I don't know how much actual classic new wave was featured in 80's R&B records, but there was a whole lot of synth music in both, and a lot of bands got heavily into synth music.











And then there were actual new wave tracks which crossed over into the early hip hop dance mixes.

The Jermaine Jackson/Devo collaboration "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" comes to mind.

[Edited 8/2/16 10:46am]

728huey said:

Growing up in the 80s, I used to love this band from UK called Loose Ends, they were pretty Synth'n'B, https://youtu.be/yz1kvk9qeWI

Also I think Imagination "Just an Illusion" falls under R&B/New Wave

https://youtu.be/pj4k0j97thM

Here's a Detroit "techno" classic, which is actually new wave & r&b-ish: Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principal "Your Love" https://youtu.be/hPrGnh7QUDo

Does electro funk count as New Wave & B? These guys Sexual Harassment were inspired by Prince. "I Need a Freak" https://youtu.be/79awR3hfayg - this is very New Wave, so sparse and minimal & spoken word, so cold

hezekinap said:

scratchtasia said:

The Jermaine Jackson/Devo collaboration "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" comes to mind.

Nice! Funky Stuff! Seeing Jermaine Jackson and Devo took me off guard! Sounds familiar though....very cool!

MotownSubdivision said:

I'm a big fan of the S.O.S. Band's On The Rise album (it's my favorite release of their's) and every time I listen to it it bugs me how it's labeled as a plain R&B album. If you've ever listened to OTR, you'll know it's more than just an R&B album. Besides the funk the group is known for, the album also possesses a lot of new wave sounds which seem to go overlooked. Songs like the title track, "I'm Not Runnin'" and "If You Want My Love" are just as much new wave as they are R&B and they sound amazing. Are there any other examples of New Wave&B outside of the S.O.S. Band and this album because the two genres together create an ear-pleasing hybrid of sound. [Edited 7/31/16 12:28pm]

Yeah I remember when I first SOS band, my impression was that the sound was something "new" & innovative at the time.

MotownSubdivision said:

hezekinap said:

Growing up in the 80s, I used to love this band from UK called Loose Ends, they were pretty Synth'n'B, https://youtu.be/yz1kvk9qeWI

Also I think Imagination "Just an Illusion" falls under R&B/New Wave

https://youtu.be/pj4k0j97thM

I've heard of Loose Ends. Many people on here describe them as a British S.O.S. Band.

Yeah, I heard Loose Ends and SOS about the same time, and was really into this futuristic funk synthesized R&B, I thought that was the future....

hey you guys! think this KING song "The Greatest" definitely falls into SynthNB, if not New Wave & B

I am definitely feeling this....i LOVE Synths!!!!! https://youtu.be/UbpSV3gB...iQAk-AGzdY

I have a lot of 1980s movie soundtracks, and it seems like the blend you are talking about was made for it.

Here's one from a John Candy movie produced by Maurice White:

[Edited 8/2/16 12:24pm]

The first name I thought of was Andre Cymone. Besides his work with early Prince and solo stuff, even his productions seemed to have that angle... not quite the Minneapolis sound.

I found Solange's music very much a blend of R&B and new wave, especially with Blood Orange's arrangements.

MickyDolenz said:

yeah Beverly Hills Cop soundtracks had that vibe, which reminded me of the inclusion of "Neutron Dance".

Pointer Sisters pop breakthrough was very much R&B and new wave:

Cinny said:

I found Solange's music very much a blend of R&B and new wave, especially with Blood Orange's arrangements.

hey the solange song is nice!

hezekinap said:

Shalamar - The Look