80s R&B

How this sound was built

15 essential tracks

Listed in release order. Tap a title to play it, or play all 15 in a row.

1. 1. Never Too Much — Luther Vandross (1981)

   Luther Vandross had spent years singing backup and advertising jingles before this, his first solo single. Its bouncy groove and effortless vocal took it to No. 1 on the R&B chart, and he became the most admired male soul singer of the decade.

2. 2. Give It to Me Baby — Rick James (1981)

   The lead single from Street Songs, the album that also gave us "Super Freak". Rick James called his style "punk funk", and this hard-driving groove, with its horn blasts and chanted hook, went to No. 1 on the R&B chart.

3. 3. Square Biz — Teena Marie (1981)

   Teena Marie, a white singer from California signed to Motown and mentored by Rick James, was one of the most respected soul voices of her time. On this funky single she sings and raps, and it became one of her biggest R&B hits.

4. 4. Before I Let Go — Maze ft. Frankie Beverly (1981)

   Maze were never big on pop radio, but this joyful song became the unofficial anthem of Black family reunions, cookouts and weddings. Frankie Beverly wrote it, and its easy, rolling groove never gets old. Beyoncé recorded a new version in 2019.

5. 5. You Dropped a Bomb on Me — The Gap Band (1982)

   The Wilson brothers from Tulsa named their band after three streets in the city's historic Greenwood district. This synth-heavy funk track, with its falling-bomb sound effect, was a big R&B hit and one of the most sampled funk records of the decade.

6. 6. Ain't Nobody — Rufus and Chaka Khan (1983)

   Chaka Khan's last big hit with Rufus, written by keyboardist David "Hawk" Wolinski. Its shimmering synth riff and her soaring vocal took it to No. 1 on the R&B chart, and it appeared in the breakdancing film Breakin' the following year.

7. 7. Just Be Good to Me — The S.O.S. Band (1983)

   Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who were famously fired from The Time after a snowstorm kept them in Atlanta working on S.O.S. Band sessions and they missed a show. Its hard, clipped drum machine sound helped define mid-80s R&B.

8. 8. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E. (1984)

   Sheila E. was a star percussionist before Prince helped make her a singer. This Latin-flavoured song about a girl chasing money and fame, with her timbales solo, reached No. 7 on the Hot 100. It earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

9. 9. Rhythm of the Night — DeBarge (1985)

   Written by Diane Warren for the martial arts film The Last Dragon, it was a bright party song for the family group DeBarge from Grand Rapids, Michigan. It reached No. 3 on the Hot 100, their biggest hit, and El DeBarge soon left for a solo career.

10. 10. Computer Love — Zapp (1985)

    Roger Troutman sings through his talk box about finding love through a computer, a strange idea in 1985 that now sounds like the future came true. The slow, sweet groove has been sampled and borrowed by many R&B and hip hop artists.

11. 11. Sweet Love — Anita Baker (1986)

    Anita Baker's jazz-trained voice made her album Rapture a multi-platinum hit. "Sweet Love" reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Best R&B Song. It helped define the adult, quiet-storm sound of the mid-80s, and it is still a staple of R&B radio.

12. 12. On My Own — Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (1986)

    A duet about a couple breaking up, written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald recorded their parts in different cities, and the song went to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1986. It was LaBelle's first No. 1 since "Lady Marmalade" in 1975.

13. 13. My Prerogative — Bobby Brown (1988)

    After leaving New Edition, Bobby Brown teamed with Teddy Riley for this defiant new jack swing anthem. It went to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in January 1989, and his album Don't Be Cruel was one of the best-selling albums of that year.

14. 14. Groove Me — Guy (1988)

    Teddy Riley's own group, with Aaron Hall's gospel-style voice over hard, swinging hip hop drums. This debut single, and the album Guy, helped launch new jack swing, the sound that dominated R&B for the next few years. Riley later formed Blackstreet.

15. 15. Can You Stand the Rain — New Edition (1988)

    The boy band grew up on Heart Break, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Johnny Gill replacing Bobby Brown. This gentle ballad about loyalty went to No. 1 on the R&B chart and is often called their finest song.

Where to go next

• 80s funk
• 80s slow jams
• 80s love songs
• 80s pop songs
• 80s hip hop
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