started gaining real traction in clubs and on quiet storm radio, Anita was already locked in a legal war with the label. The momentum died because the business side was falling apart.
The 1991 Resurrection
If you own the CD version of The Songstress, you probably bought it in the early 90s. After Anita became a superstar with Rapture and Giving You The Best That I Got, Elektra Records bought the rights to her debut and re-released it in 1991.
Suddenly, "Feel the Need" was everywhere.
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Fans who had missed the initial 1983 release were hungry for "new" material. To them, this was a fresh discovery. It’s one of those rare cases where a song becomes a "classic" nearly a decade after it was recorded.
What You Should Do Next
If you've only ever listened to the Rapture album, you're missing out on the raw DNA of Anita’s sound.
- Listen to the original 1983 mix. If you can find the vinyl, do it. The bassline by Nathan East is much warmer than the digital remasters.
- Compare it to "Squeeze Me." Another track from the same album. It shows the same "funky" Anita that we rarely saw on her later, more refined albums.
- Check out Patrick Moten's other work. He was the architect of her early sound, and his influence is all over "Feel the Need."
The reality is that Feel The Need In Me Anita Baker represents a moment of pure potential. It’s the sound of a singer who knew she was good but didn't yet know she was going to change the industry. It’s soulful, it’s slightly unpolished, and it’s absolutely essential for any R&B head.
Go back and give The Songstress a full spin from start to finish. You’ll find that while "Angel" gets the glory, "Feel the Need" is the heartbeat of that record. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best tracks aren't the ones that hit number one—they're the ones that stay in your head for forty years.