I love to dance and listen to uptempo nusic (rock,funk,reggae,ska,blues) but the love songs,slow jams.
ballads has always been high on my list of music.

doing a ballad (slow jam) is not easy. singing them is way different than doing uptempo songs. (some artists can't
do them well(mick jagger is an example on the rock side)
but can do rock-blues superbly.

i guess you gotta "sell" a ballad better and be able to
actually sing.
so what would be the ballads,love songs (slow grinders) that
you'd place on your all-time fave list?

heres some i'd put up in my ballad HALL Of Fame:

sarah vaughn:misty
hall and oates:one on one (great vocal darryl!)
miracles:you must be love
everly brothers:all i gotta do is dream
aretha franklin:i never loved a man (ree ree's piano playing
kills me softly)
roberta flack:the first time i ever saw you face
the cars:drive
johnny guitar watson:love to love you (johnny could do these
too )
sam cooke:for sentimental reasons
dionne warwick:don't make me over
luther vandross:don't you know that

these are just for starters...

youngca :a slow jam will get the girls every time

youngca said:

b4 i go to bed here's a few more that came into my consciousness while at work last night...

al green:how can we mend a broken heart
george benson-this masquerade
minnie riperton:alone in brewster bay & lovin' you
stevie wonder: my cherie a mour & hey love
steve miller:wild mountain honey
etta james: at last
bob marley & wailers:i'm still waiting & redemption song
freddie scott:hey girl
isley brothers:lover's eve,sensuality & hello its me
nancy wilson:how glad i am
sade:your love is king
george micheal-careless whisper
shirley murdock: as we lay
impressions:i'm so proud
jackson 5:i'll be there
4 tops:ask the lonely (levi at his more tortured)
chi-lites:oh girl & the coldest days of my life
jesse johnson:i'm just wantin' you
stephanie mills:how come you don't call me anymore (almost as good as prince's version)
the police:i'll burn for you
blue magic:sideshow
terance trent d'arby:sign your name & delicate
righteous brothers: you lost that lovin' feelin'

eclectic mix but really beautiful songs that i'll always
remember...(youngca...love those ballads!)

Youngca, youngca, youngca...

Michael Henderson:Let Me Love You
Gap Band:Can't Get Over You
Stevie Wonder:With Each Beat Of My Heart
EWF: I Write A Song
LTD: Love Ballad
Rachelle Ferrell: With Open Arms
George Benson: Lady Blue, Moody's Mood for Love, Star of A Story
Teddy Pendergrass: My Latest, Greatest Inspiration
Enchantment: It's You That I Need
After 7: Ready Or Not

stymie said:

oh man. stymie...stymie stymie...U got exquisite taste!

here's a few mo' for ya:

the moments:with you & love on a 2-way street
beatles:and i love her & for no one
miracles:fork in the road & tracks of my tears
envogue:giving something he can feel
marvin gaye:distant lover & let's get it on
earth,wind & fire:i'll write a song
temptations:my girl & just my imagination
heatwave:mindblowing decisions & always and forever
delfonics:somebody loves you & didn't i blow your mind
luther vandross: a house is not a home
young rascals:groovin' (what a cut!)

Adore!

Sorry, some1 had to say it
lol

Wendy & Lisa : Don't Try To Tell Me & Forever In My Dreams
Shania Twain: Still The One
Walter Egans : Magnet and Steel
Crowded House: Don't Dream It's Over, Nails In My Feet
Chris Isaak: This Love Will Last
...

Amel Larrieux - Make Me Whole <----I would love to get married to this song


.
[This message was edited Fri Aug 1 6:15:45 PDT 2003 by JANFAN4L]

The song that does it for me at the moment...

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - as performed by The Temptations.


Oh and ofcourse The Beautiful Ones is compulsory for 'greatest ballads' lists!

Most of my favourite ballads are by the Bee Gees & Stevie Wonder.

DO I HAVE TO MENTION Careless Whisper - George Michael

There are too many to mention, but the one that comes to mind that is just so beautiful and timeless is PM Dawn-Id Die Without You


But others are from Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Damion Rice, Jeff Buckly, Prince, Brian Mcknight, George Michael, Phil Collins.. its endless..

Norman Connors "You are my starship"

LadyCabDriver said:

oh...ladycd...take 2 bows for bringing this old cut up! what a classic! U know how to pick them ladyc!

Some goodies from Terence Trent D'Arby/Sananda:
It Feels So Good To Love Someone Like You
Holding On To You

etc, etc.

sylvia robinson, "pillow talk"

spinners, "i'm glad you walked into my life"

freddie jackson, "you are my lady"

al green, "judy"

lenny williams, "'cause i love you"

cameo, "feel me"

tower of power, "willing to learn"

In a nutshell...Al Green's I'm Still in Love With You.

Damn, damn, DAMN! Now, that's whutumtalkin'about! *swoon*

Sdldawn said:

To me, this song is perfect. The longing in this song is heartbreaking, especially to someone who has ever felt this way.

Since this is the "Music:Non-Prince" forum, I will exempt Prince cuts from this list.

in no particular order:

"Distant Lover" -- Marvin Gaye
"Like A Tattoo" -- Sade
"Lush Life" -- Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane
"Anniversary" -- Tony Toni Tone
"Debra" -- Beck (the funniest slow jam ever)
"If You Play Your Cards Right" -- Alicia Myers
"What You Won't Do For Love" -- Bobby Caldwell
"Morning Glory" -- Jamiroquai
"Everyday" -- Jamiroquai
"Ribbon In The Sky" -- Stevie Wonder
"You've Got It Bad Girl" -- Stevie Wonder
"'Til The Cops Come Knockin'" -- Maxwell
"Love's Holiday" -- Earth, Wind & Fire
"Funny How Time Flies When We're Having Fun" -- Janet Jackson
"Nothing Even Matters" -- Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo
"Send It On" -- D'Angelo
"Anytime, Anyplace" -- Janet Jackson
"My Life" -- Mary J. Blige
"I'll Cry For You" -- Jodeci
"Swingin'" -- Mint Condition

Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, "The Closer I Get To You"

Phil Collins, "Against All Odds"

Al Green, "Let's Stay Together" (an absolute favorite...)

Hall & Oates, "Sarah Smile"

Temptations, "Just My Imagination"

Peabo Bryson, "Feel The Fire"

Lee Rittenour, "No Sympathy"

Sade, "Sweetest Taboo"

Jai, "I Need Love"

Earth, Wind & Fire, "That's The Way Of The World"

Sarah McLachan, "Do What You Have To Do"

Stevie Wonder, "Ribbon In The Sky"

youngca said:

takes 2 bows

stymie said:

Perfect are good words for Id Die Without You.. its one of most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Period.

namepeace said:

all of these are 5 stars. especially janet's cut and EWf's
Love Holiday!

UptownDeb said:

i know u-DEB...Al is so "smooth" on this cut it kills me!
my fave part is near the end when he says..."ahhh...
and the horns go out with him!

yeah buddy the rev knew how to sing dem slow jams for sho'!

another great al song is "you oughta be with me".

a couple more slow cuts i just remembered:
smokey:being with you (i don't care what they say about you
and...sing it smokey!)

spinners: sadie & toni my love
main ingredient:i just don't want to be lonely & spinning
around

"Is It You?" by Lee Ritenour (1981)
"Could It Be Right" by Earth Wind and Fire (1983)
"Feel Like Making Love" by Roberta Flack (1975)
"Falling" by Jamiroquai (1999)
"I Can't Tell You Why" by the Eagles (1979)---this song deserves it's own thread...lol
"Help Me" by Shalamar (1982)
"I've Got Love On My Mind" by Natalie Cole (1977)
"Make Me A Believer" by Luther Vandross (1983)

My take:

Imaginary Playmates-Rene & Angela
Love Ballad-L.T.D.
Close The Door-Teddy Pendergrass
2 Hearts-Teddy Pendergrass & Stephanie Mills
Whatcha Gonna Do With My Loving-Stephanie Mills
Remind Me-Patrice Rushen
Natural High-Bloodstone
Lonely Teardrops-Jackie Wilson
Black Coffee & Summertime-Sarah Vaughan
Romance In The Dark and Day & Night-Billie Holiday
Sophisticated Lady-Duke Ellington
Everlasting Love-Chaka & Rufus
Love Changes-Mother's Finest
I've Been Loving You 4 Too Long-Tina Turner
Ordinary Pain-Stevie Wonder
Too Much, Too Little, Too Late-Deniece Williams & Johny Mathis
The Girl Is Mine-MJ & PM
We Got The Love-Chaka Khan & George Benson
You Give Good Love-Whitney Houston
Love Wants You & Needs You-Patti LaBelle
I'm Gonna Miss You In The Morning-Luther Vandross & Patti Austin
If This World Were Mine-Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn
Betcha By Golly Wow & Give A Lil' Something-Phyllis Hyman
You are, you are-Crutis Mayfield
The Whole Lets Get It On LP esp You Sho Love 2 Ball-Marvin Gaye
You're #.1-The Whispers
Mellow Madness-Paulette McWilliams
Can't Get My Eyes Off U-Lauryn Hill(I love her version)
Daydreaming-Aretha Franklin
I Loves You, Porgy-Nina Simone
I'm In Love-The Gab Band
I'm The One-Roberta Flack
I'm In Love(And I Love The Feeling)-Rose Royce
Who Should I Run To-The Jones Girls
Crazy-Miki Howard
Stop The Wedding-Etta James
Fire & Desire-Rick James & Teena Marie
Dreammaker-Rick James
Hello, Beloved-Angela Winush & Ron Isley
A Broken Heart Can Mend-Alexander O'Neal
All of this brotha's love songs-->Prince
Can't Help It-Michael Jackson
Where Is The Love-Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack


*sigh* whew,,,this all I could think of right now.

***"A Love Of Your Own" by Average White Band (1976)---am I the only one who goes crazy for this song?

DavidEye said:

No, you are not, David! I go crazy for this one, Cloudy and Queen Of My Soul.

youngca said:

We're on the same page, homey!

Marvin's got smoove grooves too, but one of my favorites is "After the Dance."

Harlepolis said:

Harle, you are the absolute bomb!

DavidEye said:

ahhh man,,,d-eye U doin' it again! mentioning a clasic!

yep AWB was Bad. i have their old lead vocalist Hamish
Stuart doing a great version of bill withers's "ain't no
sunshine "with paul mccartney" on an unplugged show circa
1989. hamish was a blue-eyed soul brotha of the highest
order!