70s soul vs 90s R&B

[JadeB]

I personally like 70s soul better. It's heavy on violins, pianos, flutes, harps, soft singing. It literally feels like you're entering the Gates of Heaven listening to it. Better lyrics too in my opinion.

90s R&B punches above its weight though. Can't imagine a childhood without SWV, TLC, Aaliyah, (even though I can't stand him now) R. Kelly.

 

[Rawtid]

70’s soul. Music was about love. 90’s started introducing sex into the music. Has its place, but I prefer the old school.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

70’s soul. Although I’m a hip-hop baby, I’d say objectively 70’s soul is the GOAT genre/era of music.

 

[frush11]

70s was just better overall, the music was just on another level. More expansive, more adventurous.

 

[tuckgod]

Wouldn’t have 90s R&B without 70s soul.

The artists that made 90s R&B grew up on 70s soul and kept the tradition alive with a modern twist.

There was no complete disconnect in black culture until you new nikkas was born in the 90s.

 

[King]

90s R&B was largely formulaic and structured by corporate interests.

Not saying there weren’t great singers and producers. But once a sound was established - that was the way it had to be:

Jodeci kinda broke through that whole barrier into another structured lane.

But 70s soul was a completely different animal - real musicians, actual instruments, decades of skill and experience, talented world-class musical geniuses were at work in creating some of the most timeless, creative, and soulful music imaginable. So much experimentation was going on with the sounds at the time - black excellence at its finest.

 

[Boonapalist]

70’s soul. I’d even take 80’s R&B over the 90’s which I know is a unpopular opinion.

 

[get these nets]

No comparison.
Early to mid 70s was an especially creative and fertile period for music in general. Soul music in particular.

 

[SupaDupaFresh]

Early 2000s Neo-Soul (Badu, Jill Scott, D'Angelo, Dilla, Dwele, etc) is the only other period that comes close. Otherwise the 1970s is the undisputed golden age of Soul and R&B. No question.

 

[Kool]

70’s soul. I’d even take 80’s R&B over the 90’s which I know is a unpopular opinion.

This.

I'd take the 80's over the 70's and the 90's.

The 80's was a mixture of old school real musicians and the new technology with drum machines, samplers ect.

And don't get me started on Anita Baker and Luther Vandross in the 80's or Micheal Jackson(Human Nature) and Prince(The Beautiful One's, Adore ect...) in the 80's. Give me the 80's.

1982



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1982



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1988

 

[King]

This.

I'd take the 80's over the 70's and the 90's.

The 80's was a mixture of old school real musicians and the new technology with drum machines, samplers ect.

And don't get me started on Anita Baker and Luther Vandross in the 80's or Micheal Jackson(Human Nature) and Prince(The Beautiful One's, Adore ect...) in the 80's. Give me the 80's.

1982



1984



1982



1985

80s were nice, they’re in a different realm IMO

But nothing compares to real instruments tho. Those 70s brass and strings sections

 

[SupaDupaFresh]

This.

I'd take the 80's over the 70's and the 90's.

The 80's was a mixture of old school real musicians and the new technology with drum machines, samplers ect.

And don't get me started on Anita Baker and Luther Vandross in the 80's or Micheal Jackson(Human Nature) and Prince(The Beautiful One's, Adore ect...) in the 80's. Give me the 80's.

1982



1984



1982



1985

Im a huge R&B head and I consider the years 1979-1983 to be my favorite era overall of black music. If Im ever in a shyt mood I can always turn up an early 80s Salsoul record and feel great again. It was the perfect culmination of modern musicianship, classic misicianship, gospel tradition, Blues/Jazz tradition, and new age tech all rolled up in one beautiful period.

But with that said I just cant compare it or even group it in sometimes with R&B of the surrounding decades. I almost consider it like its own genre, sorta. Like "Electronic" R&B. I know some people like to call the R&B of this era "boogie" and other labels.

Its kind of like how punk rock in the 80s also took on a life of its own with synths and electronics being adapted and was called New Wave to distinguish this period from traditional punk rock music of the 70s and following decades.

 

[Chip Skylark]

70s!!!!!!!!!! The best decade in music to me. You could feel everything they were singing!!!! You felt it in their soul.

come on if you can’t groove and feel this something is wrong with you



and Isley brothers have the greatest cover of all time imo. They added so much soul and power to this

 

[avon barksdale]

I love the 90s but growing up listening to 70s cleaning up on a Sunday morning was the best... steve said it best

 

[Kyle C. Barker]

70’s soul. Although I’m a hip-hop baby, I’d say objectively 70’s soul is the GOAT genre/era of music.

70s soul gave us the golden years of rap