A POLL Bizarre ~~~ It's the ILM 80's R&B TRACKS POLL ~~~ RESULTS THREAD!!!

Didn't She's Strange place already? That was my Cameo vote, as I decided to cut all big name artists in my ballot to one tune per act.

No, that was "Single Life", long ago at #245.

Ah, well I guess there's hope still. :)

Grace is magnificent. I think Nightclubbing carries my favourite production of anything ever.

https://img.discogs.com/R_xwy3W6ZSf0YanN9KNxflKA888=/fit-in/550x550/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-80266-1155893673.jpeg.jpg
44. Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent
597 points, 9 votes
https://youtu.be/kAdtfkoRJ2s

most of my top twenty placing rn

"candy" is perfect, "escapade" was my no. 2

https://img.discogs.com/TgkIeNsQF2zmJphzHat8DuUNdJk=/fit-in/600x599/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-3665786-1339496031-6618.jpeg.jpg
43. Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
602 points, 13 votes

Oof

PLEEE-HEE-HEE-HEEEEEZE

Loooooooove this song so much.

FAR TOO LOW and still Prince's most underrated single

^^^^^^^ this

That's a good point worth discussing. I'd say "Pop Life" is the least known and played of his top tens while "...Girlfriend" did shit on the pop chart but is loved by anyone who owns SOOT.

"Pop Life" pops up in unexpected spots.

https://img.discogs.com/lN7lI-MrI-upol1dvGnHAQmB0W4=/fit-in/600x598/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-212242-1297962456.jpeg.jpg
42. Evelyn King - I'm in Love
609 points, 10 votes
https://youtu.be/SAaZl5pCcAQ

yay!

!!! Yet another late cut from my ballot (one of the more painful). Truly shocked to see it place so high but because I thought it was somewhat obscure rather than because it's anything less than excellent.

Actually, I think this may have been an accidental exclusion from my ballot. I don't really have an excuse otherwise.

u monster

I voted for "Get Loose", but happy to see "I'm in Love" here. The King singles Kashif produced are all superb.

https://img.discogs.com/eMQyjr_to78qGTa8Hb1vRw1G1KI=/fit-in/600x606/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-1179956-1483181805-1084.jpeg.jpg
41. Human League - Human
616 points, 9 votes
https://youtu.be/s1ysoohV_zA

What a song!

unambiguously deserves to be here

I'm not a big fan of Crash but this and Love Is All That Matters are brilliant singles.

the 12" mix of "Love..." is one of Jam and Lewis' greatest recordings.

One of the few times when a singer's vocal failings help the song.

re "Human."

so many of my votes are placing in this stretch lol. i would agree that more than any other "if i was your girlfriend" is too low.

"human" is gorgeous, i could listen to it forever

he's only human

xp

I like this song okay but I could never get into this era of Human League, but maybe I have to come at it with fresh ears (i.e. pretend that I'm listening to a band other than the one that recorded 'Being Boiled' and '(Keep Feeling) Fascination').

I'm wondering how many Chaka Khan songs are likely to still show up (beyond the most obvious).

https://img.discogs.com/oFzr_4hycWF1oetyRQPC7Rh-2Ug=/fit-in/500x500/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-80953-1367938540-5161.jpeg.jpg
40. Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
617 points, 12 votes
https://youtu.be/UJ1tBVtYOBc

I could've waited. But I guess #40 is pretty respectable in the context of an entire decade.

One of the few times when a singer's vocal failings help the song.

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 May 2017 17:08 (eleven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OTM

Another 2 Gwen Guthrie in the top 40 or gtfo

Hang on Seventh Heaven already placed, I'll take just the one then

"Human" has been one of my favourite songs ever since I was 8. It is a testament to the brilliance of this era and genre that #13 was the highest I could rank it.

"I Can't Wait" is TOO LOW

It is a testament to the brilliance of this era and genre that #13 was the highest I could rank it.

*checks ballot for what my #13 song was*

Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven

The math checks out.

Ohhhhhh, phew, my ctrl+f skills are broken for some reason. I totally voted for 'I'm In Love'.

There are enough songs on my ballot that have yet to show up and that I figured for shoo-ins that I'm starting to think there's liable to be some serious upsets for top-tier classics that somehow failed to make it into the top 300 (Prince being the most likely victim of the upsettery).

https://img.discogs.com/4KmbNhMoC2dQNb59aBg_-EFNomo=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-2598051-1330882134.jpeg.jpg
39. Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
621 points, 14 votes
https://youtu.be/XeJLZi0uyJw

Ooh

Wow, the idea that there are 38 songs better than 'The Glamorous Life'. What a world.

That was meant to convey a tone of genuine wonder. Such an amazing decade.

"I Feel For You" and "The Glamorous Life" and "The Bird" may all end up placing higher than any Prince-fronted Prince songs! o_0

https://img.discogs.com/Rg5Ug7KzOOIAkRbtW4HIDD4ONdc=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-555809-1472059242-7725.jpeg.jpg
38. Mtume - Juicy Fruit
623 points, 12 votes
https://youtu.be/vnUUgMVd9J0

ah yes a classic

i was also hoping to vote for "you, me & he" but i ended up having to cut it :(

These results are SOOOooo much more representative of my R&B DNA than the '70s poll results.

Love this version of 'The Glamorous Life': glowing drumsticks, syncopated moves, febrile crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efkS7NUFPDI