Heartbreaker – Dionne Warwick
By the early 1980s, Dionne Warwick had already established herself as one of the most accomplished vocalists in popular music history. Throughout the 1960s…
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– R&B
The Sweetest Taboo – Sade
By the mid-1980s, Sade had established a sound unlike anyone else in popular music. While many artists embraced the glossy production and larger-than-life style…
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Sign Your Name – Terence Trent D’Arby
During the late 1980s, few debut artists arrived with as much excitement and confidence as Terence Trent D’Arby. Blessed with a remarkable voice that…
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How ‘Bout Us – Champaign
Some love songs don’t need grand orchestras or dramatic vocal fireworks to leave a lasting impression. Sometimes all it takes is an unforgettable melody,…
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Girlfriend – Pebbles
By the late 1980s, dance-pop and contemporary R&B were undergoing a major transformation. New Jack Swing was beginning to dominate the charts, electronic production…
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Didn’t We Almost Have It All – Whitney Houston
By 1987, Whitney Houston had become the biggest female pop star in the world. Her self-titled debut album had transformed her into an international…
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Where Do Broken Hearts Go – Whitney Houston
By the late 1980s, Whitney Houston had become the gold standard for pop and R&B vocalists. With an extraordinary voice capable of both breathtaking…
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U Got the Look – Prince
Few artists embraced musical reinvention as fearlessly as Prince. By 1987, he had already conquered funk, rock, pop, R&B, and psychedelic soul while building…
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Let It Whip – Dazz Band
Released in 1982, “Let It Whip” became the defining hit for the Dazz Band and one of the signature funk songs of the decade.…
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Rock Steady – The Whispers
When The Whispers released “Rock Steady” in 1987, they proved that veteran soul groups could still dominate the charts in an era increasingly defined…
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Miss You Like Crazy – Natalie Cole
The Elegant Ballad That Became Natalie Cole’s Biggest Pop Hit Released in March 1989 as the lead single from Good to Be Back, “Miss…
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ust to See Her – Smokey Robinson
The Soulful Comeback That Returned Smokey Robinson to the Top of the Charts Released in April 1987 as the lead single from One Heartbeat,…
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Joanna – Kool & the Gang
The Elegant Ballad That Became One of Kool & the Gang’s Signature Love Songs Released in November 1983 as the lead single from In…
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Give Me the Night – George Benson
The Funk-Fueled Classic That Turned George Benson into a Pop Superstar Released in June 1980 as the title track from Give Me the Night,…
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Truly – Lionel Richie
The Tender Ballad That Launched Lionel Richie’s Solo Superstardom Released in September 1982 as the second single from his self-titled debut solo album, “Truly”…
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Slow Hand – The Pointer Sisters
The Sultry Hit That Showed a New Side of The Pointer Sisters Released in May 1981 as the second single from Black & White,…
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Secret Lovers – Atlantic Starr
The Soulful Ballad That Became One of the Most Memorable Duets of the 1980s Released in 1985 as the second single from As the…
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Master Blaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s Joyful Tribute to Bob Marley and the Spirit of Reggae Released in September 1980 as the lead single from Hotter Than July,…
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Get Down on It – Kool & the Gang
The Funk Anthem That Kept the Party Going Released in November 1981 as the second single from Something Special, “Get Down on It” became…
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Let’s Wait Awhile – Janet Jackson
When people think about Janet Jackson’s breakthrough album Control, energetic hits like “Nasty,” “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” and “When I Think…
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I Wanna Be Your Lover – Prince
Long before Purple Rain, sold-out stadiums, and global superstardom, Prince Rogers Nelson was a young musician from Minneapolis with an extraordinary amount of talent…
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Cherish – Kool & the Gang
For much of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kool & the Gang were known for filling dance floors with infectious grooves and feel-good…
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Nightshift – Commodores
The Commodores spent much of the late 1970s establishing themselves as one of the premier bands in R&B. With Lionel Richie serving as lead…
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Don’t Wanna Lose You – Gloria Estefan
Released in 1989 as the second single from Cuts Both Ways, “Don’t Wanna Lose You” became Gloria Estefan’s first No. 1 hit on the…
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Wishing Well – Terence Trent D’Arby
Released in 1987 as the lead single from Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby, “Wishing Well” announced the arrival of one of…
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We Don’t Need Another Hero – Tina Turner
Released in 1985, “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” served as the emotional centerpiece of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and became one of Tina…
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Suddenly – Billy Ocean
Released in 1984 as the second single from Suddenly, the title track became one of Billy Ocean’s most enduring and beloved ballads. While Ocean…
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Lean on Me – Club Nouveau
Released in 1987, Club Nouveau’s version of “Lean on Me” accomplished what many people thought was impossible: it successfully reinvented one of the most…
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Kiss – Prince and the Revolution
Released in 1986 as the lead single from Parade, “Kiss” stands as one of Prince’s most brilliant artistic achievements and one of the defining…
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Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
Released in 1986 as the third single from her self-titled debut album, “Greatest Love of All” became one of Whitney Houston’s defining performances and…
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Freeway of Love – Aretha Franklin
Released in 1985 as the lead single from Who’s Zoomin’ Who?, “Freeway of Love” marked one of the greatest comebacks in popular music history.…
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On My Own – Patti Labelle & Michael Mcdonald
Released in 1986, “On My Own” became one of the biggest adult contemporary hits of the decade and an unforgettable showcase for two of…
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Endless Love – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
Great musical duets are surprisingly rare. While countless artists have shared the microphone over the years, only a handful of collaborations have become timeless…
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Cool It Now – New Edition
When New Edition released “Cool It Now” in 1984, they were no longer simply a talented group of teenagers from Boston—they were becoming genuine…
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What Have You Done for Me Lately – Janet Jackson
Before Janet Jackson became one of the most influential entertainers in popular music, she was known primarily as the youngest member of the famous…
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Woman in Love – Barbra Streisand
When Barbra Streisand released “Woman in Love” in 1980, she was already one of the most accomplished entertainers in the world. She had conquered…
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That’s What Friends Are for – Dionne & Friends
Charity singles have produced some of the biggest hits in music history, but few have matched the emotional warmth and enduring legacy of “That’s…
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One Moment in Time – Whitney Houston
Certain songs become forever linked to a single event, yet somehow grow beyond it to take on lives of their own. “One Moment in…
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Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers
Great songs often emerge from unexpected collaborations, and “Just the Two of Us” is one of the finest examples in modern music. Released in…
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You Are – Lionel Richie
When Lionel Richie left The Commodores to pursue a solo career, there were plenty of questions about whether he could match the success he…
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When I Think of You – Janet Jackson
By the mid-1980s, Janet Jackson was determined to step out from the enormous shadow cast by her famous family. While she had already released…
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Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder
Few artists have been able to reinvent themselves as successfully as Stevie Wonder. After dominating the 1970s with groundbreaking albums like Talking Book, Innervisions,…
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Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) – Billy Ocean
Some songs change an artist’s career forever. For Billy Ocean, that song was “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run).” Released in 1984,…
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Cameo – Word Up
Few songs capture the playful confidence and infectious energy of the 1980s quite like “Word Up!” by Cameo. Released in 1986, the song exploded…
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Stuck on You – Lionel Richie
When people think of Lionel Richie, they often picture soulful ballads like “Hello,” upbeat hits such as “All Night Long (All Night),” or heartfelt…
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