If you had the power to manipulate time to a decade in R&B music tht you would experience all over again or would want to experience and introduce to today's youth what would it be and why.

50's R&B decade----Doo Wop/Blues and early manifestation of Rock n' Roll decade prominent artists such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Little Richard, The Platters, Frankie Lymon etc.

60's R&B decade--- R&B goes mainstream with emergence of Motown prominent artists such as Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson. Emergence of black R&B record companies such as Stax with artists like Otis Redding, Issac Hayes, Carla Thomas etc.

70's R&B decade----R&B music still mainstream but manifest into Black Is Beautiful movement and protest music becomes popular. There were are lot more male groups and artists started experimenting with music such as Psychdelic, disco, techno. Prominent artists Earth, Wind and Fire, Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Donna Summer, Sly Stone, The Sound of Philadelphia artists.

80's R&B decade---R&B music not as popular starts to fade from mainstream the music transitions from real instruments to synthesizers hip hop emerges and complicates R&B artists . Prominent artists include New Edition, Anita Baker, Sade, Whitney Houston, Keith Sweat.

90's R&B decade----Hip Hop music continues to complicate R&B music and there comes identity crisis. Which leads to the New Jack Swing movement starting first with Keith Sweat. R&B music becomes reborn with emergence of boy soul groups such as Dru Hill, Boyz II Men, Jodeci and funky girl groups such as En Vogue, SWV etc. Mid decade comes neo-soul which is an reincarnation of 70's R&B with a hip hop modern twist. Prominenet artists include D' Angelo, Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu, Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill etc.

[Edited 8/27/12 11:34am]

70's and 90's r&b music

the 80's stood out for dance, new wave, freestyle, funk and rock.

60s hands down.
The Motown, STAX, Atlantic catalogs says it all.
(Along with all their related labels and other independents)


Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

the 90s

If I could choose ten consecutive years, it would be 1965-1974. But since that isn't an option, I will say 60s first and the 70s a close second.

90s That was when I stopped listening to contemporary R&B. Awful.

70/80's.

Prince, Ohio Players, Cameo, P-Funk, Al Green, Dazz Band, RFTW, One Way, Smokey, Isleys Brothers, Brother Johnson, Heatwave, EW&F, Commodores,........................many others.

70's R&B decade----R&B music still mainstream but manifest into Black Is Beautiful movement and protest music becomes popular. There were are lot more male groups and artists started experimenting with music such as Psychdelic, disco, techno. Prominent artists Earth, Wind and Fire, Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Donna Summer, Sly Stone, The Sound of Philadelphia artists.

I do love 90s r&b too tho

The 70's..for everything.

neoretro7 said:

If you had the power to manipulate time to a decade in R&B music tht you would experience all over again or would want to experience and introduce to today's youth what would it be and why.

50's R&B decade----Doo Wop/Blues and early manifestation of Rock n' Roll decade prominent artists such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Little Richard, The Platters, Frankie Lymon etc.

60's R&B decade--- R&B goes mainstream with emergence of Motown prominent artists such as Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson. Emergence of black R&B record companies such as Stax with artists like Otis Redding, Issac Hayes, Carla Thomas etc.

70's R&B decade----R&B music still mainstream but manifest into Black Is Beautiful movement and protest music becomes popular. There were are lot more male groups and artists started experimenting with music such as Psychdelic, disco, techno. Prominent artists Earth, Wind and Fire, Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Donna Summer, Sly Stone, The Sound of Philadelphia artists.

80's R&B decade---R&B music not as popular starts to fade from mainstream the music transitions from real instruments to synthesizers hip hop emerges and complicates R&B artists . Prominent artists include New Edition, Anita Baker, Sade, Whitney Houston, Keith Sweat.

90's R&B decade----Hip Hop music continues to complicate R&B music and there comes identity crisis. Which leads to the New Jack Swing movement starting first with Keith Sweat. R&B music becomes reborn with emergence of boy soul groups such as Dru Hill, Boyz II Men, Jodeci and funky girl groups such as En Vogue, SWV etc. Mid decade comes neo-soul which is an reincarnation of 70's R&B with a hip hop modern twist. Prominenet artists include D' Angelo, Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu, Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill etc.

[Edited 8/27/12 11:34am]

rdhull said:

The 70's..for everything.

I agree that's my favorite musical decade.

The early 70s were still kinda bleeding off of the 1960s and the late 80s became overrun with adult contemporary. I would choose 1974-1984. Disco came in and changed R&B around that time and the R&B era of the early 80s still kinda bled off that disco tempo.

None of them. Let music progress.

smoothcriminal12 said:

None of them. Let music progress.

Graycap23 said:

70/80's.

Prince, Ohio Players, Cameo, P-Funk, Al Green, Dazz Band, RFTW, One Way, Smokey, Isleys Brothers, Brother Johnson, Heatwave, EW&F, Commodores,........................many others.

I love the 60s, but the 70s and 80s did it for me.

smoothcriminal12 said:

None of them. Let music progress.

Would you say it's been a positive progression? Personally, I think there is something missing in a lot of the new acts and new music I keep finding. That's why I say the 70s and 80s.

daPrettyman said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

None of them. Let music progress.

Would you say it's been a positive progression? Personally, I think there is something missing in a lot of the new acts and new music I keep finding. That's why I say the 70s and 80s.

I don't think there is "something missing". But we come from two different generations so of course you'll say that. Guess I no longer believe this theory like I used to, say, nine years ago.

[Edited 8/27/12 15:18pm]

daPrettyman said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

None of them. Let music progress.

Would you say it's been a positive progression? Personally, I think there is something missing in a lot of the new acts and new music I keep finding. That's why I say the 70s and 80s.

I think it's a positive progression, mostly because the ways of finding new music are open now. It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There are several artists who are breaking through the mainstream or are already mainstream and are catching my eye. I believe that music is doing well in 2012.

I think music nowadays is excellent and is progressing very well. There's so much music out there to be explored, so many great artists pushing, doing what they love and doing it well. I'm so immersed in it all. I'm psyched for the future and what we'll see happen with some of these newer artists who have caught my eye.

smoothcriminal12 said:

It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There's many people that don't know how to use a computer or can't afford the internet. So that's no good for them.

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

Would you say it's been a positive progression? Personally, I think there is something missing in a lot of the new acts and new music I keep finding. That's why I say the 70s and 80s.

I don't think there is "something missing". But we come from two different generations so of course you'll say that. Guess I no longer believe this theory like I used to, say, nine years ago.

[Edited 8/27/12 15:18pm]

I know that is part of it, but to me, the digital aspect takes away some of the realness of the music. Especially when you have artists that do everything digitally. The arrangemets just aren't the same and it kills something for me.

MickyDolenz said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There's many people that don't know how to use a computer or can't afford the internet. So that's no good for them.

And then there's those who do have it but they refuse to believe what some tell them lol

smoothcriminal12 said:

daPrettyman said:

Would you say it's been a positive progression? Personally, I think there is something missing in a lot of the new acts and new music I keep finding. That's why I say the 70s and 80s.

I think it's a positive progression, mostly because the ways of finding new music are open now. It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There are several artists who are breaking through the mainstream or are already mainstream and are catching my eye. I believe that music is doing well in 2012.

I think music nowadays is excellent and is progressing very well. There's so much music out there to be explored, so many great artists pushing, doing what they love and doing it well. I'm so immersed in it all. I'm psyched for the future and what we'll see happen with some of these newer artists who have caught my eye.

In terms of marketing and promotion, I agree with you, but to me, the music doesn't have the same feeling as it did even 10 years ago. I think that a lot of sensuality is missing from the lyrics as well as a lack of self-respect (on some levels).

People will say anything now without even considering the lyrical content. Instead of saying "I want to make love you until the morning comes," you get crap like "I'mma beat it up."

Another thing, I don't see a lot of today's artists having a lot of longevity in today's industry of the "here today, gone tomorrow" world of music.

MickyDolenz said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There's many people that don't know how to use a computer or can't afford the internet. So that's no good for them.

that sucks. Also, whether or not mainstream music is "good" is a whole other topic. So they could still enjoy that...if it's their cup of tea.

[Edited 8/27/12 15:41pm]

MickyDolenz said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There's many people that don't know how to use a computer or can't afford the internet. So that's no good for them.

Very true.

I grew up in a small town in East Texas. For a lot of my friends and family, it's not that they can't necessarilly afford it, but they don't see it as a necessity to have a smartphone or pay for high speed internet yet.

It's funny because on Black Friday when PC's and all different types of electronic devices are on sale, you can still find the cheap computers, but the televisions are usually gone. To me, that says that they either can't get the high speed connections, or can't afford to have the satellite internet that runs about $100 a month.

daPrettyman said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I think it's a positive progression, mostly because the ways of finding new music are open now. It's not just about the radio, there are now ways which I can find hundreds of new talented artists by just going to certain websites.

There are several artists who are breaking through the mainstream or are already mainstream and are catching my eye. I believe that music is doing well in 2012.

I think music nowadays is excellent and is progressing very well. There's so much music out there to be explored, so many great artists pushing, doing what they love and doing it well. I'm so immersed in it all. I'm psyched for the future and what we'll see happen with some of these newer artists who have caught my eye.

In terms of marketing and promotion, I agree with you, but to me, the music doesn't have the same feeling as it did even 10 years ago. I think that a lot of sensuality is missing from the lyrics as well as a lack of self-respect (on some levels).

People will say anything now without even considering the lyrical content. Instead of saying "I want to make love you until the morning comes," you get crap like "I'mma beat it up."

Another thing, I don't see a lot of today's artists having a lot of longevity in today's industry of the "here today, gone tomorrow" world of music.

I think music has been that way for a while now anyways. Prince was one of the nastiest motherfuckers to ever make music in his day. There are love songs out there, a lot of them actually. I think this complaint is definitely true when directed towards hip-hop and some commercial R&B (commercial being the key word), but I think there is a lot of love in lyrics still. Though I do agree that many artists have awful lyrics.

Longevity? I don't know. I'll have to wait a while on that one.

daPrettyman said:

MickyDolenz said:

There's many people that don't know how to use a computer or can't afford the internet. So that's no good for them.

Very true.

I grew up in a small town in East Texas. For a lot of my friends and family, it's not that they can't necessarilly afford it, but they don't see it as a necessity to have a smartphone or pay for high speed internet yet.

It's funny because on Black Friday when PC's and all different types of electronic devices are on sale, you can still find the cheap computers, but the televisions are usually gone. To me, that says that they either can't get the high speed connections, or can't afford to have the satellite internet that runs about $100 a month.

I see some people (including a few homeless) using the PCs at the public library, but many sites are blocked, and you can't download anything. There's also a time limit, as there's other people waiting.

My mom's hometown is a small rural town, with a current population of about 630. They don't even have a fire or police department. They come from another town 20 miles away. If your house catches on fire, it's a waste of time to call 911. By the time they get there, your place will be gone. Technically, there's a local volunteer fire department, but I've never seen anyone there. But even if there were, it's would only be a help to someone really close to it.

[Edited 8/27/12 16:15pm]

smoothcriminal12 said:

MickyDolenz said:

There's many people that don't know how to use a computer or can't afford the internet. So that's no good for them.

that sucks. Also, whether or not mainstream music is "good" is a whole other topic. So they could still enjoy that...if it's their cup of tea.

[Edited 8/27/12 15:41pm]

60's & 70's were the TRUTH!!!!!!!

I can find something I like in every decade, post-1960 that is. The 50s and earlier are blah to me, probably because I don't like jazz.