The Seven Song Itch - New Jack Swing

This genre evolved out of Old School Rap in the eighties, which transitioned into the nineties. New Jack Swing reigned supreme from 1986-1994 with over 160 artists that slid into this category.  Beginning with Club Nouveau’s “Lean On Me” (1987) to Madonna’s “Erotica.”(1992), there are way too many artists to cover the music with just seven songs. Even narrowing it down to one particular year (1991) was difficult, but this selection of songs have an upbeat and playful tone that I like to remember.  This was the heyday of these artists as they bring the sound of Motown, Atlantic, and Philly Soul to the mix—with a little Hip Hop shaken in for good measure.  For some of these artists, this style was an aspect of their career, for others, it was their entire career.  After this wave of music, there was a backlash, and the age of Gangsta Rap started to make its presence known, but that’s another playlist.

If you want to go directly to the YouTube Link of the video playlist click the link below.

NEWJACK SWING

1. Luther Vandross-“Power of Love/Love Power”(1991)

I've always been a Luther fan, but in the nineties, he was at the top of his game.  To me, he was known as the man of Love, because it was in most of his hit songs.  The music world lost this great voice in 2005, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of us all.

2. Shanice-“I Love Your Smile”(1991)

Babyface, among his other projects, produced this young ingénue.  The playful element of the song even has Babyface laughing at the end of the track.  Shanice bounced around with a couple of hits in the nineties, but then disappeared.  Rumor has it that she will be back with an album soon. 

3. TLC-“Baby Baby Baby”(1991)

This is another Babyface project that has a chilled out groove.  At the time, this was TLC's biggest hit, but they would go on to record the smash, "Waterfalls" just a few years later.  They were billed by Entertainment Weekly as "the perfect pop group" during this era.

4. Lisa Stansfield-“Change” (1991)

Lisa came to the party with her classic debut, "All Around The World" some years before, but with her album Real Love, which this track is taken from, she really hits her stride in having a soulful song that makes you wanna dance around. I Gotta have my English soul sister in this mix.

5. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince-“Summertime”(1991)

The song's music is a replay of "Summer Madness", a popular hit released by Kool & the Gang in 1974. In 1990 however, Will Smith (The Fresh Prince), was on the verge of bankruptcy, but then an oppertunity to have his own show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on NBC, pulled him back into the spotlight. During this time, he rebooted his musical career, and then parlayed that success into movie roles. Not bad from a prince that thinks his, "Parents Just Don't Understand." (1989)

6. Boyz II Men-"Motownphilly"(1991)

Back in the Eighties, New Edition was the flavor of the decade and spawned many solo/group projects--one of them was Bell Biv DeVoe.  They, in turn, discovered a few more groups, which included Another Bad Creation and well as the seminal band Boyz II Men.  They incorporated several styles, including New Jack Swing, as well as being respectful to their Motown and Philly Soul roots.

7. Prince–“Cream”(1991)

This was just after the dissolution of his previous back up band The Revolution and the creation of The New Power Generation. Later on he would go on to change his name to the unpronounceable symbol, but for now, he rises to the top again with this sassy track.

Just for kicks, here is a partial list (In Alphabetical order) of groups that have the New Jack Swing sound (Source Wikipedia)

1-900, 7669, Aaliyah, Aaron Hall, After 7, Al B. Sure!, Alexander O'Neal, Alyson Williams, Another Bad Creation, B Angie B, B.Brown Posse, Babyface, Basic Black, Bell Biv Devoe, Bingoboys, Blackgirl, BLACKstreet, Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Brandy, Brian McKnight, CeCe Peniston, Chante Moore, Charlie Wilson, Chris Bender, Christopher Williams, Chuckii Booker, Color Me Badd, Coming of Age, D.R.S., Damian Dame, David Peaston, Don Newkirk, Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, En Vogue, Entouch, Eric Gable, Father MC, Foster & McElroy, Full Force, General Kane, Georgio, Good 2 Go, Guy, Guys Next Door, Heavy D & The Boyz, Hi-Five, H-Town, II D Extreme, Immature, Intro, Jade, James Ingram, Jamie Foxx, Janet Jackson, Jasmine Guy, Jeff Redd, Jeremy Jordan, Jodeci, Jody Watley, Joe, Joe Public, Joey Lawrence, Johnny Gill, Johnny Kemp, Karyn White, Keisha Jackson, Keith Sweat, Kid n Play, Kool Moe Dee, Kris Kross, Kulcha, Kwame, LeVert, Lisa Stansfield, Little Shawn, LL Cool J, Lo-Key, Luther Vandross, Maestro Fresh Wes, Marc Nelson, Mary J. Blige, MC Brains, MC Hammer, MC Lyte, MC Trouble, Me-2-U, Men At Large, Michael Cooper, Michael Jackson, Michel'le, Mint Condition, MN8, Monica, Montell Jordan, New Edition, New Kids on the Block, Nice & Smooth, Nona Gaye, P.O.V., Paula Abdul, Paulina Rubio, Pebbles, Perfect Gentlemen, Portrait, Pretty In Pink, Prince & The New Power Generation, Quincy Jones, R. Kelly, Ralph Tresvant, Ready for the World, Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I., Remedy, Riff, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, Salt 'N' Pepa, Samuelle, Seo Taiji, Shai, Shanice, Silk, Simple Pleasure, Small Change, Snap!, Soul for Real, Soul II Soul, Sounds of Blackness, Special Generation, Stephanie Mills, Steven Randall Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Subway, SWV, Tara Kemp, Terri & Monica, Tevin Campbell, The Boys, The Gap Band, The Good Girls, The Honeys, The Mac Band, The Party, The Rude Boys, The U-Krew, Tim Owens, Tisha Campbell, TLC, Today, Tony Terry, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Tracie Spencer, Trey Lorenz, Troop, Tyler Collins, U.N.V., Usher Raymond, Vanessa Williams, Voices, Wooten Brothers, Wreckx-N-Effect, Zhané.