Here at Backyard Road Trips, we’re replacing the “R” for “road” with “R&B” for this mixtape. Now let’s set some parameters here. This is not a soul mixtape, for although that could also fit under the “R&B” category, this is more of the guilty pleasure R&B of the 80s and 90s, from legends of the genre such as Lionel Richie and Prince to one-hit wonders, including Color Me Badd and Rockwell. Let’s start our BYR&BT Mixtape! It’s the perfect jam for your next road trip.
New Edition, Prince, and Lionel Richie start us off since they are all represented more than once on this playlist. With hits all around from these, you’ll be humming them all day. Bobby Brown’s hit “My Prerogative” comes in next The Time afterward. The Time is best known as the rival band in Purple Rain. Bone Thugs cross that R&B and hip hop line with 1st of tha Month with Al B. Sure! working “Nite and Day.”
Bedroom ballads of Jeffrey Osborne and Ginuwine hit back to back, with Whitney Houston ready to dance following up. Rockwell brings the 80s synthesized funk. Chaka Khan, Timex Social Club, and Paula Abdul are the next three. Maxi Priest who straddles the reggae line, sings “Close to You.”
Flip the tape over!
Halfway through, New Edition is back with “Candy Girl,” with Color Me Badd and Gregory Abbott bringing us back to the bedroom. My favorite part of Pebbles’ “Girlfriend” is the dog barking sounds, full of 80s synth madness. We slow down for a bit with a few tender tracks, with Rocky Padilla, Force M.D.s, and Jon Secada. Soul for Real brings the (candy) rain.
Rick James and Bell Biv Devoe are superfreakilyposionous. Be careful because the Isley Brothers are absolutely “Contagious”. Janet Jackson gets “Nasty” while TLC is on the “Creep.” Tony! Toni! Tone! make sure you’re feeling good. And repeat offenders of Lionel (we’re on a first-name basis), Prince, and New Edition finish it up.
From bedroom ballads to funky jams, one-hit wonders to superstars, the BYR&BT Mixtape is sure to get those boomboxes crankin’. See the link below for the actual Spotify playlist.
For more Backyard Road Trip mixtapes check out A Very Merry Yacht Rock Christmas, BYRT’s Ultimate Yacht Rock Playlist, and Backyard Road Trips’ Hip Hop Playlist.
BYR&BT Mixtape
- New Edition – Popcorn Love
- Prince – If I Was Your Girlfriend
- Lionel Richie – All Night Long
- Bobby Brown – My Prerogative
- The Time – Jungle Love
- Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – 1st of tha Month
- Al B. Sure! – Nite and Day
- Jeffrey Osborne – You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)
- Ginuwine – Pony
- Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody
- Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me
- Chaka Khan – I Feel for You
- Timex Social Club – Rumors
- Paula Abdul – Cold Hearted
- Maxi Priest – Close To You
- New Edition – Candy Girl
- Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up
- Gregory Abbott – Shake You Down
- Pebbles – Girlfriend
- Rocky Padilla – Jackie
- Force M.D.’s – Tender Love
- Jon Secada – Just Another Day
- Soul For Real – Candy Rain
- Rick James – Super Freak
- Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison
- The Isley Brothers – Contagious
- Janet Jackson – Nasty
- TLC – Creep
- Tony! Toni! Tone! – Feels Good
- Lionel Richie – Dancing On The Ceiling
- Prince – Gigolos Get Lonely Too
- New Edition – Mr. Telephone Man
