Let's Hear It for the POLL: It's the ~~~ 80's R&B TRACKS POLL ~~~ voting & campaigning thread

Hey everybody! Come and vote for your favorite R&B tracks from the 1980s!

You can vote for up to 100 tracks, no minimum. Any portion of your ballot can be unranked. Please note this when you send in your ballot. Please copy/paste directly from the nominations list, as this makes counting votes much easier.

Send your ballot to ilm70soul @ gmail.com

Voting ends Sunday, May 7, 11:59 PM (wherever in the world you are).

There are 1155 tracks to vote for, so please use this thread to share your favorite deep cuts and new discoveries. YouTubes are very welcome. Happy voting!

NOMINATED TRACKS:

Adele Bertei - Build Me a Bridge
Adeva - Warning!
After 7 - Heat of the Moment
After 7 - Ready or Not
Al B. Sure! - Nite and Day
Al B. Sure! - Off on Your Own (Girl)
Al Jarreau - Mornin'
Al Jarreau - Roof Garden
Al Jarreau - We're in This Love Together
Aleem - Get Loose
Alexander O'Neal - (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me
Alexander O'Neal - A Broken Heart Can Mend
Alexander O'Neal - Criticize
Alexander O'Neal - Fake
Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight
Alexander O'Neal - Innocent
Alexander O'Neal - Lovers
Alexander O'Neal - Sunshine
Alias - Shake
Alicia Myers - I Want to Thank You
Alisha - Baby Talk
Alisha - Nightwalkin'
Alisha - Too Turned On
AM-FM - You Are the One
Amii Stewart - Friends
Andre Cymone - M.O.T.F.
Andre Cymone - The Dance Electric
Angela Bofill - Too Tough
Anita Baker - Caught Up in the Rapture
Anita Baker - Giving You the Best That I Got
Anita Baker - Just Because
Anita Baker - Same Ole Love
Anita Baker - Sweet Love
Apollonia 6 - Ooo She She Wa Wa
Apollonia 6 - Sex Shooter
Aretha Franklin - Get It Right
Aretha Franklin - Jimmy Lee
Aretha Franklin - Jump to It
Aretha Franklin - Sweet Bitter Love
Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who?
Arnie's Love - I'm Out of Your Life
Art of Noise - Beat Box
Art of Noise - Moments in Love
Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City
Ashford & Simpson - Solid
Atlantic Starr - Always
Atlantic Starr - Secret Lovers
Atlantic Starr - Silver Shadow
Aurra - Send Your Love
Aurra - Such a Feeling
Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again
Babyface - It's No Crime
Babyface - Whip Appeal
Baiser - Summer Breeze
Band AKA - Joy
Bandolero - Paris Latino
Bar-Kays - Do It (Let Me See You Shake)
Bar-Kays - Freakshow on the Dance Floor
Bar-Kays - Freaky Behavior
Bar-Kays - She Talks to Me With Her Body
Barbara Mason - Another Man
Barbara Mason - Don't I Ever Cross Your Mind
Beggar & Co - (Somebody) Help Me Out
Ben E. King - Street Tough
Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love
Betty Wright - No Pain (No Gain)
Betty Wright - Pain
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
Billy Ocean - Lover Boy
Billy Ocean - Nights (Feels Like Getting Down)
Billy Ocean - Stay the Night
Billy Ocean - Suddenly
Blaze - Can't Win for Losin'
Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel
Bobby Brown - Every Little Step
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Bobby Brown - On Our Own
Bobby Brown - Roni
Bobby Womack - If You Think You're Lonely Now
Bobby Womack - Love Has Finally Come at Last
Bobby Womack - Tell Me Why
Bomb the Bass - Don't Make Me Wait
Bomb the Bass - Megablast
Bonzo Goes To Washington - Five Minutes
Booker Newberry III - Love Town
Bootsy - Mug Push
Bootsy Collins - Party on Plastic (What's Bootsy Doin'?)
Boris Midney - A Child Is Born
Boule Noire - Super, Super Lady
Boys - Dial My Heart
Brass Construction - International
Break Machine - Street Dance
Brenda K. Starr - I Still Believe
Brenda K. Starr - What You See Is What You Get
Brenda Russell feat. Joe Esposito - Piano in the Dark
Brenda Taylor - You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band - On the Beat
Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band - Starlette
Bros. - When Will I Be Famous
Brothers Johnson - Light Up the Night
Brothers Johnson - Stomp
C-Bank - One More Shot
Cameo - Back and Forth
Cameo - Candy
Cameo - Shake Your Pants
Cameo - She's Strange
Cameo - Single Life
Cameo - Word Up
Caprice - 100%
Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked
Carly Simon - Why
Carol Jiani - Hit 'n' Run Lover
Carol Jiani - Touch and Go Lover
Carol Lynn Townes - 99½
Cashmere - Do It Any Way You Wanna
Cat Miller - Ready or Not
CeCe Rogers - Someday
Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine
Cerrone - You Are the One
Chaka Khan - Eye to Eye
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Chaka Khan - I Know You, I Live You
Chaka Khan - Love of a Lifetime
Chaka Khan - Pass It On (A Sure Thing)
Chaka Khan - This Is My Night
Chaka Khan - Through the Fire
Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
Chandra Simmons - Never Gonna Let You Go
Chanelle - One Man
Change - A Lover's Holiday
Change - Change of heart
Change - Glow of Love
Change - It Burns Me Up
Change - Miracles
Change - Paradise
Change - Searching
Change - You Are My Melody
Charles B - Lack of Love
Chaz Jankel - Glad to Know You
Chemise - She Can't Love You
Cheri - Murphy's Law
Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
Cherrelle - Fragile... Handle With Care
Cherrelle - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On
Cherrelle - You Look Good to Me
Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley - Thanks for My Child
Cheryl Lynn - Encore
Cheryl Lynn - Shake It Up Tonight
Chic - 26
Chic - Chip Off the Old Block
Chic - Flash Back
Chic - Rebels Are We
Chic - You Are Beautiful
Chic - You Can't Do It Alone
Chico DeBarge - Talk to Me
Chocolette - It's That East Street Beat
Chuckii Booker - Turned Away
Circle City Band - Party Lights (Shake Your Body Get Loose)
Clark Sisters - You Brought the Sunshine
Class Action - Weekend
Club Nouveau - Why You Treat Me So Bad?
Coati Mundi - Que Pasa/Me No Pop I
Coffee - Casanova
Collage - Do You Like Our Music?
Colonel Abrams - I'm Not Gonna Let
Colonel Abrams - Trapped
Colourbox - The Moon Is Blue
Commodores - Lady (You Bring Me Up)
Commodores - Nightshift
Commodores - Oh No
Companion - There's a Way
Companion - This Is a Test
Company B - Fascinated
Con Funk Shun - Too Tight
Crown Heights Affair - I Struck Gold
Crown Heights Affair - You Gave Me Love
Crusaders feat. Bill Withers - Soul Shadows
Cuba Gooding - Happiness Is Just Around the Bend
Cultural Vibe - Ma Foom Bey
Culture Club - Church of the Poison Mind
Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
Culture Club - Mistake No. 3
Culture Club - Time
Curtis Mayfield - Baby It's You
Curtis Mayfield - Love Me, Love Me Now
D-Mob - C'mon & Get My Love
D-Train - Keep On
D-Train - Music
D-Train - You're the One for Me
David Bowie - Let's Dance
David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me)
Dayton - The Sound of Music
Dazz Band - Let It All Blow
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
DeBarge - A Dream
DeBarge - All This Love
DeBarge - I Like It
DeBarge - Love Me in a Special Way
DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night
DeBarge - Stay With Me
DeBarge - Time Will Reveal
DeBarge - Who's Holding Donna Now
Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music
Debbie Harry - Backfired
Debbie Jacobs - High on Your Love
Debbie Trusty - Searchin' for Some Lovin'
Deborah Allen - Telepathy
Deele - Two Occasions
Defunkt - Avoid the Funk
Defunkt - Razor's Edge
Defunkt - Thermonuclear Sweat
Delegation - It's Your Turn
Deniece Williams - I Can't Wait
Deniece Williams - It's Gonna Take a Miracle
Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
Deniece Williams - Silly
Denise Lopez - Sayin' Sorry (Don't Make it Right)
Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further
Deodato - Happy Hour
Deodato - S.O.S. Fire in the Sky
Deodato - Skatin'
Deon Estus - Heaven Help Me
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love
Diana Ross - Chain Reaction
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
Diana Ross - My Old Piano
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Dino - 24/7
Dionne Warwick - Deja Vu
Dionne Warwick - Heartbreaker
Donald Banks - Status Quo
Donna Allen - Serious
Donna Summer - Dim All the Lights
Donna Summer - Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)
Donna Summer - On the Radio
Donna Summer - She Works Hard for the Money
Donna Summer - State of Independence
Donna Summer - This Time I Know It's for Real
Double Disovery - Can He Find Another One?
Dynasty - Check It Out
E.U. - Da Butt
Earlene Bentley - The Boys Come to Town
Earth, Wind & Fire - And Love Goes On
Earth, Wind & Fire - Fall in Love With Me
Earth, Wind & Fire - Lady Sun
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let Me Talk
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Earth, Wind & Fire - System Of Survival
Eddie Murphy - Party All the Time
Eddie Murphy - Put Your Mouth on Me
Eddy Grant - Baby Come Back
Eddy Grant - Do You Feel My Love?
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Eddy Grant - Gimme Hope Jo'anna
Eddy Grant - I Don't Wanna Dance
Eddy Grant - My Turn to Love You
Edmond Daniels - You Broke Your Promise
Ednah Holt - Serious, Sirius Space Party
Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby
Egyptian Lover - Egypt Egypt
Egyptian Lover - Freak-a-Holic
Egyptian Lover - I Cry (Night After Night)
Egyptian Lover - My House (On the Nile)
El DeBarge - Who's Johnny
Emilia - Satan in Love
Erotic Drum Band - Horny
Escape From New York - Fire in My Heart
ESG - You're No Good
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Betcha She Don't Love You
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Get Loose
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
Evelyn Thomas - High Energy
Exodus - Together Forever
Exposé - Point of No Return
Family - Screams of Passion
Fantasy - You're Too Late
Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jessie Saunders - Love Can't Turn Around
Fatback Band - Double Love Affair
Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
Fatback Band - Is This the Future?
Five Star - All Fall Down
Five Star - Can't Wait Another Minute
Five Star - If I Say Yes
Five Star - The Slightest Touch
Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat
Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Fonda Rae - Tuch Me
Force M.D.'s - Love Is a House
Force M.D.'s - Tender Love
Forrest - Rock the Boat
France Joli - Gonna Get Over You
Frankie Knuckles - It's a Cold World
Frankie Knuckles - Your Love
Frankie Knuckles feat. Satoshi Tomiie - Tears
Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
Freddie Jackson - Jam Tonight
Freddie Jackson - You Are My Lady
Frederick & Janice Dowlen - Gentle (Calling Your Name)
Freeez - I.O.U.
Freeez - Southern Freeez
Friction - Bar-B-Q
Funkacise Gang - Funkacise
Funkadelic - Electro-Cuties
Funkadelic - Funk Gets Stronger
Funkadelic - Icka Prick
Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies
Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
Gap Band - Early in the Morning
Gap Band - Humpin'
Gap Band - Outstanding
Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Gary Byrd & the G.B. Experience - The Crown
Gary's Gang - Knock Me Out
Gary's Gang - Makin' Music
Gavin Christopher - One Step Closer to You
Gayle Adams - Love Fever
George Benson - 20/20
George Benson - Give Me the Night
George Benson - Inside Love
George Benson - Love X Love
George Benson - Turn Your Love Around
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
George Clinton - Free Alterations
George Clinton - Get Dressed
George Clinton - Last Dance
George Clinton - Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla
George Clinton - Nubian Nut
George Clinton - One Fun at a Time
George Duke - Reach Out
George Duke - Shine On
George Michael - A Different Corner
George Michael - Careless Whisper
George Michael - Father Figure
George Michael - I Want Your Sex
George Michael - One More Try
Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake the Feeling
Geraldine Hunt - Heart Heart
Gil Scott-Heron - B-Movie
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Save the Overtime (For Me)
Glass - Let Me Feel Your Heartbeat
Glenn Jones - I Am Somebody
Grace Jones - I'm Not Perfect
Grace Jones - My Jamaican Guy
Grace Jones - Nipple to the Bottle
Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper
Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm
Grace Jones - Warm Leatherette
Grady Harell - Belinda
Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down
Grover Washington Jr. - Just the Two of Us
Guy - Groove Me
Guy - I Like
Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothing Going On But the Rent
Gwen Guthrie - It Should Have Been You
Gwen Guthrie - Padlock
Gwen Guthrie - Peanut Butter
Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
Gwen McCrae - Keep the Fire Burning
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
Hall and Oates - Out of Touch
Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)
Heatwave - Lettin' It Loose
Heaven & Earth - I Really Love You
Hector - Piironkinjalka
Herb Alpert - Making Love in the Rain
Herb Alpert feat. Janet Jackson - Diamonds
Herbie Hancock - Gettin' to the Good Part
Herbie Hancock - Lite Me Up
Herbie Hancock - Magic Number
Herbie Hancock - Rockit
High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky Lately
His Name Is Dime - Movin'
Hot Chocolate - It Started With a Kiss
Hot Chocolate - Tears on the Telephone
Human League - Human
I-Level - Minefield
Imagination - Body Talk
Imagination - Changes
Imagination - In the Heat of the Night
Imagination - Just an Illusion
Imagination - Music and Lights
Imagination - So Good So Right
Indeep - Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
Inez Brooks - Chillin' Out
Inner City - Big Fun
Inner City - Good Life
Inner Life - (Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Inner Life - Moment of My Life
Irene Cara - Fame
Irene Cara - Flashdance... What a Feeling
Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets
Isley Jasper Isley - Caravan of Love
Ivan Neville - Not Just Another Girl
J. Blackfoot - Taxi
J. Walter Negro and the Loose Joints - Shoot the Pump
Jackie Stoudemire - Invisible Wind
Jacksons - Body
Jacksons - Can You Feel It
Jacksons - Lovely One
Jacksons - This Place Hotel
Jacksons - Torture
Jacksons - Wait
Jacksons - Walk Right Now
Jacksons - Wondering Who
Jacksons - Your Ways
Jacksons feat. Mick Jagger - State of Shock
Jamaica Girls - Need Somebody New
James Brown - Bring It On
James Brown - Don't Stop the Funk
James Brown - Gravity
James Brown - I'm Real
James Brown - Living in America
James Brown - Rapp Payback
James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
Jane Child - Don't Want to Fall in Love
Janet Jackson - Alright
Janet Jackson - Black Cat
Janet Jackson - Come Back to Me
Janet Jackson - Control
Janet Jackson - Don't Stand Another Chance
Janet Jackson - Dream Street
Janet Jackson - Escapade
Janet Jackson - Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)
Janet Jackson - Let's Wait a While
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
Janet Jackson - Nasty
Janet Jackson - Pretty Boy
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
Janet Jackson - When I Think of You
Janet Jackson - You Can Be Mine
Jeanette "Lady" Day - Come Let Me Love You
Jeffrey Osborne - On the Wings of Love
Jeffrey Osborne - Stay With Me Tonight
Jeffrey Osborne - You Should Be Mine
Jellybean - The Mexican
Jennifer Holliday - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
Jenny Burton - Remember What You Like
Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora - When the Rain Begins to Fall
Jermaine Jackson - Dynamite
Jermaine Jackson - Let Me Tickle Your Fancy
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off
Jesse Johnson's Revue - Be Your Man
Jets - Cross My Broken Heart
Jets - Crush on You
Jets - Curiosity
Jets - Make It Real
Jets - You Got It All
Jill Jones - Mia Bocca
Jill Jones - Violet Blue
Jimmy Ross - First True Love Affair
Joanna Gardner - I Could Never Love Another Like You
Jocelyn Brown - Love's Gonna Get You
Jocelyn Brown - Picking Up Promises
Jocelyn Brown - Somebody Else's Guy
Jody Watley - Don't You Want Me
Jody Watley - Everything
Jody Watley - Looking for a New Love
Jody Watley - Real Love
Jody Watley - Some Kind of Lover
Jody Watley - Still a Thrill
Joe Smooth - Promised Land
Johnny Gill - Super Love
Johnny Kemp - Birthday Suit
Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid
Jones Girls - I'm a Woman Here
Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt
Jonzun Crew - Space Cowboy
Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word
Joyce Sims - (You Are My) All and All
Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
Joyce Sims - Lifetime Love
Juicy - Sugar Free
Julia and Company - Breakin' Down (Sugar Samba)
Julius Brown - Party
June Montana - I Need Your Love
Junie - Rappin About Rappin (Uh-Uh-Uh)
Junior - Mama Used to Say
Junkyard Band - Sardines
Junkyard Dog - Grab Them Cakes
K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Give It Up
K.I.D. - Don't Stop
Kabbala - Ashewo Ara
Kashif - I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)
Kashif - Rumors
Kashif - Stone Love
Kat Mandu - I Wanna Dance
Keith Sweat - I Want Her
Keni Burke - Risin' to the Top (Give It All You Got)
Kenny G - Hi, How Ya Doin'?
Kiara & Shanice Wilson - This Time
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Endicott
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm Corrupt
Kid Creole & the Coconuts - Maladie d'Amour
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Stool Pigeon
Kinky Foxx - So Different
Kirka - Hengaillaan
Klymaxx - I Miss You
Klymaxx - Man Size Love
Klymaxx - Meeting in the Ladies Room
Klymaxx - The Men All Pause
Konk - Your Life
Kool & the Gang - Celebration
Kool & the Gang - Emergency
Kool & the Gang - Fresh
Kool & the Gang - Get Down on It
Kool & the Gang - Joanna
Kool & the Gang - Misled
Kool & the Gang - Stand Up and Sing
Kool & the Gang - Too Hot
Kreamcicle feat. Paula Anderson - No News Is News
Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
L.I.F.E. - You're All Played Out
Labi Siffre - (Something Inside) So Strong
Laid Back - White Horse
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
Larry Graham - One in a Million You
Larry Graham - Sooner or Later
Laurice Hudson - Feel My Love
Lavine Hudson - Intervention
Leo's Sunshipp - Give Me the Sunshine
Leon Haywood - Don't Push It Don't Force It
Leon Ware - Rockin' You Eternally
Letta Mbulu - Nomalizo
Levert - Casanova
Light of the World - Time
Limit - She's So Divine
Linda Clifford - Red Light
Linda Lewis - Class/Style (I've Got It)
Linda Taylor - You and Me Just Started
Linx - Intuition
Linx - Together We Can Shine
Linx - You're Lying
Lio - Sage Comme Une Image
Lionel Richie - All Night Long
Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
Lionel Richie - Hello
Lionel Richie - You Are
Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
Liquid Liquid - Cavern
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - All Cried Out
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Head to Toe
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder if I Take You Home
Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
Lisa Stansfield - This Is the Right Time
Lisa Stansfield - You Can't Deny It
Logg - I Know You Will
Lola - Wax the Van
Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation
Lonnie Hill - Galveston Bay
Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face?
Love Club - Hot Summer Nights
Luther Vandross - A House Is Not a Home
Luther Vandross - Give Me the Reason
Luther Vandross - Here and Now
Luther Vandross - If Only for One Night
Luther Vandross - It's Over Now
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
Luther Vandross - She's a Super Lady
Luther Vandross - Stop to Love
Luther Vandross - Sugar & Spice
Luther Vandross - Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
Lydia Murdock - Superstar
M/A/R/R/S - Pump Up the Volume
Maarit - Hiekka ja meri
Maarit - Jäätelökesä
Maceo and the Macks - Cross the Track (We Better Go Back)
Madame X - Just That Type of Girl
Madonna & Prince - Love Song
Madonna - Angel
Madonna - Borderline
Madonna - Burning Up
Madonna - Causing a Commotion
Madonna - Crazy for You
Madonna - Dress You Up
Madonna - Holiday
Madonna - Like a Prayer
Madonna - Lucky Star
Madonna - Physical Attraction
Malcolm McLaren - Madam Butterfly
Manhattans - Shining Star
Mantus - Boogie to the Top
Manu Dibango - Abele Dance
Marcel King - Reach for Love
Marsha Raven - Catch Me
Martina - Central Park
Marvin Gaye - Heavy Love Affair
Marvin Gaye - Midnight Lady
Marvin Gaye - My Love Is Waiting
Marvin Gaye - Praise
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Marvin Gaye - Turn On Some Music
Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man
Mary Jane Girls - In My House
Marz - I Got a Boyfriend Now
Material - Bustin' Out
Material - I'm the One
Material - Memories
Maurice Massiah - We Can Go to Your House
Maxine Singleton - You Can't Run from Love
Maze - Back in Stride
Maze - Before I Let Go
Maze - Twilight
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly - Can't Get Over You
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly - Joy and Pain
Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
Melba Moore - Falling
Melba Moore - Keepin' My Lover Satisfied
Men - Someone on My Side
Mercy Mercy - What Are We Gonna Do About It
Merry Clayton - Yes
MFSB - Mysteries of the World
Michael Henderson - Wide Receiver
Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney - The Girl Is Mine
Michael Jackson - Another Part of Me
Michael Jackson - Baby Be Mine
Michael Jackson - Bad
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana
Michael Jackson - Girlfriend
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone
Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl
Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Michael Jackson - One Day in Your Life
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Michael Jackson - She's Out of My Life
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin'
Michel'le - No More Lies
Michelle Wallace - Jazzy Rhythm
Midnight Star - Electricity
Midnight Star - Freak-a-Zoid
Midnight Star - No Parking on the Dance Floor
Midnight Star - Operator
Midnight Star - Slow Jam
Midnight Star - Victory
Midnight Star - Wet My Whistle
Midnight Star feat. Ecstacy of Whodini - Don't Rock the Boat
Milli Vanilli - All or Nothing
Milli Vanilli - Blame It on the Rain
Milli Vanilli - Girl I'm Gonna Miss You
Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True
Miquel Brown - Close to Perfection
Missing Persons - Surrender Your Heart
Morris Day - Fishnet
Morris Day - The Oak Tree
Mr Fingers - What About This Love
Mtume - Give It on Up (If You Want To)
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
Mtume - You Can't Wait for Love
Mtume - You, Me and He
Narada Michael Walden - I Shoulda Loved Ya
Natalie Cole - I Live for Your Love
Natalie Cole - Jump Start
Natalie Cole - Pink Cadillac
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Neneh Cherry - Kisses on the Wind
Neneh Cherry - Manchild
Neville Brothers - Brother John/Iko Iko
Neville Brothers - Sister Rosa
Neville Brothers - With God on Our Side
New Edition - Can You Stand the Rain
New Edition - Candy Girl
New Edition - Cool It Now
New Edition - If It Isn't Love
New Edition - Mr. Telephone Man
New Kids on the Block - Please Don't Go Girl
Newcleus - Jam on It
Next Movement - Let's Work It Out
Nia Peeples - Trouble
Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz
Nicole with Timmy Thomas - New York Eyes
Nicolette Larson - Let Me Go, Love
Nighthawk - Eye of the Tiger
Nocera - Summertime, Summertime
Nolan Thomas - Yo Little Brother
Nona Hendryx - B-Boys
Nona Hendryx - Keep It Confidential
Nona Hendryx - Living on the Border
Nona Hendryx - Transformation
Nona Hendryx - Why Should I Cry
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Nu Shooz - Point of No Return
Nuance feat. Vikki Love - Loveride
Odyssey - (Joy) Know It
Odyssey - Going Back to My Roots
Odyssey - Inside Out
Odyssey - Use It Up and Wear It Out
Oliver Cheatham - Get Down Saturday Night
Ollie & Jerry - Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
One Way - Cutie Pie
One Way - Give Me One More Chance
Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain
Osiris - War on the Bullshit
Otis Clay - The Only Way Is Up
Ottawan - Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)
P-Funk Allstars - Copy Cat
P-Funk Allstars - Hydraulic Pump
Parlet - Wolf Tickets
Parliament - Agony of Defeet
Parliament - Crush It
Parliament - Let's Play House
Parliament - Trombipulation
Pasadenas - Tribute (Right On)
Patrice Rushen - Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Patrice Rushen - Get Off (You Fascinate Me)
Patrice Rushen - Number One
Patrice Rushen - Remind Me
Patti Austin - The Heat of Heat
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald - On My Own
Patti LaBelle - New Attitude
Patti LaBelle - Release
Paul Simpson feat. Adeva - Musical Freedom
Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted
Paula Abdul - Knocked Out
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Pave Maijanen - Lähtisitkö
Peabo Bryson - If Ever You're In My Arms Again
Pebbles - Girlfriend
Pebbles - Mercedes Boy
Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
Peech Boys - Life Is Something Special
Peter Wolf - Lights Out
Phase II - Reachin'
Phil Collins & Phillip Bailey - Easy Lover
Phil Collins - Sussudio
Phyllis Nelson - I Like You
Pieces of a Dream - Mt Airy Groove
Pino d'Angiò - Ma quale idea
Planet Patrol - Danger Zone
Planet Patrol - Play at Your Own Risk
Pointer Sisters - Automatic
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
Pointer Sisters - If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady
Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance
Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
Positive Force - We Got the Funk
Prince - 17 Days
Prince - 1999
Prince - Adore
Prince - Alphabet St.
Prince - America
Prince - Anotherloverholenyohead
Prince - Automatic
Prince - Baby I'm a Star
Prince - Bambi
Prince - Batdance
Prince - Bob George
Prince - Computer Blue
Prince - Condition of the Heart
Prince - Controversy
Prince - Darling Nikki
Prince - Delirious
Prince - Dirty Mind
Prince - Do It All Night
Prince - Do Me, Baby
Prince - Electric Chair
Prince - Erotic City
Prince - Girls & Boys
Prince - Glam Slam
Prince - Gotta Stop (Messin' About)
Prince - Head
Prince - Hot Thing
Prince - Housequake
Prince - How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
Prince - I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
Prince - I Wish U Heaven
Prince - I Would Die 4 U
Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
Prince - Irresistible Bitch
Prince - It
Prince - Kiss
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
Prince - Let's Pretend We're Married
Prince - Let's Work
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Prince - Mountains
Prince - New Position
Prince - Paisley Park
Prince - Party Up
Prince - Partyman
Prince - Pop Life
Prince - Private Joy
Prince - Purple Rain
Prince - Raspberry Beret
Prince - Scandalous!
Prince - Sexuality
Prince - Sexy Dancer
Prince - She's Always in My Hair
Prince - Sign O' the Times
Prince - Sometimes It Snows in April
Prince - Starfish and Coffee
Prince - Still Waiting
Prince - Strange Relationship
Prince - Take Me With U
Prince - The Arms of Orion
Prince - The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Prince - The Beautiful Ones
Prince - U Got the Look
Prince - Uptown
Prince - When Doves Cry
Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
Prince Charles - Cash (Cash Money)
Princess - Say I'm Your Number One
Professor Longhair - Cry to Me
Q - The Voice of Q
Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida
Quincy Jones - Becha Wouldn't Hurt Me
Quincy Jones - Just Once
Quincy Jones - The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)
Quincy Jones - Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)
Quinella - Your Place or Mine
RAH Band - Clouds Across the Moon
Rainbow Brown - Till You Surrender
Randy Crawford - Someday I'll Fly Away
Raw Sex Pure Energy - Stop the War
Raw Silk - Do It to the Music
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Ray Parker Jr. - I Still Can't Get Over Loving You
Ray Parker Jr. - The Other Woman
Raydio - A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
Ready for the World - Love You Down
Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
Reddings - Remote Control
Redds and The Boys - Movin' and Groovin'
Regina - Baby Love
Regina Belle - Baby Come to Me
Regina Belle - Show Me the Way
René & Angela - I Love You More
René & Angela - I'll Be Good
René & Angela - Your Smile
Richard Valentine - Come Back Lover
Richenel - Dance Around the World
Rick James - Cold Blooded
Rick James - Ghetto Life
Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
Rick James - Super Freak
Rockers Revenge feat. Donnie Calvin - Walkin' on Sunshine
Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me
Rod - Shake It Up (Do the Boogaloo)
Rodney Franklin - The Groove
Roger - A Chunk of Sugar
Roger - I Want to Be Your Man
Roger - So Ruff So Tuff
Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue
Ron Rogers - Naughty Boy
Roni Griffith - (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up
Ronnie Hudson and the Street People - West Coast Poplock
Rose Royce - R.R. Express
Roshelle Fleming - Love Itch
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
S.O.S. Band - Just the Way You Like It
S.O.S. Band - S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit)
S.O.S. Band - Take Your Time
S.O.S. Band - Tell Me if You Still Care
S.O.S. Band - Weekend Girl
Sade - Is It a Crime?
Sade - Love Is Stronger Than Pride
Sade - Never as Good as the First Time
Sade - Paradise
Sade - Smooth Operator
Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
Sade - Turn My Back on You
Sade - Your Love Is King
Scritti Politti - Absolute
Scritti Politti - Perfect Way
Scritti Politti - The Word Girl
Seduction - (You're My One and Only) True Love
Seduction - Could This Be Love
Seduction - Two to Make It Right
Serge Gainsbourg - Love on the Beat
Serious Intention - You Don't Know
Sexual Harrassment - I Need a Freak
Shalamar - A Night to Remember
Shalamar - Dancing in the Sheets
Shalamar - Go for It
Shalamar - I Can Make You Feel Good
Shalamar - I Owe You One
Shalamar - Make That Move
Shalamar - Sweeter as the Days Go By
Shalamar - The Second Time Around
Shalamar - There It Is
Shana - I Want You
Shannon - Give Me Tonight
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Sharon Brown - I Specialize in Love
Sharon Bryant - Let Go
Sharon Redd - Beat the Street
Sharon Redd - In the Name of Love
Sharon Redd - Love How You Feel
Sharon Redd - Never Give You Up
Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls
Sheila B. Devotion - Your Love Is Good
Sheila E. - A Love Bizarre
Sheila E. - Holly Rock
Sheila E. - The Belle of St. Mark
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Shirley Jones - Do You Get Enough Love
Shirley Lewis - Realistic
Shirley Lites - Heat You Up (Melt You Down)
Shirley Murdock - As We Lay
Shot feat. Kim Marsh - Main Thing
Siedah Garrett - K.I.S.S.I.N.G.
Siedah Garrett - Taboo
Simplicious - Let Her Feel It
Simply Red - Holding Back the Years
Sinnamon - Thanks to You
Sister Sledge - Easy Street
Sister Sledge - Got to Love Somebody
Sister Sledge - Pretty Baby
Sister Sledge - Reach Your Peak
Skipworth and Turner - Thinking About Your Love
Sky's the Limit - Your Love Runs Free
Slave - Dreamin'
Slave - Snap Shot
Slave - Stone Jam
Slave - Watching You
Sly Fox - Let's Go All the Way
Smokey Robinson - Being With You
Smokey Robinson - Just to See Her
Smokey Robinson - Let Me Be the Clock
Smokey Robinson - One Heartbeat
Smokey Robinson - Wine, Women & Song
Sonny Charles - Put It in a Magazine
Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
Soul II Soul - Fairplay
Soul II Soul - Get a Life
Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'
Soulsister - The Way to Your Heart
Spandau Ballet - Chant No. 1
Sparque - Let's Go Dancin'
Special AKA - Free Nelson Mandela
SSQ - Shy Girl
Stacey Q - Don't Make a Fool of Yourself
Stacey Q - Two of Hearts
Stacy Lattisaw - Attack of the Name Game
Stacy Lattisaw - Jump to the Beat
Stacy Lattisaw - Let Me Be Your Angel
Staple Singers - Slippery People
Starpoint - Object of My Desire
Starpoint - Satisfy Me Lover
Steel City - Kannattiko muuttaa yhteen
Stephanie Mills & Teddy Pendergrass - Two Hearts
Stephanie Mills - (You're Puttin') A Rush on Me
Stephanie Mills - I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love
Stephanie Mills - Never Knew Love Like This Before
Stephanie Mills - Sweet Sensation
Stephanie Mills - The Medicine Song
Steve Arrington - Feels So Real
Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame - Weak at the Knees
Steve Winwood - Higher Love
Stevie B. - In My Eyes
Stevie B. - Spring Love
Stevie Wonder - All I Do
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Stevie Wonder - Front Line
Stevie Wonder - Go Home
Stevie Wonder - I Ain't Gonna Stand for It
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called to Say I Love You
Stevie Wonder - Lately
Stevie Wonder - Love Light in Flight
Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (Jammin')
Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed
Stevie Wonder - Part-Time Lover
Stevie Wonder - Ribbon in the Sky
Stevie Wonder - Rocket Love
Stevie Wonder - That Girl
Stevie Wonder - You Will Know
Stone City Band - Freaky
Strafe - Set It Off
Suede - Enough Is Enough
Sunbelt - Spin It
Surface - Falling in Love
Surface - Happy
Surface - Shower Me With Your Love
Suzy Q - Get On Up
Suzy Q - Get On Up and Do It Again
Suzy Q - Harmony
Sweet Life - I Get Lifted
Sweet Pea Atkinson - Dance or Die
Sweet Sensation - Take It While It's Hot
Sybil - Don't Make Me Over
Syl Johnson - Ms. Fine Brown Frame
Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk
Sylvester - Don't Stop
Sylvester - I Need You
Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love
Sylvia Striplin - You Can't Turn Me Away
Syreeta - Can't Shake Your Love
System - Don't Disturb This Groove
System - It's Passion
System - Sweat
System - You Are in My System
T.S. Monk - Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life)
Ta Mara & The Seen - Everybody Dance
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Taana Gardner - No Frills
Taja Sevelle - Love Is Contagious
Tara - Fresh Flesh
Taste of Honey - I'm Talkin' Bout You
Taste of Honey - Rescue Me
Taste of Honey - We've Got the Groove
Taylor Dayne - I'll Always Love You
Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O.
Teena Marie - I Need Your Lovin'
Teena Marie - Lovergirl
Teena Marie - Ooh La La La
Teena Marie - Square Biz
Temptations - Treat Her Like a Lady
Temptations feat. Rick James - Standing on the Top
Ten City - Devotion
Ten City - Right Back to You
Terence Trent d'Arby - Dance Little Sister
Terence Trent d'Arby - If You Let Me Stay
Terence Trent d'Arby - Sign Your Name
Terence Trent d'Arby - Wishing Well
Terri Wells - I'll Be Around
Terri Wells - I'm Givin' All My Love
Thelma Houston - You Used to Hold Me
Tiffany - Could've Been
Tiggi Clay - Flashes
Time - 777-9311
Time - Cool
Time - Jungle Love
Time - Onedayi'mgonnabesomebody
Time - The Bird
Timex Social Club - Rumors
Tina Fabrique - Alive with Love (A Love Letter)
Tina Turner - Private Dancer
Tina Turner - Two People
Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It
Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica
Tom Browne - Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Toney Lee - Love So Deep
Toney Lee - Reach Up
Tony! Toni! Toné! - Little Walter
Touche - Just Like a Door Knob
Tracie Spencer - Symptoms of True Love
Tramaine Hawkins - Fall Down Spirit of Love
Trouble Funk - Drop the Bomb
Trouble Funk - Still Smokin'
Twennynine - Peanut Butter
Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
Two Tons o' Fun - I Depend on You
Tyrone Brunson - The Smurf
TZ - I Got the Hots for You
Unique - What I Got Is What You Need
Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
Universal Togetherness Band - Ain't Gonna Cry
Unlimited Touch - I Hear Music in the Streets
USA for Africa - We Are the World
Val Young - Seduction
Valentine Brothers - Money's Too Tight (to Mention)
Vanessa Williams - The Right Stuff
Vanity - Romantic Voyage
Vanity 6 - Drive Me Wild
Vanity 6 - He's So Dull
Vanity 6 - If a Girl Answers (Don't Hang Up)
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl
Vanity 6 - Wet Dream
Vaughan Mason and Crew - Bounce Rock Skate Roll
Vera Brown - Little Did I Know
Vicky D - This Beat Is Mine
Victor Willis - Physical
View From the Hill - No Conversation
Village People - Sex Over the Phone
Vin Zee - Funky Bee-Bop
Viola Wills - If You Could Read My Mind
Viola Wills - Up on the Roof
Visual - The Music's Got Me
Voyage - Follow the Brightest Star
Wa Wa Nee - Stimulation
Wa Wa Nee - Sugar Free
Wally Badarou - Chief Inspector
War - Cinco De Mayo
War - Outlaw
War - You Got the Power
Warp 9 - Light Years Away
Was (Not Was) - Anything Can Happen
Was (Not Was) - Carry Me Back to Old Morocco
Was (Not Was) - Out Come the Freaks
Was (Not Was) - Tell Me That I'm Dreaming
Was (Not Was) - Wheel Me Out
Watson Beasley - Breakaway
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
Weeks & Co. - Go with the Flow
Weeks & Co. - Rock Your World
Wendy & Lisa - Are You My Baby?
West Phillips - (I'm Just a) Sucker for a Pretty Face
Westwood Cash - Psycho for Your Love
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Wham! - Young Guns (Go for It)
Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Whispers - It's a Love Thing
Whispers - Keep On Lovin' Me
Whispers - Rock Steady
Whispers - This Kind of Lovin'
Whispers - Tonight
Whistle - Right Next to Me
Whitney Houston & Teddy Pendergrass - Hold Me
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Whitney Houston - Love Will Save the Day
Whitney Houston - One Moment in Time
Whitney Houston - You Give Good Love
Will Downing - A Love Supreme
Will to Power - Fading Away
Will to Power - Say It's Gonna Rain
Wilton Felder feat. Bobby Womack & Alltrinna Grayson - (No Matter How High I Get) I'll Still Be Looking Up to You
Womack & Womack - A.P.B.
Womack & Womack - Baby I'm Scared of You
Womack & Womack - Love Wars
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
World Premiere - Share the Night
World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ
Xavier - Work That Sucker to Death
Xena - On the Upside
Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
Yoko Ono - Walking on Thin Ice
Young & Company - I Like (What You're Doing to Me)
Zapp - Be Alright
Zapp - Coming Home
Zapp - Computer Love
Zapp - Dance Floor
Zapp - Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)
Zapp - Heartbreaker
Zapp - It Doesn't Really Matter
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
Zapp - Playin' Kinda Ruff
ZZ Hill - Cheating in the Next Room

Thanks to everyone who sent in tracks, and to Thewufs for this Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/user/thewufs/playlist/4jSmIgdwqmrxpDVi6wCPGi

Here's my first spotlight title. The 12" of this is a monster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxOVwusCTA4

Yay! Here's the first track I want to campaign for:

Baiser - Summer Breeze

I know nothing about Baiser, except that they were apparently a Canadian disco project with a rather provocative name (in French), and that they only released two singles. The first one of those, "Summer Breeze" (from 1984) is exactly what it says on the tin: an ode to sweet, light romance of summer accompanied by warm winds.

The tune has impeccable early 80s boogie sound, with an elastic synth bass accompanied by an appropriately breezy saxophone. A lovely melody, and this is one of those tunes where the C part is actually better than A or B. You'll have to wait until the two minute mark for it to hit, and then you're in sweet disco heaven! This is pretty much perfect music for a late July evening of sipping drinks on a terrace and lusting after sweaty bodies.

For my first campaign, I want to urge people not to sleep on these two Sheila E. tracks just because two more famous ones will undoubtedly get a lot of votes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThJYpaCcOqE

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgcNLLikZj4

Y'all will want to keep some slots empty on your ballot. I'm gonna gather up some obscure one-hit wonders that will knock your socks off.

I'll go ahead and drop one that will be VERY high on my ballot: Tracie Spencer - 'Symptoms of True Love'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM4JU1CPL7A

The most obscure thing I nominated is "Taboo", the B-side to Siedah Garrett's "K.I.S.S.I.N.G." (which is mediocre by comparison).

It's not even on YouTube - O_O - but I have an mp3 for anyone's who's interested. Just mail me at the poll address.

If the deadline on the '70s poll hadn't completely slipped under my radar, I would've likely put an Amii Stewart b-side ('When You Are Beautiful', from the 'Knock on Wood' single) somewhere in my top 5. It's so obscure that I couldn't find anything but a scratchy rip of the 7" for ages. But I applaud your nomination as legit. There are hidden gems everywhere.

Most of the stuff I nominated isn't too obscure but three tracks which I'd like to highlight:

Firstly, a non New Order Bernard Sumner production from 1985 from Manchester's answer to Michael Jackson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iRypDlgnSs

Next, a deep soul cut from 1984 later covered by Bryan Ferry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4_JR958_qA

Finally, Stewart Levine produced Britsoul/Sophistipop nearly rans View From the Hill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfCIFKekYq0

I'd guess that about 80% of the adult population of Holland will recognize this track, since the intro was used as a tune for the Dutch Top 40 radio show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZe-yNzaWJQ

Ohhhhhh my god. So...are write-ins okay, however pointless they may be? I just realized that no one nominated Sugar Hill Gang's 'Hot Hot Summer Day', which is just completely ridiculous.

so excited! :) i will actually vote in this one lol

xp - Sure, go ahead! A few write-ins got into the final 70's list, although it looks like we're going to get more voters than last time.

I'd like to highlight Bootsy Collins' Party On Plastic (What's Boostsy Doin'?) - I got this in a brown paper bag of unsold 7" singles when it came out - I would have been 7 or 8 years old - and played it on pretty heavy rotation for a couple of years. It's such a bizarre mess of a thing, but at the time I didn't realise that music wasn't usually supposed to sound like that and just sort of accepted it. It might actually be terrible, still can't tell, but it's certainly never boring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0end00Llzlg

as i suspected listening to the spotify playlist on shuffle it's all the greatest music ever made

Yeah, coming to the same conclusion. No need to rep for it really but just started listening to I Feel For You and wow somehow I forgot how utterly flawless it is.

the jets singles nominated for this poll alone tbh

at least 15 songs in contention for my no. 1, this is gonna be excruciating

my shortlist is 'only' about 250 tracks long rn so um hopefully this won't be too hard

;_;

Gah, missed nominations cut off again! Wish I'd have nominated Imagination's "Burnin' Up," which truly feels like the first deep house track.

forgot to vote, again.

write-in campaign for this bad boy starts now, c'mon guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnHu-WLvY5U

Just a reminder of how great Zapp was:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq62sqYZEK8

A side observation: So with some of the nominees that I was a little on the fence about wrt their 'R&B'-ness, I tried hearing them in my head as if they were being performed by indisputable R&B acts, which is when it hit me like a bolt from the blue that 'Church of the Poison Mind' is basically a freakin' Miracles song.

(This was a musical revelation akin to the moment when I realized that 'Ghostbusters' would've been performed by the B-52s in a perfect world.)

Two more sweet, sweet recommendations for you: Cheryl Lynn - 'Shake it Up Tonight' and Yarbrough & Peoples - 'Don't Stop the Music'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcE0ppRJwd8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDx-S-hK4N0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDx-S-hK4N0

that cheryl lynn song inevitably rules

i have no idea what to campaign for that wouldn't be obvious

will say that i continue to find it 100 percent offensive that womack & womack's "teardrops" isn't on spotify. the extended remix is a masterpiece. so, if anybody potentially voting hasn't heard "teardrops" for some reason before here u go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C0MSa7SXE8

I believe there may have been some kind of mathematical formula involved in the perfection that is Coati Mundi's 'Me No Pop I'. I could play it all day and never get sick of that groove.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIITCZ8Cp1U

I had an unspecified Eddy Grant song in my head that I was wracking my brain trying to remember the name of so I could nominate it and I just now I realized that it's actually a War song and that I totally did nominate it so it all worked out in the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPP7sG5F0uE

Man, I'm shuffling through '80s playlists as I cobble together my ballot and I keep coming across stuff that, on paper, never would've made sense to nominate but that totally fits. This one (the Raincoats' 'Animal Rhapsody') might wind up being a write-in for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3lJNkU17Xo

Hey, that Raincoats song is cool. I'm going to save it for when I have some empty space on my ballot.

Also, thanks for changing your display name :)

You're welcome, although I simply cannot imagine what your objection was to my previous DN.

i guess i'm just gonna put all the nominated whispers songs on my ballot

Is Good Life by Inner City really R&B? It's pretty clearly House / Acid House.

Here's three more one-hit wonders with an emphasis on the WONDER.

Jenny Burton - Remember What You Like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RmS_gzsV1E

Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGeB8FcCQ0o

Jesse Johnson's Revue - Be Your Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9gddM7CQog

What the eff. I thought I noticed that earlier...so anything after a YouTube embed is truncated from yr post now? That's annoying.

Here's #2: Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGeB8FcCQ0o

And #3: Jesse Johnson's Revue - Be Your Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9gddM7CQog

i was just playing the spotify playlist on shuffle. whatever this is, it's miraculous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLUv4ydmySQ

Another out-of-left-field possible write-in candidate: Magazine 60 - Don Quichotte

i guess i've loved gregory abbott's "shake you down" for most of my life without ever knowing who it was or what it was called

I'm seeing all three videos just fine in that first post, Old Lunch. Must be your browser or something.

What the eff. I thought I noticed that earlier...so anything after a YouTube embed is truncated from yr post now?

ime this only happens on mobile

xp - Yeah, me too! I never even heard of the guy, but I've loved that song for ages. It always morphs into "Cherish" by Kool and the Gang in my head, do you have that too?

on which there are no embeds so idk what i'm talking about

anyway all of your vids have been showing up old lunch xp

We didn't nominate fucking "Cherish"?!?!

I'll go ahead and drop one that will be VERY high on my ballot: Tracie Spencer - 'Symptoms of True Love'

this is an ENORMOUS jam

MASSIVE synths

i don't think i've ever heard this song before and it's perfect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WQCc8OfvY4

Yeah. I nominated it, but I hadn't played it for a couple of years, so even I'd forgotten just how gorgeously sublime it is!

Odyssey was such a great band... Native New Yorker, Weekend Lover, Inside Out, Use It Up and Wear It Out, Going Back to My Roots, (Joy) I Know It, all such perfect singles, and so different from each other! Also, they put more effort in their lyrics than many other disco acts, they often have the tangible feel of lived experiences that's not easy to capture, and this tune is not an exception.

https://soundcloud.com/kukka-dj/boogiemix

I guess I could share this here, it's a boogie mix I did a few years ago. I think pretty much every track in it has been nominated here, except for the last one (understandably).

Speaking of Jenny Burton, she sings on this John Robie produced freestyle classic. Not on Spotify. Huuuge in the clubs all through '83.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl-fgWfdjRo

I first heard "One More Shot" on white label, playing in the shop - and bought it there and then. Total classic.

One more to campaign for, a One Way album cut that should have been on extended play 12". Love Part two starting around 2:20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMQdBO5Gjzo

xp: I like Italo too, but it isn't remotely R&B to my ears.

Hips go up and down: not R&B.
Hips go side to side: might be R&B.

Never knew Exodus - Together Forever but i've loved Raven Maize - Forever Together for decades. Glad to know the source, even if I prefer the remake.

I missed the nominations, but I think we should vote for The Breakfast Club's "Right On Track".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsOJAaZ1a2A

no we shouldn't

because I'll be humming it forever

I haven't explored Tuomas' Finnish R&B nominations yet, but here is some top local product from Holland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eip5lPLA02o

(that entire TopPop channel is a treasure trove of great videos, btw)

It occurs to me hearing it now that 'This Is It' by Kenny Loggins would've been a valid nominee.

So would've "Endless Love," "Broken Wings," and "Electric Youth." Doesn't mean I'm sorry they're not there.

I did almost nominate 'Electric Youth' fwiw.

I'm starting to feel like this should've explicitly been a non-Prince '80s R&B tracks poll. If I was being completely fair & honest, dude would probably make up 33-50% of my ballot easily.

Vote-splitting may factor in. I doubt we're going to reach an Curtis Mayfield-like consensus here.

can't believe i forgot to nominate "yellow moon"

Can't believe no one nominated any Karyn White songs.

I will!

ten city's "right back to you" just came up on shuffle and idk if it really aligns with the genre of this poll but i wanna vote for it anyway

let us not forget nigeria's fervent '80s boogie scene, a good survey of which is available on last year's soundway compilation: https://www.soundwayrecords.com/Shop/DownloadDetails?rid=SWR_RE_116

and whose most well-known exemplar may be this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyL4c_LDCl0

oh btw this track is a monster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgmRzvQV6eQ

Much as I'd like to vote for Maceo's "Cross The Tracks", it dates from 1975.

ok i feel like if i post anymore youtube embeds this thread'll be impossible to open so i'd just like to say omg @ fonda rae's "over like a fat rat"

xp - Thanks, consider it disqualified. Although it looks like the extended version was produced in 1987:
https://img.discogs.com/b864g_pg9nXOaZgLsqxVYxCBK38=/fit-in/400x400/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-50110-1109003132.jpg.jpg

Here's another tune to consider for your ballot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-R5bMnQZZc

The arrangement is a bit busy, but what a brilliant bass groove, and wonderfully smooth sax solo by Kenny

everyone's voting for rene and angela's "i'll be good" right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ow-p3NfM_Y

William Onyeabor didn't have much influence beyond Nigeria, but the Ghanain brothers (and London-based expats) Michael and Isaac Osapanin (Kabbala) did. Nominated the more familiar "Ashewo Ara", but "Yo Yo Dance" (1983) may be even better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DanXzMMduQ

xxpost I am for sure. Thanks for beating me to the punch on the YouTubery.

Not sure which way round this is, but I spotted a couple of songs on the Spotify playlist that aren't in the noms upthread:

Ray Parker Jr - A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
Bootsy Collins - Mug Push

The version of Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough on the Spotify playlist is the Levan 12" Mix, I actually prefer the album version over that but the superior mix, and some days I would argue it's the pinnacle of disco period, is the 17-minute John Morales 4AM extravaganza:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Geo0WGOVQ

CTRL+F dude - they're both in the noms. There is a difference in the artist listings on Spotify (I know, because I nominated "Mug Push," from an album that was anomalously credited simply to "Bootsy" when originally released - his other releases are mostly under the names "Bootsy's Rubber Band" or "Bootsy Collins" - and "A Woman Needs Love" was originally recorded by Ray Parker's band, Raydio, but listed under his own name when compiled onto greatest hits albums), but rest assured they're the same performers and the same recordings that were nominated.

^xpost

You can all edit the Spotify playlist, by the way! So many of these songs have multiple versions - and one or another remix often emerges as the definitive or most popular version for dance music of this period, so I usually went with the version that had the most plays. But if you nominated a song and the version I put on the playlist isn't the one you were thinking of, please by all means replace it.

ok got it - I was ctrl+Fing the wrong thing, I was just worried something might have fallen off the nominations list, it does happen

Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Fonda Rae - Tuch Me

these are the same song FYI

also a really really good track that everyone should vote for

i sure am

fonda rae for pres

Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked

thrilled that this, the greatest song of all time, was nominated

she's built
she's stacked

I got connected to a freaky zone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz7nSkFhBP0

Ah man forgot to nominate Lionel Ritchie's best Running With The Night

All this time and I had no idea Yazz The Only Way is Up was a cover

Another I can't believe I missed. Can't not write in vote for it

https://youtu.be/nQqKfStWKY0

Dunno if that embedded or not, looks like not on my phone, but it's Willie Colon 'Set Fire to Me' and everyone should give it a spin before voting

Here are some more obscure/forgotten/underrated tracks that I love a lot:

Club Nouveau - 'Why You Treat Me So Bad'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3-6O7btipo

Deodato - 'Happy Hour'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l79248iHjwI

Donna Allen - 'Serious'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRpTmBAnkp0

Stacy Lattisaw - 'Attack of the Name Game'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afRwEVCFi1Q

Mary Jane Girls - 'Candy Man'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZOFr5aFAAM

Twennynine - 'Peanut Butter'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIhK9otA0cs

Jesse Johnson's Revue - 'Be Your Man'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6kBJZSwhM8

Wa Wa Nee - 'Stimulation'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAHhjeXuiHk

Seconding "Candy Man" in particular.

loooove "candy man" and "be your man"

OH! And then there's this hot little number with an amazing video which is a blast of pure concentrated '80s:

Nolan Thomas - 'Yo Little Brother'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiARecI8T6s

"Yo Little Brother" has made every list of the decade's best I've made.

Here's a freestyle list.

Okay, this is officially the most difficult ballot I've had to put together in a decade and a half of ILXing.

Absolutely. Giant as Prince is, it's not going to be difficult to hold him to just 4-6 slots tbh.

I mean, my bare bones list of tracks that I'm super familiar with and definitely voting for is already up to like 150+. And I have yet to review the stuff I don't remember as well, and I haven't listened to any of the nominated tracks that I've never heard before, and I don't have a single Prince track on my ballot. What the hell.

Okay, this is officially the most difficult ballot I've had to put together in a decade and a half of ILXing.

Definitely! Before I even started putting it together, I'd decided I'm gonna limit Prince/Madonna/Grace Jones/Cameo/EWF/Patrice Rushen/MJ/Gap Band/etc. to just one track per act, cos that was the only way to make room for the more obscure but awesome tunes by one and two hit wonders. And even after that the list was way too big, so I also decided to leave out all house music, since this is an R&B poll. That hurt, but at least it helped me trim it down to 100.

buncha sissies

Having just watched that "Yo Little Brother" video, I can tell that everything else about Friday is going to be anticlimactic.

Yeah that was awesome. I just found out on Wikipedia that Nolan Thomas sang all the songs on his album except for that one, although it is him in the video.

yesterday i discovered that i want to live inside of the "funky bebop" video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_lttNgaXr4

Somehow I had never heard "Sun City" until I heard it on the playlist just now. It's not very good, but I'm baffled as to how I missed it at the time: was it a hit?

It was, unfortunately.

Pazz & Jopp single of the year iirc.

lol

Okay, here's one more tune I want to campaign for... I'm not sure if it's more pop than R&B, but I wanted to nominate this, because it's absolutely my favourite Finnish hit single of the '80s. Such a beautiful meoldy with a simple but effective arrangement. So here's Pave Maijanen with "Lähtisitkö":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAKIWMqKBrw

Apparently he also recorded it in English... The translated lyrics pretty much match the Finnish ones, but I don't think they fit the rhythm as well, so it's kinda inferior. Still, it's an odd curiosity, it was very uncommon in the eighties for someone to make English versions of Finnish tunes, let alone with their own music videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7U73Hrpuw

Apparently he also recorded it in English... The translated lyrics pretty much match the Finnish ones, but I don't think they fit the rhythm as well, so it's kinda inferior. Still, it's an odd curiosity, it was very uncommon in the eighties for someone to make English versions of Finnish tunes, let alone with their own music videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7U73Hrpuw

Oops, sorry about the double post.

If you have room for only one Nona Hendryx track on your ballot...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzXrZ0JvN6Q

the greatest music video produced for any of these tracks imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6aRvVTSC0I

i didn't have time to vote in this :(

Dude, you have a whole 'nother week!

oh lol

well then I'll take this opportunity to tell everyone not to overlook or underestimate "She's So Divine" by Dutch band THE LIMIT. one of the greatest tunes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nHPkUJCRGo

wow that is wonderful

btw if y'all don't vote for "Let It Whip" wtf are you even doing here

Seriously. I'll disown every last one of you ingrates.

Who nominated "We Are the World"?

So many jams. This is the stuff I remember most from when I was a kid, I wonder if that's just from listening to top 40?

Another I can't believe I missed. Can't not write in vote for it

https://youtu.be/nQqKfStWKY0

― i know kore-eda (or something), Friday, April 28, 2017 4:07 AM (four days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Dunno if that embedded or not, looks like not on my phone, but it's Willie Colon 'Set Fire to Me' and everyone should give it a spin before voting

― i know kore-eda (or something), Friday, April 28, 2017 4:11 AM (four days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

totally voting for this, it's incredible

everybody knows Mr Ocean's later pop hits but check "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down). I think of it as a companion piece to Cheryl Lynn's superb "Shake It Up Tonight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZAIyMFbDnA

please listen to the 12-inch version of "Super Freak"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRFS8xuWD6U

Q featuring Patti Austin's pop-jazzy vocals on a Stevie Wonder composition w/Herbie Hancock handling keyboards, how did this not even dent the R&B chart? It was all over urban radio in NYC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNkHNqr6VYM

"betcha wouldn't hurt me" is gonna be way up on my ballot

oh man

every pointer sisters song nominated is perfect, but this is the perfectest imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IprBx1OlBk

Working through my shortlist is an even bigger task than the 70s poll, because a) the shortlist is longer, b) the tracks are longer. At this stage, I've pretty much forgotten what other music sounds like.

a post celebrating the supremacy of the jets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhrqvTUZQLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sByNZekTwCI

and my favorite song of all time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy10rRJ0Cuk

"You've Got It All" is the type of song that won't get my vote in this particular poll. Even though it's just magnificent.

yes "dare me" is so wonderful

i tend to assume on these broader polls that anything i know is bound to be known by the rest of voters even tho that is obviously a silly assumption. here is a song that i hope y'all know -- but if you don't, you should!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34QVPwRLRKU

"You've Got It All" is the type of song that won't get my vote in this particular poll. Even though it's just magnificent.

― insidious assymetrical weapons (Eric H.), Tuesday, May 2, 2017 4:30 PM (sixteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i get the impulse but i can't resist

I want to rep for Aurra "Such A Feeling" in this thread b/c the versions on Spotify are weird and missing parts of the mix. E.g. one of the backing vocalists has been seemingly muted and it sounds lame. Here's the legit mix via youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ymNLFZsHbc

Larry DeMarco1 year ago
YEAH HAVING YOUR WOMAN RIDING ON TOP IN REVERSE COW GIRL LOOKING BACK AT YOU WITH HER LEGS WIDE OPEN AND THIS SONG BLASTING IN DEEP BASE OHH WHAT A FEELING SUCH A FEELING
Reply
outonbail_714

Larry OTM

At this stage, I've pretty much forgotten what other music sounds like.

― mike t-diva, Wednesday, May 3, 2017 12:35 AM (eight hours ago)

This is my favorite side effect of ILM polls.

The Spotify version of Mercy Mercy "What Are We Going To Do About It" is horrible! This is what it's supposed to sound like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_P2Tho6Mg

Six ballots in already. I just sent an email to everyone who voted so far. If you didn't get my message please re-submit.

Wow, six is way too little! I voted already, hopefully there's a big deluge of ballots by Sunday. Besides the disco songs poll I ran a few years ago, I can't think of any other ILM poll whose results I'm more eager to see!

Here's another Odyssey track I want to prop up. The sparse, laconic arrangement combined with incredibly hedonistic/nihilistic lyrics make this a rather unique tune, especially considering it was released by an established disco act. I'm still not sure whether they're praising club culture or condemning it - perhaps both?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPwUBA_YqOw

I'm sure most of you know Carol Jiani's "Hit 'n' Run Lover" from 1981, but IMO its sequel, "Touch and Go Lover", is even better. Don't sleep on it!

https://youtube.com/watch?&v=2ZUyTMu7uAM

xxp - I'm sure there will be many more ballots before the end of the poll considering the activity in this thread. I had 19 ballots for the 70's poll, I'm hoping for at least 25 this time.

Mine will be a down-to-the-wire ballot, most assuredly, but I've spent too much time in deliberation to not submit. No worries.

thanks to tuomas for the limit's "she's so divine" and baiser's "summer breeze," those songs are completely wonderful and ascend my ballot every time i listen to them

also thank you old lunch for bringing "symptoms of true love" into my life

thanks to tuomas for the limit's "she's so divine"

*cough*

great discovery from shuffling the spotify playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSFCU_p-9rg

thanks to tuomas for the limit's "she's so divine"

*cough*

― bought 2 raris, went to chili's (crüt), Wednesday, May 3, 2017 8:12 AM (nine minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh no i'm so sorry crut! thank YOU you've improved my life considerably

I nom'd some but I don't think I'll have the time to sift through the nominees and vote. I know only a very small selection of what was nominated so I'm looking forward to the results!

Just vote for your favorite songs, Vinnie! There's no obligation to work through 1100 tracks before one can submit a ballot :)

:)

I'm in a similar position. An astounding amount of amazing music (and Kenny G) and the FEAR of missing stuff is crippling me into inactivity.

I am digging through as many of the 600 or 700 nominated tracks that I don't know as possible - probably won't be sending my ballot until Saturday at least. Want to rep for Shalamar generally but their song "Sweeter as the Days Go By" in particular, a great track nobody else ever seems to mention:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ihHO-SovGo

I know "Sexual Healing" steals the show on Midnight Love but "My Love Is Waiting" is so so so so good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYTChYQt10A

there's an overwhelming wealth of amazing music among the nominations but it is also comforting to know i will almost definitely continue to make treasured discoveries during the results rollout

also omg i just rediscovered al jarreau's "roof garden" after several years of not having heard it!! was missing out

here is my favorite george benson song which is also my favorite kashif song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLUmkHNstU0

OK a few songs I like (and why)

Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_H23dEmO4Y
Sade-like instrumental with a more impassioned vocal approach. Love the guitar interplay. Songwriting is A++

Regina Belle - Baby Come To Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQflBV1UgVY
Not to be confused with the similarly titled James Ingram/Patti Labelle track. Can't take credit for finding this one, Brainwasher put me onto it awhile back, but it's become one of my most-played records since. Beautiful Anita-esque performance.

One Way - Don't Stop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCIOS7WP8GQ
Incredible production, probably most famous at this point for becoming the backbone of an album track on one of the best selling albums of all time.

Loose Ends - Stay A Little While
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbig7W8P-Y0
One of the more obvious records I'm stanning for, I just think this has one of the best chorus melodies of any of their incredible run of songs.

52nd Street - Tell Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ck25PGjlLc
One of the best grooves, 'can't afford to let you go' i also have a soft spot for

Keith Sweat - How Deep Is Your Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmIa5djjKAw
So much music after this owes it something, from the career of Ginuwine to the rap songs still sampling it today. If Keith Sweat isn't on your list somewhere you've failed '80s R&B

Phyllis Hymen - Living All Alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gMEjzzFDe0
Love this groove, singing style, cover art, songwriting, everything

Alexander O'Neal - A Broken Heart Can Mend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7z0G57M2AQ
Not gonna lie this is the entire reason. That said, Alexander O'Neal deserves multiple votes obv.

Whitney Houston - Thinking About You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hguD0SSNS2g
Kashif's best song for Whitney Houston.

Jody Watley - Still A Thrill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg6Dt3pia9g
For some reason she's kind of vanished but I like this song a lot. (And the intro for "Looking for a New Love" which was sampled by KMD)

Levert - Casanova

A perfect song.

sorry I should have URL'd these ... got out of hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obxx6xHKme8

Here's "Casanova"

Is Good Life by Inner City really R&B? It's pretty clearly House / Acid House.

― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, April 25, 2017 12:11 PM (one week ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

It charted on the R&B charts which is more than can be said for many of the selections itt lol

as did Paul Hardcastle's "Rainforest", worth taking a look at imo

thanks deej, i was contemplating doing a write-in vote for one way's "don't stop" bc i forgot to nominate it

regina belle is also incredibly special and oft overlooked

That Levert tune is dope, but it's still not the best song called "Casanova" in this poll:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvSk2tzHFQs

i own that coffee record and dont agree that thats better than the levert song lol

Howard Hewett's "Stay" is a good one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUKNmhoITqQ

This is my fav on the Coffee album but its more an album track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N86dQBFA51w

as did Paul Hardcastle's "Rainforest", worth taking a look at imo

yeah love this song and it was all over radio and clubs for awhile in late 84/early 85. funny cause hearing it today somebody might justifiably shrug "this is R&B?" but it was and it is. one of those magical tracks that transports me back to a specific point in time, even so i'm heartened that you can really HEAR it now

since the only nominated keith sweat song is an early teddy riley joint i just wanted to make sure that everyone likes guy as much as i like guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYHHn0jUt7E

I should submit a ballot, right?

yes!!!!

"I Like" is my fav Guy song

same

also omg i just rediscovered al jarreau's "roof garden" after several years of not having heard it!! was missing out

― dyl, Wednesday, May 3, 2017 11:59 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

roof garden kicks a ton of ass, title on down

gonna submit my ballot today out of pure frustration

btw before anybody like me has a sudden heart attack at forgetting it, donna summer's "dim all the lights" came out in 1979

Important recent discovery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Rezkna3bI

ballot sent y'all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9wotiDai5U

my bottom five could be a top five lol

Speaking of "Dim All the Lights" there are a few others I noticed on the full nominations list that came out - on album, anyway - in '79. Was it decided that songs that first came out on LP in 1979 but were released as singles in 1980 were eligible? Because I left songs like that off the Spotify playlist ("Too Hot" by Kool and the Gang, "Off the Wall" and "She's Out of My Life" by Michael Jackson, several songs from Prince's self-titled). I also noticed a couple days ago that "Cola Bottle Baby" by Edwin Birdsong came out on LP in 1979 and can't find any evidence of a single release for it. Should I strike it from the playlist?

"dim all the lights" was also released as a single in 1979 and peaked on the charts in the same year. it's suuuuper ineligible

xxxp your posting that has brought an unconscious Teena Marie/CRJ connection to my attention

she's talkin square biz to you baby

but here's my number, so call me maybe

so bummed that i whiffed on the nominations here, because robert palmer needs to be honored

also no debbie gibson??? 'only in my dreams' :,(

Write-ins!

oh good i wasn't sure if there was a hard and fast rule against those

ok, voted. all that recent at40 listening paid off!

i had 10 write-ins:

Debbie Gibson - Only In My Dreams
Eurythmics - Would I Lie to You?
Jermaine Jackson & Michael Jackson - Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good To Be True)
Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid
Miquel Brown - So Many Men, So Little Time
Pretty Poison - Catch Me I'm Falling
Q-Feel - Dancing In Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)
Rick Astley - Together Forever
Robert Palmer - You Are In My System
Samantha Fox - Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)

palmer did tell me i'm not dreamin' also (and i didn't mean to turn you on!!) but the jackson duet is sublime

also surprised nobody nominated the inter-jackson diss track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIdzNLnzdhw

I considered nominating like half of the songs you just mentioned. This has been an overwhelming (in a good way) endeavor.

Q-Feel - Dancing In Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)

nice one

i definitely raided my stash of dancing school jams for my write ins.

https://open.spotify.com/user/maurajohnston/playlist/0SfCGOQQleB41d9MwQAayu

(q feel is on the playlist but not available in the us)

so far my ballot leans heavily toward the first half of the decade but i appreciate those of y'all in this thread who are repping for '86 on

i adore "only in my dreams" but it's not what comes directly to mind when i think or r&b so not sure it would have made my ballot (which i should be submitting soon!)

voted :) cutting it all down was pretty brutal, i didn't end up having room for several of the ones i thought would be shoo-ins :(

well only in my dreams definitely borrows its vocal and instrumental textures heavily from freestyle (which is in plentiful supply on the nom list) and is more r&b than "could've been," which is really a dressed up country tune

so far my ballot leans heavily toward the first half of the decade but i appreciate those of y'all in this thread who are repping for '86 on

New jack's going to help me keep my ballot more even this time around, but as I said before, I'm all about 1976-1984 when it comes to R&B-disco-etc.

palmer did tell me i'm not dreamin' also (and i didn't mean to turn you on!!) but the jackson duet is sublime

― maura, Thursday, May 4, 2017 8:57 PM (yesterday

yeah Palmer never disgraced himself covering R&B.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0QpPbnxexY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0QpPbnxexY

i adore "only in my dreams" but it's not what comes directly to mind when i think or r&b so not sure it would have made my ballot (which i should be submitting soon!)

― dyl, Thursday, May 4, 2017 11:15 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i mean my no. 1 exists in a mingled space between dance pop and r&b (or, according to wikipedia, r&b, freestyle, and adult contemporary lol) and could be easily construed as the former

Jeez, I just realised neither me nor anyone else nominated any Miami Sound Machine tracks! I should've at least included "Dr. Beat" in my nom list, probably "Conga" too, if that counts as R&B? What an omission!

We would not be having this argument if there were a slowed down 800 percent version out there.

the "Bad Boy" remix does. I dunno if my beloved "Falling in Love (Uh Oh)" does – probably not.

LOL, wrong thread

no need to mourn the lack of freestyle in the R&B poll; let's all just stay focused on how great Kool & the Gang are

Speaking of which, allow me to campaign for this K&tG obscurity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj84BWltqQ4

voted! what a fun way to waste a morning, tried not to sweat TOO much...big UPs to arch carrier for pulling this together, such a comprehensive nominations list.
of course I wrote in a few...(apologies if my aging eyes missed these)

Ashford & Simpson - Street Corner
Aurra - Checking You Out
Bar Kays - Hit and Run
Donald Byrd - Love Has Come Around
Gwen McCrae - Funky Sensation
S.O.S. Band - The Finest
Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It
Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame - Nobody Can Be You
Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble - Breaking and Entering

Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It

This wasn't nominated?! Damn.

"tender love" is such a remarkable song. i love how it's almost entirely drumless, so it just feels like this free-floating, gentle, airy thing, like being hugged by a cloud. the vocalizing on the bridge is unbearably gorgeous too

the template for "The Finest" and "Sunshine" (and "Human," and "Come Back to Me").

i've never really paid attention before but the drums on "square biz" are super fuckin tight

11 ballots in; the Number One changes with every ballot I add.

It'd be cool if at one point it was "Number One."

I won't tell.

I have been obsessing over this poll and only have 1/3 of my ballot ready

i'm so excited for this

Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
^ Was this only a hit in Britain or did it make it to America too?

it topped the R&B chart for one week & they were the first British act to do so according to wikipedia.

it was actually produced by an american record producer from philly though lol

I Found Lovin' by The Fatback Band is great. This version, which was mystifyingly just as big a hit in Britain *at exactly the same time*, less so:
https://youtu.be/4IiP6BNhmx0

Voted! Had a couple of write-ins (that I don't think were mentioned yet, "Clouds" come on ppl!):

Barbara Mason - Let Me Give You Love
Chaka Khan - Clouds
Chic - Soup For One
Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling
Deja - We Were Made To Be Together
Two Tons O' Fun - Just Us

always forget "clouds" was in the '80s. would've voted for it but that would've been like....four chaka songs on my ballot

I know you already know this but you guys, this is fucking impossible. My heart is breaking cutting some of these songs.

yeah you're gonna hurt yourself

Somebody else vote for "Love is In Control (Finger on the Trigger)," "Hydraulic Pump," Inner Life's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long," because they're not on my ballot anymore :(

i voted for love is in control iirc

who knows anymore tho. my shortlist was like 300 songs long

That's impressive. I only had to cut like 40 tracks.

Somebody else vote for ... Inner Life's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long," because they're not on my ballot anymore :(

i voted for these two don't worry :P :)

man "nightshift" makes me bawl

yep

I see a few Kid Creole tracks on the nominees list. Generally I find them a little too schtick-y, kinda like an 80s Leon Redbone or something, but I've always found this track pretty hard to deny:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s0onZaiL4Q

ABOUT 48 HOURS LEFT TO VOTE!

Okay, a few more recommendations...

Toney Lee had a decent hit with "Reach Up", known better these days because Phat's & Small sampled it in "Turn Around", but IMO the less popular "Love So Deep" from the same year is even better. The tune is very obviously inspired by D-Train, but IMO Lee's impassioned delivery and supremely elastic synths make it just as good as D-Train's best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xoSoZ-A4fQ

Another lesser known tune from a famous artist... Sharon Redd's "In the Name of Love" and "Beat the Street" are deservedly in the boogie canon, but IMO "Love How You Feel", released a year after them in 1983, is just as good. A steamy paean to sex, you can hear her already starting to move beyond the boogie formula; I dunno why her career didn't really continue after 1983, but it would've been interesting to see her tackle the R&B styles of the latter part of the decade, I'm sure she would've handled it. Sadly she died of AIDS 1992, and we lost one of the most memorable voices in club music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHOVpDNXmmY

Btw, when I posted my nominations, I was thinking of "Can You Handle It", but because there's such a clear break between Redd's boogie singles and the earlier stuff that sounds much more like classic disco, I always associate the earlier singles with the 1970s. So I always forget her solo career only began 1980... My mistake!

Maybe the first ilm poll where tracks I've always considered among my all time favourites are slumming it down in the lower reaches of my ballot. Weighting this was almost impossible

I just went through the list selecting what I'd consider voting for, and selected EXACTLY 100. WOOOOOH.
Anyway, what a ridiculous list.

Anyway, voted. And shit, Terence Trent D'Arby - whatever happened to he?

Voted!

Voted!

Threw together a small ballot, that I just sent in

One final recommendation, this time on the electro-funk tinge. Warp 9 seem to be kinda slept on today, but their first slew of singles and their debut album are amazing, perfect marriage of electro futurism and poppy songwriting. And this is the best of those singles, tho they're all dope:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e2OWcaVJ3Bs&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2OWcaVJ3Bs

9-year-old-me is pissed off that I forgot to nominate his favourite song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njacCWObEOM

It's a dope tune, but I don't think hip house is really covered by the scope of this poll? I wouldn't call it "R&B" in any meaningful sense of the word.

So I realized I forgot "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker and just had to drop "I Like It" by DeBarge. Pretty sure the former will place, so I hope some peeps are still voting for the latter.

Also, here's a slept-on Marvin Gaye single that I nominated and you all should vote for:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65COReQHmhc

And shit, Terence Trent D'Arby - whatever happened to he?

When I was living in Italy in the early 2000s this video was played a few times on MTV. He had changed his name to Sananda Maitreya. Don't think it was a hit anywhere and no idea what happened to him after that.
https://youtu.be/NRLxQ49MeSM

If you have even a passing acquaintance with 90's rap then you've heard this song in sample form. Possibly the best straight-up funk riff of the 80s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nfrQuKZ1UQ

So I realized I forgot "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker and just had to drop "I Like It" by DeBarge. Pretty sure the former will place, so I hope some peeps are still voting for the latter.

― Futuristic Bow Wow (thewufs), Saturday, May 6, 2017 2:24 PM (twenty-six minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i understand but also I DONT UNDERSTAND

Voted. My ballot was heavily skewed towards 1980-1983 - pretty much the post-disco/"boogie" era.

I know you'll all be voting for "I Feel For You" and "Ain't Nobody" because you're not disgusting savages, but don't forget this great album track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrxAVXhoSjM

Plus "whacha gonna do for me." Chaka has at least three slots locked up on my ballot

ok I might have a write in vote after all

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKbOZVW7XxU

Voted. Phew.

Should we have got a confirmation email?

I was going to do a mixed ballot, do I have to number those I want to order or just place them in the order I want them to be?

Voted! I didn't have time to go through many of the nominations I haven't heard but I had no problem coming up with a hundred songs. I actually found it harder than the 70s one. I think that might just be because of how much Prince was nominated though.

Putting together my ballot now. Time for one more campaign. Y'all know this one, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsMrCz_N8AQ

We're at 21 ballots now - already two more than the last poll.

I just sent out the last batch of confirmations, so please re-send if you didn't get my reply.

Just voted

Voted!

24 ballots in (I just finished my own), and you have about...

http://68.media.tumblr.com/5bfb0aaeb9685cfab63a3dfcc99f9e10/tumblr_inline_njzm7ycIcj1rpcr9a.gif

http://williamsonpsp.com/chronicles/2003/10/07_voted/voted_tn.jpg

I've cut it down to 175 songs. Now it gets painful.

i saw maze, stevie wonder, patti labelle, and earth, wind & fire this weekend at jazzfest so i'm ready for this poll

How was Maze?

Best 12" ever:

http://i63.tinypic.com/qp2bkm.jpghttp://i68.tinypic.com/308w1ud.jpg

OK, I've got 70 locked down, but the remaining 30 are a bloodbath. I need to sleep on it please.

I voted phew! Those last cuts were brutal. I also had some more write-ins:

Jody Watley - Friends
Jellybean - Sidewalk Talk
Roni Griffith - Desire
S'Express - Theme From S'Express
Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You (My karaoke jam!)

How was Maze?

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, May 7, 2017 6:23 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

one of the best sets i've ever seen. entire crowd was locked into the electric slide for 1.5 hours

everyone vote for "back in stride" and "before i let go" idek how much time is left

everyone vote for "back in stride" and "before i let go" idek how much time is left

YES DOUBLE POST

SENT! Didn't technically, literally wait until the last minute. That's something, I guess. Gah-damn, this was difficult. But I think I managed to squeeze in all of the ones that were absolute life or death all-time classics and still make room for favorites that were likely to be represented. I'm sure I'll curse my decision making at some point ('Sussudio' at #1? what was I thinking?!?) but I'm cool with it now.

Can't wait to see the results! And to discover whichever of y'all's excellent choices which are currently unknown to me!

'likely to be under-represented'. I'm tired, gimme a break.

(Just realized that no one nominated Nell Carter - 'Gimme a Break'. Criminal.)

Alright people, not much time left. Who's going to get us to 30 ballots?

By the way, even this late in the game the top 10 keeps changing enormously. A song that was in the top spot last night dropped to 7 this morning, and at the moment the numbers 1 and 2 are 200 points higher than number 3, but only one point apart from each other.

OK, I've got 70 locked down, but the remaining 30 are a bloodbath. I need to sleep on it please.

submit what you have!!

Voted.
I think my only write-in was "Rapper Dapper Snapper".

Gonna submit in a couple hours.

OK, I can extend the deadline with exactly SIX HOURS FROM NOW. That's 18:30 in Western Europe, 12:30 in New York and 9:30 in L.A.

Life does not stop and start at your convenience, folks.

Ok I slapped together the rest of my ballot and submitted

I think my only write-in was "Rapper Dapper Snapper".

Damn.. good call.

Oh, and just so you know: I'm replacing the number 3 of every late ballot with The Breakfast Club's "Right on Track", because that song deserves many more votes than it's gotten so far. The 12" especially reaches perfection:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqzGqah-JGE

Good thing my ballot was on time.

If the top two are the top two that I suspect (i.e. the top two on my ballot), I wouldn't expect anything less than a lead of hundreds of points. I resisted being so predictable but they're pretty goddamn undeniable. So congrats to Chunky A's 'Owww!' and 'The Superbowl Shuffle'!

How many results will be see in the rollout?

Proper excited for the roll out. Just realised that I didn't nominate Cherish by Kool and the Gang (or anything else, for that matter), which is unforgiveable.

xp - I'm thinking about a Top 300 Extravanganza, spread out over two weeks. There are just Too. Many. Great. Songs.

Good choice! Even 300 seems too small a number to contain all of the stone-cold classics.

It'll be interesting to see how a given song's level of R&B-ness affects its placement. There were several songs that would have been top of my list except that their vibe didn't quite scream 'R&B!!!' to me.

I restart the Breakfast Club thread every few months.

what about this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNQYuMun32U

Luther Vandross - Give Me the Reason

nobody better sleep on this

There's a Breakfast Club thread?!?

Breakfast Club - "Right On Track"

People of the ILM 80s RB poll, before it is too late, I urge you to vote for George Clinton's masterpiece, Free Alterations.

Okay, just realized my first stupid omission: Kiara & Shanice Wilson's 'This Time'. I can only hope you guys helped to correct this egregious oversight.

To cut down my list to size I had to boot a bunch of songs for insufficient R&B-ness.

I am sending a ballot!!! Don't close without me! I'm actually ranking this time!

21 minutes left!

Fuck. Guess I'm only ranking the top half then.

Hurry up, man! Half of ILM is waiting for you to make up your mind :)

Sent! (Not happy about the songs I had to cut.)

Srsly, apologies to these songs, which I love with all my heart:

After 7 - Ready or Not
Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who?
Aurra - Such a Feeling
Billy Ocean - Nights (Feels Like Getting Down)
Brothers Johnson - Stomp
C-Bank - One More Shot
Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked
Chaka Khan - This is My Night
Company B - Fascinated
Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music
Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Donna Summer - This Time I Know It's for Real
E.U. - Da Butt
El DeBarge - Who's Johnny
Evelyn Thomas - High Energy
Exodus - Together Forever
Fantasy - You're Too Late
Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jessie Saunders - Love Can't Turn Around
Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies
Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
Gap Band - Early in the Morning
Gap Band - Outstanding
George Clinton - Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla
George Duke - Shine On
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
Heaven & Earth - I Really Love You
Indeep - Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
Janet Jackson - Come Back to Me
Jermaine Jackson - Dynamite
Jets - You Got It All
Jocelyn Brown - Somebody Else's Guy
Jody Watley - Looking for a New Love
Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid
Junior - Mama Used to Say
Konk - Your Life
Laid Back - White Horse
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face?
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
Marvin Gaye - Praise
Mary Jane Girls - In My House
Maze - Twilight
Michael Jackson - Baby Be Mine
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Patrice Rushen - Remind Me
Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
Pino d'Angiò - Ma quale idea
Pointer Sisters - Automatic
Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Prince - 17 Days
Prince - Dirty Mind
Quincy Jones - Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)
RAH Band - Clouds Across the Moon
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
René & Angela - I Love You More
S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Sharon Redd - Beat the Street
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Skipworth and Turner - Thinking About Your Love
Stevie Wonder - All I Do
Suzy Q - Get On Up and Do It Again
Syreeta - Can't Shake Your Love
System - You Are in My System
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Teena Marie - I Need Your Lovin'
Ten City - Devotion
Time - The Bird
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Twennynine - Peanut Butter
Vaughan Mason and Crew - Bounce Rock Skate Roll
World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ
Zapp - Heartbreaker

As with the 70s poll, I was quite strict on my notions of genre compatibility - and also as with the 70s poll, this skewed my votes towards the first half of the decade. That said, I've been kinder to house than I was to disco.

http://isc.jcu.cz/wp-content/uploads/closed.jpg

Thanks everyone for voting! Check back in about an hour for the start of the rollout!

I think I voted for 16 of the tracks that Eric squeezed out.

I definitely have your back on some of your discards, Eric.

'This Time I Know It's For Real' was a tough cut for me, because I love the song so much but it just doesn't feel very R&B to me. This poll made me realize how many Donna Summer and Pointer Sisters tracks from the '80s shed the R&B-ness in pursuit of crossover appeal.

Yeah, that def factored in with some of the discards, though I still found room for some landmark house tracks that I never thought I'd throw support behind.

I have seven of Eric's discards covered.

I was pretty lax as far as genre purity goes. If it was nominated, and I love it, I considered it for my ballot. The only two noms I couldn't justify as R&B were Madonna's "Crazy For You" and Malcolm McLaren's "Madam Butterfly."

Shut out for not being "R&B" enough by my own arbitrary standards: "The Belle of St. Mark," "She Works Hard for the Money," plus half a dozen Prince songs. I probably should have voted for Madonna's "Holiday," which actually is R&B enough by those standards and is one of my favorite songs of the 80s or any other decade. I voted for 10 of Eric's cast offs.

lol i pushed lots of songs down or entirely off my ballot for not being r&b enough but "madam butterfly" was not one of them and it ended up v high on my list :X

I decided to go for a pretty strict definition of a R&B too, because otherwise I could never have weeded out my original shortlist of roughly 400 tunes. Sadly, this meant cutting all house music off the ballot. (So hopefully some day someone will ran an '80s electronic music poll?) The only two tunes I still included even though they're probably not R&B enough were "The Crown" and "Lähtisitkö". They were just too good to be omitted!

Didn't include any house otherwise half of my ballot would have been house and it's not really r&b is it

Some of it is.

I know what you're saying but I had to draw a line somewhere

I even nominated Mr Fingers - What About This Love and ended up not voting for it. Would be one of my top 5 of the decade in any genre

My 80s R&B experience was mostly boogie and synth-funk, and that's what I voted for, with a scattering of undeniable electro classics. Even freestyle was suspect. If I could imagine it being played on Houston's Majic 102 FM (KMJQ), it was in, but if it would segue seamlessly at Paradise Garage, it wasn't.

pretty sure I went with the opposite of that when it came to the Paradise Garage

I also cut Madam Butterfly for not being R&B enough. (x-post)

Not sure why we're getting hung up on how r&b the tracks are. They're either on the nominations list or they're not.

Guys, why don't you come and talk over here:

A POLL Bizarre ~~~ It's the ILM 80's R&B TRACKS POLL ~~~ RESULTS THREAD!!!