When I was a teenager in the 1970s, I listened attentively and constantly to all of Stevie Wonder's records, anticipating always his next release. He is my favorite artist of all time and in my opinion musically entered, much like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, a preexisting, semi-formulaic genre in the 1960s and then created an entirely new one that is universally applauded and emulated. Moreover, his original, popular music helped to move significant numbers of people from my generation forward -- out of the contradictory, segregated mindset of the American past and into a much more inclusive way of life -- the one so many of us enjoy today. Stevie Wonder's songs, if we really hear them, cause us to reflect, to evaluate, to laugh, and to smile. Said another way, we realize that his music is so much more than just really enjoyable melodies with funky hooks -- it's about the realities of pain, frustration, and anger set against a spirit of joyful hope for how life could and should be lived. I think the above picture captures perfectly Stevie Wonder's optimism and charisma.
I love Funk, R&B, Soul, and that entire vibe, so in this area of MusicQuest I've assembled three lengthy playlists that span the decades of those genres: from Earth, Wind, & Fire to James Brown, from DeBarge to Lee Fields, and from Janet Jackson to Aretha Franklin. To me, these songs are an essential part of what makes life exciting and fun. You will also find below several legacy spotlights and playlists. Additionally, I had to decide where to place R&B Funk songs (such as BT's "Knowledge of Self") that arguably utilize a Techno Vibe more than a Soulful one. Many of those kinds of songs are in the Electronica area of MusicQuest, especially if they lean toward Industrial or Chillwave. Finally, and these are my only critical remarks on the entire website, I think the overall R&B genre -- the one reflected in the songs below -- has been the hardest hit in the 21st Century (with many notable exceptions), becoming too formulaic, too exhibitionist, and too limited in its message. I sincerely hope that in the future artists will demonstrate a willingness to incorporate more melodies and hooks in their songs, moving R&B out of its current stylistic straitjacket into something more dynamic, hopeful, eclectic, and heroic. I would love to hear new songs that share similarities with Donna Summer's "State of Independence," Toni Braxton's "Breathe Again," George Duke's "Life and Times," and Champaign's "How 'Bout Us." We all understand that life goes on and trends change, but it seems to me that R&B in our current era has a tendency to turn too far away from its acclaimed past. Prince, in the years leading up to his untimely death, once again hit new heights of R&B creativity and originality and did so, in my opinion, eclectically, maintaining a strong connection to this genre's powerful history while simultaneously moving it forward. Bruno Mars has also created R&B, Soulful music that, like Prince, honors the past in a fascinating, infectious, Retro-Innovative way. He's one of the best musical artists in the world at this time. Watch these two Silk Sonic videos to see what I mean: "Smokin' Out the Window" & "Leave the Door Open." Another bright light in 21st Century Neo Soul is Mamas Gun, profiled on page one.
Charles Calvin Best
MUSICQUEST • R&B SOUL FUNK MIX #1
Spotify Combined Playlist • 51 Songs • 3 Hrs 53 Min
Life & Times - George Duke
Pick Up the Pieces - Candy Dulfer
The Greatest - We Are King
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson
The Finest - The S.O.S. Band
Power of Love / Love Power - Luther Vandross
Get Down Tonight - KC & the Sunshine Band
Could It Be I'm Falling in Love - The Spinners
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
I'll Be Good to You - The Brothers Johnson
Dazz (Single Version) - Brick
Low (feat. T-Pain) - Flo Rida
Living in America - James Brown
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Jack & Jill - Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio
Don't Look Any Further - D. Edwards & S. Garrett
Summer Madness - Kool & The Gang
Rainforest (Original) - Paul Hardcastle
State of Independence - Donna Summer
Runaway - Janet Jackson
100% Pure Love - Crystal Waters
So Very Hard to Go - Tower of Power
Tired of Being Alone - Al Green
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
Turn Your Love Around - George Benson
Lolita - Young Gun Silver Fox
Murphy's Law - Al Jarreau
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby - B. White
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Diamonds & Pearls - Prince
Got to Get You into My Life - Earth, Wind, & Fire
Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C. & Aerosmith
Until You Come Back to Me - Aretha Franklin
I Love Your Smile - Shanice
Real Love - Macy Gray
Free - Denice Williams
Got to Be Real - Cheryl Lynn
Don't Stop Me Now - First Ladies of Disco
Play That Funky Music - Wild Chery
Make It Last Forever - Keith Sweat & Jacci McGhee
Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars
Love Come Down - Evelyn "Champagne" King
Sensitivity - Ralph Tresvant
Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue
Waterfalls - TLC
Dreaming in Metaphors - Seal
I Like the Way - Hi-Five
Groove Is in the Heart - Deee-Lite
Is It Good to You - Heavy D & The Boyz
Love Addict - Family Force Five
MUSICQUEST • R&B SOUL FUNK MIX #2
Spotify Combined Playlist • 51 Songs • 3 Hrs 42 Min
Never Be Another You - Lee Fields & The Expressions
High Enough - The Gray Havens & Propaganda
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye
The "L" Word - Earth, Wind, & Fire
This Love - Maroon 5
Joy Rides - Mamas Gun
Can't Get You out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
Seven Days on Sunny June - Jamiroquai
Don't Cha - The Pussycat Dolls & Busta Rhymes
Good Times - CHIC
Like a Ship - Pastor T.L. Barrett
He's Misstra Know-It-All - Stevie Wonder
Turned Away - Chuckii Booker
Party Time - Faze-O
Give It To Me Baby - Rick James
Love Never Felt So Good - M. Jackson & J. Timberlake
Jemima Surrender - Howard Tate
Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield
Breath Again - Toni Braxton
7 - Prince
Crazy - Seal
Why Don't You, Why Don't I - Eric Gadd
Don't Let Go - Issac Hayes
Shake You Body - Michael Jackson & The Jacksons
Strawberry Letter 23 - The Brothers Johnson
You Gotta Be - Des'ree
Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
A Night to Remember - Shalamar
Wild Ones (feat. Sia) - Flo Rida
I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
Where My Girls At - 702
Pit Bulls - George Duke & Stanley Clarke
She's a Bad Mama Jama - Carl Carlton
Let It Whip - Dazz Band
Super Freak - Rick James
There Goes My Baby - Usher
Outstanding - Gap Band
Mr. Groove - One Way
Cheese - The Floozies
If I Had No Loot - Tony! Toni! Tone!
Don't Walk Away - Jade
New in Town - Little Boots
24K Magic - Bruno Mars
Mama Used to Say - Junior
Funky Town - Lipps Inc.
Disco Inferno - The Trammps
Machine Gun - Commodores
Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
Flashlight - Parliament
More Bounce to the Ounce - Zapp
MUSICQUEST • R&B SOUL FUNK MIX #3
Spotify Combined Playlist • 51 Songs • 3 Hrs 52 Min
Don't Disturb This Groove - The System
Can't Stop - After 7, L.A. Reid, Jon Gass
Saturday Love - Cherrelle & A. O'neal
Talk to Me - Chico DeBarge
Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) - D. Summer
Back to Life - Soul II Soul
I Feel for You - Chaka Khan
Go Home - Stevie Wonder
Raspberry Beret - Prince
Cheap Motel - Mamas Gun
Love Is the Greatest Story - Earth, Wind, & Fire
How 'Bout Us - Champaign
Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Janet Jackson
Return of the Mack - Mark Morrison
Nite and Day - Al B. Sure!
Love Is Stronger Than Pride - Sade
Perfect Way - Scritti Politti
Let's Hear It for the Boy - Deniece Williams
Words Get in the Way - Gloria Estefan
Who's Johnny - El DeBarge
The Second Time Around - Shalamar
Freeway of Love - Aretha Franklin
Dancing in the Street - Martha Reeves & Vandellas
Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1 - Marvin Gaye
Solid - Ashford & Simpson
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
Bust a Move - Young MC
Roni - Bobby Brown
Home-Made Jam - Bobbi Humphrey
DARE - Gorillaz
Oh Yeah - Yello
Rock Steady - The Whispers
Pump Up the Volume (USA 12" Mix) - M/A/R/R/S
Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue
Here We Go Again - Portrait
The Groove Line - Heatwave
Tunnels in the Air - Louis Cole & Thundercat
Sugar - Maroon 5
Oh, Please - We Are King
Tell Me Something Good - Rufus & Chaka Khan
Oh Honey - Delegation
Funky Cold Medina - Tone-Loc
Shake you Down - Gregory Abbott
Sweet Love - Anita Baker
It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over - Lenny Kravitz
Celebration - Kool & The Gang
Stop to Love - Luther Vandross
This Is for the Love in You - Shalamar
Who's Holding Donna Now - DeBarge
All Nigh Long (All Night) - Lionel Riche
Can We Talk - Tevin Campbell
Eddie Kendricks is most famous for co-founding The Temptations and for being one of their lead singers from 1960-1971. As a solo artist, he also produced a significant body of smooth, Old School Soul that I think you might really enjoy.
Janet Jackson is, of course, from one of the most famous musical families in the United States. Still, she is her own artistic force, having created some very cool music that millions of us love. Please find below a Spotify playlist with several remixes that you'll probably really dig.
Donna Summer, ephemeral disco diva or serious, legacy singer? I think she is definitely the latter; she has produced my all-time favorite R&B song: "State of Independence." I really value her work, and if you have not gone through it, then please enjoy the below playlist.
EARTH, WIND, & FIRE
Earth, Wind, and Fire, in my opinion, is the best Soul/R&B band of all time, having produced a huge discography with a ton of beautiful, powerful, perennial hits. I absolutely love this band's music and think that Maurice White, second from the left in the picture, is a musical mastermind. If you have not lost yourself in a good while in Earth, Wind, and Fire's musical magic,
then go through the extensive playlist
just below. Happiness awaits you!
Please enjoy the below video
clips, links, and the playlist.
Wikipedia ◦ Website ◦ YouTube Channel
MusicQuest EWF Spotify Playlist
.
George Benson is, indeed, a legend who has been creating beautiful music for decades that moves in and through jazz, pop, and soul. I love this man's work and highly encourage you to go through the below playlist. His unique, musical prowess will fully engage you.
Al Jarreau had already been musically successful before he hit the commercial big time in 1982 with his album that bears his last name as the title. If you have not listened to his infectious, carefully crafted R&B, please pay him an overdue visit via the below playlist.
Stevie Wonder is a powerhouse of originality at or beyond the level of the Beatles. In making the below playlist, I selected over seven hours of beautiful songs. Who else has generated that much incredible music? He could quite possibly be the most important musical artist of the 20th Century!
Prince hit the 1980s like a musical hurricane. He departed this life much too soon, leaving a powerful musical legacy. I think Prince redefined R&B, Soul, and Rock-Funk, creating his own unique sound that is original, intense, and musically demanding and deeply satisfying.
Diana Ross was a superstar with the Supremes long before she embarked on her legacy solo career. The below playlist contains several of her hits, of course, but I think you will also enjoy the remixes. Diana Ross represents a bygone era of classiness and entertainment professionalism!
What can be said about Michael Jackson that has not already been expressed? He, like Stevie Wonder, Prince, The Beatles, and Earth Wind, & Fire, is simply a major part of the American and International, musical landscape and is arguably the greatest entertainer of the 20th Century!
