80s, DeepDiscount.com in R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music

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"Soul Hits of the 80's [Sony Music Box Set] [Box]" (02/17/2004) R&B Various Artists, Sony Music Distribution (USA)A budget three-CD set, Soul Hits of the 80's collects some of that awkward decade's soul moments from the Columbia/Sony catalog. Note the author's use of "moments" and the title's use of "hits," because they are, in fact, talking about the same songs. Not everything here was a hit, with some of the songs just squeaking into the Billboard Top 100; however, regardless of chart position, they do represent the era very well. There's a broad range of work here, from jazz crossovers like Stanley Jordan with "Heaven Sent You" and Grover Washington with "Summer Nights" to straight pop crossovers like Deniece Williams with "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and the classic and true hit "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins. Other actual chart-toppers here include "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, Herbie Hancock with the seismic hit "Rockit," and one-hit wonder Johnny Kemp with "Just Got Paid." Luther Vandross, Teena Marie, Bill Withers, Babyface, and Regina Belle are a few of the others whose tracks pepper this 40-song (!) collection. It's not definitive, but does a fine job of representing just how broad soul music's reach had become in the '80s. ~ Wade Kergan

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"Jukebox Hits of the '80s [Collectables] [Box]" (03/14/2006) R&B Various Artists, Collectables RecordsCollectables' Jukebox Hits of the '80s is an attractive package for consumers who want the biggest hits of the era. All 70 songs spread out over these five discs are recognizable. Unlike other similar sets, these songs are not re-recordings; these are the original hit versions. More than likely the casual listener will only need one track from Nena, Paul Young, Tommy Tutone, Toni Basil, or Quarterflash. The one major flaw of the series, besides lack of decent packaging, is that while disc one has 25 tracks, the other four feature half the songs per disc. This could have easily been contained to a more cost-effective three-disc set. ~ Al Campbell

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"Soul Hits of the 80's [Sony 2000]" (2000) R&B Various Artists, Sony Music Distribution (USA)

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"Funk Classics: The 80's" (10/23/2001) R&B Various Artists, Universal Special ProductsBy the early '80s, R&B acts had to embrace more polished productions and synth-based grooves or face extinction. Without looking too hard for rare gems, Funk Classics: The 80's offers 12 of the better-known tracks from 1980-1988. What's here is really no big surprise: Rick James' "Super Freak," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog," and the Gap Band's "You Dropped a Bomb" all make an appearance. Their strength as a good flow makes up for their ubiquitous presence on sets of this nature. The Bar-Kays' "Freakshow on the Dancefloor," Skyy's "Call Me," and the always-fun "So Fine" from Howard Johnson work even better due to their lower profile. As the '80s were not a monolithic decade for R&B style-wise, neither is this set. The graceful post-disco of the Brothers Johnson's "Stomp!" just doesn't mesh with late-'80s tracks like E.U.'s "Da Butt" and Salt-n-Pepa's "Push It"; it doesn't really have to. Funk Classics: The 80's isn't meant to be an essential or comprehensive CD. This set does indeed deliver the hits, but there are not enough of them and the sequencing diminishes what little is here. ~ Jason Elias

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"80's Urban Beats and Grooves" (09/17/2002) R&B Various Artists, Universal Special ProductsThe budget compilation '80s Urban Beats & Grooves mostly delivers on what the title promises, offering ten tracks from that decade, including the stripped-down funk balladry of Rick James' "Cold Blooded" and Cameo's "Candy," as well as the urban pop of Oran "Juice" Jones' "The Rain" and the new jack swing of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." Ready for the World's "Love You Down" and Gwen Guthrie's "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" are two of the other standout tracks. ~ Heather Phares The budget compilation '80s Urban Beats & Grooves mostly delivers on what the title promises, offering ten tracks from that decade, including the stripped-down funk balladry of Rick James' "Cold Blooded" and Cameo's "Candy," as well as the urban pop of Oran "Juice" Jones' "The Rain" and the new jack swing of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." Ready for the World's "Love You Down" and Gwen Guthrie's "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" are two of the other standout tracks, although songs by Klique, Angela Winbush, and Joyce Kennedy are pleasant but not especially captivating. Overall, the short length and fair-to-middling song selections on '80s Urban Beats & Grooves make it worthwhile only if you've been looking for one of the songs that appear here and don't want to pay a lot of money for it. ~ Heather Phares

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"Body and Soul: The 80's" (04/04/2006) R&B Various Artists, Time/Life MusicLiner Note Author: John Morthland. Photographers: David "Dudu" Fisher; Neal Preston; David Corio.

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"Soul Funk 80s" (05/27/2003) R&B Various Artists, Madacy DistributionLiner Note Author: David Roy. Photographers: Waring Abbott; David Corio; Raymond Boyd. Rather than home in on a tightly constricted time span, the 12 tracks on Madacy's Soul Funk 80s compilation span the whole decade, from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit" to Terence Trent D'Arby's "Wishing Well." The compilation does, however, keep something of a focus on songs that are upbeat, and they were all major hits when they were released. Otherwise, it's a fairly random selection, but the quality level is undeniable, with the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove," Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's "Head to Toe," Teena Marie's "Ooh La La La," Surface's "Closer Than Friends," and Babyface's "It's No Crime" leading the way. ~ Andy Kellman

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"Hit Me with Your 80's Box! [Box]" (01/29/2002) R&B Various Artists, Hip-O RecordsCompilation producers: Mike Ragogna, Pat Lawrence. Includes liner notes by Kevin Flaherty. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Liner Note Author: Kevin Flaherty. Photographers: B.C. Kagan; Larry Williams . Hit Me With Your 80's Box! is a sequel to Hip-O's previous three-disc compilation, I Want My 80's Box!, released six months earlier, and like its predecessor, it contains 42 pop singles chart entries from the 1980s, most of them released between 1981 and 1986, and all of them familiar to anyone who watched MTV in those years. In its first five years of existence following its premiere on August 1, 1981, MTV, which broadcast music videos pretty much 24 hours a day (as opposed to the varied programming that characterized the network 20 years later), heavily influenced the pop charts, contributing to the success of a raft of videogenic stars such as Duran Duran, Rick Springfield, and Billy Idol, all of whom are featured here. The set is not quite as hit-laden as I Want My 80's Box!, which contained 35 Top Ten hits, among them 15 chart-toppers; the statistics here are 31 Top Tens, of which ten went to number one. But the orientation is still the same -- the trendy dance-pop music of the first half of the '80s. Tracks have been licensed from all of the major labels, overcoming one of the usual problems with compilations. But other typical weaknesses remain. The sequencing makes no particular sense, though it moves in very rough chronological order, such that the early-'80s tracks are on the first disc and the third disc contains a track (Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam") that actually peaked in the charts in early 1990. And the selection consists of recordings that are compiled over and over, the big hits of lots of minor artists rather than big stars. So, this is not a comprehensive collection of the decade's most popular music. But if you grew up in the '80s, there's plenty here to enjoy. ~ William Ruhlmann

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"I Want My 80's Box [Box]" (07/17/2001) R&B Various Artists, Hip-O RecordsLiner Note Author: Kevin Flaherty. Released more or less in conjunction with MTV's 20th anniversary in 2001, this triple gatefold sleeve set (not a box as the title implies), with an appropriately gaudy 27-page book, delivers 42 typical examples of songs associated with the music channel in its fledgling years. With 35 Top Ten tracks, ten of which topped the charts, there's no shortage of video as well as radio memories incorporated into these three loosely chronologically arranged discs. Like many Hip-O releases, this favors music already owned by the Universal conglomerate. As such, some early MTV staples like Men at Work, Cyndi Lauper, and especially Duran Duran are MIA. Although their omission doesn't make this a substantially weaker set to the casual fan, more zealous listeners might notice the gaps. Covering the years from the network's sign-on during the afternoon of August 1, 1981 (with the Buggles' now classic "Video Killed the Radio Star"), until 1986, the collection gravitates to the slicker pop/new wave/R&B end of the scale, sacrificing edgier acts like the Clash, Stray Cats, and Prince, who were just as important to its early growth. Overall, the track list speaks for itself. The discs max out time-wise at a relatively conservative hour each, sticking firmly to a self-imposed 14-track limit, leaving at least 45 minutes of unused time across the triple album. Although the songs are sequenced to best blend into each other (synth pop standbys Eurythmics, a-ha, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and the Fixx are positioned together on disc two), the mood sometimes wildly shifts direction. Disc three includes Suzanne Vega's plaintive, folksy "Luka," Yello's jittery high-tech "Oh Yeah," and Tiffany's brittle, ear-wincing version of "I Think We're Alone Now." Aside from sentimental value, it's difficult to imagine anyone would want to hear all three within the same 15-minute time span. But, nostalgia is what this is all about. Ultimately, this is a representative enough sampling bound to elicit knowing grins and fond memories at your next '80s party from now-aging boomers who remember the good ol' days when MTV actually aired videos. It'll jolt them back to the time these songs ruled the cable waves, for better or worse creating an indelible mark on their musical upbringing. ~ Hal Horowitz

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"Modern Mix: 80's Dance Rarities, Vol. 1" (07/25/2000) R&B Various Artists, Street Beat RecordsThis is a continuous in-the-mix CD mixed by Steve Masters. Audio Mixer: Steve Masters. Modern Mix: 80's Dance Rarities, Vol. 1 features 13 dance/club tracks mixed by Steve Masters. Highlights include "Promise" by When in Rome, "It's My Life" by Dr. Alban, and "What Is Love" by Haddaway. ~ Al Campbell

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"#1 Soul Hits of the '80s" (07/27/2004) R&B Various Artists, Time/Life MusicLiner Note Author: Billy Altman. On Time-Life's #1 Soul Hits of the '80s, ten years of R&B chart-toppers are whittled down to a number small enough to fit onto one disc. One can only imagine how wonderful it would be to have enough volumes to cover all of the number one hits; this only seems like a good start. No emphasis is placed on any part of the decade, so there's plenty of range between the years, from Yarbrough & Peoples' "Don't Stop the Music" to Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." Even when the passing of time hasn't been kind to certain songs -- see DeBarge's "Rhythm of the Night" and Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" in particular -- they're at least funny, like a pair of British Knights shoes. ~ Andy Kellman

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"Radio Waves of the '80s: Urban Hits" (09/23/2003) R&B Various Artists, Universal Special ProductsRadio Waves of the '80s: Urban Hits offers a rather accurate sampling of the R&B songs that dominated radio station play lists during the decade in question. However, it's far too random and skimpy -- just ten tracks -- to be of much value. The picks stay true to the title of the disc, but only those who find themselves needing at least half of these songs will have any use for it. Like the other volumes in this series, you get what you pay for. Some of the more notable songs included: the Gap Band's "Outstanding," Stephanie Mills' "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)," Jody Watley's "Real Love," New Edition's "Can You Stand the Rain," and Pebbles' "Mercedes Boy." ~ Andy Kellman

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"80's Soul Sensations" (09/21/2004) R&B Various Artists, Music Club International Records (U

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"More Retro 70's and 80's" (07/20/2004) R&B Karaoke, Madacy Distribution

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"All Night Long: Classic Motown 12 Inch 80s Grooves" (10/20/2003) R&B Original Soundtrack, Motown RecordsWhile some of these soul and funk cuts were big hits for the Motown label, there are a number of choice rare groove cuts on this UK compilation that appear here on CD for the first time. The film All Night Long was a mediocre British potboiler made in the 1960s with a jazz soundtrack that easily eclipsed the movie itself. With a host of great British musicians and music mostly composed by Philip Green (who also directed most of the individual tracks), it is the presence of a few stars that will appeal to jazz collectors. Dave Brubeck makes a rare appearance away from his working quartet, accompanied by alto saxophonist Johnny Scott and trumpeter Bert Courtley in arrangements of his well-known "It's a Raggy Waltz" and another original, the somewhat eerie blues "Blue Shadows in the Street," the latter with Scott switching to flute. Bassist Charles Mingus is prominent in the quartet setting of Green's "Noodlin'," which features Tubby Hayes on vibes and guitarist Ray Dempsey. Although Brubeck and Mingus played together in the film, they don't appear together anywhere on this release; their only recording together, "Non-Sectarian Blues," can be found on the long out of print Brubeck LP compilation Summit Sessions. Hayes also doubles on flute and plays tenor sax on several tracks. More of a historical curiosity than an essential acquisition, it will be somewhat difficult to find. ~ Ken Dryden It's easy to dismiss what still remained of the venerable Motown imprint by the 1980s -- mainstays like Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson were recording for other labels, Stevie Wonder was reduced to pap like "I Just Called to Say I Love You," and the label's onetime dominance of the cultural landscape was reduced to virtually nothing. But every now and then, Motown was still capable of magic, especially when courting the disco audience -- the two-disc All Night Long documents the label's last fleeting moments of brilliance, when the rise of the extended dance mix expanded the three-minute soul symphonies of days past into sleek, silky epics maximized for dancefloor glory. Before dismissing the set on principle, consider that Diana Ross, collaborating with the production duo of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, reached the creative zenith of her solo career with "I'm Comin' Out" and "Upside Down," included here in their original 12" extended mixes -- likewise, Rick James was at the peak of his powers, unleashing his own "Give It to Me Baby" in addition to helming the Mary Jane Girls' stunning title cut. Granted, not everything here deserves the benefit of hindsight, but much of this material is surprisingly compelling -- proof that the Motown sound was still worth hearing well past its expiration date. ~ Jason Ankeny

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