Billboard Black Singles Chart – February 4, 1984 (Mixcloud Exclusive)

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Enjoy this week's Billboard soul chart from 1984, ranked from 20 to 1 as a Mixcloud Exclusive!

We are approaching the mid-'80s and almost all of the classic soul artists have disappeared from view, with the exception of one of the all-time greats, Patti Labelle. Her Philly soul ballad If Only You Knew is even at number 1 on the chart! 😊 The list is dominated by a tight electronic sound. Some hip hop is also emerging with Twilight 22, still categorized as “electro” at the time. It was clear that some big changes in the musical landscape were going on.

The track by Patti Labelle is from her LP I'm In Love Again that was released in November 1983. It received critical and commercial success after the album became LaBelle's first to chart the top 40 of the Billboard 200, peaking at number 40 and reaching number 4 on the R&B albums chart, her highest to date at the time. With sales of over 500,000 copies, I'm in Love Again was certified gold by the end of 1984. Patti Labelle was back in business after her enormous success with Labelle the decade before.

At number 20 on the chart is Bronx native Angela Bofill. She had already some experience as a singer in several groups before her debut album Angie came out in 1978. With her strong, distinctive alto, she turned out to be an outstanding interpreter of jazzy soul ballads. Between 1978 and 1984, Bofill had consistent success on the R&B charts, with six albums making the Top 40, including two that reached the top ten. During this period, seven of her singles reached the R&B Top 40 as well. Bofill's career had a serious backlash after 1984, when she was dropped by her record company Arista in favour of future superstar Whitney Houston.

Tracklist:

Angela Bofill – Gotta Make It Up To You [B-Side]
Evelyn “Champagne” King – Action
The Gap Band – Jam The Motha’ [Party Mix]
Pieces Of A Dream – Fo-Fi-Fo
Ray Parker Jr. – I Still Can’t Get Over Loving You
Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson – Say Say Say
Twilight 22 –  Electric Kingdom
Con Funk Shun – Thinking About You, Baby [B-Side]
Luther Vandross – I’ll Let You Slide
Debarge – Time Will Reveal
Dazz Band – Joystick
J. Blackfoot – Taxi
Cheryl Lynn – Encore
James Ingram & Michael McDonald – Yah Mo B There
Lionel Richie – Running With The Night
D-Train – Something’s On Your Mind
Kool & The Gang – Joanna
The Deele – Body Talk
Shannon – Let The Music Play
Patti Labelle – If Only You Knew

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