Post your ILM '80s R&B POLL ballots here!

Ranked

01. Prince - The Beautiful Ones
02. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
03. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
04. Pebbles - Mercedes Boy
05. Juicy - Sugar Free
06. Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
07. D-Train - Keep On
08. Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
09. Alicia Myers - I Want to Thank You
10. Bobby Brown - On Our Own
11. Tom Browne - Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)
12. Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
13. Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
14. Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz
15. Unlimited Touch - I Hear Music in the Streets
16. Prince - Baby I'm a Star
17. Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
18. Prince - Adore
19. Jeanette "Lady" Day - Come Let Me Love You
20. Joe Smooth - Promised Land
21. Frankie Knuckles - Your Love
22. Was (Not Was) - Wheel Me Out
23. Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
24. Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word
25. Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It
26. Seduction - Two to Make It Right
27. Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
28. Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
29. Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake the Feeling
30. Chanelle - One Man
31. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
32. Janet Jackson - Alright
33. Zapp - I Can Make You Dance
34. Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love
35. Imagination - Burnin' Up
36. Prince - Pop Life
37. Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
38. Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
39. Odyssey - Inside Out
40. Cherrelle - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On
41. Donna Summer - State of Independence
42. Chaka Khan - Clouds
43. France Joli - Gonna Get Over You
44. Jacksons - Can You Feel It
45. Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation
46. Sparque - Let's Go Dancin'
47. Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm
48. Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby
49. Al Jarreau - Mornin'
50. Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat

Unranked

Anita Baker - Giving You the Best That I Got
Barbara Mason - Another Man
Bobby Brown - Every Little Step
Change - Paradise
Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
D-Train - You're the One for Me
David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me)
Dayton - The Sound of Music
Donna Summer - Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Fall in Love With Me
Earth, Wind & Fire - Lady Sun
Ednah Holt - Serious, Sirius Space Party
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
Freeez - I.O.U.
Freeez - Southern Freeez
Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
Gary's Gang - Knock Me Out
George Benson - Give Me the Night
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets
Jane Child - Don't Want to Fall in Love
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
Jets - Crush on You
Julia and Company - Breakin' Down (Sugar Samba)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man
Maze - Before I Let Go
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Michel'le - No More Lies
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
Prince - Do Me, Baby
Prince - Erotic City
Prince - How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
Prince - Private Joy
Prince - Sexuality
Prince - She's Always in My Hair
Rainbow Brown - Till You Surrender
René & Angela - I'll Be Good
Stevie B. - In My Eyes
Stevie Wonder - Lately
Surface - Falling in Love
Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk
Sylvester - I Need You
Sylvia Striplin - You Can't Turn Me Away
Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl

Obviously, you are all fools for sleeping on "Sugar Free."

Ranked, with a unfortunate duplicate (hence 99)

1. Prince - Erotic City
2. Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
3. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
4. Midnight Star - Operator
5. Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
6. Brothers Johnson - Stomp
7. Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
8. D-Train - You're the One for Me
9. Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
10. Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked
11. Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
12. Prince - Girls & Boys
13. Egyptian Lover - Egypt Egypt
14. Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
15. Trouble Funk - Drop the Bomb
16. Con Funk Shun - Too Tight
17. System - You Are in My System
18. Dazz Band - Let It Whip
19. Rick James - Cold Blooded
20. Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
21. Jody Watley - Still a Thrill
22. Friction - Bar-B-Q
23. Westwood Cash - Psycho for Your Love
24. Tom Browne - Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)
25. Change - Change of heart
26. Time - Jungle Love
27. E.U. - Da Butt
28. One Way - Cutie Pie
29. Prince - Let's Work
30. Ronnie Hudson and the Street People - West Coast Poplock
31. Cameo - Word Up
32. Bar-Kays - Freakshow on the Dance Floor
33. Patrice Rushen - Get Off (You Fascinate Me)
34. Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)
35. René & Angela - I'll Be Good
36. Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
37. Tara - Fresh Flesh
38. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
39. Bar-Kays - Do It (Let Me See You Shake)
40. Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
41. Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine
42. Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
43. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
44. Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl
45. Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me
46. Zapp - Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)
47. Prince – Head
48. Rick James - Super Freak
49. Vin Zee - Funky Bee-Bop
50. Whispers - Keep On Lovin' Me
51. Imagination - Music and Lights
52. Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
53. Klymaxx - The Men All Pause
54. Mary Jane Girls - In My House
55. Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid
56. S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
57. Juicy - Sugar Free
58. Herbie Hancock - Magic Number
59. Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
60. Egyptian Lover - Freak-a-Holic
61. Cherrelle - Fragile... Handle With Care
62. Whispers - It's a Love Thing
63. Sheila E. - A Love Bizarre
64. Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
65. Cameo - Candy
66. Prince - Irresistible Bitch
67. Mtume - Juicy Fruit
68. Circle City Band - Party Lights (Shake Your Body Get Loose)
69. Roger - So Ruff So Tuff
70. S.O.S. Band - Just the Way You Like It
71. Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
72. D-Train - Keep On
73. Stone City Band - Freaky
74. Shalamar - There It Is
75. Caprice - 100%
76. Zapp - It Doesn't Really Matter
77. Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
78. Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band - Starlette
79. Slave - Watching You
80. Surface - Falling in Love
81. Unlimited Touch - I Hear Music in the Streets
82. Donna Summer - Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)
83. Cheryl Lynn - Encore
84. Cherrelle - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On
85. Shalamar - A Night to Remember
86. Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat
87. George Clinton - Atomic Dog
88. Jermaine Jackson - Let Me Tickle Your Fancy
89. One Way - Give Me One More Chance
90. Time – Cool
91. Sharon Redd - Never Give You Up
92. Taana Gardner – Heartbeat
93. Prince - Anotherloverholenyohead
94. Pointer Sisters – Automatic
95. Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
96. Jesse Johnson's Revue - Be Your Man
97. Andre Cymone - The Dance Electric
98. Chic - You Are Beautiful
99. Chemise - She Can't Love You

Top 25 in order

Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Newcleus - Jam on It
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
Prince - Controversy
Stevie Wonder - Rocket Love
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Prince - Kiss
Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
Cameo - Word Up
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Midnight Star - Freak-a-Zoid
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
Madonna - Borderline
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Sade - Smooth Operator
George Benson - Give Me the Night

Next 50 at equal weight

Atlantic Starr - Secret Lovers
Ashford & Simpson - Solid
Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked
D-Mob - C'mon & Get My Love
DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
Commodores - Nightshift
Culture Club - Time
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper
Grover Washington Jr. - Just the Two of Us
Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder if I Take You Home
M/A/R/R/S - Pump Up the Volume
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Madonna - Lucky Star
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Midnight Star - No Parking on the Dance Floor
Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain
Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Prince - Delirious
Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
Prince - Let's Go Crazy
Prince - Erotic City
Prince - Raspberry Beret
Prince - When Doves Cry
Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
Rick James - Super Freak
Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
Sade - Your Love Is King
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Trouble Funk - Drop the Bomb
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (Jammin')
Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It
Herbie Hancock - Rockit
Kool & the Gang - Get Down on It
George Michael - Careless Whisper
Bar-Kays - Freakshow on the Dance Floor
Brothers Johnson - Stomp
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

Weighted, bolder did not place :(

George Benson - Give Me the Night
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
Willie Colon - Set Fire to Me
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
Gwen Guthrie - Peanut Butter
Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
Babyface - It's No Crime
Imagination - So Good So Right
Imagination - Changes
Imagination - Music and Lights
Phyllis Nelson - I Like You
Amii Stewart - Friends
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
Alexander O'Neal - Criticize
Odyssey - Inside Out
Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm
Thelma Houston - You Used to Hold Me
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Shannon - Give Me Tonight
Prince - Mountains
Prince - U Got the Look
Prince - 17 days
Prince - Controversy
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Lionel Ritchie - Running with the Night
Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt
Change - Glow of Love
Commodores - Nightshift
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Human League - Human
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
Anita Baker - Sweet Love
Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Class Action - Weekend
S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida
Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
Vanity - Romantic Voyage
Princess - Say I'm Your Number One
Raw Silk - Do It to the Music
Stephanie Mills - The Medicine Song
Soul II Soul - Keep on Movin'
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Sade - Paradise
Brothers Johnson - Stomp
David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me)
Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz
Janet Jackson - Escapade
Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
Janet Jackson - Alright
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Donna Allen - Serious
Aleem - Get Loose
Brenda Russell feat. Joe Esposito - Piano in the Dark
René & Angela - I Love You More
René & Angela - I'll Be Good
Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Lola - Wax the Van
Colonel Abrams - Trapped
Kool & the Gang - Get Down on It
Alexander O'Neal - Fake
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
D-Train - Keep On
Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word
George Michael - Father Figure
Scritti Politti - Absolute
Sharon Brown - I Specialize in Love
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Change - Paradise
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
Unlimited Touch - I Hear Music in the Streets
Syreeta - Can't Shake Your Love
Serious Intention - You Don't Know
Sylvester - I Need You
Cameo - Single Life
Luther Vandross - Give Me the Reason
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
Will Downing - A Love Supreme
Anita Baker - Caught Up in the Rapture
Womack & Womack - Baby I'm Scared of You
Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain
Maze - Twilight
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
Randy Crawford - Someday I'll Fly Away
Barbara Mason - Another Man
Tracie Simpson - Symptoms of True Love
Quincy Jones - The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)
Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets
Jermaine Jackson - Let Me Tickle Your Fancy
Jacksons - Can You Feel It
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
RAH Band - Clouds Across the Moon
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

I was far too harsh on Can You Feel It and Sexual Healing due to assumed burn out, listening again and they're still top drawer

bolded did not place

1. Change - A Lover's Holiday
2. George Michael - Father Figure
3. Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
4. Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight
5. Michael Jackson - Human Nature
6. Cameo - Candy
7. Prince - Purple Rain
8. Midnight Star - Freak-a-Zoid
9. Malcolm McLaren - Madam Butterfly
10. Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
11. New Edition - Can You Stand the Rain
12. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
13. Janet Jackson - Come Back to Me
14. Klymaxx - The Men All Pause
15. Prince - Controversy
16. Alexander O'Neal - Criticize
17. Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror
18. Newcleus - Jam on It
19. Ready for the World - Love You Down
20. Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz
21. Shirley Murdock - As We Lay
22. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
23. S.O.S. Band - Tell Me if You Still Care
24. Prince - U Got the Look
25. Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets
26. Babyface - Whip Appeal
27. Brenda Russell - Piano in the Dark
28. Prince - When Doves Cry
29. Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain
30. The Human League - Human
31. George Michael - One More Try
32. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
33. Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
34. Kool & the Gang - Celebration
35. Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl
36. Lionel Richie - All Night Long
37. Prince - The Beautiful Ones
38. Babyface - It's No Crime
39. René & Angela - I'll Be Good
40. Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
41. Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
42. James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
43. Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
44. Prince - Kiss
45. Alexander O'Neal - Sunshine
46. Michael Jackson - Thriller
47. Pebbles - Mercedes Boy
48. Prince - It
49. Change - The Glow of Love
50. Deniece Williams - Silly
51. New Edition - If It Isn't Love
52. Shannon - Let the Music Play
53. Guy - I Like
54. Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
55. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
56. Levert - Casanova
57. Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
58. Art of Noise - Moments in Love
59. Prince - Let's Go Crazy
60. Sybil - Don't Make Me Over
61. Frankie Knuckles - It's a Cold World
62. Alexander O'Neal - Fake
63. Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
64. Rick James - Cold Blooded
65. Mtume - Juicy Fruit
66. Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
67. Debbie Deb - When I Hear Music
68. Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
69. Force M.D.'s - Love Is a House
70. Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
71. Janet Jackson - Escapade
72. Change - Searching
73. Narada Michael Walden - I Shoulda Loved Ya
74. S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
75. Whispers - Rock Steady
76. Prince - Batdance
77. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
78. Prince - Do Me, Baby
79. Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
80. The System - Don't Disturb This Groove
81. Midnight Star - Slow Jam
82. Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
83. Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
84. New Edition - Cool It Now
85. Teena Marie - Square Biz
86. Irene Cara - Flashdance... What a Feeling
87. Prince - Darling Nikki
88. Planet Patrol - Play at Your Own Risk
89. Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You
90. Force M.D.'s - Tender Love
91. Anita Baker - Just Because
92. Prince - I Would Die 4 U
93. Surface - Happy
94. The Time - 777-9311
95. Junior - Mama Used to Say
96. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
97. David Bowie - Let's Dance
98. Dazz Band - Let It Whip
99. Madonna - Like a Prayer
100. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing

a reminder that ilm has collectively decided that madonna "crazy for you" is a better r&b song than "777-9311"

My ballot, DNPs in bold, write-ins are starred

Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Unlimited Touch - I Hear Music in the Streets
Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word
Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Patrice Rushen - Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)
Shirley Lites - Heat You Up (Melt You Down)
Suzy Q - Get On Up and Do It Again
Terri Wells - I'm Givin' All My Love
Chaka Khan - Clouds *
Frankie Knuckles - Your Love
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
J. Walter Negro and the Loose Joints - Shoot the Pump
Jackie Stoudemire - Invisible Wind
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
RAH Band - Clouds Across the Moon
Rainbow Brown - Till You Surrender
Sharon Brown - I Specialize in Love
Visual - The Music's Got Me
Gwen Guthrie - Padlock
Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk
Dazz Band - Let It Whip

Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
Rose Royce - R.R. Express
Sparque - Let's Go Dancin'
Marvin Gaye - Heavy Love Affair
Jones Girls - I'm a Woman Here
ESG - You're No Good
Jimmy Ross - First True Love Affair
Kashif - I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
Womack & Womack - Baby I'm Scared of You
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Viola Wills - If You Could Read My Mind
Gayle Adams - Love Fever
Ten City - Devotion
Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O.
Sylvester - I Need You
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Shalamar - I Can Make You Feel Good
Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
Roger - So Ruff So Tuff
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
Raw Silk - Do It to the Music
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Prince - Sometimes It Snows in April
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Peech Boys - Life Is Something Special
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
Lola - Wax the Van
Junkyard Band - Sardines
Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
Janet Jackson - Escapade
Jacksons - Can You Feel It
Inner City - Good Life
Imagination - Just an Illusion
High Fashion - Feelin' Lucky Lately
Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
D-Train - You're the One for Me
Commodores - Nightshift
David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me)
Class Action - Weekend
Chemise - She Can't Love You
Angela Bofill - Too Tough
CeCe Rogers - Someday
Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
Odyssey - (Joy) Know It
Change - A Lover's Holiday
Change - Glow of Love
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Chic - Chip Off the Old Block
Fatback Band - Is This the Future?
Gary Byrd & the G.B. Experience - The Crown
Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper
Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
Stephanie Mills - Never Knew Love Like This Before
Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further
Aurra - Checking You Out *
Donald Byrd - Love Has Come Around *
Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling *
Barbara Mason - Let Me Give You Love *
Chic - Soup For One *
Deja - We Were Made To Be Together *
Two Tons O' Fun - Just Us *

aw man just noticed like a third of my non-placers were downtempos/ballads :'(

If there's one track that didn't place that I would recommend checking out it's "Terri Wells - I'm Givin' All My Love". Especially if you're in Tuomas' Boogie Appreciation Cru.

Awesome ballot, Seandalai! I thought I had nominated "Just Us", or at least I meant to, but apparently I forgot. :(

i like all this music a lot and still don't really know what boogie means and what does and doesn't fall under that umbrella

Boogie is basically a direct continuation/offshoot of disco, where the strings and often horns too have been replaced by synths.

ah cool! simple enough working definition

D-Train's "You're the One for Me" and Sharon Redd's "Beat the Street"/"Never Give You Up" are stereotypical examples, IMO.

I just posted the full results in the main thread:

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

But boogie still feels more "organic" than later disco offshoots... Compared to eighties house, for example, it has more "real" instruments: normally guitars at least, and often drums too. Basslines are often done on synth bass, but typically they're still played live, not as a MIDI loop.

My ballot:

RANKED:

1. Shannon - Let the Music Play
2. Jets - Crush on You
3. Prince - Purple Rain
4. Janet Jackson - Escapade
5. Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
6. Paula Abdul - Straight Up
7. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
8. Carly Simon - Why
9. Prince - I Wish U Heaven
10. Eddy Grant - Do You Feel My Love?
11. S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
12. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
13. Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted
14. Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me
15. Chic - You Are Beautiful
16. Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off
17. Breakfast Club - Right on Track
18. Prince - I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
19. Phil Collins & Phillip Bailey - Easy Lover
20. Midnight Star - Freak-a-Zoid
21. Michael Jackson - Human Nature
22. Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora - When the Rain Begins to Fall
23. Mel & Kim - Respectable
24. Odyssey - Use It Up and Wear It Out
25. Prince - Electric Chair
26. Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)
27. Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
28. Prince - Baby I'm a Star
29. Irene Cara - Fame
30. Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
31. El DeBarge - Who's Johnny
32. Labi Siffre - (Something Inside) So Strong

UNRANKED:

Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band - Starlette
Bros. - When Will I Be Famous
C-Bank - One More Shot
Cameo - Word Up
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
David Bowie - Let's Dance
DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night
Deodato - S.O.S. Fire in the Sky
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Freeez - I.O.U.
George Benson - Give Me the Night
George Michael - A Different Corner
Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down
Grover Washington Jr. - Just the Two of Us
Herbie Hancock - Rockit
Indeep - Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
J. Blackfoot - Taxi
Jacksons - Can You Feel It
Jacksons feat. Mick Jagger - State of Shock
Janet Jackson - Nasty
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
K.C. & the Sunshine Band - Give It Up
Kool & the Gang - Get Down on It
Leon Haywood - Don't Push It Don't Force It
LeVert - Casanova
Limit - She's So Divine
Lionel Richie - Hello
Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
Madonna - Causing a Commotion
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Neneh Cherry - Manchild
Odyssey - Going Back to My Roots
Pasadenas - Tribute (Right On)
Pino d'Angiò - Ma quale idea
Pointer Sisters - Automatic
Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Prince - Sign O' the Times
Prince - When Doves Cry
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Richenel - Dance Around the World
Rick James - Super Freak
Rose Royce - R.R. Express
Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
Sheila E. - A Love Bizarre
Sheila E. - Holly Rock
Siedah Garrett - Taboo
Simply Red - Holding Back the Years
Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
Stephanie Mills - Never Knew Love Like This Before
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Terence Trent d'Arby - Wishing Well
Valentine Brothers - Money's Too Tight (to Mention)
Viola Wills - If You Could Read My Mind
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
Yoko Ono - Walking on Thin Ice

My ranked, Prince-heavy ballot, which I kept score of as we went (hence the final rankings next to the songs that placed). I forgot to vote for Sly Fox's "Let's Go All The Way" despite nominating it, and I had forgotten all about K.C.'s marvellous "Give It Up," both of which would've taken the place of two of my lower ranked Prince tunes had I been thinking.

Prince - I Would Die 4 U (#163)
Prince - Electric Chair
Prince - Little Red Corvette (#37)
Commodores – Nightshift (#13)
Nona Hendryx - Keep It Confidential
Sheila E. - The Belle of St. Mark (#199)
Vanity 6 - If a Girl Answers (Don't Hang Up)
Madonna – Borderline (#80)
Prince – Kiss (#30)
Jets - You Got It All (#141)
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love (#33)
Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror (#170)
Human League – Human (#41)
Prince - Let's Go Crazy (#67)
Kool & the Gang - Stand Up and Sing
Prince - Alphabet St.
Prince - U Got the Look (#71)
El DeBarge - Who's Johnny
Commodores - Oh No
Madonna & Prince - Love Song
Sheila E. - Holly Rock
Vanity 6 - Wet Dream
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'(#2)
Prince - Raspberry Beret (#81)
Cameo - Word Up (#3)
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (#92)
Prince - Baby I'm a Star (#166)
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl (#83)
Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue
Prince – Adore (#196)
Prince - Take Me With U
Prince - I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (#201)
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life (#39)
Janet Jackson - When I Think of You (#35)
George Michael - Father Figure (#153)
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You) [#205]
E.U. - Da Butt
Jeffrey Osborne - You Should Be Mine
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance (#4)
Curtis Mayfield - Baby It's You
Special AKA - Free Nelson Mandela
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Janet Jackson – Escapade (#49)
Kool & the Gang – Celebration (#202)
Madonna - Like a Prayer (#139T)
Prince - Let's Pretend We're Married
Janet Jackson – Nasty
Time - Jungle Love (#116)
Egyptian Lover - I Cry (Night After Night)
Prince - Starfish and Coffee
Timex Social Club – Rumors (#178)
Sheila E. - A Love Bizarre (#139T)
Rick James - Super Freak (#31)
Nona Hendryx - Living on the Border
Prince - When Doves Cry (#20)
Vanity 6 - He's So Dull
Universal Togetherness Band - Ain't Gonna Cry
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (#8)
M/A/R/R/S - Pump Up the Volume (#85)
Prince - The Beautiful Ones (#56)
Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Endicott
Kurtis Blow - The Breaks (#238)
Prince – Delirious
Prince - Purple Rain (#79)
Ready for the World - Oh Sheila (#54)
Michael Jackson - Human Nature (#14)
Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It (#173)
Prince - The Arms of Orion
Madonna - Burning Up
Prince - Sign O' the Times (#151)
Diana Ross - Upside Down (#16)
Cameo – Candy (#45)
Hot Chocolate - It Started With a Kiss (#213)
Prince - Dirty Mind (#118)
Prince - Computer Blue
Prince – 1999 (#88)
George Michael - One More Try (#76)
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately (#109)
Prince - Pop Life (#124)
Prince - Scandalous!
Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend (#43)
Prince - Darling Nikki
George Michael - I Want Your Sex
Prince - Girls & Boys
Prince - Hot Thing
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)[#78]
Prince - Sometimes It Snows in April
Prince – Controversy (#26)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove (#10)
Indeep - Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life (#167)
Michael Jackson - Beat It (#174)
Prince – Head
Ready for the World - Love You Down (#75)
Prince - Uptown
Nona Hendryx - B-Boys
Prince - Housequake
Prince - Erotic City (#68)
Prince - Party Up

i was the only person to vote for:

Malcolm McLaren - Madam Butterfly
The S.O.S. Band - Tell Me if You Still Care
Babyface - Whip Appeal
Deniece Williams - Silly
Twilight 22 - Electric Kingdom
Frankie Knuckles - It's a Cold World
Force M.D.'s - Love Is a House
Narada Michael Walden - I Shoulda Loved Ya
Midnight Star - Slow Jam
Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Anita Baker - Just Because

shameful!!

a few caveats: I'm math-challenged so no bolding of unranked etc. sorry.

more important, there were so many one-shots (ONE! MORE!! SHOT!!) I wanted to include that I held off voting for some of my favorite Michael Jackson and Prince songs. Immediately regretted this decision because, for example, U Got The Look and Erotic City are objectively better than some of the songs I did vote for. I sold short Chaka Khan and Luther Vandross too, what are you gonna do? And I can't believe I didn't vote for "Keep On" by D Train...

anyway this genre and era are an embarrassment of riches and even though I hate this phrase IT'S ALL GOOD. warms my heart to see everybody's choices, inspiring even more listening and re-thinking

my choices definitely lean toward the first half of the decade, a function of age and sentiment

1. Anita Baker - Caught Up in the Rapture
2. Aretha Franklin - Jump to It
3. Ashford & Simpson - Street Corner
4. Aurra - Checking You Out
5. Bar-Kays - Hit and Run
6. Billy Ocean - Nights (Feels Like Getting Down)
7. Donald Byrd - Love Has Come Around
8. Whispers - It's a Love Thing
9. Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band - On the Beat
10. C-Bank - One More Shot
11. Steve Arrington - Nobody Can Be You
12. Stevie Wonder - That Girl
13. Cameo - Word Up
14. Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine
15. Womack & Womack - Baby I'm Scared of You
16. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
17. Change - A Lover's Holiday
18. Change - Paradise
19. Cheri - Murphy's Law
20. Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
21. Cheryl Lynn - Encore
22. Cheryl Lynn - Shake It Up Tonight
23. Chic - Rebels Are We
24. Class Action - Weekend
25. Commodores - Nightshift
26. Company B - Fascinated
27. Strafe - Set It Off
28. Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble - Breaking and Entering
29. D-Train - You're the One for Me
30. David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me)
31. DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night
32. Defunkt - Razor's Edge
33. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
34. Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further
35. Diana Ross - Upside Down
36. Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
37. Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
38. Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat
39. France Joli - Gonna Get Over You
40. Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
41. Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
42. Gayle Adams - Love Fever
43. George Benson - Give Me the Night
44. George Clinton - Atomic Dog
45. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Save the Overtime (For Me)
46. Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper
47. Grover Washington Jr. - Just the Two of Us
48. Gwen Guthrie - Padlock
49. Gwen McCrae - Funky Sensation
50. Imagination - Just an Illusion
51. Imagination - Changes
52. Inner City - Good Life
53. Jacksons - Can You Feel It
54. James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
55. T.S. Monk - Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life)
56. Jeffrey Osborne - Stay With Me Tonight
57. Jenny Burton - Remember What You Like
58. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
59. Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt
60. Junior - Mama Used to Say
61. Kashif - I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)
62. Keith Sweat - I Want Her
63. Keni Burke - Risin' to the Top (Give It All You Got)
64. Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
65. Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
66. Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
67. Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face?
68. Young & Company - I Like (What You're Doing to Me)
69. Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
70. Luther Vandross - Stop to Love
71. Material - Bustin' Out
72. Maze feat. Frankie Beverly - Joy and Pain
73. MFSB - Mysteries of the World
74. Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
75. Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz
76. Teena Marie - Square Biz
77. Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
78. Odyssey - Inside Out
79. Ollie & Jerry - Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
80. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
81. Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
82. Planet Patrol - Play at Your Own Risk
83. Prince - Kiss
84. Prince - When Doves Cry
85. Quincy Jones - Becha Wouldn't Hurt Me
86. René & Angela - I Love You More
87. Rockers Revenge feat. Donnie Calvin - Walkin' on Sunshine
88. Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
89. S.O.S. Band - The Finest
90. Sade - Never as Good as the First Time
91. Shalamar - Make That Move
92. Shalamar - Sweeter as the Days Go By
93. Shannon - Let the Music Play
94. Sharon Brown - I Specialize in Love
95. Sharon Redd - Beat the Street
96. Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It
97. Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
98. Sly Fox - Let's Go All the Way
99. Smokey Robinson - Being With You
100. Stephanie Mills - The Medicine Song

I'll post my full ballot as soon as I'm in a position to, but I have to say real quick that it's IN. SANE. that Cheryl Lynn's 'Shake it Up Tonight' and Jenny Burton's 'I Remember What You Like' only got two votes each. These are monster jams, folks. Treat yourself, I implore you.

Bold = placed in top 250.
Italic = sole voter

1 Loose Ends - Hangin' On a String
2 Otis Clay - The Only Way Is Up
3 Class Action - Weekend
4 Freeez - Southern Freeez
5 Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
6 Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
7 Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further
8 Lionel Richie - All Night Long
9 Soul II Soul - Fairplay
10 Joe Smooth - Promised Land
11 C-Bank - One More Shot
12 Prince - How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
13 Sharon Redd - In the Name of Love
14 Womack & Womack - Love Wars
15 Paul Simpson feat. Adeva - Musical Freedom
16 Carly Simon - Why
17 Planet Patrol - Play at Your Own Risk
18 Mr Fingers - What About This Love
19 Shannon - Let the Music Play
20 Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
21 CeCe Rogers - Someday
22 James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
23 Maze - Back in Stride
24 Defunkt - Razor's Edge
25 Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat
26 Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
27 Sharon Redd - Beat the Street
28 The Brothers Johnson - Stomp
29 Imagination - Just an Illusion
30 System - You Are in My System
31 Xavier - Work That Sucker to Death
32 Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
33 Wilton Felder feat. Bobby Womack & Alltrinna Grayson - (No Matter How High I Get) I'll Still Be Looking Up to You
34 S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
35 Linx - Intuition
36 Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
37 Michael Jackson - Human Nature
38 Aretha Franklin - Get It Right
39 Womack & Womack - Teardrops
40 Grace Jones - Nipple to the Bottle
41 Gil Scott-Heron - B-Movie
42 Glenn Jones - I Am Somebody
43 Patrice Rushen - Number One
44 Tyrone Brunson - The Smurf
45 World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ
46 Anita Baker - Caught Up in the Rapture
47 Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
48 Skipworth and Turner - Thinking About Your Love
49 Stacy Lattisaw - Jump to the Beat
50 Maze - Twilight
51 Vicky D - This Beat Is Mine
52 Anita Baker - Sweet Love
53 George Clinton - Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla
54 Chaka Khan - I Know You, I Live You
55 Sade - Smooth Operator
56 Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica
57 Rockers Revenge feat. Donnie Calvin - Walkin' on Sunshine
58 Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
59 Zapp - Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)
60 Ten City - Right Back to You
61 Julia and Company - Breakin' Down (Sugar Samba)
62 Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
63 Mtume - Juicy Fruit
64 Shirley Murdock - As We Lay
65 Leo's Sunshipp - Give Me the Sunshine
66 New Edition - Candy Girl
67 Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake the Feeling
68 System - It's Passion
69 Diana Ross - Upside Down
70 AM-FM - You Are the One
71 Xena - On the Upside
72 Change - Change of heart
73 Donald Banks - Status Quo
74 Change - A Lover's Holiday
75 Shirley Jones - Do You Get Enough Love
76 Temptations feat. Rick James - Standing on the Top
77 D-Train - You're the One for Me
78 Bobby Womack - Love Has Finally Come at Last
79 Odyssey - Going Back to My Roots
80 Rodney Franklin - The Groove
81 Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
82 Fatback Band - Is This the Future?
83 D-Train - Keep On
84 Keni Burke - Risin' to the Top (Give It All You Got)
85 Shalamar - There It Is
86 Maze feat. Frankie Beverly - Joy and Pain
87 Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt
88 Arnie's Love - I'm Out of Your Life
89 Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine
90 Shalamar - The Second Time Around
91 Odyssey - Inside Out
92 Michelle Wallace - Jazzy Rhythm
93 Chanelle - One Man
94 Aleem - Get Loose
95 Whispers - It's a Love Thing
96 Shannon - Give Me Tonight
97 Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
98 Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
99 Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
100 Ashford & Simpson - Solid

I'm glad you voted for What About This Love. I nominated it and then decided to cut any and all house from my baĺlot. I think it's about as close as a house track gets to fitting the bill

1) Prince - When Doves Cry
2) Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
3) Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
4) Coati Mundi - Que Pasa/Me No Pop I
5) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
6) Janet Jackson - When I Think of You
7) Prince - Take Me With U
8) Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
9) Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
10) Gil Scott-Heron - B-Movie
11) Prince - Erotic City
12) Prince - Little Red Corvette
13) Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
14) C-Bank - One More Shot
15) Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
16) Material - Memories
17) Deniece Williams - It's Gonna Take a Miracle
18) Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder if I Take You Home
19) Cameo - Single Life
20) Stevie Wonder - All I Do
21) Robert Palmer - I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On
22) Shannon - Let the Music Play
23) Indeep - Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
24) Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica
25) Whispers - It's a Love Thing
26) Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
27) Grover Washington Jr. - Just The Two Of Us
28) Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothing Going On But the Rent
29) Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper
30) Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
31) Taste of Honey - Rescue Me
32) Cameo - Word Up
33) Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm a Wonderful Thing, Baby
34) D-Train - You're the One for Me
35) Prince - When U Were Mine
36) Kid Creole & the Coconuts - Maladie d'Amour
37) Staple Singers - Slippery People
38) Terence Trent d'Arby - Sign Your Name
39) Neville Brothers - With God on Our Side
40) Prince - Raspberry Beret
41) Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Endicott
42) Professor Longhair - Cry to Me
43) Neville Brothers - Brother John/Iko Iko
44) Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror
45) Bobby Womack - If You Think You're Lonely Now
46) Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
47) Clark Sisters - You Brought The Sunshine
48) Bobby Womack - Love Has Finally Come at Last
49) Marvin Gaye - Turn On Some Music
50) Change - Paradise
51) ESG - You're No Good
52) Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
53) Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
54) J. Walter Negro and the Loose Joints - Shoot the Pump
55) Terence Trent d'Arby - If You Let Me Stay
56) Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
57) Material - Bustin' Out
58) Teena Marie - Lovergirl
59) Kool & the Gang - Fresh
60) The Jacksons - Can You Feel It
61) Trouble Funk - Drop the Bomb
62) James Brown - Bring It On
63) Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'
64) Terence Trent d'Arby - Wishing Well
65) Chaka Khan - I Know You, I Live You
66) Prince - How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
67) Neville Brothers - Sister Rosa
68) Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
69) Stevie Wonder - Ribbon in the Sky
70) Womack & Womack - Love Wars
71) One Way - Give Me One More Chance
72) Peech Boys - Life Is Something Special
73) Anita Baker- Sweet Love
74) Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
75) Special AKA - Free Nelson Mandela
76) Evelyn "Champagne" King - Betcha She Don't Love You
77) Shalamar - There It Is
78) Colourbox - The Moon Is Blue
79) Donna Summer - This Time I Know It's for Real
80) S.O.S. Band - Take Your Time
81) Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face?
82) Luther Vandross - She's a Super Lady
83) Dazz Band - Let It Whip
84) Valentine Brothers - Money's Too Tight (to Mention)
85) Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
86) Skipworth and Turner - Thinking About Your Love
87) Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
88) Raw Sex Pure Energy - Stop the War
89) Junie - Rappin About Rappin (Uh-Uh-Uh)
90) Dionne Warwick - Heartbreaker
91) Michel'le - No More Lies
92) Janet Jackson - Escapade
93) Aretha Franklin - Sweet Bitter Love
94) Guy - Groove Me
95) Crusaders feat. Bill Withers- Soul Shadows
96) Time - 777-9311
97) Sybil - Don't Make Me Over
98) Diana Ross - Upside Down
99) Syl Johnson - Ms. Fine Brown Frame
100) Madonna - Into The Groove

I didn't keep up with the nominations, so I had a few write-ins. (Didn't expect to vote, went through the list and had more positive feelings about some of the songs than I expected.)

Al B. Sure! – Naturally Mine
Alexander O'Neal - (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me
Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who?
Bobby Brown - Every Little Step
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Company B - Fascinated
Inner City - Do You Love What You Feel
Janet Jackson - When I Think of You
Jets – You Got It All
Jody Watley - Don't You Want Me
Jungle Wonz – Time Marches On
Karyn White – The Way You Love Me
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder if I Take You Home
Mel & Kim – Respectable
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
Nu Shooz – Should I Say Yes
Prince – Mountains
Princess - Say I'm Your Number One
Ready for the World - Love You Down
Seduction – Seduction (Club Mix)
S.O.S. Band - Weekend Girl
Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'
T.C. Curtis – You Should Have Known Better
Taana Gardner – Heartbeat
Ten City – That’s the Way Love Is
Terence Trent d'Arby - Wishing Well
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love for You
World's Famous Supreme Team - Hey DJ

1. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
2. Prince - When Doves Cry
3. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
4. Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
5. Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O.
6. Cameo - Word Up
7. Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
8. Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down
9. Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
10. Gap Band - Burn Rubber
11. Kool & The Gang - Too Hot
12. Janet Jackson - When I Think Of You
13. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
14. Rick James - Super Freak
15. Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce
16. Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
17. George Benson - Give Me The Night
18. Brothers Johnson - Stomp
19. S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good To Me
20. Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
21. Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well
22. Lionel Richie - Hello
23. Mtume - Juicy Fruit
24. Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets
25. Herbie Hancock - Rockit
26. Junior - Mama Used To Say
27. Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
28. Prince - Kiss
29. Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
30. Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
31. Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That
32. Diana Ross - Upside Down
33. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
34. Rene & Angela - Your Smile
35. Loose Ends - Hangin' On A String
36. DeBarge - I Like It
37. Aretha Franklin - Freeway of Love
38. Irene Cara - Flashdance
39. Gap Band - Outstanding
40. Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin'
41. Grover Washington Jr./Bill Withers - Just The Two Of Us
42. Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster
43. Raydio - Woman Needs Love
44. Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
45. Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
46. Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
47. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
48. Commodores - Nightshift
49. ZZ Hill - Cheating In The Next Room
50. Soul II Soul - Back To Life
51. Guy - I Like
52. George Michael - Father Figure
53. Timex Social Club - Rumors
54. Oran "Juice" Jones - Rain
55. Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
56. Stephanie Mills - Never Knew Love Like This Before
57. Keith Sweat - I Want Her
58. Maze feat. Frankie Beverly - Joy and Pain
59. Pasadenas - Tribute
60. Ready For The World - Oh Sheila
61. Time - Jungle Love
62. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy
63. Prince - Little Red Corvette
64. Dazz Band - Let It Whip
65. Janet Jackson - What Have You Done For Me Lately
66. Whispers - Rock Steady
67. Shalamar - Night To Remember
68. Luther Vandross - Give Me The Reason
69. Manhattans - Shining Star
70. Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money
71. Sheila E. - Glamorous Life
72. Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
73. Jennifer Holliday - And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going
74. Quincy Jones - Secret Garden
75. Inner City - Good Life
76. Patti Austin & James Ingram - Baby Come To Me
77. Bobby Womack - If You Think You're Lonely Now
78. Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
79. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
80. Shannon - Let The Music Play
81. George Clinton - Atomic Dog
82. Teena Marie - I Need Your Lovin'
83. Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
84. Freddie Jackson - You Are My Lady
85. D-Train - You're The One For Me
86. Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World
87. Womack & Womack - Baby I'm Scared Of You
88. Smokey Robinson - Being With You
89. Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love
90. Sade - Smooth Operator
91. Ashford & Simpson - Solid
92. New Edition - Mr. Telephone Man
93. Anita Baker - Caught Up In The Rapture
94. Deele - Two Occasions
95. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder If I Take You Home
96. Simply Red - Holding Back The Years
97. Shirley Murdock - As We Lay
98. Klymaxx - I Miss You
99. Whitney Houston - You Give Good Love
100. Gavin Christopher - One Step Closer To You

i didn't vote but i did make a preliminary ballot...

Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
Prince - 1999
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
Womack & Womack - Baby I'm Scared of You
Mary Jane Girls - All Night Long
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
D-Train - Keep On
D-Train - You're the One for Me
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Diana Ross - My Old Piano
Maze - Twilight
Kool & the Gang - Get Down on It
James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
Zapp - Dance Floor
Arnie's Love - I'm Out of Your Life
Grace Jones - My Jamaican Guy
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
Whispers - It's a Love Thing
Al B. Sure! - Nite and Day
Anita Baker - Sweet Love
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Aretha Franklin - Get It Right
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
Sharon Redd - Love How You Feel
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Guy - I Like
Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
Keni Burke - Risin' to the Top (Give It All You Got)
Whitney Houston - You Give Good Love
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
Sharon Redd - Beat the Street
Whispers - And the Beat Goes On

Songs that didn't Place are in bold.

Ranked:
1. Change - Paradise
2. Earth, Wind & Fire - Fall in Love With Me
3. Shalamar - Sweeter as the Days Go By
4. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
5. Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
6. Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin'
7. Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking of War Babies
8. Chic - Rebels Are We
10. Stevie Wonder - Lately
11. Teena Marie - Square Biz
12. Change - Miracles
13. Jacksons - Torture
14. Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
15. Gap Band - Outstanding
16. Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
17. War - Outlaw
18. Chaka Khan - I Know You, I Live You
19. Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
20. Prince - Adore
21. Pointer Sisters - Automatic
22. Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame - Weak at the Knees
23. George Michael - One More Try
24. Prince - The Beautiful Ones
25. DeBarge - A Dream
26. Isley Jasper Isley - Caravan of Love
27. Sade - Smooth Operator
28. Stevie Wonder - Part-Time Lover
29. Prince - Head
30. Marvin Gaye - Midnight Lady

Unranked:
Anita Baker - Sweet Love
Atlantic Starr - Always
Bobby Brown - Every Little Step
Bobby Brown - On Our Own
Bobby Womack - Tell Me Why
Bootsy - Mug Push
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Change - Glow of Love
Cherrelle - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On
D-Train - You're the One for Me
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
George Benson - Give Me the Night
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
George Clinton - Man's Best Friend/Loopzilla
George Clinton - Nubian Nut
Jacksons - Can You Feel It
Jacksons - Lovely One
Jacksons - Wondering Who
Jacksons - Your Ways
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm Corrupt
Kool & the Gang - Celebration
Kool & the Gang - Get Down on It
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
Lionel Richie - You Are
Marvin Gaye - Heavy Love Affair
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Michael Jackson - Bad
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone
Michael Jackson - Speed Demon
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
P-Funk Allstars - Copy Cat
Parliament - Agony of Defeet
Parliament - Crush It
Parliament - Let's Play House
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Prince - 1999
Prince - Controversy
Prince - Private Joy
Prince - The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Prince - U Got the Look
Rick James - Super Freak
Sade - Hang on to Your Love
Shalamar - Go for It
Shalamar - Make That Move
Simply Red - Holding Back the Years
Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed
Stevie Wonder - You Will Know
Time - 777-9311
Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica
Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
War - Cinco De Mayo
Was (Not Was) - Wheel Me Out
Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Zapp - Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)

xp: As I hear it, disco bifurcated into 4/4 kick lead house and melodic bassline lead boogie. Boogie basslines are also more Motown inspired than the octave jumping ostinatos of disco. The lower tempo spawn of boogie and P-funk is 80s synth funk.

I just did a super quick ballot, making sure to give a few specific songs or acts some points, and then rounding it out with some voting thread discoveries

Prince - Let's Pretend We're Married
Liquid Liquid - Cavern
Ready for the World - Love You Down
Zapp - Computer Love
Slave - Stone Jam
Madonna - Crazy for You
D-Train - You're the One for Me
Q - The Voice of Q
Jonzun Crew - Space Cowboy
Jellybean - The Mexican
Newcleus - Jam on It
Slave - Snap Shot
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Prince - Mountains
The Raincoats - Animal Rhapsody
Warp 9 - Light Years Away
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
Stacey Q - Two of Hearts
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
Xavier - Work That Sucker to Death
Whispers - Rock Steady
Q-Feel - Dancing In Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)
Prince - Kiss

Okay, here's my ballot. All ranked. I've bolded the ones...well, let's just be honest: the ones that were ROBBED.

1 Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
2 Prince - When Doves Cry
3 System - Don't Disturb This Groove
4 Tracie Spencer - Symptoms of True Love
5 Janet Jackson - Come Back to Me
6 Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
7 Force M.D.'s - Tender Love
8 Jane Child - Don't Want to Fall in Love
9 Prince - Let's Go Crazy
10 Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
11 Prince - The Beautiful Ones
12 Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
13 Al B. Sure! - Nite and Day
14 Cheryl Lynn - Shake It Up Tonight
15 Prince - I Would Die 4 U
16 Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
17 Prince - U Got the Look
18 Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
19 Coati Mundi - Que Pasa/Me No Pop I
20 Michael Jackson - Baby Be Mine
21 Jenny Burton - Remember What You Like
22 Jacksons - Can You Feel It
23 Ready for the World - Love You Down
24 Club Nouveau - Why You Treat Me So Bad?
25 Whistle - Right Next to Me
26 After 7 - Ready or Not
27 Dazz Band - Let It Whip
28 Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
29 Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
30 Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
31 Prince - Dirty Mind
32 Deodato - Happy Hour
33 Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked
34 Brothers Johnson - Stomp
35 S.O.S. Band - Take Your Time
36 Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man
37 Whitney Houston & Teddy Pendergrass - Hold Me
38 Anita Baker - Giving You the Best That I Got
39 Mel & Kim - Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
40 Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed
41 Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)
42 Culture Club - Time
43 Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
44 Nolan Thomas - Yo Little Brother
45 Ollie & Jerry - Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
46 Sugar Hill Gang - Hot Hot Summer Day
47 René & Angela - I'll Be Good
48 Michael Jackson - Human Nature
49 Terence Trent d'Arby - Sign Your Name
50 Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
51 Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
52 George Michael - One More Try
53 Sheila E. - A Love Bizarre
54 Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
55 Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
56 Prince - Little Red Corvette
57 Janet Jackson - Let's Wait a While
58 Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
59 Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
60 Shannon - Let the Music Play
61 Jacksons - Walk Right Now
62 Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
63 Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
64 Mary Jane Girls - In My House
65 Prince - Raspberry Beret
66 Janet Jackson - Escapade
67 Raincoats - Animal Rhapsody
68 Brenda Russell feat. Joe Esposito - Piano in the Dark
69 Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
70 Prince - Kiss
71 Cameo - Word Up
72 Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
73 Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
74 J.J. Fad - Supersonic
75 Pointer Sisters - Automatic
76 Slave - Snap Shot
77 Ivan Neville - Not Just Another Girl
78 Donna Summer - Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)
79 Stevie Wonder - Go Home
80 Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - All Cried Out
81 S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me
82 Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
83 Twennynine - Peanut Butter
84 Shalamar - The Second Time Around
85 Herbie Hancock - Rockit
86 Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'
87 Frankie Smith - Double Dutch Bus
88 Cherrelle - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On
89 Jesse Johnson's Revue - Be Your Man
90 Madonna - Borderline
91 War - Outlaw
92 Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
93 Whitney Houston - Love Will Save the Day
94 Janet Jackson - When I Think of You
95 Wa Wa Nee - Stimulation
96 Sharon Bryant - Let Go
97 New Edition - Cool It Now
98 Chuckii Booker - Turned Away
99 Kool & the Gang - Joanna
100 George Benson - Give Me the Night

Since I see I was the only person to vote for it, I'm left wondering...are y'all unfamiliar with Whitney & Teddy's 'Hold Me'? I know it doesn't have much (any?) cultural cachet (I might be more familiar with it than most since that first Whitney album was in constant rotation in my mom's car), but it was released as a single by both artists, and I genuinely think it's one of the best ballads of the '80s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoS9lMSfhrk

i actually am unfamiliar, lemme listen now

ilm hates ballads according to this poll

ranked, bolded what didn't place

Jets - Crush on You
Janet Jackson - Escapade
DeBarge - I Like It
Womack & Womack - Teardrops
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
Prince - Mountains
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Teena Marie - Square Biz
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
René & Angela - I'll Be Good
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
Whispers - It's a Love Thing
Imagination - Music and Lights
Anita Baker - Same Ole Love
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
Patrice Rushen - Feels So Real (Won't Let Go)
Force M.D.'s - Tender Love
Jets - You Got It All
Evelyn "Champagne" King - Love Come Down
George Benson - Inside Love
Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama She's Built She's Stacked
Dazz Band - Let It Whip
Maze - Back in Stride
Odyssey - (Joy) Know It
Cameo - Candy
Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)
Jane Child - Don't Want to Fall in Love
Tracie Spencer - Symptoms of True Love
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man
Change - Glow of Love
George Michael - One More Try
Jacksons - Can You Feel It
DeBarge - Time Will Reveal
Alexander O'Neal - If You Were Here Tonight
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Prince - The Beautiful Ones
Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down
Bobby Brown - Every Little Step
Inner Life - (Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men
System - Don't Disturb This Groove
Levert - Casanova
Deele - Two Occasions
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Human League - Human
George Benson - Give Me the Night
Shalamar - A Night to Remember
Phil Collins & Phillip Bailey - Easy Lover
Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O.
S.O.S. Band - Just the Way You Like It
Stephanie Mills - I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love
George Duke - Reach Out
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida
Kashif - Stone Love
Aretha Franklin - Get It Right
Commodores - Nightshift
Anita Baker - Caught Up in the Rapture
Willie Colón - Set Fire to Me
Change - Paradise
Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
Janet Jackson - When I Think of You
Anita Baker - Sweet Love
Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
Ready for the World - Love You Down
Guy - I Like
One Way - Don't Stop
Zapp - Computer Love
Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Klymaxx - Meeting in the Ladies Room
Stephanie Mills - Never Knew Love Like This Before
Imagination - So Good So Right
Bobby Womack - If You Think You're Lonely Now
Shalamar - Make That Move
Pointer Sisters - Automatic
Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
Chaka Khan - Love of a Lifetime
Jeffrey Osborne - Stay With Me Tonight
Whispers - Tonight
Teena Marie - Lovergirl
George Benson - Turn Your Love Around
Al Jarreau - We're in This Love Together
Limit - She's So Divine
Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
S.O.S. Band - Take Your Time
Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
Keith Sweat - I Want Her
New Edition - If It Isn't Love
D-Train - You're the One for Me
Jody Watley - Looking for a New Love

i am furious that only two people voted for "i like it," what is wrong with y'all

"rhythm of the night" should never be the highest placing debarge song ffs

Here's my ballot. Thanks to Mr. ArchCarrier for running this.

1
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
George Clinton - Free Alterations
Prince - Dirty Mind
Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain
Smokey Robinson - Being With You
Raydio - A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls
Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It
Funkadelic - Electro-Cuties
Chic - 26
Cameo - Word Up
Prince - U Got the Look
Neville Brothers - Brother John/Iko Iko
Lionel Richie - All Night Long
Stacey Q - Two of Hearts
Stevie Wonder - Front Line
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Exposé - Point of No Return
Hall and Oates - Out of Touch
Prince - I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
T.S. Monk - Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life)
George Clinton - Get Dressed
George Clinton - One Fun at a Time
Prince - 1999
Time - The Bird
Ray Parker Jr. - The Other Woman
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
Kool & the Gang - Misled
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Stevie Wonder - Ribbon in the Sky
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Rick James - Super Freak
Prince - Raspberry Beret
Prince - Sign O' the Times
Prince - It
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
Chic - Rebels Are We
Commodores - Nightshift
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Lionel Richie - You Are
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
50

Once more, with bolding...

1
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
George Clinton - Free Alterations
Prince - Dirty Mind
Oran "Juice" Jones - The Rain
Smokey Robinson - Being With You
Raydio - A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)
Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Shannon - Let the Music Play
Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls
Funky 4 Plus 1 - That's the Joint
Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It
Funkadelic - Electro-Cuties
Chic - 26
Cameo - Word Up
Prince - U Got the Look
Neville Brothers - Brother John/Iko Iko
Lionel Richie - All Night Long
Stacey Q - Two of Hearts
Stevie Wonder - Front Line
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue
Exposé - Point of No Return
Hall and Oates - Out of Touch
Prince - I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
T.S. Monk - Bon Bon Vie (Gimme the Good Life)
George Clinton - Get Dressed
George Clinton - One Fun at a Time
Prince – 1999
Time - The Bird
Ray Parker Jr. - The Other Woman
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Pointer Sisters - He's So Shy
Hall and Oates - I Can't Go for That
Kool & the Gang - Misled
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Stevie Wonder - Ribbon in the Sky
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
Rick James - Super Freak
Prince - Raspberry Beret
Prince - Sign O' the Times
Prince - It
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
Chic - Rebels Are We
Commodores - Nightshift
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Lionel Richie - You Are
George Clinton - Atomic Dog
50

Because I limited the list to #1's, it's boring, but oh is it good compared to the Hot 100.