Love songs in R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music

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"Love Songs" (01/15/2002) R&B Jackson, Michael, Motown RecordsPersonnel includes: Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5. Producers include: Bobby Taylor, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Hal Davis, Brian Holland. Compilation producers: Harry Weinger, Anthony Ellis. Recorded between 1969 and 1975. Includes liner notes by Brian Chin. All tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Greatest Duets: A Love Songs Collection" (01/14/2003) R&B Gaye, Marvin, Motown RecordsPersonnel includes: Marvin Gaye (vocals); Betty Wright, Tammi Terrell, Mary Wells, Oma Page, Kim Weston, Diana Ross (vocals). Producers include: Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Nikolas Ashford, Johnny Bristol, Smokey Robinson. Compilation producer: Harry Weinger. All tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Old School: Love Songs Vol. 6" (07/17/2001) R&B Various Artists, Thump Records

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"Love Songs" (02/03/2003) R&B White, Barry, UmtvThis 2003 release from sexy-voiced R & B star Barry White, contains some of his best love songs. The collection includes 15 tracks, among them, "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe", "Never Gonna Give You Up", and "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me".

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"Old School Love Songs Vol. 4" (04/29/1997) R&B Various Artists, Thump Records

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"Love Songs" (01/23/2001) R&B James, Etta, Chess (USA)Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (Universal Mastering Studios-West, North Hollywood, California).

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"Love Songs" (01/09/2001) R&B Isley Brothers (The), Legacy RecordingsThe Isley Brothers: Ronald Isley (vocals); Ernie Isley (acoustic, electric & 12-string guitars, bass, drums, congas, timbales, maracas, percussion, background vocals); Chris Jasper (piano, electric piano, Clavinet, ARP synthesizer, tambourine, percussion, background vocals); Marvin Isley (bass, woodblocks, percussion, cowbell, background vocals); Rudolph Isley, O'Kellly Isley (background vocals); Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff (programming). Additional personnel: George Moreland (drums, percussion). Producers: Isley Brothers, Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff. Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, Marvin Isley. Engineers: Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff. Originally released on T-Neck Records. Includes liner notes by Virginia Prescott. Digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (2000 Sony). Along the way to being a bridge throughout the history of R&B throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the Isley Brothers also directly helped shape facets of the genre along the way. Starting in the '70s, eldest Isley siblings Ronald, Rudolph, and the late O'Kelly carved out a soundtrack for silk-sheet relations along with fellow love lords Barry White and Marvin Gaye. This collection hinges on Ronald Isley's creamy falsetto; it's easy to mistake him for Al Green, particularly against a background of swirling keyboards on "For the Love of You (Parts 1 & 2)" and the crying guitar of "Voyage to Atlantis." As usual, the Isleys include unlikely artistic interpretations (Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me," and Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze") that work superbly. The most memorable bedside listening comes from the thick-as-molasses beat, crooning vocals, and background grunting of "Between the Sheets," the quintessential jam that's influenced an army of contemporary R&B lotharios, including R. Kelly and Joe. LOVE SONGS proves the Isleys to be the masters at the art of the seductive song.

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"Love Songs" (01/11/2005) R&B Warwick, Dionne, BMG HeritagePersonnel: Dionne Warwick (vocals); Elton John, Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight (vocals). Recording information: 1964 - 1994. While some of the volumes in Legacy's LOVE SONGS series are limited to a particular (often latter-day) period of the artist's recording career, the label's Dionne Warwick collection is far more definitive, spanning eras in a cross-licensing coup. So you get not only Warwick's late-1970s/early-'80s MOR hits, but also the '60s Bacharach-David tunes that made her a pop icon. Such stellar examples of the latter as the transcendent "Alfie" and the breezy, bossa nova-tinged "Walk on By" share space with the Bee Gees-penned '80s hit "Heartbreaker" and the bombs-away epic ballad "I'll Never Love This Way Again" (produced by Barry Manilow, appropriately enough). Even a '90s take on the supple Sting composition "Fragile" is offered up here. By cobbling together tracks from disparate stretches of Warwick's career, LOVE SONGS presents a pretty effective snapshot of the singer's multi-faceted musical personality.

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"Love Songs: Bedroom Ballads" (01/15/2002) R&B Gaye, Marvin, Motown RecordsPersonnel includes: Marvin Gaye (vocals); Bobby Scott (arranger). Producers include: Bobby Scott, Marvin Gaye, Leon Ware, T-Boy Ross. Compilation producers: David Ritz, Harry Weinger. Recorded between 1967 & 1981. Includes liner notes by David Ritz. All tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Love Songs" (01/10/2006) R&B James, Etta, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel include: Etta James; Eddie Harris (saxophone); Cedar Walton (piano); Paul Humphrey (drums). Recording information: 1960 - 2001. Not to be confused with MCA's 2001 collection of the same title, this 15-song RCA Victor set was released in 2006. Interestingly, the compilation focuses on James's contemporary recordings (as opposed to her more celebrated material from the 1960's) and leans heavily on her readings of old standbys from the Great American Songbook. James's blues- and gospel-drenched voice still sounds great, though, and she shows she's as capable of handling jazz gems like "Body and Soul" and "My Funny Valentine" as she is R&B faves like "Try A Little Tenderness."

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"Love Songs" (01/13/2004) R&B Temptations (R&B) (The), Motown RecordsThe Temptations include: David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Paul Williams, Richard Street (vocals). Producers include: Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White, Norman Whitfield, Terry Woodford, Clayton Ivey. Compilation producer: Harry Weinger. Recorded between 1965 & 1975. Includes liner notes by Tom Terrell. This is part of Motown's "Love Songs" series.

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"Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs" (01/27/1998) R&B Dramatics (The), Hip-O RecordsIncludes liner notes by DJ Rodger C and Andy McKaie. Digitally remastered by Erick Labson at MCA Music Media Studios, N. Hollywood, California.

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"Love Songs" (01/13/1998) R&B Redding, Otis, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Otis Redding (vocals); Steve Cropper (guitar); Booker T. Jones (piano, organ); Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass); Al Jackson Jr. (drums); Isaac Hayes, David Porter. Producers: Steve Cropper, Jim Stewart. Compilation producers: David Nathan, David McLees. Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot & Dan Hersch. Admittedly, the concept is a tad arbitrary, if not misleading. Yes, these are all romantically themed songs, but there are just as many up-tempo songs as slow ballads, and Otis's own hits are interspersed with cover versions (some obscure) of other R&B artists' hits, including songs by Jerry Butler ("For Your Precious Love"), Clyde McPhatter ("A Lover's Question"), the Temptations ("My Girl"), and Jackie Wilson ("Higher and Higher"). There's not a note here that isn't soulful to the max, and even if you've heard some of these songs a zillion times, they still sound fresh when recontextualized.

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"The Love Songs of Motown" (01/14/2003) R&B Various Artists, Motown RecordsAll tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Love Songs" (01/10/2006) R&B Belle, Regina, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel: Regina Belle (vocals); JT Taylor, Johnny Mathis, Peabo Bryson, Barry White (vocals). Recording information: 1987 - 1995. This fine compilation is, in a way, a perfect introduction to the soulful vocal stylings of Regina Belle. Intimate, sensual, and expressive, Belle's voice sounds as if it was created to sing love songs, as these 15 tracks attest. Whether putting her distinctive stamp on standards ("Make It Like It Was") or duetting with first-string bedroom crooners Johnny Mathis ("Better Together") and Barry White ("Quiet Time"), Belle proves perfectly suited to communicating matters of the heart. This is a fine sampling of her seductive brand of romantic soul.

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"Love Songs" (01/14/2003) R&B Neville, Aaron, A&M Records (USA)Personnel includes: Aaron Neville (vocals); Linda Ronstadt, Yakira (vocals). Producers include: Steve Lindsey, Linda Ronstadt, George Massenburg, Joel Dorn, Keith Andes. Compilation producers: Aaron Neville, Kent Sorrell, Andy McKale. Recorded between 1981 & 1997. All tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Truly: The Love Songs" (11/25/1997) R&B Richie, Lionel, Motown RecordsPersonnel includes: Lionel Richie, The Commodores (vocals); Bradley Cole (synthesizer, programming); Quincy D. Jones III (programming). Producers: Lionel Richie, James Anthony Carmichael, The Commodores, Stewart Levine. Engineers: Calvin Harris, Jane Clark, Daren Klein. Recorded at Oceanway Recording Studio, Conway Recording Studio, A&M Recording Studio, Hollywood, California; Motown Recording Studio, West Hollywood, California; Devonshire Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California.

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"The Love Songs Collection" (01/13/2004) R&B Pendergrass, Teddy, Philadelphia International/EMIPersonnel: Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Includes liner notes by Kevin Tong. Alongside Barry White and Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass is one of the ultimate "lover man" R&B singers. His rough-smooth voice, all intensity, texture, and intimacy, is so perfectly suited to Philly International's rich, string-sweetened production and silky grooves (not to mention Gamble & Huff's well-penned tunes) that it's no wonder he became one of the most popular R&B performers of the late-1970s and early-'80s. Love songs were Pendergrass's thing, and they make up the lion's share of any of his solo releases, so while a compilation entitled THE LOVE SONGS COLLECTION may seem a bit redundant, it is also (from a marketing perspective) totally understandable. That said, LOVE SONGS contains most of the singer's best-known hits, including "Turn Off the Lights," "Come Go With Me," and "Close the Door" (which remains something of a signature song). Though it sacrifices much of his best up-tempo material, this is, at 17 tracks, an excellent overview of Pendergrass's command of the slow jam.

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"Greatest Love Songs" (01/13/2004) R&B Hayes, Isaac, Hip-O RecordsPersonnel includes: Isaac Hayes (vocals, arranger, keyboards); Barry White (vocals); Pat Lewis (background vocals); The Bar-Kays. Producers include: Al Bell, Marvell Thomas, Allen Jones, Barry White, Jack Perry. Compilation producer: Dana G. Smart. Recorded between 1969 & 1991. Includes liner notes by Steven Ivory.

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"Love Songs" (01/14/2003) R&B Gaye, Marvin, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel: Marvin Gaye (vocals, arranger, Fender Rhodes piano, organ, synthesizer, vibraphone, drums, glockenspiel, bongos, congas, tambourine, bells); Gordon Banks (guitar, synthesizer, bass, drums, percussion, background vocals); Bobby Stern (harmonica, saxophone); Joel Peskin (alto & tenor saxophones); Harvey Fuqua (synthesizer, bass, drums, percussion, background vocals); Preston Wilcox (drums); William Bryant II (percussion); Connie Howard, The Waters (background vocals). Producers include: Marvin Gaye, Gordon Banks, Harvey Fuqua, Norman Whitfield, Bobby Scott. Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, David Ritz. Recorded between 1967 & 1984. All tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Forever More (Love Songs, Hits & Duets)" (04/13/1999) R&B Ingram, James, Private MusicPersonnel includes: James Ingram (vocals); John Tesh (vocals, piano, synthesizer); Linda Ronstadt, Patti Austin, Quincy Jones, Anita Baker, Michael McDonald (vocals); Walter (Juni) Morrison (various instruments). Producers include: Walter (Juni) Morrison, James Ingram, Quincy Jones, John Tesh, Peter Asher. Engineers include: Ross Palone, Bruce Swedien, Allen Sides. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

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"Love Songs" (01/04/2000) R&B Manhattans (The), Legacy RecordingsThe Manhattans: Gerald (Smut) Alston, Winifred (Blue) Lovett, Kenneth (Wally) Kelly, Edward (sonny) (Dip) Bivins (vocals). Producers include: Leo Graham, James Mack, Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter, Teddy Randazzo. Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, Winfred (Blue) Lovett. Tracks recorded between 1976 and 1981. Includes liner notes by Elvis Mitchell. Digitially remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).

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"Love Songs" (01/04/2000) R&B Williams, Deniece, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel includes: Deniece Williams, Johnny Mathis (vocals); Bill Neale, Ray Parker Jr. (guitar, background vocals); Al McKay, Steve Lukather (guitar); Don Renaldo (strings, horns); George Merrill (keyboards, synthesizer, background vocals); David Foster, Sylvester, Jerry Peters, Larry Farrow (keyboards); Gary Coleman (vibraphone); Bob Babbitt (bass, piccolo bass); David Hungate, David Shields, Verdine White (bass); Maurice White (drums, percussion, background vocals); Freddy White (drums, percussion); Denny Seiwell, Jeff Porcaro, Charles Collins (drums); Paulhino Da Costa, Ollie E. Brown, Larry Washington, Ed Shay (percussion); Dyanne Chandler, Oren Waters, Carl Carwell, Sydney Barnes, Carl Helm (background vocals). Producers include: Deniece Williams, Thom Bell, Jack Gold, David Foster, Bill Neale. Compilation producer: Leo Sacks. Engineers include: Don Murray, Jim Gallagher, Arthur Stoppe. Includes liner notes by Errol Nazareth.

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"Love Songs Vol. 1 (Rhino)" (01/16/2001) R&B Mayfield, Curtis, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions. Compilation producer: Michael Wesley Johnson. Includes liner notes by David Ritz. Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch and Bill Inglott (Digiprep). Best known as a gifted musician whose work often spoke out against societal injustices, and whose call for brotherhood influenced such future musical revolutionaries as Public Enemy and Bob Marley, the late Curtis Mayfield also had an equally compelling romantic side. The most notable developments in LOVE SONGS are in the increasing sophistication of Mayfield's musical arrangements as his career progresses. Although Mayfield and the Impressions came from a gospel background, early sides like "Grow Closer Together" and "You Must Believe In Me" are characterized by doo-wop flavored vocals and blaring brass arrangements. By the time Mayfield went solo in 1970, his trademarks were a lilting falsetto and classy recording techniques, resulting in lush orchestrations ("Love to Keep You Keep You In My Mind"), and sweeping fat-bottomed productions that recall Barry White ("You're So Good to Me"). Elsewhere Mayfield employs a lighter touch, placing acoustic guitar at the forefront of the cascading "When We're In Love" and slipping the subtle cry of a wah-wah guitar into "So You Don't Love Me." LOVE SONGS is a feast for both the soul and the heart.

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"Love Songs" (02/06/2001) R&B Osborne, Jeffrey, Hip-O RecordsPersonnel includes: Jeffrey Osborne. Compilation producers: Pat Lawrence, Dana Smart. Includes liner notes by Jeffrey Osborne. Digitally remastered by Gavin Lurssen (2001 The Mastering Lab)

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"Love Songs (Gold CD Hdcd Edition) [Remaster]" (02/05/2001) R&B Cole, Natalie, Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. (FranThis Asian version of Natalie Cole's LOVE SONGS features 19 digitally remastered tracks including "Unforgettable," " Inseparable," and "When I Fall In Love." This 2007 reissue of Natalie Cole's 2001 compilation, LOVE SONGS, is identical in track selection and sequencing to the earlier release, but it features a more recent and far more flattering cover photo of the singer. The 19-track selection contains most of Cole's biggest hits, including her posthumous duet with her father Nat "King" Cole on his signature hit "Unforgettable" and the rollicking "This Will Be An Everlasting Love," which in the months prior to this release had been used in an inescapable series of TV commercials for an Internet dating service, providing Cole with a renewed exposure.