The Best 1980s Soul Music Artists

In this blog post, we will be discussing the best 1980s soul music artists. This is a great topic for music lovers who enjoy soul music.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was one of the best soul music artists of the 1980s. He was known for his smooth, silky voice and passionate delivery. Gaye’s music was often sexually charged and dealt with social issues such as race and gender. He was a master of creating catchy hooks and melodies. Gaye’s 1982 album, “Sexual Healing,” is considered one of the greatest soul albums of all time.

“Sexual Healing”

Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” is a song about, well, sexual healing. The 1982 track was co-written by Gaye and Odell Brown, and produced by Gaye and Gordon Banks. It was released as the second single from Gaye’s final album, Midnight Love.

The song is sensual and slow, with a smooth groove that earned it a spot on the R&B charts as well as the pop charts. It became one of Gaye’s most iconic tracks, and is widely considered one of the best soul songs of all time.

“I Heard It Through the Grapevine”

“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The Record was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Released as a single in October 1967, The song became The Miracles’ first million-selling hit and is recognized as one of Motown’s signature tunes.

The song was ranked #138 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list and is inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. She was a pop, R&B, and soul singer, as well as an actress. Houston is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. She released seven studio albums and two soundtrack albums, all of which have been certified diamond, multi-platinum, platinum, or gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

“Saving All My Love for You”

“Saving All My Love for You” is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin with arrangement by Gene Page. It was originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978, one year before Whitney Houston recorded it. The song was released as the lead single from Houston’s self-titled debut album in 1985. The song received positive reviews from contemporary critics and was a commercial success, becoming Houston’s first number-one single as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. In 2006, “Saving All My Love for You” was ranked at number 278 on Pitchfork Media’s list of The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1980s.

“How Will I Know”

Whitney Houston’s debut single, “How Will I Know,” was a massive success, spending seven weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of the defining pop hits of the 1980s. The song helped launch Houston’s career into superstardom, and she would go on to become one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie was a famous soul singer in the 1980s. He was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on June 20, 1949. Lionel Richie rose to fame as a member of the soul group the Commodores. He sang lead vocals on the group’s hits “Easy,” “Three Times a Lady,” and “Nightshift.” Lionel Richie began a solo career in 1982. His debut album, Lionel Richie, included the hits “Truly” and “My Love.” He won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the album.

“Hello”

“Hello” is a song by Lionel Richie from his album Can’t Slow Down. It was released in 1984 and reached number one on three Billboard music charts: the pop chart (for two weeks), the R&B chart (for three weeks), and the adult contemporary chart (for six weeks). The song also went to number one in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. The song was written by Lionel Richie and produced by James Anthony Carmichael.

“All Night Long (All Night)”

“All Night Long (All Night)” is a song by American singer Lionel Richie from his second studio album, Can’t Slow Down (1983). It was written by Richie and produced by James Anthony Carmichael and Richie. The song was released as the album’s fourth single on October 31, 1983, by Motown Records. It is a Funk/Disco song which features Richie singing about how music can bring people together and make them dance all night long. The song was a commercial success, reaching number one in six countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway. In the US, it spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Richie’s second consecutive single to do so after “Truly”. It also peaked at number two on the Hot Black Singles chart and number three on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The song has been included in several compilation albums such as All Night Long: The Collection (2003), Hits of the 80s (2004), Now That’s What I Call Music! 16 (2004), Now That’s What I Call Old School 3 CD Set (2006) and Number 1s: Lionel Richie & Commodores (2007).

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is a legendary figure in the world of soul music. He has been active in the music industry since the 1960s, and his work has spanned multiple genres. Wonder is considered one of the best soul music artists of all time. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“I Just Called to Say I Love You”

Stevie Wonder is a legendary soul music artist who rose to fame in the 1960s and has continued to perform and release new music throughout his career. One of his most famous songs is “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” The song was released in 1984 and was a huge hit, staying at the top of the charts for weeks. The song is a classic example of Wonder’s soulful style and is still popular today.

“Part-Time Lover”

“Part-Time Lover” is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. It was released on September 19, 1985, as the lead single from his twentieth studio album, In Square Circle. The song was written by Wonder, Lee Garrett, and Lenny White. “Part-Time Lover” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Wonder’s ninth single to top the chart. It also became his first single to peak at number one in the United Kingdom and his sixth number-one on the soul singles chart.

The song is about a man who is torn between his current lover and his part-time lover. The part-time lover is only available when her husband is out of town and she cannot be with him all the time. The man must choose between the two women and he is not sure which one he wants to be with.

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is often referred to as The Queen of Soul or Lady Soul. She is a multi-Grammy Award winning musician who has released more than 40 studio albums. Franklin’s music has spanned a number of genres including R&B, pop, rock, blues, and gospel. Her hits include “Respect”, “A Natural Woman”, and “I Say a Little Prayer”.

“Respect”

“Respect” is a song written and originally released by Otis Redding in 1965. The song became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few changes in the lyrics, the stories told by the songs also differ.

Redding’s version is a plea from a desperate man, who will give his woman anything she wants to keep her from leaving him. He opens the song saying “All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)” and closes it with the repeated phrase “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.”

In Franklin’s version, she changed the pronoun from “you” to “me,” making it clear that she is not asking for respect, but demanding it. She also adds the first verse from Redding’s original song (“I’m about to give you all of my money / And all I’m askin’ in return, honey”), but turns it around so that instead of being about what her man can do for her, it becomes about what she has done for him (“See, I’m about to give you all of my money / And all I’m askin’ of you, honey, Is to give me my propers”). And while Redding asked for respect when he came home, Franklin demands respect “all day long.”

“I Say a Little Prayer”

Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer” is one of the defining songs of the 1980s. The song was originally released in 1967, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that it became a massive hit. The song was re-released in 1986 and reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Australia, and several other countries. “I Say a Little Prayer” is a classic example of soul music, and it helped to cement Aretha Franklin’s reputation as one of the greatest soul singers of all time.