For me, it will always be 1981. Just one great dance jam after another.

I'm In Love - Evelyn King

Never Too Much - Luther Vandross

Yearning for Your Love - Gap Band

On the Beat - B.B.& Q. Band

Magnificent Dance - The Clash

I'll Do Anything for You - Denroy Morgan

Numbers - Kraftwerk

She's a Bad Mama Jama - Carl Carlton

A Little Bit of Jazz - Nick Striker Band

Dying to be Dancin - Empress

Nights - Billy Ocean

Wikka Wrap - The Evasions

This Kind of Loving - The Whispers

Walking into Sunshine - Central Line

Searching to Find the One - Unlimited Touch

Paradise - Change

Square Biz - Teena Marie

Give it to me Baby/Super Freak - Rick James

Summer 1958

...

I remember the summer of 1978 bein' pretty KOOL!!!--This is what we were Jammin to:

Take Me To The Next Phase - Isley Bros.

Groove Line - Heatwave

You and I - Rick James

Flashlight - Parliament

One Nation Under a Groove - Funkadelic

Get Off - Foxy

Bootzilla - Bootsy's Rubber Band

Which Way Is Up - Stargard

I Just Want To Be - Cameo

Dance With Me - Peter Brown

Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody - Brick

Use Ta Be My Girl - O' Jays

Miss You - Rolling Stones

Ffun - Con Funk Shun

Holding On - LTD

Dukey Stick - George Duke

Ridin' High - Faze O

Galaxy - War

Boogie Oogie Oogie - Taste of Honey

All The Way Live - Lakeside

Le Freak - Chic

Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb

Ain't We Funkin Now - Brothers Johnson

Stuff Like That! - Quincy Jones

Night Fever - Bee Gees

Jack and Jill - Raydio

It Seems To Hang On - Ashford Simpson

...

[Edited 7/7/12 8:57am]

uPtoWnNY said:

For me, it will always be 1981. Just one great dance jam after another.

I'm In Love - Evelyn King

Never Too Much - Luther Vandross

Yearning for Your Love - Gap Band

On the Beat - B.B.& Q. Band

Magnificent Dance - The Clash

I'll Do Anything for You - Denroy Morgan

Numbers - Kraftwerk

She's a Bad Mama Jama - Carl Carlton

A Little Bit of Jazz - Nick Striker Band

Dying to be Dancin - Empress

Nights - Billy Ocean

Wikka Wrap - The Evasions

This Kind of Loving - The Whispers

Walking into Sunshine - Central Line

Searching to Find the One - Unlimited Touch

Paradise - Change

Square Biz - Teena Marie

Give it to me Baby/Super Freak - Rick James

I agree!!!! There was just something magical about that summer.Nearly *every* funk and R&B artist came out with something amazing that summer.In addition to the jams you named,I would add these...

"Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith

"Two Hearts" by Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass

and some cool slow jams,as well.....

"This Is For The Lover In You" by Shalamar

"Can't We Fall In Love Again" by Phyllis Hyman and Michael Henderson

[Edited 7/7/12 9:30am]

568 BC

paligap said:

...

I remember the summer of 1978 bein' pretty KOOL!!!--This is what we were Jammin to:

Take Me To The Next Phase - Isley Bros.

Groove Line - Heatwave

You and I - Rick James

Flashlight - Parliament

One Nation Under a Groove - Funkadelic

Get Off - Foxy

Bootzilla - Bootsy's Rubber Band

Which Way Is Up - Stargard

I Just Want To Be - Cameo

Dance With Me - Peter Brown

Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody - Brick

Use Ta Be My Girl - O' Jays

Miss You - Rolling Stones

Ffun - Con Funk Shun

Holding On - LTD

Dukey Stick - George Duke

Ridin' High - Faze O

Galaxy - War

Boogie Oogie Oogie - Taste of Honey

All The Way Live - Lakeside

Le Freak - Chic

Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb

Ain't We Funkin Now - Brothers Johnson

Stuff Like That! - Quincy Jones

Night Fever - Bee Gees

Jack and Jill - Raydio

It Seems To Hang On - Ashford Simpson

I feel like crying.....I miss that era so much!!!! What the hell happened?? Where is all the great music of today?!

I knew SoulAlive would agree with me on this - radio was PUMPIN' back then!

Robert Winters & Fall had two great slow jams from spring/summer '81 - 'Magic Man' & 'When will my Love be Right'

1984 really sticks out in my mind... even though I was only 7.

I just remember it being an exciting time for music and being on Summer vacation and constantly hearing Purple Rain songs, Van Halen songs and an assortment of other things that have left a lasting impression.

uPtoWnNY said:

I knew SoulAlive would agree with me on this - radio was PUMPIN' back then!

Robert Winters & Fall had two great slow jams from spring/summer '81 - 'Magic Man' & 'When will my Love be Right'

I also remember in August of '81,the Time's debut single "Get It Up" came out.I was in Detroit during that summer,and that song took off like a rocket!! It was HUGE.

gemari77 said:

1984 really sticks out in my mind... even though I was only 7.

I just remember it being an exciting time for music and being on Summer vacation and constantly hearing Purple Rain songs, Van Halen songs and an assortment of other things that have left a lasting impression.

for me its a tie between 83 and 84

MickyDolenz said:

568 BC

SoulAlive said:

uPtoWnNY said:

I knew SoulAlive would agree with me on this - radio was PUMPIN' back then!

Robert Winters & Fall had two great slow jams from spring/summer '81 - 'Magic Man' & 'When will my Love be Right'

I also remember in August of '81,the Time's debut single "Get It Up" came out.I was in Detroit during that summer,and that song took off like a rocket!! It was HUGE.

I was gonna say 1981 for Roger and The Time alone.

LiLi1992 said:

Summer 1958

For the music or all the people born?

the summer of 1979 was another memorable summer for music...

"Ain't No Stoppin Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead

"Love You Inside Out" by the Bee Gees

here we are in the summer of 2012 and where are the jams?! What are the great songs from this summer?

1982

Dance Floor - Zapp

Hard To Get - Rick James

Outlaw - War

You Dropped A Bomb On Me - The Gap Band

Finger On The Trigger (Love Is In Control) - Donna Summer

Planet Rock - Soul Sonic Force

Flamethrower Rap - Felix and Jarvis

Let Me Tickle Your Fancy - Jermaine Jackson

The Real Deal - The Isley Brothers

Who's Stickin' It - Sunrize

Let It Whip - The Dazz Band

Whip Rap - The Disco Four

I Know You Got Another - The Reddings

Be Yourself - Cameo

Do It (Let Me See You Shake) - The Barkays

Ride This Pony - Libra

Everybody - Madonna

Sooner Or Later - Larry Graham

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band

Do Something - Goodie

Street Corner - Ashford and Simpson

Cutie Pie - One Way

Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen

So Fine - Howard Johnson

Jump To It - Aretha Franklin

Traffic Stopper - Fat Larry's Band

Trouble Funk Express - Trouble Funk

Vainandy,you forgot a few

"Love Come Down" by Evelyn Champagne King

"Too Late" by Junior

lastdecember said:

for me its a tie between 83 and 84

1983 (the entire year) was an amazing time for pop music.Alot of edgy,groundbreaking sounds and also,the MTV video revolution was in full effect at that point.

1983 and 1984 for me, no question about it.

LiLi1992 said:

Summer 1958

I know exactly why you say that.

NoVideo said:

1984

Summer of '84 songs:

"State Of Shock" by the Jacksons with Mick Jagger

can anyone name some more?

SoulAlive said:

NoVideo said:

1984

Summer of '84 songs:

"When Doves Cry" by Prince and the Revolution

"The Glamorous Life" by Sheila. E

"Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.

"Self Control" by Laura Branigan

"I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" by Cherrelle

"Breakin...There's No Stoppin Us" by Ollie and Jerry

"No Parking On The Dancefloor" by Midnight Star

"Lucky Star" by Madonna

"State Of Shock" by the Jacksons with Mick Jagger

can anyone name some more?

Let's Hear it for the Boy - Deniece Williams

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

Hello - Lionel Richie

Sister Christian - Night Ranger

The Reflex - Duran Duran

Against All Odds - Phil Collins

The Heart of Rock n Roll - Huey Lewis & the News

Borderline - Madonna

Jump (for my love) - Pointer Sisters

Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen

You Might Think - The Cars

Eyes without a Face - Billy Idol

Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins

Who's That Girl- Eurythmics

Just a few of the classics on the Billboard charts during the summer of 1984

More from summer of 84:

ZZ Top - Legs

Rod Stewart - Infatuation

Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days

Elton John - Sad Songs (Say So Much)

Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About you

Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It

Corey Hart - Sunglasses at Night

Van Halen - Panama

Peabo Bryson - If Ever You're In My Arms Again

Culture Club - It's a Miracle

Michael Jackson - Farewell My Summer Love

Ratt - Round and Round

Jon Waite - Missing You

Cyndi Lauper - She Bop

Scandal - The Warrior

The Cars - Drive

Jermaine Jackson - Dynamite

Bananarama - Cruel Summer

Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It

Lindsey Buckingham - Go Insane

[Edited 7/9/12 7:16am]

I would group my summers together. Definitely 1977-1979 and 1982-1984. Interesting that it's all before my teen years.

SoulAlive said:

Vainandy,you forgot a few

"Love Come Down" by Evelyn Champagne King

"777-9311" by The Time

"Last Night" by Stephanie Mills

"Keep It Live" by Dazz Band

"Too Late" by Junior

And also "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6. It came out right on the tail end of summer before returning back to school.

I'd rank them in this order:

1981

1984

1982

1983

1986

1985

Some more classics -

1981

Let's Start 2 Dance Again - Bohannon

1982

You are the One - AM-FM

Don't Make me Wait - Peech Boys

Don't You Want Me - Human League

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

She's so Divine - The Limit

Just an Illusion - Imagination

Flirt - Cameo

Pack Jam - Jonzun Crew

Your Imagination - Hall & Oates

Show me Where You're Coming From - Carrie Lucas

I forgot the name of the band, but I think the song title was 'Move Out'

1985

You Spin me Right Round - Dead or Alive(one of my favorites from that summer)

SoulAlive is right - no great summer jams anymore.

1998 was the first year I really started liking musis. I was 13 so I was a bit later than most people.

Brandy and Monica - The Boy is Mine

Janet - I Get Lonely

K-Ci and JoJo - All My Life

Goo Goo Dolls - Iris

Jennifer Paige - Crush

Aaliyah - Are you that Somebody?

Divine - Lately

Shawn Mullins - Lullaby

Madonna - Ray of Light

Fastball - The Way

Shania Twain - You're Still The One

Mel B - I Want You Back

uPtoWnNY said:

I'd rank them in this order:

1981

1984

1982

1983

1986

1985

Some more classics -

1981

Let's Start 2 Dance Again - Bohannon

1982

You are the One - AM-FM

Don't Make me Wait - Peech Boys

Don't You Want Me - Human League

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

She's so Divine - The Limit

Just an Illusion - Imagination

Flirt - Cameo

Pack Jam - Jonzun Crew

Your Imagination - Hall & Oates

Show me Where You're Coming From - Carrie Lucas

I forgot the name of the band, but I think the song title was 'Move Out'

1985

You Spin me Right Round - Dead or Alive(one of my favorites from that summer)

SoulAlive is right - no great summer jams anymore.

These would be my rankings (Top 5 summers):

1981

1984

vainandy said:

SoulAlive said:

Vainandy,you forgot a few

"Love Come Down" by Evelyn Champagne King

"777-9311" by The Time

"Last Night" by Stephanie Mills

"Keep It Live" by Dazz Band

"Too Late" by Junior

And also "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6. It came out right on the tail end of summer before returning back to school.

that's right it was released in August of that year.Oddly enough,the first single from their album was actually "He's So Dull" but our radio stations never played it.I guess it was too 'pop' for R&B stations?