The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 80's*: #80-71

We are featuring the 100 songs which made the grade as one of The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 80's*.  Some good songs are coming up in this segment, so let's get to 'em!

 

#80:

"I Like It"

DeBarge
1983

This family act from Grand Rapids, Michigan scored their first big R&B hit with this one in 1983.  It stopped at #2 for four weeks, behind the Marvin Gaye smash "Sexual Healing", and then was snuffed out by the superstar combination of Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson ("The Girl Is Mine").

 

 

 

 

#79:

"Nice 'N Slow"

Freddie Jackson
1988
 

Freddie has some great slow jams in The Top 100*--this one remained at #1 on the R&B chart for three weeks in 1988.


 

 

 

#78:

"Stomp!"

Brothers Johnson
1980

This great song from Brothers Johnson rose to #1 on the R&B chart amidst strong competition from "And The Beat Goes On" by the Whispers, the Isley Brothers' "Don't Say Goodnight" and Jermaine Jackson's "Let's Get Serious".

 

 

 

#77:

"I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love"

Stephanie Mills
1986

Most people know Stephanie Mills' biggest career hit, "I Never Knew Love Like This Before".  But on the R&B chart, Stephanie scored eleven Top 10 songs.  This one was smack dab in the middle of two of 1986's biggest R&B hits--"Kiss" by Prince and "On My Own" by Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle. 

It still reached #1 for two weeks in May.

 

#76:

"Who's Holding Donna Now"

DeBarge
1985

DeBarge held on to #2 on the R&B chart for four weeks, held out of the top spot only by "Rock Me Tonight".

 

 

#75:

"
You Are My Lady"

Freddie Jackson
1985

At #75*, the follow-up to Freddie Jackson's monster hit "Rock Me Tonight".  It too landed at #1 before Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover" bumped it out. 

 

#74:

"Superwoman"

Karyn White
1989

This former great session singer from Los Angeles is married to elite producer Terry Lewis.  She did something special on the other side of the mixing board, recording this smash from 1989--it was three weeks at #1.

 

#73:

"Bad"

Michael Jackson
1987

Michael Jackson had a bunch of songs in our feature The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 70's*, both as a solo artist and with his family group the Jackson 5.  Here's one of Jackson's biggest R&B hits of the 80's that spent three weeks at #1.

 

 

 

#72:

"Nite and Day"
Al B. Sure
1988

This next artist had a football scholarship from the University of Iowa, but declined it to pursue a music career.  His first single took off to #1 on the R&B chart, where it spent three weeks.  He also recorded a French and a Spanish version of the song.  It faced little competition, but earns position #72* on its own merits.

 

#71:

"I Feel Good All Over"

Stephanie Mills
1987

At age 15, this artist earned the starring role of Dorothy in the smash Broadway play The Wiz, which she played for four years.  Mills scored 22 R&B hits in the 80's, but none bigger than this one.  It competed against "Diamonds" by Herb Alpert & Janet Jackson to land at #1 for three weeks.


More slow jams and great grooves tomorrow, when Inside The Rock Era continues our presentation of The Top 100 R&B Songs of the 80's*!