Criteria: These Top 10 R&B albums of each year 1980-1989 were ranked based on impact, influence and popularity.
10 Best R&B Albums of 1989
1. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 Janet Jackson2. Keep On Movin' Soul II Soul3. Foreign Affair Tina Turner4. Stay with Me Regina Belle5. Tender Lover Babyface6. 2300 Jackson Street The Jacksons7. Larger Than Life Jody Watley8. Silky Soul Maze9. The Man Is Back! Barry White10. Bulletproof Heart Grace Jones
10 Best R&B Albums of 1988
1. Don't Be Cruel Bobby Brown2. Any Love Luther Vandross3. Giving You the Best That I Got Anita Baker4. Karyn White Karyn White5. Don't Let Love Slip Away Freddie Jackson6. Oasis Roberta Flack7. In Effect Mode Al B. Sure!8. Guy Guy9. Vesta 4 U Vesta Williams10. ck Chaka Khan
10 Best R&B Albums of 1987
1. Bad Michael Jackson2. Characters Stevie Wonder3. One Heartbeat Smokey Robinson4. Jody Watley Jody Watley5. If I Were Your Woman Stephanie Mills6. Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby Trent D'Arby7. Make It Last Forever Keith Sweat8. Touch the World Earth, Wind & Fire9. Hearsay Alexander O'Neal10. All in the Name of Love Atlantic Starr
10 Best R&B Albums of 1986
1. Control Janet Jackson2. Dancing on the Ceiling Lionel Richie3. Give Me the Reason Luther Vandross4. Break Every Rule Tina Turner5. Word Up! Cameo6. Love Zone Billy Ocean7. Winner in You Patti LaBelle8. Just Like the First Time Freddie Jackson9. Rapture Anita Baker10. Precious Moments Jermaine Jackson
10 Best R&B Albums of 1985
1. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston2. Nightshift Commodores3. Rock Me Tonight Freddie Jackson4. The Night I Fell in Love Luther Vandross5. Rhythm of the Night DeBarge6. Patti Patti LaBelle7. Promise Sade8. As the Band Turns Atlantic Starr9. Can't Stop the Love Maze10. All for Love New Edition
10 Best R&B Albums of 1984
1. Purple Rain Prince and the Revolution2. Private Dancer Tina Turner3. Emergency Kool & the Gang4. Suddenly Billy Ocean5. Solid Ashford & Simpson6. New Edition New Edition7. Swept Away Diana Ross8. Gap Band VI The Gap Band9. She's Strange Cameo10. Starchild Teena Marie
10 Best R&B Albums of 1983
1. Busy Body Luther Vandross2. Can't Slow Down Lionel Richie3. Powerlight Earth, Wind & Fire4. Born to Love Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack5. Between the Sheets Isley Brothers6. Get It Right Aretha Franklin7. Cold Blooded Rick James8. Stay with Me Tonight Jeffrey Osborne9. No Parking on the Dance Floor Midnight Star10. Juicy Fruit Mtume
10 Best R&B Albums of 1982
1. Thriller Michael Jackson2. Midnight Love Marvin Gaye3. Lionel Richie Lionel Richie4. Jump to It Aretha Franklin5. Donna Summer Donna Summer6. Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I Stevie Wonder7. Janet Jackson Janet Jackson8. So Excited! The Pointer Sisters9. Get Loose Evelyn "Champagne" King10. The Other Woman Ray Parker Jr.
10 Best R&B Albums of 1981
1. Raise! Earth, Wind & Fire2. Being with You Smokey Robinson3. Street Songs Rick James4. In Our Lifetime Marvin Gaye5. The Poet Bobby Womack6. Something Special Kool & the Gang7. Never Too Much Luther Vandross8. A Woman Needs Love Raydio9. Black & White Pointer Sisters10. It Must Be Magic Teena Marie
10 Best R&B Albums of 1980
1. Diana Diana Ross2. Hotter than July Stevie Wonder3. The Two of Us Yarbrough & Peoples4. Give Me the Night George Benson5. Love Somebody Today Sister Sledge6. Three for Love Shalamar7. TP Teddy Pendergrass8. Real People Chic9. Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack10. S.O.S. The S.O.S. Band