Giving You the Best That I Got (song)
Encyclopedia
"Giving You the Best That I Got" is the title of a 1988 song (see 1988 in music
) by the American
R&B / soul jazz
singer Anita Baker
. The song appears on Baker's album of the same name
, which was released in the fall of that year. The song was written by Baker, Skip Scarborough and Randy Holland.
The song was Baker's highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, where it peaked at number three in December 1988. It also spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart
in November 1988, Baker's first number one on this tally. In addition, the song spent one week atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1988.
The song "Giving You the Best That I Got" was released prior to the Grammy Awards eligibility cutoff date of September 30, allowing it to be nominated for four awards at the Grammy Awards of 1989
. The song won in the categories Best Female R&B Vocal performance
and Best R&B Song
; it was also nominated for both Record of the Year
and Song of the Year
. The album Giving You the Best That I Got was released in October 1988, meaning that it would not be eligible for Grammy consideration until the 1990 ceremony
. There, Baker's album won in the category Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, earning her the same award two years running for a song and album of the same title.
Songwriter Skip Scarborough
had offered the song to various singers, including Howard Hewett
, without success. Prior to recording the song, Baker made some changes to the original, including improvising a scat
opening and requesting that the tempo of the song be increased.
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
) by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B / soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
singer Anita Baker
Anita Baker
Anita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
. The song appears on Baker's album of the same name
Giving You the Best That I Got
Giving You The Best That I Got is the third album by the American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker. It was Baker's first and only #1 Pop album in the US, the second #1 R&B Album, and was certified 3x platinum in 1989 by the RIAA....
, which was released in the fall of that year. The song was written by Baker, Skip Scarborough and Randy Holland.
The song was Baker's highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where it peaked at number three in December 1988. It also spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
in November 1988, Baker's first number one on this tally. In addition, the song spent one week atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1988.
The song "Giving You the Best That I Got" was released prior to the Grammy Awards eligibility cutoff date of September 30, allowing it to be nominated for four awards at the Grammy Awards of 1989
Grammy Awards of 1989
The 31st Grammy Awards were held in 1989. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year**Linda Goldstein & Bobby McFerrin for "Don't Worry, Be Happy"*Album of the Year...
. The song won in the categories Best Female R&B Vocal performance
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for quality R&B songs...
and Best R&B Song
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song has been awarded since 1959. From 1969 to 2000 it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, from 1962 to 1968 it was known as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and from 1959-1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance...
; it was also nominated for both Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
. The album Giving You the Best That I Got was released in October 1988, meaning that it would not be eligible for Grammy consideration until the 1990 ceremony
Grammy Awards of 1990
The 32nd Grammy Awards were held in 1990. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-General:*Record of the Year**Arif Mardin & Bette Midler for "Wind Beneath My Wings"*Album of the Year...
. There, Baker's album won in the category Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, earning her the same award two years running for a song and album of the same title.
Songwriter Skip Scarborough
Skip Scarborough
Skip Scarborough was a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, best known for romantic ballads.-Biography:Born Clarence Alexander Scarborough in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he lived in Los Angeles most of his life....
had offered the song to various singers, including Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett is an American R&B and gospel singer and former lead vocalist of the R&B group Shalamar.Raised in Akron, Ohio, Hewett moved to Los Angeles. He would eventually meet Soul Train dancer and future first wife Rainey Riley-Cunningham, then a secretary of the show's creator and original...
, without success. Prior to recording the song, Baker made some changes to the original, including improvising a scat
Scat singing
In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. Scat singing gives singers the ability to sing improvised melodies and rhythms, to create the equivalent of an instrumental solo using their voice.- Structure and syllable choice...
opening and requesting that the tempo of the song be increased.
See also
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1988 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1988 (U.S.)