The Best RB Albums from the 1980s and 1990s: A Decade-by-Decade Analysis
From the iconic sounds of Thriller and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to the smooth grooves of Never Too Much and I Am the One, the 1980s and 1990s were a golden era for RB music. Let's dive into the best RB albums from each decade, detailing why they stood the test of time.
The 1980s: Pop/RB Hybrids and Smooth Grooves
The 1980s were a time of fusion, blending RB with other genres to create innovative and enduring sounds. Let's look at some of the top albums from this decade:
Pop/RB Hybrids
Donna Summer - The Wanderer (1980) Donna Summer - She Works Hard for the Money (1983) Patti Austin - Every Home Should Have One (1981) Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) Tina Turner - Private Dancer (1984) Michael Jackson - Bad (1987)New Jack Swing
Janet Jackson - Control (1986) Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel (1988) Keith Sweat - Make it Last Forever (1987)Quiet Storm
Marvin Gaye - Midnight Love (1982) Marvin Gaye - In Our Lifetime (1981) Anita Baker - Rapture (1986) Lionel Richie - Can’t Slow Down (1983) Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (1981)Leftover Disco and Funk
Sheila E - Devotion - King of the World (1980) Sister Sledge - Love Somebody Today (1980) Kool The Gang - Ladies Night (1979) Peaked in 1980 Kool The Gang - Celebrate (1980) Kool The Gang - Something Special (1981) Kool The Gang - As One (1982) Kool The Gang - In The Heart (1983) Con Funk Shun - Spirit of Love (1980) Rick James - Street Songs (1981) Cameo - Word Up (1986) Gap Band - III (1980) Gap Band - IV (1982) S.O.S. Band - S.O.S. (1980) S.O.S. Band - On The Rise (1983) Stevie Wonder - Hotter than July (1980) Midnight Star - No Parking on the Dancefloor (1983) Dynasty - Adventures in the Land of Music (1980) Shalamar - Three For Love (1980) The Time - What Time Is It (1982) Prince - 1999 (1982) Prince - Purple Rain (1984) Prince - Sign 'O' the Times (1987)The 1990s: Neo-Soul and Contemporary RB
The 1990s saw the rise of neo-soul and contemporary RB, introducing a new wave of talented artists who blended traditional RB with modern sounds. Here are some standout albums from this decade:
New Jack Swing
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison (1990) Michael Jackson - Dangerous (1991) TLC - Ooooooohhh...On the TLC Tip (1992)Contemporary RB
Tony! Toni! Toné! - Sons of Soul (1993) Tony! Toni! Toné! - House of Music (1996) TLC - CrazySexyCool (1993) BlackStreet - Another Level (1996) En Vogue - Funky Divas (1992) Donell Jones - My Heart (1996) Donell Jones - Where I Wanna Be (1999) Lynden David Hall - Medicine 4 My Pain (1997) Ginuwine - The Bachelor (1996) Ginuwine - 100 Ginuwine (1999) Joe - All That I Am (1997) Joe - My Name is Joe (2000) barely missed the '90sNeo-Soul
Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1996) D'Angelo - Brown Sugar (1995)My Favorite Albums Across 20 Years
Among all the great albums spanning the years 1980 to 1999, my favorites include:
The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston - 1992 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill - 1998 Never Too Much by Luther Vandross - 1981 Thriller by Michael Jackson - 1982 Control by Janet Jackson - 1986These albums define the essence of RB in both the 1980s and 1990s, blending raw emotion, catchy hooks, and groundbreaking production. They remain influential and enjoyable to this day.