R&B music in the 80's I believe was out of this world.The music was part synthesized but at the same time there were real instruments. We had good artists like Anita Baker, Sade, Regina Belle, Stephanie Mills, Peabo Bryson, Billy Ocean and so on.

I don't think R&B is dead it is just that people refuse to sing like these singers did back then.

R&B hits back in the 80's

Whitney Houston- Greatest Love Of All
James Ingram- Just Once
Anita Baker- Sweet Love
Sade- Cherish
Regina Belle- Baby Come To Me
Peabo Bryson- If Ever In My Arms Again
Stephanie Mills- Home
Miki Howard- Love Under New Management
Angela Winbush- Angel
Billy Ocean- Love Zone


Do you guys miss it

IMO, in terms of sound & production this was prolly the worst era 4 Soul & R&B.

The early 80s sound,,,,THAT I do miss

I miss the sounds of

Stomp - The Brothers Johnson
I Like It - DeBarge
PYT - MJ

etc.

neoretro7 said:

I don't like any of those songs. I'd rather listen to 70s soul music.

sextonseven said:

i think im trying to say i loved the overlap of disco and soul music in r&B from late 70s-early/mid 80s

I love 80's music, but if I liked r&b then it was mostly the poppy stuff, all the funk sounding stuff, the disco tinged stuff, or the ones associated with the big artists, never the stuff strictly for r&b/hip hop charts. I liked the timeless stuff like Tender Love, Sade's stuff, Culture Club's stuff and dare I say it, the r&b that whites like Phil Collins and Steve Winwood did. I think the 70's and 90's offered better r&b music, but then again it's silly to compare, cause each decade offered something, but when it came to slow r&b jams in the 80's, not that much, although I've recently realized that a lot of r&b I liked in the 90's doesn't interest me anymore. There is a reason I gave away my Total and SWV CD's awhile back cause I didn't feel they were worth keeping for just the released singles, which are outdated now and that I'll like when I hear, but not go out of my way to listen to.

Harlepolis said:

I agree,the early 80s was incredible! A wonderful time for R&B music.Hip-hop and New Jack Swing hadn't taken over yet,so R&B still sounded like R&B.Funk still sounded like funk.To those folks who weren't around back then,here's a list of some memorable early 80s R&B songs...


"Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross (1981)
"On The Beat" by BB&Q Band (1981)
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" by Stephanie Mills (1980)
"She's Just A Groupie" by Bobby Nunn (1982)
"Let It Whip" by Dazz Band (1982)
"Juicy Fruit" by Mtume (1983)
"Is This The End" by New Edition (1983)
"Before I Let Go" by Frankie Beverly and Maze (1981)
"Walking Into Sunshine" by Central Line (1981)
"Pull Up To The Bumper" by Grace Jones (1981)
"Wanna Be With You" by Earth Wind and Fire (1981)
"Wide Receiver" by Michael Henderson (1980)
"Two Places At The Same Time" by Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio (1980)
"Very Special" by Debra Laws (1981)
"Nights (Feel Like Gettin Down)" by Billy Ocean (1981)


In the early 80s,new technology hadn't taken over yet,so many of those songs still sound very "musical"....played by real instruments and not dominated by programmed synths and drum machines.I really miss that era!

^ I should check those out then. I already know juicy fruit and never knew a love like this though.
[Edited 3/28/08 0:41am]
[Edited 3/28/08 0:46am]

neoretro7 said:

Naw..., I have them and then some in the form of vinyl, and can rotate them anytime I feel like listening.

alphastreet said:

Yeah,get you some early 80s R&B compilations.

The 80's was cool but I miss the 70's more.

Harlepolis said:

That is me 100% I could listen to early 80's R&B all day & that is sorely missing in today's R&B. Very VERY depressing.

SoulAlive said:

:shakes fist:

Damn you Prince!!

I miss the mid to late 80s more. Strictly for personal reasons. I was too young in the early 80s, but by 85 and on I was feelin on assess in sassons. The music from that point forward reminds me of happy times.

where is vainandy?

I definately miss the 1980s sound but you just listed some of the worst songs of the decade. Those are the type of songs that slowed R&B down, ruined it, took all rhythm and ass shake appeal out, and opened the door for the slow dull 1990s and today.

When it comes to 1980s, it's got to be the early 1980s between 1980 to 1984. Groups like:

Prince
Rick James
The Gap Band
Midnight Star
The Barkays
Lakeside
Con Funk Shun
The Dazz Band
Roger and Zapp
Cameo
Ebonee Webb
Bill Summers and Summers Heat
Bobby Nunn
Skyy
One Way
etc.

In other words, if it ain't funk, it's a bunch of dull ass junk.
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[Edited 3/28/08 8:51am]

Here I am. I opened up the thread, saw that list, and almost died. The only person missing was Freddie Jackson and I think all the artists that I can't stand would have been listed.
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[Edited 3/28/08 8:53am]

neoretro7 said:

Absolutely NOT!

vainandy said:

That's debatable. There's certainly nothing wrong with slowing down r&b for a lovesong or ballad. That's always been a hallmark of the genre; going way back into 50s and 60s. I somewhat agree that the sound was too pop crossover at time and I really don't play that stuff much nowadays. Still, I kept the records and don't mind too much when they get played

As per what ruined things in the 80s (besides hiphop). THat goes to those horrifying gay and stiff Eurotrash from Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Fine Young Cannibals ABC and other fake soul crap. That migh be mid80s, but I DESPISE THAT SHIT MORE THAN HIP_HOP.

vainandy said:

Yeah, that's what I am talking about. I am in a 80's time warp. I miss that overproduced stuff. The funk, the 80's English invasion, the Miami latin freestyle and old school rap where nobody was rapping about butts and bling.

to VAINANDY: took all rhythm and ass shake appeal out of it.



I miss the eighties. every group had a signature and identity.

usamud said:

you missed out on Miami Bass?

Who can miss it?????

I miss it alot

Yes, I sure do miss it.

Today's r&b is crap, for the most part.

Empress said:

How insightful.

You know, you can miss an era because of its unique sound, but this thread doesn't need to turn into another, oh what the hell it's already a "old music is better" thread.

Go on.

Cinnie said:

Empress said:

I apologize; I was a bit harsh.