Soul/R&B from 1985-1995: Search and Destroy

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Actually I think I know enough things to destroy. But what should I search?

― Nick, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dunno about destroying, but SEARCH for all the Jam and Lewis productions, plus the mid-eighties Womack and Womack lps. Oh, actually, destroy: RARE GROOVE - the acid jazz of its day. On a related note, I bought a great disco comp last week with the 12" of 'Let the Music Play' by Shannon on it, which was even better than I had remembered. Who can point me towards more of this stuff?

― stevie t, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Even Color Me Badd, stevie? Oh God, I've just remembered New Jack Swing.

― Nick, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Better yet: New Jill Swing

― mark s, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ahhhhhhhh, new jack swing.

search: teddy riley productions, namely the guy albums but not the most recent one; jimmy jam-terry lewis productions like janet and the s.o.s. band; prince and the time; bell biv devoe and al b. sure's first albums; bobby brown's don't be cruel; cameo; luther vandross's earliest records; a loose ends comp would be nice if such a thing existed.

in other words, a lot of r&b and very little soul. this era really isn't recommended for someone who doesn't have an abiding interest in r&b and soul in the first place.

destroy: "smooth r&b" i.e. freddie jackson, peabo bryson, et. al.

― fred solinger, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Search: the unholy triumvate of New Jill: SWV's "Right Here", En Vogue's "My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)" and TLC's "Creep" (which are the New Jill equivalents of "One In A Million", "Bills, Bills, Bills" and, er, "No Scrubs").

― Tim, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Stevie: good call on Destroy. Not so good on Search.

― the pinefox, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

does "Looking for a New Love" by Jody Watley count?

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Stevie T: There's a 4-volume compilation called Perfect Beats which is all early 80s electro-dance music very much in the same ballpark as "Let The Music Play", and what I've heard of it (volumes 2 and 4) is strong stuff. I don't know if it's available in the UK, though.

― Patrick, Friday, 4 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah, New Jack / New Jill.

At the time I was basically following chartpop and very little else, and much less of it crossed over in the UK than in the last couple of years, hence why my memories of it are confined to the stuff that went Top 40 here. In that case, good call for Tim on the En Vogue and SWV singles.

― Robin Carmody, Saturday, 5 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why 1985-95? There was a lot of good stuff in the earlier 80's when Disco was morphing itself back into Soul/Funk (and before the overbearing, reverbed snare beat established itself). Examples: Shalamar, Evelyn King (Kashif..the Timbaland of his day), Slave, Aurra, Sharon Redd, D Train.

From the mid to late 80's: Jam & Lewis (as someone else said), Keith Sweat, the System (David Frank has resurfaced as Christina Aguilera's producer - still using the same synth stabs and fast bass drum fills), Mantronix, Joyce Sims, Surface.

From the early 90's: Teddy Riley, SWV, En Vogue (all previously mentioned), Toni Tone Tone (who also produced En Vogue).

And let's not forget Soul II Soul....

― David, Saturday, 5 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why not?

― the pinefox, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Because they made three or four fantastic singles, had a massive cultural impact in the UK, and actually meant something in the US. Doubtless not reason enough for you, Reynard, but it is for David and myself.

― Robin Carmody, Monday, 7 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yep, Soul II Soul, even metalheads like me (erm...at the time) rated them. Gotta sneak S.O.S.Band under the '85 border, surely one of the great bands of the 80s, regardless of genre.

― Omar, Tuesday, 8 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one year passes...

I haven't followed up on any of these recommendations. I am badd.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 21:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"Bad" by Michael Jackson.

Btw. the 80-84 period contained a lot of great R&B/soul records from the likes of Michael Jackson, Shalamar, Imagination, SOS Band and Change.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

nineteen years pass...

What ever happened to Rachelle Ferrell?…been a real jag lately… those first couple of albums were phenomenal…I know the last album she released wasn’t well received but would have expected her to put out something….shame cos she was a real talent

― X-Prince Protégé (sonnyboy), Thursday, 23 February 2023 12:36 (two years ago)

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