Greatest R & B Album Of All Time

[Ron Party]

I was boppin' and groovin' to Mercy Mercy Me (actually, the whole album pictured below) last night and got to wondering, has there been a better R & B song written in the last 40 years? Then I got to wondering, is this the greatest R & B album of all time?

What do you think?

 

[RogerD]

Yes

 

[JackD201]

I'm by no stretch an R&B aficionado but What's Going On has got to be one of the albums that will pop up when that question is asked along with Let's Get it On.

I've always liked early Stevie Wonder, Innervision and Songs in the Key of Life are by far my favorites.

Earth Wind and Fire's That's the Way of the World holds a special place for me and remains one of my favorites to this day.

A lot of this has got to do with my growing up with my brothers playing these songs a lot. Happy childhood, great memories. These albums bring that back for me.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

Funny! I was on a MArvin Gaye mood and was about to post that on the "What's spinning tonight" sticky thread ... Great album , I think however that Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key Of Life" is that: The greatest RnB Album of All Time and would add one of the greatest album of All Time regardless of genre ... A Masterpiece, A Classic...

 

[JackD201]

Hi

Funny! I was on a MArvin Gaye mood and was about to post that on the "What's spinning tonight" sticky thread ... Great album , I think however that Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key Of Life" is that: The greatest RnB Album of All Time and would add one of the greatest album of All Time regardless of genre ... A Masterpiece, A Classic...

 

[jazdoc]

I know it's cheating a bit to use a greatest hits album, but this one has to be in the conversation:

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Yes! It's in my Top 3 (TB,DSOTM,WGO)

 

[ejusted]

Anita Baker - Rapture

I consider myself a R&B junkie and IMO you cant go wrong with this one.

definite classic

I have more if you like...

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I consider myself a R&B junkie and IMO you cant go wrong with this one.

definite classic

I have more if you like...

+1. One of my faves for sure.

 

[jazdoc]

+2 on Anita!

Also gotta love Prince "Sign 'O The Times"

 

[FrantzM]

People!

What an album that was!!! I think that eventually curtailed her career ...The same could be said about this album ..

Regardless, Songs in the Key of Life remains at the top followed closely by WGO ... IMO

 

[Ron Party]

Frantz, funny you should write that. I have Songs In The Key Of Life second. Now which one comes in 3rd?

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Frantz, funny you should write that. I have Songs In The Key Of Life second. Now which one comes in 3rd?

If we're talking an R&B Top 3, then I change my list

1. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
2. Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
3. Anita Baker - Rapture

Although a compilation album, I love Stevie's - Musiquarium release.

 

[repman]

You must include Luther Vandross and his contributions in this list

 

[FrantzM]

If we're talking an R&B Top 3, then I change my list

1. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
2. Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
3. Anita Baker - Rapture

Although a compilation album, I love Stevie's - Musiquarium release.

I like the list but not the order

1. Songs in the Key of Life
2. WGO
3. Rapture

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I like the list but not the order

1. Songs in the Key of Life
2. WGO
3. Rapture

Either way it's listed.....all 3 are sublime and I have no issue with your order. WGO and SITKOL were cutting-edge in terms of lyrical content, and the music, well......it doesn't get much better. Anita to me is more about emotion, representation and possibly the best delivery of songs I've heard. She touches my soul when I listen to her.

 

[Ron Party]

I love Anita Baker and have all of her albums. Having stated this, I don't think she even cracks the top 10. While existing at the intersection of pop and R & B, doesn't Thriller have to be in the top 5? What about this one:

And this one:

And, finally, this one:

 

[FrantzM]

I love Superfly as music. Simple Great Music. The glorification of the drug dealer/ pusher makes me uncomfortable .. Great music though ... top ten ?

 

[JackD201]

I like LGIO more than WGO.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Like Ron commented, has there been a better R&B song written. This was 30 years ahead of its time, along with one other.