R&b hits of the 80s [[1980-1983)

[soulster]

I have just completed my 80s R&B compilation that I have been working on for a decade! I added five new volumes. It spans the early years from 1980 to 1983. The choices are of my taste, and don't always go for the most obvious hits, but still well represent what was very popular with R&B audiences in the U.S. during this mostly ignored era of the genre.

The purpose of adding some of the 45 versions is because they aren't available anywhere digitally, and I had to either get them off the records or recreate them with software. There are two or three songs sourced from mp3s because I had no other choice.

All songs were released as singles, which was a qualification for their inclusion. They also had to be R&B audience approved, and were cross-referenced by Billboard magazine. Probably the ONLY exceptions are "I Had To Say It" by Millie Jackson and "Go For It" by Shalamar.

Here is a tracklist of the entire series. You just can't buy a set like this! [[You literally can't! The licensing alone would be a nightmare, and many of the tapes would be unavailable. Thank God for the home computer and professional audio software!) Oh, the limit of 14 songs on each volume is arbitrary. And, right now, i'm already thinking of replacing a song because I realized that "Don't Say Goodnight [[It's Time For Love)" by The Isley Brothers really should be in there.

R&B HITS OF THE 80S [[1980-1983)
===============================




VOL 1
=====


01 - A Lover's Holiday [45 Version] - Change
02 - I've Just Begun To Love You [LP Version] - Dynasty
03 - I Had To Say It - Millie Jackson
04 - Circles [LP Version] - Atlantic Starr
05 - Just The Two Of Us [LP Version] - Grover Washington Jr. Featuring Bill Withers
06 - Let's Work [45 Version] - Prince
07 - Fall in Love With Me [45 Version] - Earth, Wind & Fire
08 - It's A Love Thing [LP Version] - The Whispers
09 - Do What You Feel - Denise Williams
10 - Do Me Right [LP Version] - Dynasty
11 - My Destiny - Alton McClain & Destiny
12 - You're The One For Me [LP Version] - D-Train
13 - Can't We Fall In Love Again [45 Version] - Phyllis Hyman and Wayne Henderson
14 - Inside Love [[So Personal) - George Benson


VOL 2
=====


01 - Bon Bon Vie [[The Good Life) [45 Version] - T.S. Monk
02 - I Know - Philip Bailey
03 - Try Jah Love [LP Version] - Third World
04 - Dancing All Night - Sheree Brown
05 - Blue Jeans [45 Version] - Chocolate Milk
06 - Big Fun [45 version] - Kool & The Gang
07 - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore - Stephanie Mills
08 - The Best Is Yet To Come - Grover Washington Jr. Featiring Patti Labelle
09 - Genius Of Love [45 Version] - The Tom-Tom Club
10 - Too Much Too Soon [45 Version] - T.S. Monk
11 - Baby I Need Your Loving [LP Version] - Carl Carlton
12 - Do You Love Me Patti Austin
13 - Watching You - Slave
14 - Party Train [45 version] - Gap Band


VOL 3
=====


01 - Mirror, Mirror [45 version] - Diana Ross
02 - Funky Sensation [45 version] - Gwen McCrae
03 - Standing Ovation [45 version] - GQ
04 - Everything Is Cool [45 version] - T-Connection
05 - Treasure - The Brothers Johnson
06 - Go For It - Shalamar
07 - Something About You - Angela Bofil
08 - Deja Vu - Dionne Warwick
09 - I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder
10 - It's Gonna Take A Miracle - Denise Williams
11 - This Kind Of Lovin' - The Whispers
12 - So Fine [LP version] - Howard Johnson
13 - Power - The Temptations
14 - Wikka Wrap


VOL 4
=====


01 - Burn Rubber [[Why You Wanna Hurt Me) [45 version] - Gap Band
02 - Apache [45 Version] - Sugarhill Gang
03 - What'cha Gonna Do For Me - Chaka Khan
04 - Do You Love What You Feel [LP Version] - Rufus & Chaka
05 - A Woman Needs Love - Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
06 - Don't Stop The Music [45 Version] - Yarborough & Peoples
07 - Fo-Fi-Fo - Pieces Of A Dream
08 - Freaky Behaviour - Bar-Kays
09 - Got To Be Good Enough - Con Funk Shun
10 - Hold Tight - Change
11 - Make That Move [45 Version] - Shalamar
12 - Posin' Till Closin' [45 Version] - Heatwave
13 - Stay Awake - Ronnie Laws
14 - That Girl - Stevie Wonder


VOL 5
=====


01 - Lovely One [LP version] - The Jacksons
02 - I Need Your Lovin' [LP Version] - Teena Marie
03 - She's A Bad Mama Jama [[She's Built, She's Stacked) [45 version] - Carl Carlton
04 - Very Special [45 Version] - Debra Laws
05 - Sukiyaki - A Taste Of Honey
06 - Mama Used To Say [LP Version] - Junior
07 - You Are - Lionel Ritchie
08 - Breakout! - Patrice Rushen
09 - Be Mine Tonight [45 version] - Grover Washington Jr. Featuring Grady Tate
10 - Call Me [45 Version] - Skyy
11 - I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Lakeside
12 - Fix It [[Pt 1) [45 version] - Teena Marie
13 - My Guy - Sister Sledge
14 - Wide Receiver - Wayne Henderson


VOL 6
=====


01 - B.Y.O.B. [[Bring Your Own Baby) - Sister Sledge
02 - I Pledge My Love - Peaches & Herb
03 - 365 - Teena Marie
04 - Don't You Know That - Luther Vandross
05 - Hit And Run [LP Version] - Bar-Kays
06 - Hurry Up And Wait - The Isley Brothers
07 - Flirt - Cameo
08 - Love Me Down [LP Version] - Atlantic Starr
09 - Get It Right - Aretha Franklin
10 - One Million Kisses - Rufus & Chaka Khan
11 - Lady [[You Bring Me Up) [LP version] - Commodores
12 - Thighs High [[Grip Your Hips And Move) - Tom Browne
13 - With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston with Syreeta
14 - Upside Down [45 Version] - Diana Ross


VOL 7
=====


01 - The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
02 - Atomic Dog - George Clinton
03 - Cutie Pie [45 version] - One Way Featuring Al Hudson
04 - I Like It [45 version] - DeBarge
05 - Let's Get Serious [45 version] - Jermaine Jackson
06 - Love Over And Over Again - Switch
07 - A Night to Remember [LP Version] - Shalamar
08 - When Love Calls - Atlantic Starr
09 - Walk Right Now [LP Version] - The Jacksons
10 - Bad Times [LP Version] - Tavares
11 - The Gigolo [45 version] - O'Bryan
12 - You Dropped A Bomb On Me [45 version] - Gap Band
13 - Papillon [[aka Hot Butterfly) - Chaka Khan
14 - Still Water [[Love) - O'Bryan


VOL 8
=====


01 - Behind The Groove [45 version] - Teena Marie
02 - Snap Shot [LP version] - Slave
03 - Give It To Me Baby [LP Version] - Rick James
04 - Love Me Down [LP Version] - Atlantic Starr
05 - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll - Vaughn Mason & The Wrecking Crew
06 - I Can Make It Better [LP Version] - The Whispers
07 - One Hundred Ways - Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram
08 - Give Me The Night [45 version] - George Benson
09 - Take Your Time [[Do It Right) [45 Version] - The S.O.S. Band
10 - Remote Control - The Reddings
11 - Wait For Me - Slave
12 - Jump To It - Aretha Franklin
13 - Stomp [LP version] - The Brothers Johnson
14 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson


VOL 9
=====


01 - Early in the Morning [45 Version] - Gap Band
02 - Peanut Butter - Twennynine Featuring Lenny White
03 - I Can't Go For That [[No Can Do) [Remixed edited 45 version] - Daryl Hall & John Oates
04 - One In A Million You - Larry Graham
05 - 777-9311 [LP Version] - The Time
06 - If This World Were Mine - Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn
07 - Taste Of Bitter Love - Gladys Knight & The Pips
08 - Murphy's Law - Cheri
09 - Love Come Down [45 version] - Evelyn "Champagne" King
10 - You Like Me Don't You - Jermaine Jackson
11 - Juicy Fruit [45 Version] - Mtume
12 - Young Love [45 version] - Janet Jackson
13 - Two Places At The Same Time - Raydio & Ray Parker Jr.
14 - Do I Do [45 Version] - Stevie Wonder


VOL 10
======


01 - Did I Hear You Say You Love Me - Stevie Wonder
02 - So You Want To Be A Star [45 version] - Mtume
03 - I Should've Loved Ya [45 version] - Narada Michael Walden
04 - Biggest Part Of Me - Ambrosia
05 - Big Time [45 version] - Rick James
06 - Outstanding - Gap Band
07 - Bourgie Bourgie - Gladys Knight & The Pips
08 - Let Me Go [LP version] - Ray Parker Jr & Raydio
09 - I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance [[Oops! Upside Your Head) [LP Version] - Gap Band
10 - Save The Overtime [[For Me) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
11 - Shake Your Pants [LP Version] - Cameo
12 - Special Lady [Single Version without Rap] - Ray, Goodman & Brown
13 - You And I [LP Version] - O'Bryan
14 - Just Be Good To Me [LP Version] - The S.O.S. Band

[Ryon6]

"13 - Can't We Fall In Love Again [45 Version] - Phyllis Hyman and Wayne Henderson" - not Wayne but Michael Henderson. Volume 1. In Vol 5, Wide Receiver is Michael Henderson not Wayne Henderson.

[skooldem1]

Great list. Good to see "Young Love" by Janet Jackson, get a mention.

[marv2]

Yes this is a good selection for that time period. I was in college and just the titles of the songs bring back all kinds of memories for me.

[Jerry Oz]

Great compilation, soulster. If I would have done one, there'd be more SOLAR records, though. I'm surprised you put "Wait For Me" by Slave on it [[I thought you were not a Steve Arrington fan; perhaps I'm confused about that). Congratulations.

[Ryon6]

Yes, this list is great. However, there are some songs I've never heard. The Atlantic Starr tracks give this an A. Love "Circles", "When Love Calls" and "Love Me Down". Sharon Bryant is a dynamite singer. Would love to see an Atlantic Starr reunion with Sharon!

[soulster]

"13 - Can't We Fall In Love Again [45 Version] - Phyllis Hyman and Wayne Henderson" - not Wayne but Michael Henderson. Volume 1. In Vol 5, Wide Receiver is Michael Henderson not Wayne Henderson.

I'm sure I got it correct on the file. I just made the error on this list.

[soulster]

Great list. Good to see "Young Love" by Janet Jackson, get a mention.

Yeah, I took it off the original 45 rather than use the CD album version. Good thing all of my 80s 45s are very clean.

[soulster]

Great compilation, soulster. If I would have done one, there'd be more SOLAR records, though. I'm surprised you put "Wait For Me" by Slave on it [[I thought you were not a Steve Arrington fan; perhaps I'm confused about that).

Congratulations. I had to balance it all out, although you see I included quite a few Gap Band sides. Of the Solar stuff, I included most of the big hits. I may do another two volumes and add another Lakeside cut. But, remember that my cutoff period is the end of 1983. The reason for that is I feel R&B music took a turn for the...well. tried too hard to crossover at that point, and that much of it became too hip-hop to really be considered R&B. The funny thing is that, after 1985, R&B came back. I'm wondering if I should extend my series to include the rest of the 80s. It would be awesome to get some Oran "Juice" Jones, Isley Jasper Isley, Alexander O'Neal, Surface, Terence Trent D'arby, Pebbles, and Klymaxx in there, among others, just to show that the music didn't fizzle out. But, I feel the pickings would get a bit slim.

No, i'm not a big Steve Arrington fan, but you can't ignore stone jams like "Wait For Me" or "Snapshot".

[Jerry Oz]

I believe that "Wicka Rap" is AKA "Jam On Revenge [[The Wikki-Wikki Song)" by Newcleus.

[roger]

I believe that "Wicka Rap" is AKA "Jam On Revenge [[The Wikki-Wikki Song)" by Newcleus.

Nope ... "Wikka Rap" was a novelty song by THE EVASIONS .. which parodied the British broadcaster ALAN WICKER. And I believe that THE EVASIONS were also British.

It always totally bemuses me that U.S. Residents thought it was something worthwhile ... but there is no accounting for taste is there ... :)

Roger

[marv2]

I was thinking. You know who also had some pretty popular songs back during that era? Malcom McClaren with "Buffalo Gals" and "Double Dutch". Soulster's list just made me think of those first "scratchin'" records that were so popular around 1982. Oh and Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie". Those were a lot back then.

[soulster]

I believe that "Wicka Rap" is AKA "Jam On Revenge [[The Wikki-Wikki Song)" by Newcleus.

No, it's not. Here it is on YouTube, faded up, for some reason.


http://youtu.be/bbhwnsv56m8?list=RDbbhwnsv56m8

[soulster]

Nope ... "Wikka Rap" was a novelty song by THE EVASIONS .. which parodied the British broadcaster ALAN WICKER. And I believe that THE EVASIONS were also British.

It always totally bemuses me that U.S. Residents thought it was something worthwhile ... but there is no accounting for taste is there ... :)

Roger

No, you have to have grown up in America to understand it, and, the way we look at it, it's not too flattering of you guys! :)

[soulster]

I was thinking. You know who also had some pretty popular songs back during that era? Malcom McClaren with "Buffalo Gals" and "Double Dutch". Soulster's list just made me think of those first "scratchin'" records that were so popular around 1982.

Never liked "Double Dutch Bus".

I put some rap tunes on it, but tried to use ones that leaned more toward R&B, with exceptions, of course. That's why "Apache" by Sugarhill Gang is included. I'm also working on four more volumes and they will have some rock hits that went to the R&B top 10 like "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, and "Why You Wanna Treat Me So bad" by Prince.

[Jerry Oz]

Not "Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith. "Double Dutch" by Malcolm McLaren was a song that he and Trevor Horn did using South African acompaniment. It played tribute to New York City girls who were involved in competitive double dutch jump rope competitions at the time. It was on "Duck Rock", perhaps the most groundbreaking hip hop album ever and it is sincerely one of my favorite records. "Duck Rock" changed my musical perspective forever and made me a huge fan of African pop records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt6Co7EMNCU

[marv2]

Never liked "Double Dutch Bus".

I put some rap tunes on it, but tried to use ones that leaned more toward R&B, with exceptions, of course. That's why "Apache" by Sugarhill Gang is included. I'm also working on four more volumes and they will have some rock hits that went to the R&B top 10 like "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, and "Why You Wanna Treat Me So bad" by Prince.

Soulster, I did not mean "Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith out of Philly, I meant this "Double Dutch" by Malcolm McClaren and the Ebonettes:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt6Co7EMNCU

[roger]

No, you have to have grown up in America to understand it, and, the way we look at it, it's not too flattering of you guys! :)

Well then Soulster, I'm starting to suspect that "Wikka Rap" could deserve its own thread as you have me totally bemused there .. I imagine that what you think it is about is at total variance to what I think it is about.

"Wikka Rap" was recorded in London and was released on the Groove label, an offshoot of the Groove Record Shop in London's Soho area [[Groove records specialised in selling the latest Jazz/Funk/Soul records to D.J.s and music fans)

It was a sizable hit in Britain .. 8 weeks on the U.K. pop chart commencing 13th June 1981 and peaking at #20. I recall it even got played on "serious" Jazz/Funk/Soul radio programs such as Robbie Vincent's Saturday Lunchtime show on Radio London [[presumably this was prior to it charting and quite possibly it was prior to it being released).

Personally I found "Wikka Rap" to be quite a fun record on first hearing but the novelty quickly wore off and I certainly never considered buying a copy. The record then quietly disappeared and for 10 years or more I never heard of it again.

And then ..... around 1990 I had a pen pal in Sacamento, California with whom I used to swap records and he listed it as one of his favourite tunes from that early '80s period. I found this strange as I imagined that the lyrical content was very specific to Britain in 1981 and that Americans wouldn't get "the joke" [[judging from the you-tube comments on it and your own post it looks like I was right).

Anyway, I see that it was picked up by SAM records in New York and became a sizable R&B hit in the U.S. ... debuting on the Billboard R&B chart on 25th July 1981 [[by which time it would have been dropping down the U.K. charts) and peaking at #20 during its 15 week run .. though it never made the Billboard's Hot-100 "Pop" listings.

So ... it seem that we have reached an impasse ... you think that I would have had to have grown up in America to understand it ... I think you would have had to have grown up in Britain to understand it ... :)

Just to prove my theory, and throw the proverbial cat among the chickens, I suspect that you know what tune "Wikka Rap" was musically based upon, as you have included it in Volume 6 of these collections, but do you know what that line at the end of the "Wikka Rap" about the Southern Freeze not being a cold day in Bournemouth actually means? I can assure you that I do!! :)

Roger

[soulster]

It was a sizable hit in Britain .. 8 weeks on the U.K. pop chart commencing 13th June 1981 and peaking at #20. I recall it even got played on "serious" Jazz/Funk/Soul radio programs such as Robbie Vincent's Saturday Lunchtime show on Radio London [[presumably this was prior to it charting and quite possibly it was prior to it being released).

Oh, well, we didn't take it that seriously! LOL! To us, it was a cool little novelty record.


Personally I found "Wikka Rap" to be quite a fun record on first hearing but the novelty quickly wore off and I certainly never considered buying a copy. The record then quietly disappeared and for 10 years or more I never heard of it again.

The novelty did indeed wear off here too, but people like to look back with nostalgia.


And then ..... around 1990 I had a pen pal in Sacamento, California with whom I used to swap records and he listed it as one of his favourite tunes from that early '80s period. I found this strange as I imagined that the lyrical content was very specific to Britain in 1981 and that Americans wouldn't get "the joke" [[judging from the you-tube comments on it and your own post it looks like I was right).

Just so you know, the song is a whimsical take on American slang from the viewpoint of a Brit. Oh, yeah, that's all Black American slang. The vast majority of people who leave these posts on YouTube were probably very young or not yet born in 1981/82, when the record was popular on the radio. Apparently, the record was bigger in your country than here.




So ... it seem that we have reached an impasse ... you think that I would have had to have grown up in America to understand it ... I think you would have had to have grown up in Britain to understand it ... :)

Like I said, man, that record pokes fun at Black American slang. Did you think that slang originated in The U.K.?


Just to prove my theory, and throw the proverbial cat among the chickens, I suspect that you know what tune "Wikka Rap" was musically based upon, as you have included it in Volume 6 of these collections, but do you know what that line at the end of the "Wikka Rap" about the Southern Freeze not being a cold day in Bournemouth actually means? I can assure you that I do!! :)


You got me there. I have no fucking clue!:D

[roger]

Just so you know, the song is a whimsical take on American slang from the viewpoint of a Brit.

Like I said, man, that record pokes fun at Black American slang. Did you think that slang originated in The U.K.?

Well, that is an interesting theory Soulster, and certainly there is a connection [[of sorts) but that is NOT what the song is supposed to be about at all!!

In reality it is a whimsical take on how the Television broadcaster Alan Whicker might have reported upon the British [[and especially London) Jazz/Funk scene in the early '80s.

ALAN WHICKER had a very popular TV show on the BBC called "Whicker's World" that had ran from the early '60s and was still going strong in 1981, he was known for his distinctive sardonic vocal style, which sounded somewhat toffee-nosed and condescending to many here but that was part of his appeal. Typically his shows had him reporting on strange goings-on in exotic locations around the world .. there is a brief biography of him on Wikipedia which looks to be accurate ....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Whicker

Some episodes of "Whickers World" have been loaded onto You-Tube ... here is one from the 1980s that has him visiting Hong Kong .. and NO .. it isn't the man from THE EVASIONS doing the voiceover .. it is Mr Whicker himself .... :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1OddOtZFwo

Which brings me back to The Funk .... there was a HUGE Jazz/Funk scene in Britain in the early 1980s, with events being held where people danced to the latest Jazz, Funk and Soul tunes .. the vast majority of the records played were from America [[Soul, Jazz-Fusion, Hard-Funk and the Funkier end of "Disco") but there were also some British records that were popular .. these were generally termed as "Brit-Funk" at the time. The scene had been simmering away since the early 1970s but then went into overdrive around 1979/80, with All-Dayers and Week-Enders popping up all over the place where people could listen to and dance to the music. The scene was biggest in and around London but there were similar events held in other parts of the country, notably in the North-West and The Midlands.

So some bright spark had the idea of doing a novelty tune of how ALAN WHICKER might report on such an exotic scene. The "Black American Slang" that you mention ... gotta get up to get down .. one nation under a groove etc. etc. etc. were lines in the tunes that you might hear at such events. I accept that they originated as Black American Slang terms, but they would be best known in Britain as lines from popular songs ... and how popular they were .. :)


You got me there. I have no fucking clue!:D

As to that line about "the Southern Freeze not being a cold day in Bournemouth" .. Bournemouth is a large resort town on the South Coast of England, just to the west of The Isle Of Wight and in the winter it can get very cold down there.

"The Southern Freeze" was one of the better known "Brit-Funk" tunes and was a huge U.K. hit record for FREEEZ early in 1981 .. debuting on the U.K. charts on 7th February 1981 and peaked at #8 during an 11 week run. So "The Southern Freeze" would have been dropping down the charts when "Wikka Rap" was conceived/recorded .. here is a YouTube clip with FREEEZ perorming "The Southern Freeze" on "Top Of The Pops" ..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh0hGoESFcE

The inspiration for the song was reputedly the way that people used to dance at the Jazz/Funk events to "The Groove" by RODNEY FRANKLIN. "The Groove" had been a Top 10 U.K. hit in the spring of 1980 and was generally known here as "The Freeze", due to the way that the song kept stopping and starting. :)

Roger ......

[Soul Sister]

What about The O'Jays album "My Favorite Person" which was big at that time, also Atlantic Starr who were then the opening act for The O'Jays. Caught this show at Avery Fisher Hall-Lincoln Center, also at the Madison Square Garden Show with The Manhattans headlining, both shows were off the hook!!
I didn't notice Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" on that list, he was touring big at the time off of that record, saw him at the Meadowlands Arena with The Manhattans.
All of this Circa 1980-1982 Teena Marie, Stephanie Mills, Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson, Lakeside all had hits at the time, caught all of their acts at the Budweiser Superfest Shows at Madison Square Garden in this same period.

S.S.
***

[splanky]

Not "Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith. "Double Dutch" by Malcolm McLaren was a song that he and Trevor Horn did using South African acompaniment. It played tribute to New York City girls who were involved in competitive double dutch jump rope competitions at the time. It was on "Duck Rock", perhaps the most groundbreaking hip hop album ever and it is sincerely one of my favorite records. "Duck Rock" changed my musical perspective forever and made me a huge fan of African pop records.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt6Co7EMNCU
It's too bad Malcolm didn't see fit to actually give credit to Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens for their work on his album...Lots of American and British musicians have tagged
African artists to work on or be featured in their releases for years now.Think Paul Simon,
Peter Grabriel, David Byrne, even jazz musicians like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bela Fleck
and Regina Carter, usually giving full credit. In fact all of the aforementioned always have.
But I got over Malcolm's slight enough to enjoy his work later with Bootsy Collins and you
know The Boot got full credit!....

[marv2]

What about The O'Jays album "My Favorite Person" which was big at that time, also Atlantic Starr who were then the opening act for The O'Jays. Caught this show at Avery Fisher Hall-Lincoln Center, also at the Madison Square Garden Show with The Manhattans headlining, both shows were off the hook!!
I didn't notice Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" on that list, he was touring big at the time off of that record, saw him at the Meadowlands Arena with The Manhattans.
All of this Circa 1980-1982 Teena Marie, Stephanie Mills, Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson, Lakeside all had hits at the time, caught all of their acts at the Budweiser Superfest Shows at Madison Square Garden in this same period.

S.S.
***

Soul Sister you made me remember a couple of popular songs from the era..... J.Blackfoot "Taxi", 1983
Deniece Williams "Black Butterfly", "Silly", 1981
Bobby Womack "If You Think You're Lonely Now" 1982
Tania Gardner Heartbeat 1981

This was a rather good period of music now that I think about it.

[marv2]

It's too bad Malcolm didn't see fit to actually give credit to Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens for their work on his album...Lots of American and British musicians have tagged
African artists to work on or be featured in their releases for years now.Think Paul Simon,
Peter Grabriel, David Byrne, even jazz musicians like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bela Fleck
and Regina Carter, usually giving full credit. In fact all of the aforementioned always have.
But I got over Malcolm's slight enough to enjoy his work later with Bootsy Collins and you
know The Boot got full credit!....

Ooh you are soooo right! I Wouldn't begin to know where to look for other works by these great artists! They are what made those "mainstream hits" work! Thank you for pointing that out.

[marv2]

I have just completed my 80s R&B compilation that I have been working on for a decade! I added five new volumes. It spans the early years from 1980 to 1983. The choices are of my taste, and don't always go for the most obvious hits, but still well represent what was very popular with R&B audiences in the U.S. during this mostly ignored era of the genre.

The purpose of adding some of the 45 versions is because they aren't available anywhere digitally, and I had to either get them off the records or recreate them with software. There are two or three songs sourced from mp3s because I had no other choice.

All songs were released as singles, which was a qualification for their inclusion. They also had to be R&B audience approved, and were cross-referenced by Billboard magazine. Probably the ONLY exceptions are "I Had To Say It" by Millie Jackson and "Go For It" by Shalamar.

Here is a tracklist of the entire series. You just can't buy a set like this! [[You literally can't! The licensing alone would be a nightmare, and many of the tapes would be unavailable. Thank God for the home computer and professional audio software!) Oh, the limit of 14 songs on each volume is arbitrary. And, right now, i'm already thinking of replacing a song because I realized that "Don't Say Goodnight [[It's Time For Love)" by The Isley Brothers really should be in there.

R&B HITS OF THE 80S [[1980-1983)
===============================




VOL 1
=====


01 - A Lover's Holiday [45 Version] - Change
02 - I've Just Begun To Love You [LP Version] - Dynasty
03 - I Had To Say It - Millie Jackson
04 - Circles [LP Version] - Atlantic Starr
05 - Just The Two Of Us [LP Version] - Grover Washington Jr. Featuring Bill Withers
06 - Let's Work [45 Version] - Prince
07 - Fall in Love With Me [45 Version] - Earth, Wind & Fire
08 - It's A Love Thing [LP Version] - The Whispers
09 - Do What You Feel - Denise Williams
10 - Do Me Right [LP Version] - Dynasty
11 - My Destiny - Alton McClain & Destiny
12 - You're The One For Me [LP Version] - D-Train
13 - Can't We Fall In Love Again [45 Version] - Phyllis Hyman and Wayne Henderson
14 - Inside Love [[So Personal) - George Benson


VOL 2
=====


01 - Bon Bon Vie [[The Good Life) [45 Version] - T.S. Monk
02 - I Know - Philip Bailey
03 - Try Jah Love [LP Version] - Third World
04 - Dancing All Night - Sheree Brown
05 - Blue Jeans [45 Version] - Chocolate Milk
06 - Big Fun [45 version] - Kool & The Gang
07 - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore - Stephanie Mills
08 - The Best Is Yet To Come - Grover Washington Jr. Featiring Patti Labelle
09 - Genius Of Love [45 Version] - The Tom-Tom Club
10 - Too Much Too Soon [45 Version] - T.S. Monk
11 - Baby I Need Your Loving [LP Version] - Carl Carlton
12 - Do You Love Me Patti Austin
13 - Watching You - Slave
14 - Party Train [45 version] - Gap Band


VOL 3
=====


01 - Mirror, Mirror [45 version] - Diana Ross
02 - Funky Sensation [45 version] - Gwen McCrae
03 - Standing Ovation [45 version] - GQ
04 - Everything Is Cool [45 version] - T-Connection
05 - Treasure - The Brothers Johnson
06 - Go For It - Shalamar
07 - Something About You - Angela Bofil
08 - Deja Vu - Dionne Warwick
09 - I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder
10 - It's Gonna Take A Miracle - Denise Williams
11 - This Kind Of Lovin' - The Whispers
12 - So Fine [LP version] - Howard Johnson
13 - Power - The Temptations
14 - Wikka Wrap


VOL 4
=====


01 - Burn Rubber [[Why You Wanna Hurt Me) [45 version] - Gap Band
02 - Apache [45 Version] - Sugarhill Gang
03 - What'cha Gonna Do For Me - Chaka Khan
04 - Do You Love What You Feel [LP Version] - Rufus & Chaka
05 - A Woman Needs Love - Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
06 - Don't Stop The Music [45 Version] - Yarborough & Peoples
07 - Fo-Fi-Fo - Pieces Of A Dream
08 - Freaky Behaviour - Bar-Kays
09 - Got To Be Good Enough - Con Funk Shun
10 - Hold Tight - Change
11 - Make That Move [45 Version] - Shalamar
12 - Posin' Till Closin' [45 Version] - Heatwave
13 - Stay Awake - Ronnie Laws
14 - That Girl - Stevie Wonder


VOL 5
=====


01 - Lovely One [LP version] - The Jacksons
02 - I Need Your Lovin' [LP Version] - Teena Marie
03 - She's A Bad Mama Jama [[She's Built, She's Stacked) [45 version] - Carl Carlton
04 - Very Special [45 Version] - Debra Laws
05 - Sukiyaki - A Taste Of Honey
06 - Mama Used To Say [LP Version] - Junior
07 - You Are - Lionel Ritchie
08 - Breakout! - Patrice Rushen
09 - Be Mine Tonight [45 version] - Grover Washington Jr. Featuring Grady Tate
10 - Call Me [45 Version] - Skyy
11 - I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Lakeside
12 - Fix It [[Pt 1) [45 version] - Teena Marie
13 - My Guy - Sister Sledge
14 - Wide Receiver - Wayne Henderson


VOL 6
=====


01 - B.Y.O.B. [[Bring Your Own Baby) - Sister Sledge
02 - I Pledge My Love - Peaches & Herb
03 - 365 - Teena Marie
04 - Don't You Know That - Luther Vandross
05 - Hit And Run [LP Version] - Bar-Kays
06 - Hurry Up And Wait - The Isley Brothers
07 - Flirt - Cameo
08 - Love Me Down [LP Version] - Atlantic Starr
09 - Get It Right - Aretha Franklin
10 - One Million Kisses - Rufus & Chaka Khan
11 - Lady [[You Bring Me Up) [LP version] - Commodores
12 - Thighs High [[Grip Your Hips And Move) - Tom Browne
13 - With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston with Syreeta
14 - Upside Down [45 Version] - Diana Ross


VOL 7
=====


01 - The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
02 - Atomic Dog - George Clinton
03 - Cutie Pie [45 version] - One Way Featuring Al Hudson
04 - I Like It [45 version] - DeBarge
05 - Let's Get Serious [45 version] - Jermaine Jackson
06 - Love Over And Over Again - Switch
07 - A Night to Remember [LP Version] - Shalamar
08 - When Love Calls - Atlantic Starr
09 - Walk Right Now [LP Version] - The Jacksons
10 - Bad Times [LP Version] - Tavares
11 - The Gigolo [45 version] - O'Bryan
12 - You Dropped A Bomb On Me [45 version] - Gap Band
13 - Papillon [[aka Hot Butterfly) - Chaka Khan
14 - Still Water [[Love) - O'Bryan


VOL 8
=====


01 - Behind The Groove [45 version] - Teena Marie
02 - Snap Shot [LP version] - Slave
03 - Give It To Me Baby [LP Version] - Rick James
04 - Love Me Down [LP Version] - Atlantic Starr
05 - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll - Vaughn Mason & The Wrecking Crew
06 - I Can Make It Better [LP Version] - The Whispers
07 - One Hundred Ways - Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram
08 - Give Me The Night [45 version] - George Benson
09 - Take Your Time [[Do It Right) [45 Version] - The S.O.S. Band
10 - Remote Control - The Reddings
11 - Wait For Me - Slave
12 - Jump To It - Aretha Franklin
13 - Stomp [LP version] - The Brothers Johnson
14 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson


VOL 9
=====


01 - Early in the Morning [45 Version] - Gap Band
02 - Peanut Butter - Twennynine Featuring Lenny White
03 - I Can't Go For That [[No Can Do) [Remixed edited 45 version] - Daryl Hall & John Oates
04 - One In A Million You - Larry Graham
05 - 777-9311 [LP Version] - The Time
06 - If This World Were Mine - Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn
07 - Taste Of Bitter Love - Gladys Knight & The Pips
08 - Murphy's Law - Cheri
09 - Love Come Down [45 version] - Evelyn "Champagne" King
10 - You Like Me Don't You - Jermaine Jackson
11 - Juicy Fruit [45 Version] - Mtume
12 - Young Love [45 version] - Janet Jackson
13 - Two Places At The Same Time - Raydio & Ray Parker Jr.
14 - Do I Do [45 Version] - Stevie Wonder


VOL 10
======


01 - Did I Hear You Say You Love Me - Stevie Wonder
02 - So You Want To Be A Star [45 version] - Mtume
03 - I Should've Loved Ya [45 version] - Narada Michael Walden
04 - Biggest Part Of Me - Ambrosia
05 - Big Time [45 version] - Rick James
06 - Outstanding - Gap Band
07 - Bourgie Bourgie - Gladys Knight & The Pips
08 - Let Me Go [LP version] - Ray Parker Jr & Raydio
09 - I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance [[Oops! Upside Your Head) [LP Version] - Gap Band
10 - Save The Overtime [[For Me) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
11 - Shake Your Pants [LP Version] - Cameo
12 - Special Lady [Single Version without Rap] - Ray, Goodman & Brown
13 - You And I [LP Version] - O'Bryan
14 - Just Be Good To Me [LP Version] - The S.O.S. Band

You did such a great list, I'd buy this set if it were commercially available. It makes me want to make my own "add on" list to your selections here.

[soulster]

You did such a great list, I'd buy this set if it were commercially available. It makes me want to make my own "add on" list to your selections here. I'm working on four more. I may have them ready on...Tuesday.

[marv2]

I'm working on four more. I may have them ready on...Tuesday.

Will they be from this same, sometimes rather overlooked period?

[Jerry Oz]

It's too bad Malcolm didn't see fit to actually give credit to Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens for their work on his album...Lots of American and British musicians have tagged
African artists to work on or be featured in their releases for years now.Think Paul Simon,
Peter Grabriel, David Byrne, even jazz musicians like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bela Fleck
and Regina Carter, usually giving full credit. In fact all of the aforementioned always have.
But I got over Malcolm's slight enough to enjoy his work later with Bootsy Collins and you
know The Boot got full credit!....Wasn't McLaren's band Bow Wow Wow sued for cribbing riffs from Burundi pop bands? He was definitely a fan of African music but he seemed to have had little problem with showing his appreciation by ripping them off. I always wondered who supplied the vocals on "Double Dutch" and "Road to Soweto" on "Duck Rock". Both songs affect me on a spiritual level. Now, I know who to look up. Thanks, splanky.

[soulster]

Will they be from this same, sometimes rather overlooked period?
Oh, yes. I'm limiting my collection to 1980-1983.

[marv2]

Wasn't McLaren's band Bow Wow Wow sued for cribbing riffs from Burundi pop bands? He was definitely a fan of African music but he seemed to have had little problem with showing his appreciation by ripping them off. I always wondered who supplied the vocals on "Double Dutch" and "Road to Soweto" on "Duck Rock". Both songs affect me on a spiritual level. Now, I know who to look up. Thanks, splanky.

Those girls in the video "Double Dutch" reminded me of girls in Toledo, Ohio, Detroit, Philadelphia [[now those girls could kill some double dutch LOL!) and of course NYC, but those voices were from heaven! I too wanted to know who they belong to at the time and now I know!

[marv2]

Uh oh Soulster! Looks like you're missing the killer jam from your collection.................."Ain't Nobody" - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan 1983!

[soulster]

Uh oh Soulster! Looks like you're missing the killer jam from your collection.................."Ain't Nobody" - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan 1983!
I have a love-hate relationship with that song. I love it because it's a good song. I hate it because i've heard it so damn much, and everyone thinks it's the bomb, and, it's hardly representative of what the band could do. It also annoys me that *most* people only know that song by that band. And, when I hear it, I think of break-dancing. I was never impressed by that fad [[except for one chick I knew back in the late 80s who was good at it and had some big tits. :)

Maybe i'll add the song. I don't know...

[Jerry Oz]

Soulster, you have Atlantic Starr "Love Me Down" on two different discs. How about replacing one of them with "Send For Me" or "Touch A Four Leaf Clover"? I loved both of those songs.

[soulster]

Soulster, you have Atlantic Starr "Love Me Down" on two different discs. How about replacing one of them with "Send For Me" or "Touch A Four Leaf Clover"? I loved both of those songs.

Oops! Gotta fix that! Well, no more Atlantic Starr in that collection. Maybe i'll just replace it with "Ain't Nobody".

[manny]

Good and very representative selection. The 80's is considered by the soul aficionados and the criticals as the decade when soul was lost, great soul men and soul sisters were on "hivernacle" or publishing in minority labels [[Malaco, Ichiban,...) or returned to their gospel roots... But if we search correctly, apart from synth pop, brain less disco, etc. we can find some real gems, principally in the first half of the decade: O'Jays "Extraordinary Girl", "Put Our Heads Together", "Love Fever"; Gene Dunlap "Party On Me"; Teddy Pendergrass "I Can't Win For Losing", Whitehead Brothers, Jones Girls, Aurra, Skyy, brithish jazz-funk acts like Incognito, Light Of The World, Beggar & Co,... Herbie Hancock [[the entire "Sound System" LP), George Duke [[super funky "Dream On" album!!), Brothers Johnson, Quincy Jones, Roy Ayers, Edwin Birdsong, Jocelyn Brown,... some elegant and or full of feeling disco-funky music by Atmosfear, Turbulence, Voyage, Keni Burke, Montana, People's Choice, Goodie Goodie, Ingram,... And, of course, soul ballads and mid tempos by Diana, Marvin, Stevie, Smokey, Billy Paul,...

[Jerry Oz]

Oops! Gotta fix that! Well, no more Atlantic Starr in that collection. Maybe i'll just replace it with "Ain't Nobody".Or perhaps 'Do I Do' or 'Ribbon In The Sky'. I didn't realize how much good music came from that era. Great post.

[marv2]

Or "Masterblaster" Stevie Wonder 1980, "Being With You" Smokey Robinson 1981

[soulster]

Or perhaps 'Do I Do' or 'Ribbon In The Sky'. I didn't realize how much good music came from that era. Great post.

I've always known how much great music came out in that era, but it continues to be ignored by the mainstream, and am still baffled as to why no label ever attempted a proper CD collection of it. Rhino came soooo close but never went for it. In fact, their Phat Trax and Soul Hits Of The 70s sets were my inspiration.

"Do I Do" is already in there, and "Ribbon In The Sky" bores me, though I may include the 45 version yet. "Being With You" is coming up, but never cared for "Master Blaster". I don't even care for "Forget Me Nots", but it's going to be in there because I can use the 45 version I recently created. As you may have guessed, I generally don't care for recordings with sparse instrumentation, and that are very slow.

I am working on the next four volumes now. I'll have a list up tonight or in the morning.

[soulster]

Here are the next four volumes. I didn't have the 45, and couldn't find it on You Tube, so I have to create an edit of "Winners" by Kleer.

For Volume 9, I made a correction: "If The World Were Mine" is correctly billed as the LP version by "Cheryl Lynn [[Duet With Luther Vandross)". I also made sure the titles were accurate.



VOL 11
======


01 - 1999 [LP Version] - Prince
02 - All Night Long [[All Night) [45 Version] - Lionel Richie
03 - Celebration [LP Version] - Kool & The Gang
04 - Being With You - Smokey Robinson
05 - Dance Wit' Me, Pt. 1 - Rick James
06 - Don't Say Goodnight [[It's Time For Love) [[Parts 1 & 2) - The Isley Brothers
07 - Winners [edit] - Kleer
08 - Emergency - The Whispers
09 - The Girl Is Mine - Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney
10 - Steppin' Out [LP version] - Kool & The Gang
11 - For Those Who Like To Groove - Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
12 - Too Tough [LP version] - Angela Bofil
13 - Uptown [45 version] - Prince
14 - Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye


VOL 12
======


01 - We Can Work It Out - Chaka Khan
02 - Give Me The Lovin' [LP Version] - Chic
03 - Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time - Spinners
04 - We're In This Love Together - Al Jarreau
05 - I'm Freaky [LP Version] - O'Bryan
06 - Got To Be There - Chaka Khan
07 - Something About That Woman - Lakeside
08 - Forget Me Nots [45 version] - Patrice Rushen
09 - Say Say Say - Paul McCartney And Michael Jackson
10 - We're Going Out Tonight - Cameo
11 - Freak-A-Zoid [45 Version] - Midnight Star
12 - Heartbreak Hotel [LP version] - The Jacksons
13 - Inside You [[Part I) - The Isley Brothers
14 - Lady - The Whispers


VOL 13
======


01 - U Bring The Freak Out - Rick James
02 - Jam The Motha' [LP Version] - The Gap Band
03 - All Night Long [45 Version] - Mary Jane Girls
04 - The Real Thing - The Brothers Johnson
05 - United Together [LP Version] - Aretha Franklin
06 - Let Me Tickle Your Fancy - Jermaine Jackson
07 - Take My Heart [[You Can Have It If You Want It) - Kool & The Gang
08 - Cool [[Part I) - The Time
09 - One On One - Daryl Hall & John Oates
10 - Mornin' - Al Jarreau
11 - Too Hot [LP Version] - Kool & The Gang
12 - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad - Prince
13 - Silly [LP Version] - Denise Williams
14 - Slow Hand - Pointer Sisters


VOL 14
======


01 - Waiting By The Hotline - Denise Williams
02 - Gangsters Of The Groove [45 version] - Heatwave
03 - Here We Go Again [[Parts 1 & 2) - The Isley Brothers
04 - Get Down On It [45 version] - Kool & The Gang
05 - This Is It - Kenny Loggins
06 - Controversy [45 Version] - Prince
07 - Wet My Whistle [single version] - Midnight Star
08 - Love All The Hurt Away - Aretha Franklin And George Benson
09 - And The Beat Goes On [LP Version] - The Whispers
10 - Standing On The Top - The Temptations Featuring Rick James
11 - Every Generation [LP Version] - Ronnie Laws
12 - Boogie Down - Al Jarreau
13 - Got To Love Somebody [45 version] - Sister Sledge
14 - Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me [[That's What I'm Gonna Do) - Luther Vandross

[edafan]

thanks for the lists

I collect music

genres

rnb

recently country

now back to the real stuff

It is great to here the real stuff, also stuff that our members
Bob Babbitt Russell Thompkins Jr. are on.

edafan

[glencro]

Great compilation from a great era. I started high school in 1980 therefore most of these songs are truly a part of the soundtrack of my life. I remember I used to make compilation cassettes and cds. I just found it hard sticking to the singles because I'm such an album track type of listener. Haven't had time in years to do something like this but I may just make time to do a few for myself.

[soulster]

I just found it hard sticking to the singles because I'm such an album track type of listener.

Well, I bought and listened to both. For many of those tracks, I have both the album and 45 versions, an, in some cases, the 12" versions too. One of the reasons I use 45 versions is because sometimes, the album versions are just too long for my enjoyment. They're long just to take up time. I grew up in the 60s and 70s with hit radio, so I like songs tight and neat, and to the point. The other reason there are a lot of 45 versions in there is because many of them are rare, or don't exist digitally, except in my collection. So, if anyone hears these sets, they can hear how the single sounded like.

[zebop]

Breakout! - Patrice Rushen
Hurry Up and Wait-The Isley Brothers
Treasure-The Brothers Johnson
When Love Calls-Atlantic Starr

Those are some of my favorites from the era. It's an often neglected period in music, I like a lot of the songs a lot....

[soulster]

Breakout! - Patrice Rushen
Hurry Up and Wait-The Isley Brothers
Treasure-The Brothers Johnson
When Love Calls-Atlantic Starr

Those are some of my favorites from the era. It's an often neglected period in music, I like a lot of the songs a lot....

Exactly! But, if I say that around some people, they accuse of calling people racists for not recognizing it. When you mention this period to most people, all they think about is new wave and lite-country. A lot of the songs in my comp did hit the Billboard Top 10 singles chart, but, strangely, no one seems to remember that either.

[marv2]

Exactly! But, if I say that around some people, they accuse of calling people racists for not recognizing it. When you mention this period to most people, all they think about is new wave and lite-country. A lot of the songs in my comp did hit the Billboard Top 10 singles chart, but, strangely, no one seems to remember that either.

I remember as soon as January 1980 rolled around Disco was declared dead and the "Urban Cowboy" era was being ushered in [[or rather forced in some would say...) with artist like Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton, Mickey Gillis, etc,etc taking center stage nationally. I still loved the Whispers "And the Beat Goes On"...........

[soulster]

I remember as soon as January 1980 rolled around Disco was declared dead and the "Urban Cowboy" era was being ushered in [[or rather forced in some would say...) with artist like Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton, Mickey Gillis, etc,etc taking center stage nationally. I still loved the Whispers "And the Beat Goes On"...........
I felt like the "Urban Cowboy" phenomenon was a direct reaction to all kinds of things going on in the U.S. at the time, like the rise of the conservative movement and disco. It took the spotlight away from the coasts and put it in the "heartland". It's John Travolta's fault. :)

[marv2]

I felt like the "Urban Cowboy" phenomenon was a direct reaction to all kinds of things going on in the U.S. at the time, like the rise of the conservative movement and disco. It took the spotlight away from the coasts and put it in the "heartland". It's John Travolta's fault. :)

You can include Ronald Reagan and those "young Republicans" at the time as well. I was living and going to school in Colorado at the time and everyone were buying cowboy boots. I broke down a bought a pair right around the time JR Ewing got shot! hehehehehehehe.......

One of my favorite songs in 1981 was the theme from "Arthur" "When You Get Caught Between the Moon and New York City" by Christopher Cross.

[zebop]

Exactly! But, if I say that around some people, they accuse of calling people racists for not recognizing it. When you mention this period to most people, all they think about is new wave and lite-country. A lot of the songs in my comp did hit the Billboard Top 10 singles chart, but, strangely, no one seems to remember that either.

A lot of whites seemed to stop listening to R&B music in the early '80s. I don't know what happened. They were the ones talking about Rick James and had their Peaches and Herb 8 track, but as soon as 1981 rolled around, it's like they had selective amnesia and or went "country."

That's what a lot of these songs are forgotten--and the only way a lot of these acts hit the pop charts again is when they watered-down their sound, like Atlantic Starr...Thankfully this seemed to end by the end of the '80s. The charts were so odd during the early '80s--yet they certainly reflected the times.

[soulster]

That's what a lot of these songs are forgotten--and the only way a lot of these acts hit the pop charts again is when they watered-down their sound, like Atlantic Starr...Thankfully this seemed to end by the end of the '80s. The charts were so odd during the early '80s--yet they certainly reflected the times.

You may recall the way Shalamar's "Dead Giveaway" came about. The Solar label was starting to struggle in 1983, so owner Dick Griffey commissioned the producers to write and produce a pop song specifically for Shalamar because he thought they had the most youthful appeal and the most potential to crossover. It worked. But, it just wasn't enough to help the label recover. The album "The Look" was a mismash of pop and solid R&B tracks. As soon as "Dead Giveaway" fell off the charts, what was the next single? The usual R&B fare - a ballad led by Howard Hewitt. The album didn't do all that well on the Billboard Top Album chart, probably because of that stylistic mixture. It is upsetting that Shalamar's final hit was from the film "Footloose" the next year, and wasn't even on the Solar label! It was on Columbia.

Solar didn't go under, but they stopped having top 10 hit singles. R&B was being co-opted by hip-hop, and, frankly, there were more exciting sounds in the pop/rock segments at the time. But, if they totally went in those directions, they risked alienating their aging R&B base. Solar went on to have scattered hits from Lakeside and Klyymaxx, and one from The Whispers, but it was never like the years between 1979-1982. Had Solar not been isolated in Los Angeles, and adopted the youthful sounds that Prince and his proteges were enjoying, if they had started incorporating hip-hop, perhaps they would have done better. Klyymaxx was the best they could do at that point. Even Rick James was finally getting more of the crossover sales that he desired, especially through The Mary Jane Girls and Eddie Murphy.

Speaking of "Footloose", Denise Williams must have been quite happy. She was able to get a pop hit "Let's hear It For The Boy".

Denise Williams never claimed to be an R&B singer. That may have been the way she began in the Columbia label in late 1976 under the direction of Maurice White, But, by 1980, she was doing pop, and being successful at it. In 1983, Larkin Arnold was placed in charge of the Black Music Division at CBS Records, and decided that Black artists should be doing R&B and be marketed towards Black radio. This interrupted Williams' gradual course toward pop fame. She did the best she could with "approved" producer George Duke, but she was no longer really getting pop singles. "Footloose" may have reversed her fortunes, but it didn't last. Williams moved on to Christian music.

There are tons of stories about what happened with R&B in the early 80s. Some people blame hip-hop. I don't. A generation gap had definitely emerged for the first time in R&B music. A new voice came that was more powerful than the one that occurred in the late 60s or in the mid-70s. The urban streets were finally being heard on their own terms.

[tamla617]

Like your compilation soulster,most I have myself, a couple I've never heard and some,not very many,I might add, I wouldn't include but I'd be more than happy to have that lot on in the car.

I did a 400 mile trip last week with the all the Rufus ftr Chaka khan LP's and Chaka' 1st 6 lp's on MP3 CD.

I'd forgotten that wikka rap 45. Funny as hell the 1st few times then the novelty wore off.Alan Wicker was a target for a p*ss take ever since the Whicker Island by the Python team.
He died earlier this year.

Roger
Great bit of memory digging there! We were running Jazz/Funk nights in the NAAFI and Rugby Club at Brize from 78. Started on Sundays and Mondays ,Wednesdays were Jazz/Funk nights too but we never told people,then Friday nights got "converted" to J/F much to the Rock n Roll and Heavy Metal Wombat's anger.Packed out and plenty of women as opposed to blokes dancing to Status Quo or Shakin'Stevens with their mates!

[soulster]

I've decided to add Volume 15, and it will be the end. I now feel like i'm looking for songs.

[zebop]

You may recall the way Shalamar's "Dead Giveaway" came about. The Solar label was starting to struggle in 1983, so owner Dick Griffey commissioned the producers to write and produce a pop song specifically for Shalamar because he thought they had the most youthful appeal and the most potential to crossover. It worked. But, it just wasn't enough to help the label recover. The album "The Look" was a mismash of pop and solid R&B tracks. As soon as "Dead Giveaway" fell off the charts, what was the next single? The usual R&B fare - a ballad led by Howard Hewitt. The album didn't do all that well on the Billboard Top Album chart, probably because of that stylistic mixture. It is upsetting that Shalamar's final hit was from the film "Footloose" the next year, and wasn't even on the Solar label! It was on Columbia.

Solar didn't go under, but they stopped having top 10 hit singles. R&B was being co-opted by hip-hop, and, frankly, there were more exciting sounds in the pop/rock segments at the time. But, if they totally went in those directions, they risked alienating their aging R&B base. Solar went on to have scattered hits from Lakeside and Klyymaxx, and one from The Whispers, but it was never like the years between 1979-1982. Had Solar not been isolated in Los Angeles, and adopted the youthful sounds that Prince and his proteges were enjoying, if they had started incorporating hip-hop, perhaps they would have done better. Klyymaxx was the best they could do at that point. Even Rick James was finally getting more of the crossover sales that he desired, especially through The Mary Jane Girls and Eddie Murphy.

Speaking of "Footloose", Denise Williams must have been quite happy. She was able to get a pop hit "Let's hear It For The Boy".

Denise Williams never claimed to be an R&B singer. That may have been the way she began in the Columbia label in late 1976 under the direction of Maurice White, But, by 1980, she was doing pop, and being successful at it. In 1983, Larkin Arnold was placed in charge of the Black Music Division at CBS Records, and decided that Black artists should be doing R&B and be marketed towards Black radio. This interrupted Williams' gradual course toward pop fame. She did the best she could with "approved" producer George Duke, but she was no longer really getting pop singles. "Footloose" may have reversed her fortunes, but it didn't last. Williams moved on to Christian music.

There are tons of stories about what happened with R&B in the early 80s. Some people blame hip-hop. I don't. A generation gap had definitely emerged for the first time in R&B music. A new voice came that was more powerful than the one that occurred in the late 60s or in the mid-70s. The urban streets were finally being heard on their own terms.

Totally agree. Solar was pretty much the epitome of R&B for a time--and then it wasn't. In a way I think they should have concentrated on pure R&B product but I guess singing w/ Elektra/Asylum had them thinking of other things. Lots of promise w/ Solar and even a trademark sound--and coincidentally a sound the pop charts really didn't like...

What happened to Shalamar was especially sad. They sacrificed their R&B fans for those hits and of course the pop charts jettisoned them after one or two songs, ha--it happened time and time again...

True about Deniece Williams. Williams really should have known she was at her best as an R&B act, not pop, not disco. After the Thom Bell albums [[one great one with him, one so-so one) she did an ok one with George Duke. I'm So Proud didn't sell that well but "Do What You Feel" was a nice enough song.

Flash up a couple of years, Williams isn't best known for "Black Butterfly" or "Free" but that dreadful, "Let's Hear it For the Boy." Not surprisingly, the pop charts had no more time for her and that was it. Yep, Larkin Arnold--he was a great record guy, he really didn't care about crossing over...

Nope I don't blame hip-hop either, they were making better songs and albums than most of R&B...

[soulster]

Totally agree. Solar was pretty much the epitome of R&B for a time--and then it wasn't. In a way I think they should have concentrated on pure R&B product but I guess singing w/ Elektra/Asylum had them thinking of other things. Lots of promise w/ Solar and even a trademark sound--and coincidentally a sound the pop charts really didn't like...


Well, Griffey did concentrate on pure R&B. The distribution deal was because the last one with RCA didn't work out, and the deal with Elektra/Asylum was supposed to increase the distribution. Remember that he also had a simultaneous distribution deal with MCA for the Constellation label.


What happened to Shalamar was especially sad. They sacrificed their R&B fans for those hits and of course the pop charts jettisoned them after one or two songs, ha--it happened time and time again...

Here's where I disagree. Shalamar also had internal issues with the three members. Jeffery Daniels didn't show up for dates, and Howard Hewitt and Jody Watley were at odds with each other. Dick Griffey didn't sacrifice their base at all. If you recall the "The Look" album, it was a very nice mix of pop and solid R&B. As I pointed out earlier, the subsequent singles from that album were 100%, solid R&B that were successful, or as successful as anything before. And, they had a youthful sound and appeal. Now, I don't know if you remember the "Heartbreak" album, but it followed the same formula as "The Look", but failed. [[You'll probably have to pull it up to remember what it sounded like because it was so forgettable.)

Again, Griffey was having issues with his distributer. That is always a big factor when artists don't have product out there. There were also disputes with Leon Sylvers III, his house writer and head producer. By 1985, it seemed the only active artists still on the roster were The Deele, Lakeside, and Klyymaxx, who did get two hit albums and some top 10 singles, even on the Billboard Top 10 singles chart. Griffey switched his releases over to Capitol distribution, and we got one more Whispers hit single. That was about the last we heard from the label.


True about Deniece Williams. Williams really should have known she was at her best as an R&B act, not pop, not disco.

If you listen to her albums, she wasn't really stylistically R&B. Her singing and phrasing wasn't R&B, but there was always just enough to capture the R&B audience. IMO, she was stylistically closer to Barbra Streisand or Amy Grant.


Flash up a couple of years, Williams isn't best known for "Black Butterfly" or "Free" but that dreadful, "Let's Hear it For the Boy." Not surprisingly, the pop charts had no more time for her and that was it.

Man, you're starting to sound like Nelson George! LOL! Well, I thought "Let's Hear It For The Boy" was a great, fun record, and you can tell she really had fun with it, and enjoyed the success it brought her. Now, if she could have just kept doing songs like that, she could have achieved her goal. Maybe she should have become buddies with Walter Yetnikof. It worked for Michael Jackson.


Nope I don't blame hip-hop either, they were making better songs and albums than most of R&B...

The popularity of hip-hop was about the the Black generation gap, age, and economic status. It happened two or three decades later than the White generation gap, but it brewed slowly. The age gap is even evident on this forum. A lot of forum members are stuck in the 60s and early 70s, and there are some of us who kept listening. It wasn't just about age, it was about class, status, and geography. Until the 90s, hip-hop was the happening thing on the east coast, while the west coast was still resisting. I mean, Don Cornelius had to be forced to play a rap tune on his show. "The Message" was just too powerful to ignore. I remember the day he aired that video. It was groundbreaking, and, somehow, I knew he felt it marked the end for that era of R&B, and his dance show. Throughout the 80s, there was just enough R&B by the likes of Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal, Surface, Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown, Freddie Jackson, Anita Baker, Tony Toni Tone!, and Pebbles, to keep them going for a while, but sooner or later, it all had to end. By 1989, even I lost track. I remember that by then, the older R&B audiences were headed to ZZ Hill, Trudy Lynn, and other aging veteran R&B artists. I guess they couldn't really identify with the Keith Sweats, Adina Howards, EnVogues, Babyfaces, and rap.

[marv2]

Soulster, I want a copy of this excellent collection.

[zebop]

Soulster, I want a copy of this excellent collection. Ha me too.



Soulster, I think I got The Look and Heartbreak mixed up. Yep, I remember Heartbreak--I remember being nauseated by that cover, no Jeffrey, no Jody Watley--no sale. I think the sadder part of that era was seeing the "Over and Over" video with just Howard Hewitt and Micki Free. That was a classic Solar sounding track though. I bet Shalamar [[or whatever was left of them) thought they hit the big-time pop wise. Pop/MTV had a surprise for them, ha.


Yep, Solar was another one of those labels with scant roster. It never works--and Philadelphia International was trying the same thing and by 1984 their only acts were the O'jays and whatever was left in the can from Teddy Pendergrass and Patti LaBelle.

Ha, about Nelson George. I didn't mean to sound so contrary, I just hate/hated "Let's Hear it For the Boy" the end of the song wasn't awful though.

Got to agree about the generation gap. It was great in the '70s, we loved the same acts, like Philadelphia International singers, Al Green, an older relative used to go crazy over Larry Graham, ha. By the middle of the '80s it was different. I do think Don Corneilus had a disdain for rap--and really anything beyond a certain point. His views mirrored a lot of people though. And to be honest, by the time rap appeared and R&B declined, there was no need for Soul Train--and of course videos were the rage then too...

[soulster]

I bet Shalamar [[or whatever was left of them) thought they hit the big-time pop wise. Pop/MTV had a surprise for them, ha.

"Dead Giveaway" was a hit single, and the video was popular on MTV. Solar was at a fork in the road at that point. If they released another pop song from the album, they risked alienating their base, and risked a fickle pop audience. So, they went with their base and lost out anyway. "Dancing In The Sheets" still had a somewhat respectable showing at #17 on Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart, but that was the end of their pop single run. They did a little better on the Black singles chart. "Games" did get to #11 in 1987, but I couldn't begin to tell you how it sounds. I don't remember it.

The reason Dick Griffey ordered "Dead Giveaway" in mid-1983 is because R&B music was starting to lose sales to pop and rap music, was accused of being "white-washed", and that meant the label was suffering financially. Even their premier group The Whispers' music was getting stale with the same formula.


Yep, Solar was another one of those labels with scant roster. It never works--and Philadelphia International was trying the same thing and by 1984 their only acts were the O'jays and whatever was left in the can from Teddy Pendergrass and Patti LaBelle.

And, they appealed to an aging audience while Janet Jackson and Full Force attracted the young audiences.

I disagree. A small roster allows a label to be more nimble, and there is less financial risk. Tabu was another R&B label that was successful in the late 70s/80s. Owner Clarence Avant didn't try to water down the music, but they rode the same roller coaster.


I do think Don Cornelius had a disdain for rap--and really anything beyond a certain point.

Oh, I know he did! I remember how sullen he looked when he announced it before he played it. Well, maybe he really wasn't, but he came across that way to me, like he had been beaten and lost the fight, and that re realized his morality.


His views mirrored a lot of people though. And to be honest, by the time rap appeared and R&B declined, there was no need for Soul Train--and of course videos were the rage then too...

R&B did not decline, it just changed into something that older fans couldn't relate to.

It seems to be a common thing for older people to not relate to newer sounds and to lash out, but I refuse to become that way. I always try to stay in touch with the contemporary sounds. I like quite a bit of it, too. I'm at the age where I should be tuning out like my peers, but i'm not. I was in line at Target a few days ago. There was a man a bit older than me paying for his the Maroon5 CD. I thought it looked odd because only teenage girls are supposed to like them, right? Well, I asked him if it was for him, and he said he liked them. I thought it was cool because I buy pop music too.

Anyway, i'm suddenly feeling a desire to go past 1983 now.

[zebop]

I'll agree with that. I think I just didn't like the sounds and styles as much after a certain point, but I still did like R&B, but I moved more towards commercial jazz of the day. Let me know if you're looking for songs, I'll make a list of some favorites, the '80s were a good decade for R&B..

[soulster]

I'll agree with that. I think I just didn't like the sounds and styles as much after a certain point, but I still did like R&B, but I moved more towards commercial jazz of the day. Let me know if you're looking for songs, I'll make a list of some favorites, the '80s were a good decade for R&B..

I also moved to jazz in the 80s. But, even though I didn't care for some of the Brit-pop/new wave at the time, there was a lot I did like. I bought boxes of 45s to prove it.

I'm good. I have lots of R&B from the 80s.

[glencro]

Well, I bought and listened to both. For many of those tracks, I have both the album and 45 versions, an, in some cases, the 12" versions too. One of the reasons I use 45 versions is because sometimes, the album versions are just too long for my enjoyment. They're long just to take up time. I grew up in the 60s and 70s with hit radio, so I like songs tight and neat, and to the point. The other reason there are a lot of 45 versions in there is because many of them are rare, or don't exist digitally, except in my collection. So, if anyone hears these sets, they can hear how the single sounded like.

I was more so referring to the album tracks that were not singles. Usually 8 times out of 10 there would be a random track on the album that may never make it to radio but would be my favorite song from the album. Your compilation is beyond awesome. Brought back a lot of memories. Made me dig up my Brothers Johnson cd to revisit "Treasure"

[soulster]

I was more so referring to the album tracks that were not singles. Usually 8 times out of 10 there would be a random track on the album that may never make it to radio but would be my favorite song from the album. Your compilation is beyond awesome. Brought back a lot of memories. Made me dig up my Brothers Johnson cd to revisit "Treasure"

I try to create these compilations as id a real record company were doing them. Call it me being a frustrated reissue producer. The cool thing is that I can do what a real record company can't or won't.

[marv2]

Whoa.....hey Soulster! Where are your "Smurf" records young man? hmmmmm........LOL!!!!

[soulster]

Whoa.....hey Soulster! Where are your "Smurf" records young man? hmmmmm........LOL!!!! That was after my time! I was raised in the Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room era.

[roger]

Whoa.....hey Soulster! Where are your "Smurf" records young man? hmmmmm........LOL!!!!

Could this be one of the tunes you mean Marv2?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouw97qVZZTE
:)
Roger

[soulster]

Hah! I had forgotten all about that song! When did that come out?

[roger]

Hah! I had forgotten all about that song! When did that come out?

1982!!

I still have my 12" copy on U.K. Epic :)

Roger

[marv2]

That was after my time! I was raised in the Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room era.

No! You remember how popular the "Smurf" dance and the records that came along with it were in the early eighties?

[marv2]

Could this be one of the tunes you mean Marv2?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouw97qVZZTE
:)
Roger

That's one of them. We use to party like animals to it, doing the Smurf! LOL!

[marv2]

Here's another one produced by Vaughn and them.......Spyder D's "Smerphies Dance"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQxP0No1UcI

[marv2]

This might help in remembering the "Smurf" craze of the early 80s:

http://fifthelementonline.com/blogs/fifth-element/5883921-the-smurfs-take-over-hip-hop-circa-1982

[marv2]

I didn't really want to start another thread, but how many of you remember this little gem from 1981?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDb63F8Lwis

[zebop]

I remember that, great song, they had nice vocal chemistry. And what about that Mtume/Lucas production....

[soulster]

I remember that, great song, they had nice vocal chemistry. And what about that Mtume/Lucas production.... Gotta admit: i've either never heard that song or I don't remember ever hearing it.

[manny]

Hi, marv2

I buyer the single at the time when was published here in Spain. Nice, elegant, mid-tempo. This was no much after the Stephanie Mills - Teddy pendergrass collaboration in the PIR album "TP" [[if I well remember there's two tracks with the voice of Stephanie, "Feel The Fire" and "Take Me In Your Arms Tonight". A bad thing is that, at least in the PIR / CBS spanish edition of the cover art and the label there's no credit to Stephnaie vocals. I know that is she because I have read it much after.

Returning to the topic, I remember well when the 80's advanced, the second half of the decade we all the lovers of classic soul only can heard some things by Ichiban records [[Clarence Carter, Jerry Butler, Billy Paul), Malaco, the last good surprises by PIR [[O'Jay's "Let Me Touch You" album); our 70's heroes in the jazz - funk and fusion fields, in the 80's were more and more "electro" [[sometimes the result was good as the Clarke / Duke Project volumes or Herbie Hancock's "Sound System" album, etc.)... in general in soul music was a very poor decade, IMHO.

[marv2]

Hi, marv2

I buyer the single at the time when was published here in Spain. Nice, elegant, mid-tempo. This was no much after the Stephanie Mills - Teddy pendergrass collaboration in the PIR album "TP" [[if I well remember there's two tracks with the voice of Stephanie, "Feel The Fire" and "Take Me In Your Arms Tonight". A bad thing is that, at least in the PIR / CBS spanish edition of the cover art and the label there's no credit to Stephnaie vocals. I know that is she because I have read it much after.

Returning to the topic, I remember well when the 80's advanced, the second half of the decade we all the lovers of classic soul only can heard some things by Ichiban records [[Clarence Carter, Jerry Butler, Billy Paul), Malaco, the last good surprises by PIR [[O'Jay's "Let Me Touch You" album); our 70's heroes in the jazz - funk and fusion fields, in the 80's were more and more "electro" [[sometimes the result was good as the Clarke / Duke Project volumes or Herbie Hancock's "Sound System" album, etc.)... in general in soul music was a very poor decade, IMHO.

Hola! Manny, yes the other duet of Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass [[a remake of Peabo Bryson's popular 1978 hit), "Feel the Fire" received a lot of radio airplay here in the States. They did a great job with it. Why she was not credited on the Spanish release is a mystery.