UB’s 25 of The Best R&B Songs from The 80s #TBT
Stay Tuned Black Music Month for "The 100 Best R&B Songs of The 80s."
For Black Music Month, UB has a planned schedule of special features, which includes the 100 Best R&B Songs of The 80s.
Today for Throwback Thursday, we present 25 of those songs for our 25 of The Best R&B Songs from The 80s.
Music from the 80s has a special place in our hearts. Back then it wasn’t about just an image, or how many followers an artists had.
It was about talented creatives, who could deliver! That led to a wonderful streak of classic music from artists that will be played throughout eternity.
Some of the greats such as Whitney Houston, Sade, Gerald LeVert, Anita Baker, Vesta, and Shirly Murdock were emerging.
While Marvin Gaye, Prince, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, and Angela Winbush were entering new chapters in their musical careers.
British artists such as Billy Ocean and Loose Ends were creating divergent R&B, mixed with elements of Beat Music.
While Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam and Exposé brought freestyle music, to the limelight and to R&B.
It was a time!
Stay Tuned for Our Full Feature, Today Enjoy These R&B Classics from The 80s!
25. Turned Away – Chuckii Booker (1989)
Singer/songwriter Chuckii Booker released “Turned Away” as his debut single.
The song went #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart.
The song quickly became a quiet storm smash, with a video directed by Jane Simpson in heavy rotation on BET.
24. “If It’s Games You’re Playing” – The Gyrlz (1988)
The short-lived late 80s R&B Uptown Records group The Gyrlz, featured duo Terri and Monica along with Tara Gete.
The groups debut album “Love Me Or Leave Me” was originally shelved via Capitol Records, but is available now to stream.
The group released the hit single “If It’s Games You’re Playing,” written by The Gyrlz and produced by Kyle West.
The Gyrlz were the opening act on the N.E. Heartbreak Tour with New Edition, Bobby Brown and Al B. Sure!.
23. “I Like” – GUY (1989)
Guy’s brilliant self-titled album included the hits “Groove Me,” “Teddy’s Jam,” and “Piece Of My Love.”
“I Like” landed at #2 on the R&B Billboard chart, while the debut album was certified double platinum.
22. “Seasons Change” – Exposé (1987)
Formed originally in 1984 by Miami DJ Lewis Martinee, Jeanette Jurado, Gioia Bruno and Ann Curless were known as Exposé.
“Seasons Change,” written by Martinee, is a blend of pop and R&B, with a Latin flare.
The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 1988. Their debut album “Exposure” was certified double platinum.
21. “Head to Toe” – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (1987)
In April of 1987, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam’s sophomore platinum album “Spanish Fly” was released.
The album led with the Billboard #1 “Head to Toe,” the single also reached gold status.
Label head stated at the time to Billboard: “Everyone here in the company got together on this. When you have the kind of machinery that CBS has working for you, there’s only one way to go. Everyone said, ‘We’re going to bring this one home.’ We have a multi-platinum artist here. We went gold in only a few weeks. That is what this company is about right now — taking a new artist and developing a superstar. Everyone knows who Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam is. They have a household name. They went from a cult following to a huge, mass-appeal act.”
20. Thinking About You” – Whitney Houston (1985)
Whitney Houston’s debut self-titled album was released 40 Years ago on February 14th, 1985.
The album yielded a string of hits out the gate, including three consecutive #1 singles. The first debut album by a solo female artist to do so.
Whitney’s first dance/R&B single “Thinking About You” was the fifth single released. The first single without an accompanying visual. “Thinking About You” was a Billboard Top 10 hit.
Written by recording artist and producer Kashif and La Forrest “La La” Cope.
19. “Any Love” – Luther Vandross (1988)
Luther Vandross was without a doubt, the standard of a great R&B vocalist.
“Any Love” was the first single from his sixth album, it was his sixth Billboard R&B album chart-topper . With the single also reaching #1, originally released August 1st, 1988.
“Any Love” received two Grammy Award nominations at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
18. “Rocket 2 U” – The Jets (1987)
Twin Cities own The Jets released a string of hits in the 80s.
“Rocket 2 U,” produced by Bobby Nunn, reached #6 pop and #5 R&B on the Billboard charts.
The song received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
“Rocket 2 U” was originally offered to Earth, Wind & Fire for their “Touch the World” album.
After taking too long to record, Philip Bailey suggested letting The Jets record it.
17. “Angel” – Angela Winbush (1987)
“Angel” was the first solo single released by Angela Winbush.
“Angel” spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song was also named by Billboard, the #9 most successful R&B single of 1987.
The song was nominated for a 1988 Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Female.
16. “Casanova” – LeVert (1988)
“The Big Throwdown” was LeVert‘s third album release, led by the smash single “Casanova.”
The gold single also earned the group two Soul Train awards.
British boy band Ultimate Kaos released a cover of “Casanova” in 1997, their version also went gold.
R&B Bridgez: Celebrating 35 Years of LeVert | UB Spotify LeVert 35 Playlist
15. “Congratulations” – Vesta (1988)
The late great Vesta’s sophomore gold album “Vesta 4 U,” was released in 1988.
The first two singles “Sweet, Sweet Love” reached #4 on the Billboard R&B chart and the follow-up “Congratulations” reached #5 R&B and #55 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The single received massive airplay, and Vesta‘s popularity soared.
“Congratulations,” with its vocal acrobatics and dramatic story, became a talent show staple.
Vesta stated; “Tena wanted a situation where ‘congratulations’ is the last word you’d expect to hear. And so we came up with a concept about having it be about a woman who lost her love. She runs into the church and the only thing she could say is congratulations – unless she ran in and blew up the place, which would have ended the song rather abruptly.”
14. “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” – Freddie Jackson (1986)
“Have You Ever Loved Somebody” was Freddie Jackson’s second release from the album “Just Like the First Time.”
His fifth #1 on the Billboard Singles chart. The music video was directed by Michael Oblowitz in Miami and New York.
Najee covered the song featuring Jackson on his 1998 greatest hits album, The Best of Najee.
13. “Giving You the Best That I Got” – Anita Baker (1988)
Anita Baker’s “Giving You the Best That I Got” was a Billboard R&B #1 and a Top 10 Hot 100.
The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song. Anita Baker also won Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female for both the song and album.
The album also took three Soul Train Music Awards and made Billboard’s #1 album spot for December 24th, 1988 through January 20th, 1989.
The album was a huge success, selling over three million copies, not to mention eliciting a three-month tour with R&B legend Luther Vandross.
UB Celebrates: 35th Anniversary of Anita Baker’s ‘Giving You the Best That I Got’
12. “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)” – Billy Ocean (1984)
The gold “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)” climbed to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart.
Co-written and produced by Keith Diamond.
The song won Billy Ocean the 1985 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, making him the first British artist to win in that category.
11. “Raspberry Beret” – Prince (1985)
“Raspberry Beret” was the lead single from Prince & the Revolution’s 1985 album “Around the World in a Day.”
The song incorporates stringed instruments, Middle Eastern finger cymbals, and a harmonica in the extended version.
“Raspberry Beret” reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
10. “As We Lay” – Shirley Murdock (1986)
“As We Lay” was the debut single from Shirley Murdock!
“As We Lay” shot up to #5 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and also charted nicely on both the Top 40 adult contemporary and pop charts in 1986.
Her gutty renditions, with gospel overtones, made her debut cuts not only impressive, but explosive.
UB spoke to Shirley and she got candid on the recording of “As We lay;” “I didn’t agree with infidelity but I also know that it’s life. Sometimes people make permanent decisions based on a temporary situation. But I think it’s so important to know there are consequences. So to me to just sing the song as it was, would be part celebratory just as we lay. There has to be some type of morals, some type of turn-around to the story, to not just leave people in an as we lay messed up situation. I thought the answer should be that you have to think about the consequences. So that’s why I added those lyrics “we should have counted up the cost. But instead we got lost, in the second, in the minute, in the hour.” I wanted to point out how people are effected by our choices. So we can’t be so selfish to make decisions that are good for us, when everybody in your life is going to be effected by it.”
UB Interview Series: Shirley Murdock Speaks on Her Amazing Career
9. “Slow Down” – Loose Ends (1986)
Loose Ends was a British R&B band that achieved several hit records throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.
Guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player and vocalist Steve Nichol.
“Slow Down” went #1 and was from their third studio album, “Zagora.” Produced by Nick Martinelli.
8. “Be Your Man” – Jesse Johnson’s Revue (1985)
Jesse Johnson was a member of one of the coldest bands ever THE TIME.
In 1985, he embarked on his solo journey. The result, “Jesse Johnson’s Revue,” which produced three Top 10 singles.
The album went gold and peaked at #43 on the Billboard 200 and at #8 on the Billboard R&B chart.
The video for the lead single “Be Your Man,” starts off like a movie with the guys arriving in the Pink Cadillac.
7. “Give It to Me Baby” – Rick James (1981)
Rick James bass heavy songs and outrageous persona, set the standard for hardcore funk.
“Give It To Me, Baby” spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Along with “Super Freak” and his timeless duet with protégé Teena Marie “Fire & Desire,” helped the album reach platinum status.
6. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” – Michael Jackson (1982)
Written by Michael Jackson and James Ingram and produced by Quincy Jones, “P.Y.T.” was the sixth single from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” charted at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the sixth top 10 from the album.
At 126 beats per minute, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is one of Michael’s fastest songs.
5. “Superwoman” – Karyn White (1988)
The second single from the album, “Superwoman” was an instant ladies anthem. Overall charting wise, the single peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #12 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, and became Karyn‘s second #1 R&B hit.
That song made international waves, selling over a million copies, being certified Platinum and named the Billboard R&B Song of the Year in 1989.
UB spoke to Karyn White about the success of “Superwoman.”
“Let me first say this! The incredible L.A. Reid, Babyface and Darryl Simmons presented me with the song. It was an honor, people have to understand L.A. was married to Pebbles and there was a lot of competition in that era. I mean there was Anita Baker, Vanessa Williams, Jody Watley, Janet Jackson, so this song really separated me from all of those artists. So looking back now, I’m really happy they thought that I could pull it off. They were so hot, everybody wanted to work with them. I don’t feel special but I do feel special, because they could have given the song to someone else. So in hindsight I’m glad they saw the strength in me that I could pull it off. To be able to deliver the song, for me I pulled from my mother. Because I was so young, I didn’t really understand what saying I’m not your Superwoman really meant. I was just a baby Superwoman, I had not had children or really lived. I had not gone through the heartaches and tough times. So now when I sing that song, it’s so funny because it’s so dramatic for me because I always find myself going to church (laughs). I’ll be like can I sing “Love Saw It” or “Secret Rendezvous?”
4. “Word Up!” – CAMEO (1985)
“Word Up!” was the first single and title-cut from Cameo’s thirteenth album. The song was written by Larry Blackmon and Tomi Jenkins.
“Word Up!” was Cameo’s first Top 40 hit, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending three weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and one week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance chart.
Cameo was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in the 29th Annual Grammy Awards.
3. “Let It Whip” – Dazz Band (1981)
The Dazz Band’s name comes from the group’s self-penned description of its music as “danceable jazz.”
With a string of catchy techno-funk jams, Dazz Band was the life of the party back in the days of skinny ties and jheri curls
“Let It Whip” introduced a high-tech funk groove that became the sound of choice for the era. The single hit #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart for five weeks, plus Top 5 Pop.
The single carried the album to gold and the group, shares a Grammy for Best Performance By An R&B Duo or Group with Earth, Wind & Fire.
2. “Sexual Healing” – Marvin Gaye (1982)
“Sexual Healing” was Marvin Gaye’s first hit for Columbia after the end of his 20-years-plus association with Motown.
The song entered the R&B chart two weeks before his death, on its way to an epic ten-week run at #1.
The digital sales of “Sexual Healing” reached 500,000 downloads and was certified as a gold single in 2005.
2. “Paradise” – Sade (1988)
Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their 40 year career.
“Paradise” is the second single from “Stronger Than Pride,” the song is Sade‘s most successful single on the Billboard Hot R&B chart, reaching #1.
The single also reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #21 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
UB Celebrates: 35th Anniversary of Sade’s ‘Stronger Than Pride’
UB’s ‘Top 30 Greatest R&B Duets’ | Stream the Spotify Playlist
