1980 Soul Music Hits: The Best of the Best

We take a look at some of the greatest soul hits of the 1980s. FromAretha Franklin to Luther Vandross, these are the artists that defined the decade.

Introduction

The 1980s was a decade of great transition for Soul music. The genre began to splinter into new directions, with artists like Prince, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson helping to usher in a new era of Pop/Soul. At the same time, traditional Soul artists like Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin continued to produce classic hits.

This list aims to compile the best Soul songs of the 1980s, showcasing the diversity and power of this truly special genre. From chart-topping hits to lesser known gems, we think these are the 1980s Soul songs that deserve to be remembered.

What is Soul Music?

Soul music is a genre of African American popular music that led to the creation of rock and roll. It combines elements of rhythm and blues, gospel, and often funk. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is “music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky secular testifying.”

The term “soul” had been used among African-American musicians to emphasize the feeling of being an African-American in the United States. According to musicologist Barry Hansen, soul music reflected the African-American identity and it encompassed acts that celebrated African-American culture, lifestyle, and politics. Musicologist Steve Huey adds that soul music is “heavily influenced by radio DJ’s who were free to play whatever they wanted.”

During the 1970s, soul music became popular with mainstream audiences through artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder. It achieved commercial success with hits such as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, “My Girl”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, among others.

The Best of the Best

The 1980s was a decade of great soul music. Many of the greatest soul artists emerged during this time and released some of the genre’s best-loved hits. This article takes a look at some of the best soul music hits of the 1980s.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”.

As an artist, Gaye recorded more than 40 albums across genres including R&B, soul, pop, disco and jazz. His best-known works include the singles “Sexual Healing” and “Let’s Get It On”, which are considered among the greatest records ever made. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 6 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Gaye is one of the few artists who have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is a legendary figure in the world of soul music, and her hits from the 1980s are some of the best-loved songs in the genre. “Respect” is an anthem for both feminists and African Americans, while “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” is a heart-wrenching ballad that showcases Franklin’s incredible vocal range. ” Chain of Fools” is a fun, uptempo track that was one of Franklin’s biggest hits, while “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” is a classic soul tune that was covered by many other artists. These are just a few of the essential soul songs by Aretha Franklin that everyone should listen to.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is one of the most successful and acclaimed musicians of his generation. As a teenager, he scored several hit singles with Motown Records, including “Fingertips – Part 2”, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963. He went on to release a stream of successful albums and singles throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the Grammy-winning hits “Superstition” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You”. In Wonder’s career, which has spanned over five decades, he has won 25 Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Whitney Houston

It is no easy task to narrow down the best of the best when it comes to Whitney Houston’s output in the 1980s, but we have compiled a list of what we believe are her 10 best songs from the decade. From her debut album Whitney Houston to her fourth studio album Whitney, The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album, Houston produced some of the most iconic songs and albums of all time.

1. “Saving All My Love for You”
2. “How Will I Know”
3. “The Greatest Love of All”
4. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)”
5. “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”
6. “So Emotional”
7. “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”
8. “I’m Your Baby Tonight”
9. “All the Man That I Need”
10.”Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”

Conclusion

In conclusion, the greatest hits of 1980 soul music are a varied and exciting bunch, spanning multiple genres and styles. There truly is something for everyone on this list, and it is sure to get your toes tapping. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to party like it’s 1980!