The 80’s era of R&B music launched the careers of female singers like Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Janet Jackson. Meanwhile, the 80’s continued to propel the already popular musical resumes of Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin.
Still, there are always a handful of R&B female voices that fall under the musical radar and become unsung. This doesn’t happen because these women are less talented but because their names don’t echo the level of popularity like the others in the eyes of critics.
Nonetheless, we will highlight these extraordinary women in our March Throwback Thursday theme “Unsung Female Voices of the 80’s.”
First up, is Brooklyn-bred soul artist Stephanie Mills. While she released three studio albums in the mid-late 70’s, her big R&B hits didn’t start rolling in until the 80’s kicked off.
One hit in particular, “I Feel Good All Over,” off her tenth studio album “If I Were Your Woman,” made a great impression in the ears of R&B listeners. The love struck tune shot to No. 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, becoming her second number one on that chart. The song spent third consecutive weeks at the top spot in the summer of 1987.
While “I Feel Good All Over” made its mark on the R&B chart, it did not get its shine on the Hot 100. Nonetheless, the track helped her “If I Were Your Woman” reach platinum certification.
Watch her perform “I Feel Good All Over” below.
Music fact: Did you know Patti LaBelle was offered the song but turned it down?
