1. Michael Jackson
PYT (Pretty Young Thing)
Hearing a breathless Michael Jackson whisper his way under somebody’s clothes in this intro is almost as much fun as knowing that LaToya and Janet are doing the call and response background vocals. By time he commands, ”Pretty young things, repeat after me,” you can’t help but think he’s singing directly to you.
2. Donna Summer
Bad Girls
Come on, there are actual police whistles in this song, and the guitar is relentless to say the least. “Toot-toot, hey, beep-beep” is probably one of the best lyrics of all time.
3. Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Tell Me Something Good
If this song doesn’t reek of sensuality, then Chaka Khan can’t sing. Check out the brothers in the band responding to each verse with the best grunts the tribe could utter.
4. King Floyd
Groove Me
The slightly off-key groans that happen at completely unexpected moments in this song land it firmly in the realm of perfection. And the laziness of the horns makes you want to dance lying down.
5. Marvin Gaye
Got to Give it Up
Who are all these people having such a good time in the background of this song before Gaye even starts to sing? I’ve got to invite them to my next party.
6. Prince
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Let me get this right. This man gets away with telling a woman that he’s broke and doesn’t want to pressure her, but if she’s at all interested, he wants to be the only one to make her come….ahem…running. Oh the wonders of an impenetrable falsetto!
7. Aretha Franklin
Jump to It
Aside from one of the loveliest wars between a lead and her background singers that I’ve ever heard, this song includes Franklin scatting her way through the bridge and imitating the synthesizers on the track.
8. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Before I Let Go
If you don’t already love this song, if you are not swept toward glee by Beverly’s opening call to whomever may hear, if you can listen to his impassioned lead into the band’s focused bridge without singing along, then you are not a human being.
9. Teddy Pendergrass
I Don’t Love You Anymore
At some point in the studio, Pendergrass gets downright tired of singing and just starts to half yell to the woman, “Maybe someday when we get our heads together…” And these horns don’t even bother to feel sorry for the poor guy. You would think that the man who was so good at making us make love wouldn’t be able to walk out on anybody as mad as he is here. RIP, Teddy P.
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