10 Best R&B Albums Of Each Year 1980-1989
Criteria: These Top 10 R&B albums of each year 1980-1989 were ranked based on impact, influence and popularity.
10 Best R&B Albums of 1989
1. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 - Janet Jackson
2. Keep On Movin' - Soul II Soul
3. Foreign Affair - Tina Turner
4. Stay with Me - Regina Belle
5. Tender Lover - Babyface
6. 2300 Jackson Street - The Jacksons
7. Larger Than Life - Jody Watley
8. Silky Soul - Maze
9. The Man Is Back! - Barry White
10. Bulletproof Heart - Grace Jones
2. Keep On Movin' - Soul II Soul
3. Foreign Affair - Tina Turner
4. Stay with Me - Regina Belle
5. Tender Lover - Babyface
6. 2300 Jackson Street - The Jacksons
7. Larger Than Life - Jody Watley
8. Silky Soul - Maze
9. The Man Is Back! - Barry White
10. Bulletproof Heart - Grace Jones
10 Best R&B Albums of 1988
1. Don't Be Cruel - Bobby Brown
2. Any Love - Luther Vandross
3. Giving You the Best That I Got - Anita Baker
4. Karyn White - Karyn White
5. Don't Let Love Slip Away - Freddie Jackson
6. Oasis - Roberta Flack
7. In Effect Mode - Al B. Sure!
8. Guy - Guy
9. Vesta 4 U - Vesta Williams
10. ck - Chaka Khan
2. Any Love - Luther Vandross
3. Giving You the Best That I Got - Anita Baker
4. Karyn White - Karyn White
5. Don't Let Love Slip Away - Freddie Jackson
6. Oasis - Roberta Flack
7. In Effect Mode - Al B. Sure!
8. Guy - Guy
9. Vesta 4 U - Vesta Williams
10. ck - Chaka Khan
10 Best R&B Albums of 1987
1. Bad - Michael Jackson
2. Characters - Stevie Wonder
3. One Heartbeat - Smokey Robinson
4. Jody Watley - Jody Watley
5. If I Were Your Woman - Stephanie Mills
6. Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby - Trent D'Arby
7. Make It Last Forever - Keith Sweat
8. Touch the World - Earth, Wind & Fire
9. Hearsay - Alexander O'Neal
10. All in the Name of Love - Atlantic Starr
2. Characters - Stevie Wonder
3. One Heartbeat - Smokey Robinson
4. Jody Watley - Jody Watley
5. If I Were Your Woman - Stephanie Mills
6. Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby - Trent D'Arby
7. Make It Last Forever - Keith Sweat
8. Touch the World - Earth, Wind & Fire
9. Hearsay - Alexander O'Neal
10. All in the Name of Love - Atlantic Starr
10 Best R&B Albums of 1986
1. Control - Janet Jackson
2. Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie
3. Give Me the Reason - Luther Vandross
4. Break Every Rule - Tina Turner
5. Word Up! - Cameo
6. Love Zone - Billy Ocean
7. Winner in You - Patti LaBelle
8. Just Like the First Time - Freddie Jackson
9. Rapture - Anita Baker
10. Precious Moments - Jermaine Jackson
2. Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie
3. Give Me the Reason - Luther Vandross
4. Break Every Rule - Tina Turner
5. Word Up! - Cameo
6. Love Zone - Billy Ocean
7. Winner in You - Patti LaBelle
8. Just Like the First Time - Freddie Jackson
9. Rapture - Anita Baker
10. Precious Moments - Jermaine Jackson
10 Best R&B Albums of 1985
1. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
2. Nightshift - Commodores
3. Rock Me Tonight - Freddie Jackson
4. The Night I Fell in Love - Luther Vandross
5. Rhythm of the Night - DeBarge
6. Patti - Patti LaBelle
7. Promise - Sade
8. As the Band Turns - Atlantic Starr
9. Can't Stop the Love - Maze
10. All for Love - New Edition
2. Nightshift - Commodores
3. Rock Me Tonight - Freddie Jackson
4. The Night I Fell in Love - Luther Vandross
5. Rhythm of the Night - DeBarge
6. Patti - Patti LaBelle
7. Promise - Sade
8. As the Band Turns - Atlantic Starr
9. Can't Stop the Love - Maze
10. All for Love - New Edition
10 Best R&B Albums of 1984
1. Purple Rain - Prince and the Revolution
2. Private Dancer - Tina Turner
3. Emergency - Kool & the Gang
4. Suddenly - Billy Ocean
5. Solid - Ashford & Simpson
6. New Edition - New Edition
7. Swept Away - Diana Ross
8. Gap Band VI - The Gap Band
9. She's Strange - Cameo
10. Starchild - Teena Marie
2. Private Dancer - Tina Turner
3. Emergency - Kool & the Gang
4. Suddenly - Billy Ocean
5. Solid - Ashford & Simpson
6. New Edition - New Edition
7. Swept Away - Diana Ross
8. Gap Band VI - The Gap Band
9. She's Strange - Cameo
10. Starchild - Teena Marie
10 Best R&B Albums of 1983
1. Busy Body - Luther Vandross
2. Can't Slow Down - Lionel Richie
3. Powerlight - Earth, Wind & Fire
4. Born to Love - Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
5. Between the Sheets - Isley Brothers
6. Get It Right - Aretha Franklin
7. Cold Blooded - Rick James
8. Stay with Me Tonight - Jeffrey Osborne
9. No Parking on the Dance Floor - Midnight Star
10. Juicy Fruit - Mtume
2. Can't Slow Down - Lionel Richie
3. Powerlight - Earth, Wind & Fire
4. Born to Love - Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
5. Between the Sheets - Isley Brothers
6. Get It Right - Aretha Franklin
7. Cold Blooded - Rick James
8. Stay with Me Tonight - Jeffrey Osborne
9. No Parking on the Dance Floor - Midnight Star
10. Juicy Fruit - Mtume
10 Best R&B Albums of 1982
1. Thriller - Michael Jackson
2. Midnight Love - Marvin Gaye
3. Lionel Richie - Lionel Richie
4. Jump to It - Aretha Franklin
5. Donna Summer - Donna Summer
6. Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I - Stevie Wonder
7. Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson
8. So Excited! - The Pointer Sisters
9. Get Loose - Evelyn "Champagne" King
10. The Other Woman - Ray Parker Jr.
2. Midnight Love - Marvin Gaye
3. Lionel Richie - Lionel Richie
4. Jump to It - Aretha Franklin
5. Donna Summer - Donna Summer
6. Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I - Stevie Wonder
7. Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson
8. So Excited! - The Pointer Sisters
9. Get Loose - Evelyn "Champagne" King
10. The Other Woman - Ray Parker Jr.
10 Best R&B Albums of 1981
1. Raise! - Earth, Wind & Fire
2. Being with You - Smokey Robinson
3. Street Songs - Rick James
4. In Our Lifetime - Marvin Gaye
5. The Poet - Bobby Womack
6. Something Special - Kool & the Gang
7. Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
8. A Woman Needs Love - Raydio
9. Black & White - Pointer Sisters
10. It Must Be Magic - Teena Marie
2. Being with You - Smokey Robinson
3. Street Songs - Rick James
4. In Our Lifetime - Marvin Gaye
5. The Poet - Bobby Womack
6. Something Special - Kool & the Gang
7. Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
8. A Woman Needs Love - Raydio
9. Black & White - Pointer Sisters
10. It Must Be Magic - Teena Marie
10 Best R&B Albums of 1980
1. Diana - Diana Ross
2. Hotter than July - Stevie Wonder
3. The Two of Us - Yarbrough & Peoples
4. Give Me the Night - George Benson
5. Love Somebody Today - Sister Sledge
6. Three for Love - Shalamar
7. TP - Teddy Pendergrass
8. Real People - Chic
9. Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway - Roberta Flack
10. S.O.S. - The S.O.S. Band
2. Hotter than July - Stevie Wonder
3. The Two of Us - Yarbrough & Peoples
4. Give Me the Night - George Benson
5. Love Somebody Today - Sister Sledge
6. Three for Love - Shalamar
7. TP - Teddy Pendergrass
8. Real People - Chic
9. Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway - Roberta Flack
10. S.O.S. - The S.O.S. Band
Edited By: Lew
Last Updated: 2020-04-04