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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z OtherTop 1000

Top R&B Songs of the 1980s

1970s <-1980-> 1990s
    

Video playlist


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1.
04/1982
442

✫1
US
✫1
AC




8
R&B
34
rock


✫1
UK
[Columbia 02860]
written by Paul McCartney
2.
02/1981
432

2
US
4
AC




✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
[Tamla 54321]
written by Smokey Robinson
3.
07/1980
430

✫1
US
18
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




2
UK
produced by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers; charted as Upside Down / I'm Coming Out in US dance charts
[Motown 1494]
written by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards
4.
03/1985
429

✫1
US
✫1
AC
76
country


✫1
R&B
27
rock


✫1
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1986]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1986]
benefit recording by all-star group
[Columbia 04839]
written by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie
5.
05/1987
424

✫1
US
✫1
AC


✫1
dance
2
R&B




✫1
UK
produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9598]
written by George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam
6.
06/1985
423

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
[Arista 9381]
written by Gerry Goffin & Michael Masser
7.
03/1980
419

✫1
US




✫1
dance
2
R&B




2
UK
charted as Funkytown / All Night Dancing in US dance charts
[Casablanca 2233]
written by Steven Greenberg
8.
03/1989
419

✫1
US
3
AC


✫1
dance
20
R&B




✫1
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #300]
[Sire 27539]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard
9.
02/1986
417

✫1
US




4
dance
6
R&B




✫1
UK
charted as Rock Me Amadeus / Vienna Calling in US dance charts
[A&M 2821]
written by Rob Bolland, Ferdi Bolland & Falco
10.
03/1986
409

✫1
US
2
AC




✫1
R&B




2
UK
[MCA 52770]
written by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager
11.
05/1982
408

✫1
US
28
AC


14
dance
26
R&B
4
rock


2
UK
[Capitol 5126]
written by Steve Miller
12.
03/1983
407

✫1
US




✫1
dance
14
R&B
8
rock


✫1
UK
featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar
co-produced by Nile Rodgers
[EMI America 8158]
written by David Bowie
13.
10/1983
406

✫1
US
3
AC


2
dance
2
R&B
24
rock


2
UK
as Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
[Epic 04169]
written by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
14.
08/1984
406

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1984]
[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1984]
[Motown 1745]
written by Stevie Wonder
15.
11/1985
406

✫1
US
26
AC


✫1
dance
36
R&B
37
rock


✫1
UK
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1987]
[R]
[EMI America 8307]
written by Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe
16.
02/1984
405

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
[Motown 1722]
written by Lionel Richie
17.
09/1983
404

✫1
US
✫1
AC


5
dance
✫1
R&B




2
UK
[Motown 1698]
written by Lionel Richie
18.
04/1983
404

✫1
US
4
AC


✫1
dance
2
R&B




2
UK
[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1983]
[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song 1983]
[Casablanca 811440]
written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey & Irene Cara
19.
06/1989

Batdance by Prince

from Batman   
403

✫1
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B


18
alt.
2
UK
[Warner 22924]
written by Prince
20.
07/1988
402

✫1
US
7
AC




11
R&B




2
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1989]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1989]
[EMI/Manhattan 50146]
written by Bobby McFerrin
21.
02/1988
401

✫1
US
5
AC


25
dance
✫1
R&B




3
UK
[Jive 9678]
written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Billy Ocean
22.
08/1987
401

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
with Siedah Garrett
[Epic 07253]
written by Michael Jackson
23.
01/1983
399

✫1
US
9
AC




✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #58]

[Epic 03509]
written by Michael Jackson
24.
01/1987
399

✫1
US
2
AC


12
dance
5
R&B




✫1
UK
produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9559]
written by Simon Climie & Dennis Morgan
25.
09/1985
399

✫1
US
✫1
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




3
UK
[Tamla 1808]
written by Stevie Wonder
26.
12/1984
399

✫1
US
3
AC




85
R&B
✫1
rock


✫1
UK
featuring New Jersey Mass Choir & Jennifer Holliday
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #476]
[Atlantic 89596]
written by Mick Jones [Foreigner] & Lou Gramm (uncredited)
27.
12/1988
398

✫1
US
39
AC


3
dance
2
R&B




3
UK
[Virgin 99256]
written by Elliot Wolff
28.
04/1984
398

✫1
US
3
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




2
UK
[Columbia 04417]
written by Tom Snow & Dean Pitchford
29.
09/1982
394

2
US
8
AC


34
dance
39
R&B
21
rock


✫1
UK
charted as I'm Afraid of Me / Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? in US dance charts
[Epic/Virgin 03368]
written by Boy George, Mikey Craig (as Michael Craig), Roy Hay & Jon Moss
30.
08/1984
392

✫1
US
✫1
AC




8
R&B




✫1
UK
[Columbia 04691]
written by George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley
31.
11/1985
386

2
US
2
AC


31
dance
6
R&B




✫1
UK
[Jive 9432]
written by Wayne Brathwaite (as Wayne Anton Braithwaite), Barry Eastmond (as Barry James Eastmond), Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Billy Ocean
32.
11/1984
384

2
US
15
AC


7
dance
3
R&B
5
rock


✫1
UK
with Phil Collins
[Columbia 04679]
written by Philip Bailey, Phil Collins & Nathan East
33.
06/1984
383

✫1
US
9
AC


6
dance
✫1
R&B
38
rock


2
UK
[Arista 9212]
written by Ray Parker Jr
34.
09/1983
383

✫1
US
3
AC




67
R&B




✫1
UK
[BRIT Awards Best British Single 1984]
[Virgin/Epic 04221]
written by Boy George, Jon Moss, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay & Phil Pickett
35.
10/1989
382

3
US
7
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
[Arista 9928]
written by Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney & Andy Morris
36.
04/1986
379

✫1
US




✫1
dance
61
R&B
✫1
rock


4
UK
[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year 1987]
[Geffen 28718]
written by Peter Gabriel
37.
11/1981
376

✫1
US
12
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B
28
rock


8
UK
[RCA 12357]
written by Daryl Hall, John Oates & Sara Allen
38.
07/1981
374

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




7
UK
[Motown 1519]
written by Lionel Richie
39.
04/1989
373

✫1
US
✫1
AC




38
R&B




2
UK
[Elektra 69297]
written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff
40.
12/1985
372

✫1
US
✫1
AC


3
dance
✫1
R&B




5
UK
41.
12/1989
371

✫1
US
45
AC


24
dance
3
R&B




2
UK
with The Wild Pair
rap by Derrick Delite from the Soul Purpose
[Virgin 99158]
written by Oliver Leiber
42.
01/1981
371

✫1
US




✫1
dance
33
R&B
35
rock


5
UK
charted as Rapture / The Tide Is High in US dance charts
[Chrysalis 2485]
written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein
43.
07/1987
370

✫1
US
5
AC


44
dance
78
R&B




✫1
UK
[Sire 28341]
written by Madonna & Patrick Leonard
44.
12/1984
369

✫1
US
4
AC


7
dance
12
R&B




2
UK
double A-side with Last Christmas in the UK ; charted as Everything She Wants / Like a Baby in US dance charts
[Columbia 04840]
written by George Michael
45.
03/1985
368

✫1
US
2
AC




80
R&B




2
UK
[Geffen 29051]
written by John Bettis & Jon Lind
46.
11/1987
364

✫1
US
9
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




3
UK
[Epic 07645]
written by Michael Jackson
47.
04/1986
363

✫1
US






29
R&B




2
UK
[R]
[Elektra 69564]
written by Mick Hucknall & Neil Moss
48.
06/1989
363

4
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
featuring Caron Wheeler
[Virgin 99171]
written by Jazzie B, Caron Wheeler, Nellee Hooper & Simon Law
49.
07/1988
362

2
US




3
dance
3
R&B




3
UK
[Arista 9781]
written by Bill Pettaway Jr., DJ Spen (as Sean Spencer), Kevin Lyles, Rodney Hollaman & Ky Adeyemo
50.
10/1982
362

✫1
US
✫1
AC




2
R&B




6
UK
[Motown 1644]
written by Lionel Richie
51.
11/1988
361

3
US




20
dance
28
R&B




✫1
UK
[Columbia 08092]
written by Maurice Starr
52.
09/1988
361

5
US
✫1
AC




22
R&B




✫1
UK
used by NBC-TV for the 1988 Summer Olympics; produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9743]
written by Albert Hammond & John Bettis
53.
08/1988
360

✫1
US




7
dance
✫1
R&B




6
UK
[MCA 53383]
written by Bobby Brown, Gene Griffin & Teddy Riley
54.
11/1983
360

2
US
2
AC




✫1
R&B




2
UK
Joanna / Tonight was released as a double a-side in the UK
[De-Lite 829]
written by Charles Smith, James "J.T." Taylor & Kool & The Gang
55.
02/1986
359

3
US
38
AC


✫1
dance
2
R&B




2
UK
[Atlantic 89446]
written by John Smith
56.
10/1980
358

✫1
US
34
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




7
UK
charted as Celebration / Take It to the Top in US dance charts
[De-Lite 807]
written by Donna Johnson, Claydes Charles Smith, Earl Toon, James "J.T." Taylor, Ronald Bell (as Ronald Nathan Bell), George Brown (as George Melvin Brown), Dennis Ronald Thomas, Eumir Deodato, Robert Mickens, Robert Bell & Kool & The Gang
57.
02/1985
357

✫1
US
✫1
AC




80
R&B
4
rock


4
UK
[Atlantic 89588]
written by Phil Collins
58.
09/1987

Bad by Michael Jackson

from Bad   
357

✫1
US
33
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




3
UK
[Epic 07418]
written by Michael Jackson
59.
02/1986

Kiss by Prince

from Parade   
356

✫1
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




6
UK
with The Revolution
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #461]
[Paisley Park 28751]
written by Prince
60.
04/1988
356

✫1
US






5
R&B




4
UK
[Epic 07739]
written by Michael Jackson
61.
09/1984
356

3
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




✫1
UK
featuring Stevie Wonder & Grandmaster Melle Mel
[Warner 29195]
written by Prince
62.
08/1989
356

✫1
US
21
AC




20
R&B




2
UK
63.
03/1987
355

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




3
UK
[Warner 28455]
written by Jonathan Lewis, David Lewis & Wayne Lewis
64.
02/1987
355

✫1
US
31
AC


✫1
dance
2
R&B




3
UK
[King Jay 28430]
written by Bill Withers
65.
09/1989
355

2
US




✫1
dance
10
R&B




2
UK
featuring Felly
[SBK 07311]
written by Ya Kid K (as Manuela Kamosi) & Jo Bogaert (as Thomas de Quincey)
66.
04/1988
355

✫1
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




8
UK
[R]
[Columbia 07773]
written by George Michael
67.
03/1985
354

3
US
✫1
AC


✫1
dance
13
R&B




2
UK
chated as New Attitude / Axel F in US dance charts [instrumental]
[MCA 52536]
written by Harold Faltermeyer
68.
06/1984
353

✫1
US




✫1
dance
✫1
R&B
31
rock


4
UK
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #52]
charted as When Doves Cry / 17 Days in US dance charts
[Warner 29286]
written by Prince
69.
08/1986
353

✫1
US
2
AC




✫1
R&B




6
UK
[Columbia 06191]
written by Gregory Abbott
70.
10/1987
352

✫1
US




7
dance
73
R&B
12
rock


2
UK
charted as Need You Tonight / Mediate in US dance charts
[Atlantic 89188]
written by Andrew Farriss & Michael Hutchence
71.
01/1988
351

4
US
13
AC


23
dance
2
R&B




2
UK
[R]
[Columbia 07911]
written by Terence Trent D'Arby
72.
10/1981
350

3
US




3
dance
✫1
R&B




3
UK
charted as Let's Groove/I've Had Enough in US dance charts
[Columbia 02536]
written by Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White
73.
08/1986
349

✫1
US
3
AC


✫1
dance
3
R&B




8
UK
[A&M/Virgin 2861]
written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
74.
12/1983
349

✫1
US
✫1
AC




78
R&B
10
rock


3
UK
[Portrait 04432]
written by Rob Hyman & Cyndi Lauper
75.
10/1986
349

2
US
37
AC


✫1
dance
7
R&B




3
UK
[EMI 50047]
written by Robbie Nevil, Duncan Pain & Mark Holding
76.
05/1984
348

✫1
US
8
AC


21
dance
2
R&B
51
rock


3
UK
[Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1985]
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1985]
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #309]
[Capitol 5354]
written by Terry Britten & Graham Lyle
77.
08/1980
348

✫1
US




2
dance
2
R&B




7
UK
[Elektra 47031]
written by John Deacon
78.
02/1983
347

✫1
US






✫1
R&B
14
rock


3
UK
featuring Eddie Van Halen
[Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1984]
[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #337]

[Epic 03759]
written by Michael Jackson
79.
11/1984
346

✫1
US
29
AC


✫1
dance
9
R&B




3
UK
[Sire 29210]
written by Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly
80.
12/1983
345

2
US




✫1
dance
80
R&B
16
rock


2
UK
[Portrait 04120]
written by Robert Hazard
81.
01/1989
344

✫1
US




✫1
dance
54
R&B


5
alt.
5
UK
[MCA 53483]
written by Roland Gift, David Steele & Andy Cox
82.
01/1983
343

2
US




6
dance
18
R&B
12
rock


2
UK
[Portrait 03793]
written by Eddy Grant
83.
06/1984
341

✫1
US
7
AC


✫1
dance
✫1
R&B




6
UK
[Jive 9199]
written by Billy Ocean & Keith Diamond
84.
07/1985
341

2
US
3
AC


23
dance
3
R&B
29
rock


3
UK
[Capitol 5491]
written by Terry Britten & Graham Lyle
85.
12/1984
340

✫1
US




✫1
dance
56
R&B
6
rock


4
UK
86.
05/1985
339

2
US
✫1
AC




✫1
R&B




4
UK
[De-Lite 880869]
written by Robert Bell (as Robert "Kool" Bell), Kool & The Gang & James "J.T." Taylor
87.
10/1987
339

✫1
US
8
AC


✫1
dance
5
R&B




5
UK
produced by Narada Michael Walden
[Arista 9642]
written by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg
88.
10/1982
338

✫1
US
14
AC


18
dance
78
R&B
18
rock


6
UK
[RCA 13354]
written by Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates
89.
06/1987
338

✫1
US
44
AC


7
dance
✫1
R&B




4
UK
[Columbia 07675]
written by Terence Trent D'Arby & Sean Oliver
90.
11/1982
336

2
US
6
AC


46
dance
34
R&B




3
UK
[Epic/Virgin 03796]
written by Boy George, Mikey Craig (as Michael Craig), Roy Hay & Jon Moss
91.
04/1983

True by Spandau Ballet

from True   
334

4
US
✫1
AC




76
R&B
34
rock


✫1
UK
[Chrysalis 42720]
written by Gary Kemp
92.
11/1985
333

3
US
13
AC


42
dance
55
R&B




✫1
UK
[Columbia 05721]
written by George Michael
93.
10/1981
332

✫1
US
29
AC


22
dance
28
R&B




7
UK
[MCA 51182]
written by Steve Kipner & Terry Shaddick
94.
02/1985
332

3
US
✫1
AC


3
dance
✫1
R&B




4
UK
[Gordy 1770]
written by Diane Warren
95.
03/1986
331

✫1
US
✫1
AC




3
R&B




8
UK
[Arista 9466]
written by Linda Creed & Michael Masser
96.
09/1980
330

5
US




10
dance
✫1
R&B




2
UK
[Tamla 54317]
written by Stevie Wonder
97.
09/1985
329

✫1
US
16
AC


23
dance
10
R&B
29
rock


5
UK
[instrumental]
[MCA 52666]
written by Jan Hammer
98.
04/1989
329

✫1
US
3
AC




12
R&B




5
UK
[Columbia 68671]
written by Maurice Starr
99.
12/1988
327

3
US




✫1
dance
30
R&B




3
UK
[Virgin 99231]
written by Jamie J. Morgan, Cameron McVey (as Booga Bear), Neneh Cherry & Phil Ramacon (as Phillip Ramacon)
100.
01/1988
327

✫1
US
3
AC


13
dance
6
R&B




11
UK
[Columbia 07682]
written by George Michael

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