Come now Metafilter, help me compile a playlist of the best R&B Summer Jams from the years 1986 to 1991, which are similar in radness to the two featured inside this post...

May 16, 2012 1:18 PM

Come now Metafilter, help me compile a playlist of the best R&B Summer Jams from the years 1986 to 1991, which are similar in radness to the two featured inside this post...

The Gold Standard for this playlist are the following two tracks

1. Al B Sure - Nite & Day

2. The System - Don't Disturb this Groove

I want to cruise in the white 5.0 with my top down, Sprite in hand and Generra Hypercolor tee whipping in the breeze.

These must be summer songs only, songs that sound like summer, and sure maybe songs released at other times of the year which fit the bill.

Maybe I'll even compile and share it as a Spotify playlist.
So whatchagot?

posted by Senor Cardgage to media & arts (52 answers total)

I immediately thought back to about '88 and Joy and Pain by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock.
posted by MoonOrb at 1:23 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

is 1991 a hard cutoff?
posted by koroshiya at 1:24 PM on May 16, 2012

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince "Summertime?"
posted by entropicamericana at 1:24 PM on May 16, 2012 [7 favorites]

Its a firm cutoff but as long as the song's sound fits the spirit we can be flexible.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 1:26 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

It's always summer in Cali.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:33 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Somewhere in David Simon's "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," he identifies "It Takes Two" (1988) as the official song of summer mayhem in Baltimore.
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:34 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

I know it came out in the autumn, but Groove is in the Heart by Dee-Lite does it for me.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:36 PM on May 16, 2012 [3 favorites]

I *love* this question. Some of these songs may be a bit outside your years, but they immediately came to mind:

Heavy D - Now That We Found Love

Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It

DeBarge - Rhythm of the Night

Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack

Snap - The Power

Wiggle It

EMF - Unbelievable

Positive K - I Got a Man

Domino - Getto Jam
posted by gnutron at 1:44 PM on May 16, 2012 [7 favorites]

gnutron is putting it down hard
posted by Senor Cardgage at 1:46 PM on May 16, 2012 [5 favorites]

It Never Rains in Southern California, Tony! Toni! Tone! (1990)
posted by mhum at 1:46 PM on May 16, 2012

Totally came here to recommend Don't Disturb This Groove. It maybe too up-tempo, but Jerk Out by the Time occupies the same neighborhood in my mind.
posted by activitystory at 1:46 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh good, The Rain came out in 1986. It rains in the summer sometimes, right?
posted by activitystory at 1:49 PM on May 16, 2012

Motownphilly, Boyz II Men (1991)
posted by mhum at 1:50 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

gnutron is putting it down hard

You said it. That Mark Morrison jam is blowing my mind. How have I never heard that?
posted by activitystory at 1:52 PM on May 16, 2012

Deeper Shade of Soul - Urban Dance Squad
posted by timsteil at 1:54 PM on May 16, 2012 [3 favorites]

I love you for this question.

Sensitivity - Ralph Tresvant
posted by ladybird at 1:55 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Can't Stop - After 7
posted by ladybird at 1:58 PM on May 16, 2012

Neneh Cherry, "Buffalo Stance"
posted by FrauMaschine at 2:08 PM on May 16, 2012 [3 favorites]

Oh man. I'm not going to get anything done.

Rub You the Right Way, Johnny Gill (1990)
Poison, Bell Biv DeVoe (1990)
Can I Kick It, A Tribe Called Quest (1991)
Me, Myself and I, De La Soul (1989)
If It Isn't Love, New Edition (1988)
Every Little Step, Bobby Brown (1989)
posted by mhum at 2:16 PM on May 16, 2012 [4 favorites]

Wreckx-N-Effect - Rump Shaker
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This
TLC - Diggin' On You
2Pac - I Get Around
LL Cool J - Around the Way Girl

Also see The Wackness soundtrack.
posted by girlmightlive at 2:28 PM on May 16, 2012 [3 favorites]

De La Soul, "Eye Know"
posted by FrauMaschine at 2:33 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is all good stuff but shiiiiit I forgot about that first TLC record.
Damn that was good.
So were the others :)
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:34 PM on May 16, 2012

It's '85, but Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam - I Wonder If I Take You Home?. And Head to Toe (1987).
posted by pised at 2:39 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Young MC, "Bust A Move"
posted by FrauMaschine at 2:42 PM on May 16, 2012 [2 favorites]

some of these are totally outside your yearspan, but.

soul for real: candy rain/every little thing i do
jodeci: stay/come and talk to me
guy: let's chill
blackstreet: no diggity/before i let you go/don't leave me
cupid: 112
silk: freak me

might i also recommend the soundtrack to new jack city?
posted by koroshiya at 2:56 PM on May 16, 2012

I have already begun putting em together in a Spotify playlist

http://open.spotify.com/user/123856918/playlist/4eJw01AL7ookOe5BLPu8CD
posted by Senor Cardgage at 3:01 PM on May 16, 2012 [5 favorites]

I don't think these are all officially "summer" songs, but a nice streamable/downloadable mix.
posted by timsteil at 3:01 PM on May 16, 2012

what about Soul II Soul - Back to Life. That song sounds like late-summer 1989 to me, like nobody's business. Also, if Wikipedia is to be believed, apparently the song made it onto the pilot episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Who can argue with that kind of cred?
posted by .kobayashi. at 3:13 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Two just hit me (and are now in the playlist): Jodi Watley's "Real Love" and Pebbles' "Mercedes Boy"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 3:20 PM on May 16, 2012

Oh and this Playlist is now COLLABORATIVE!

Please play nice.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 3:36 PM on May 16, 2012

I was just about to say Pebbles's "Mercedes Boy"! Also her song "Girlfriend."

In a similar vein, how about Pretty Poison - Catch Me (I'm Falling) and Expose - Point of No Return?

This entire thread reads like my middle school Cassingle collection.
posted by dayintoday at 4:19 PM on May 16, 2012

Hi-Five- The Kissing Game
Joe Public- Live and Learn
Pebbles- Giving You the Benefit

If you want to go super cheesy,

Dino- Romeo
Tara Kemp- Hold You Tight
posted by reenum at 4:53 PM on May 16, 2012

Dude I wanted Tara Kemp on there sooooooo bad but she is not on Le Spotify
posted by Senor Cardgage at 5:02 PM on May 16, 2012

"Here Comes the Hot Stepper" is from 1994 but I think meets your sound.

Also, for when you are macking with the top down, I might suggest Two Occasions. If I had a cruisin' car I would cheese to this shamelessly.
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:35 PM on May 16, 2012 [2 favorites]

Also from 1995, but one of the greatest summer songs of the 90's was Mariah Carey's Fantasy remix with Ol Dirty Bastard.

Please, please make a playlist!
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:42 PM on May 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oooh, this was 8th grade-high school for me!
Goldmine - Pointer Sisters
Hold On - En Vogue
Come Go With Me - Expose
Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Janet Jackson
Escapade - Janet Jackson
posted by SisterHavana at 5:42 PM on May 16, 2012

OOOOH! I love this question! Don't know if other people will think of these of summer songs, but they remind me of summer.

Need You Tonight - Inxs
Love Shack - B-52s
Your Wildest Dreams - Moody Blues
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss - PM Dawn
La Bamba - Los Lobos
Get Outta my Dreams, Get Into my Car- Billy Ocean
Batdance - Prince
Kokomo - Beach Boys
Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
Push It - Salt n Pepa
Sweet Child o' Mine - GnR
Wild Wild West - Escape Club
Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz
I Touch Myself - Divinyls
posted by triggerfinger at 5:57 PM on May 16, 2012

Some work trigger finger, but were looking more in the R&B mode here. Still, great tracks all there.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 5:59 PM on May 16, 2012

And I forgot:

I Want Her - Keith Sweat
Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
I Wanna Be The One - Stevie B

(Oh wow, is this ever bringing back the memories!)
posted by SisterHavana at 6:02 PM on May 16, 2012

Just reiterating that the playlist (linked up there) is now open for subscription and is set to Collaborative, so anyone can add to it :)
posted by Senor Cardgage at 6:04 PM on May 16, 2012

Ah crap, totally missed that part, sorry!
posted by triggerfinger at 6:05 PM on May 16, 2012

No problem :)
posted by Senor Cardgage at 6:09 PM on May 16, 2012

KP & Envyi - Shorty Swing My Way
posted by girlmightlive at 8:14 PM on May 16, 2012

Rene & Angela - I'll Be Good
Timex Social Club - Rumors
Levert - Casanova
Monie Love - It's A Shame
Karyn White - The Way I Feel About You
Another Bad Creation - Iesha

hip hop, but i definitely remember dancing to this in 89-90: Kid N Play - Rollin With Kid N Play

outside your time frame but my favorite R&B summer jam is Zhané Hey Mr DJ
posted by citron at 11:30 PM on May 16, 2012

Man, how could I forget Da Butt? Classic.

I also have to put in a vote for "All Night Long". Cheesy, but still going after all these years.

And! Supersonic by JJ Fad.
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:23 AM on May 17, 2012

I just happen to have such a playlist handy, entitled "Oaktree and Gumby Hair," for when I'm ready to roll my Z. Cavaricci cuffs up tight and hit up some fly honeys at the park. When you first described what you were looking for, I immediately thought: Zapp & Roger - "Computer Love", but I don't see it on your Spotify playlist yet. So we'll start with that track, and of course their equally bumpable "I Wanna Be Your Man", and then I would record myself doing an intro to these and how they make me think of my special lady, because I'm a casette DJ:

Stevie B. - "Spring Love"
SWV - "Weak"
Rappin' 4-Tay - "Playaz Club"
Paperboy - "Ditty"
Candyman - "Knockin' Boots", as well as:
H-Town - "Knockin' Boots", expressing the same sentiment.
Color Me Badd - "I Wanna Sex You Up"
Jodeci - "Come And Talk To Me"
Suzanne Vega - "Tom's Diner (DNA Remix)"
Brotherhood Creed - "Helluva" ("Groovin'" had to be one of the most heavily sampled tracks in 80's/90's R&B history)
Lighter Shade of Brown - "On A Sunday Afternoon"
Ralph Tresvant - "Do What I Gotta Do"
Shai - "If I Ever Fall In Love"
Shanice - "I Love Your Smile"
K7 - "Move It Like This"

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go splash on some more Cool Water and see if there's anything new at Cross Colours.
posted by krippledkonscious at 2:51 AM on May 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

The Spotify playlist is epic! Thanks Senor!
posted by gnutron at 9:14 AM on May 17, 2012

A couple from Tevin Campbell:
Round And Round
Strawberry Letter 23
posted by SisterHavana at 9:29 AM on May 17, 2012

And how has Luther Vandross not been mentioned yet?

Give Me The Reason
Stop To Love
posted by SisterHavana at 9:45 AM on May 17, 2012

The Last 30 years of Songs of Summer might help, but only gives you one for each year and they are not all R&B.
posted by soelo at 1:01 PM on May 17, 2012

Summer Anthems
posted by timsteil at 4:31 PM on May 19, 2012

Has anyone made a YouTube playlist for awesome thread?
posted by cuteforce at 4:18 PM on May 26, 2012