Year Artist Song Album Notes 1971 The Temptations "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) " Sky's the Limit [ 7] 1971 Al Green "Let's Stay Together " Let's Stay Together [ 1] 1971 Jerry Butler "Ain't Understanding Mellow " The Sagittarius Movement (duet with Brenda Lee Eager [ 7] ) 1972 Luther Ingram "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right " independent single [ 7] 1972 Billy Paul "Me and Mrs. Jones " 360 Degrees of Billy Paul [ 6] 1973 Barry White "I've Got So Much to Give " I've Got So Much to Give [ 7] 1973 The Moments "Sexy Mama" independent single [ 8] 1973 Bloodstone "Natural High " Natural High [ 7] 1973 Roberta Flack "Killing Me Softly with His Song " Killing Me Softly [ 6] 1973 Marvin Gaye "Let's Get It On " Let's Get It On [ 9] 1973 Marvin Gaye "Distant Lover " Let's Get It On [ 6] 1973 Marvin Gaye "Come Get to This " Let's Get It On [ 10] 1974 Tower of Power "Time Will Tell" Back to Oakland [ 8] 1974 Barry White "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe " Can't Get Enough [ 1] 1974 Roberta Flack "Feel Like Makin' Love " Feel Like Makin' Love [ 6] 1974 The Stylistics "You Make Me Feel Brand New " Rockin' Roll Baby [ 11] 1975 The Blackbyrds "Walking in Rhythm " Flying Start [ 10] 1975 Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon " To Be True [ 12] 1975 Dorothy Moore "Misty Blue " Misty Blue [ 7] 1975 Natalie Cole "I Can't Say No" Inseparable [ 13] 1975 Natalie Cole "Inseparable " Inseparable [ 13] 1975 The Isley Brothers "For the Love of You " The Heat Is On [ 13] 1975 Smokey Robinson "Quiet Storm" A Quiet Storm [ 14] The genre is named after this song.1976 Marvin Gaye "After the Dance " I Want You [ 7] 1976 Commodores "Sweet Love " Movin' On [ 7] 1976 Norman Connors "You Are My Starship" You Are My Starship (vocals by Michael Henderson and Phyllis Hyman [ 6] ) 1976 George Benson "This Masquerade " Breezin' [ 10] 1976 L.T.D. "Love Ballad " Love to the World [ 6] 1977 The Isley Brothers "Footsteps in the Dark " Go for Your Guns [ 6] 1977 The Isley Brothers "Voyage to Atlantis" Go for Your Guns 1977 The Gap Band "Messin' with My Mind" The Gap Band [ 13] 1977 Bill Withers "Lovely Day " Menagerie [ 10] 1977 Natalie Cole "Peaceful Living" Unpredictable [ 13] 1977 Phyllis Hyman "I Don't Want to Lose You" Phyllis Hyman [ 13] 1977 Heatwave "Always and Forever " Too Hot to Handle [ 15] 1977 Natalie Cole "La Costa" Thankful [ 13] 1978 Teddy Pendergrass "Close the Door " Life Is a Song Worth Singing [ 6] 1978 The O'Jays "Use ta Be My Girl " So Full of Love [ 6] 1978 Angela Bofill "This Time I'll Be Sweeter " Angie 1978 Roberta Flack "The Closer I Get to You " Blue Lights in the Basement (duet with Donny Hathaway [ 6] ) 1978 Peabo Bryson "I'm So into You" Crosswinds [ 16] 1978 Chic "At Last I Am Free" C'est Chic [ 6] 1978 Rose Royce "Wishing on a Star " Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom [ 6] 1978 Teena Marie "Déjà Vu (I've Been Here Before)" Wild and Peaceful [ 17] 1978 Phyllis Hyman "The Answer Is You" Somewhere in My Lifetime [ 13] 1978 Phyllis Hyman "Gonna Make Changes" Somewhere in My Lifetime [ 13] 1978 Delegation "Oh Honey" The Promise of Love [ 8] 1978 Ashford & Simpson "Is It Still Good to Ya" Is It Still Good to Ya [ 12] 1978 Quincy Jones "I'm Gonna Miss You in the Morning" Sounds...and Stuff Like That!! (vocals by Luther Vandross and Patti Austin [ 6] ) 1978 Bobby Caldwell "What You Won't Do for Love " Bobby Caldwell [ 6] 1979 Herb Alpert "Rise " Rise [ 10] 1979 Stephanie Mills "Feel the Fire" What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin' (duet with Teddy Pendergrass [ 12] ) 1979 Peaches & Herb "Reunited " 2 Hot [ 7] 1979 The Gap Band "No Hiding Place" The Gap Band II [ 13] 1979 Curtis Mayfield "Between You Baby & Me" Heartbeat (duet with Linda Clifford [ 12] ) 1979 Natalie Cole "What You Won't Do for Love " We're the Best of Friends (duet with Peabo Bryson [ 13] ) 1979 Commodores "Still " Midnight Magic [ 18] 1979 Michael Jackson "I Can't Help It" Off the Wall [ 6] 1979 Angela Bofill "I Try" Angel of the Night [ 19] 1979 Smokey Robinson "Cruisin' " Where There's Smoke... [ 6] 1980 Kool & the Gang "Too Hot " Ladies' Night [ 10] 1981 Smokey Robinson "Being With You " Being With You [ 6] 1981 Al Jarreau "We're in This Love Together " Breakin' Away [ 10] 1981 Stephanie Mills "Two Hearts " Stephanie (duet with Teddy Pendergrass [ 20] ) 1981 Rose Royce "Golden Touch" Rose Royce V: Golden Touch [ 8] 1981 George Benson "Turn Your Love Around " The George Benson Collection [ 10] 1981 Diana Ross "Endless Love " Endless Love: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (duet with Lionel Richie [ 20] ) 1981 Luther Vandross "A House is Not a Home " Never Too Much [ 6] 1981 Grover Washington Jr. "Just the Two of Us " Winelight (vocal by Bill Withers [ 10] ) 1981 The Gap Band "Yearning for Your Love " The Gap Band III [ 6] 1981 The Gap Band "Nothin' Comes to Sleepers" The Gap Band III [ 21] 1981 Quincy Jones "Just Once " The Dude (vocal by James Ingram [ 6] ) 1981 Rick James "Fire and Desire" Street Songs (duet with Teena Marie [ 6] ) 1982 Patti Austin "Baby, Come to Me " Every Home Should Have One (duet with James Ingram [ 6] ) 1982 Marvin Gaye "Sexual Healing " Midnight Love [ 1] 1982 Tavares "A Penny for Your Thoughts " New Directions [ 8] 1982 Patrice Rushen "Remind Me" Straight from the Heart [ 8] 1982 Stevie Wonder "Ribbon in the Sky " Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I [ 10] 1982 Cheryl Lynn "If This World Were Mine" Instant Love (duet with Luther Vandross [ 12] ) 1982 Grover Washington Jr. "The Best Is Yet to Come " The Best Is Yet to Come (vocal by Patti LaBelle [ 10] ) 1982 Michael McDonald "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) " If That's What It Takes [ 10] 1982 DeBarge "All This Love " All This Love [ 6] 1983 Angela Bofill "Tonight I Give In" Too Tough [ 22] 1983 Al Jarreau "Mornin'" Jarreau [ 10] 1983 Marvin Gaye "'Til Tomorrow " Midnight Love 1983 The Isley Brothers "Between the Sheets " Between the Sheets [ 13] 1983 The Isley Brothers "Choosey Lover " Between the Sheets [ 13] 1983 Michael Jackson "Human Nature " Thriller [ 6] 1983 Michael Jackson "Baby Be Mine" Thriller [ 6] 1983 Michael Jackson "The Lady in My Life" Thriller [ 6] 1983 Peabo Bryson "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love " Born to Love (duet with Roberta Flack [ 12] ) 1983 Dionne Warwick "So Amazing" How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye [ 4] 1983 Dionne Warwick "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye " How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (duet with Luther Vandross [ 4] ) 1983 Art of Noise "Moments in Love " Into Battle with the Art of Noise [ 23] 1984 Lionel Richie "Hello " Can't Slow Down [ 6] 1984 Stevie Wonder "Love Light in Flight " The Woman in Red soundtrack [ 18] 1984 Sade "Hang On to Your Love " Diamond Life 1985 Sade "Smooth Operator " Diamond Life [ 6] 1985 Sade "Your Love Is King " Diamond Life 1985 Sade "The Sweetest Taboo " Promise [ 24] 1985 Billy Ocean "Suddenly " Suddenly [ 6] 1985 Chaka Khan "Through the Fire " I Feel for You [ 6] 1985 Luther Vandross "Creepin'" The Night I Fell in Love [ 18] 1985 Whitney Houston "Saving All My Love for You " Whitney Houston [ 6] 1985 Loose Ends "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating) " So Where Are You? [ 10] 1985 Force MDs "Tender Love " Krush Groove 1985 Stevie Wonder "Overjoyed " In Square Circle [ 6] 1986 Kenny G "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) " Duotones (vocal by Ellis Hall [ 10] ) 1986 The Gap Band "I Know We'll Make It" Gap Band VII [ 13] 1986 Shirley Jones "Do You Get Enough Love " Always in the Mood [ 10] 1986 René & Angela "You Don't Have to Cry" Street Called Desire [ 12] 1986 Anita Baker "Sweet Love " Rapture 1986 Anita Baker "Caught Up in the Rapture " Rapture 1987 Anita Baker "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year) " Rapture 1987 Anita Baker "No One in the World " Rapture 1987 Janet Jackson "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun) " Control 1987 Peabo Bryson "Without You " Leonard Part 6 (duet with Regina Belle ) 1987 Kashif "Love Changes" Love Changes (duet with Meli'sa Morgan [ 12] ) 1988 Anita Baker "Giving You the Best That I Got " Giving You the Best That I Got 1988 Keith Sweat "Make It Last Forever " Make It Last Forever (duet with Jacci McGhee [ 4] ) 1988 Anita Baker "Just Because" Giving You the Best That I Got 1988 Anita Baker "Lead Me into Love" Giving You the Best That I Got 1988 Brenda Russell "Piano in the Dark " Get Here (with Joe Esposito ) 1988 Al B. Sure! "Nite and Day " In Effect Mode [ 10] 1988 The Deele "Two Occasions " Eyes of a Stranger [ 4] 1988 New Edition "Can You Stand the Rain " Heart Break [ 25] 1989 Michel'le "Something in My Heart" Michel'le [ 4] 1989 James Ingram "I Don't Have the Heart " It's Real 1989 Luther Vandross "Here and Now " The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love [ 4] 1989 Randy Crawford "Knockin' on Heaven's Door " Rich and Poor [ 10] 1989 Maze "Silky Soul" Silky Soul [ 10] 1989 Skyy "Real Love " Start of a Romance [ 8] 1990 Najee "I'll Be Good to You" Tokyo Blue (vocal by Vesta Williams [ 10] ) 1990 Babyface "Whip Appeal " Tender Lover [ 6] 1990 Mariah Carey "Vision of Love " Mariah Carey [ 1] 1990 Whitney Houston "All the Man That I Need " I'm Your Baby Tonight [ 1] 1990 Quincy Jones "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) " Back on the Block (vocals by Al B. Sure! , James Ingram , El DeBarge , and Barry White ) [ 26] 1990 Freddie Jackson "Love Me Down " Do Me Again [ 1] 1990 Mariah Carey "Love Takes Time " Mariah Carey [ 1] 1991 Freddie Jackson "Do Me Again " Do Me Again [ 1] 1991 Fourplay "After the Dance " Fourplay (vocal by El DeBarge [ 10] ) 1991 Lisa Fischer "How Can I Ease the Pain " So Intense [ 4] 1991 Peabo Bryson "Can You Stop the Rain " Can You Stop the Rain [ 1] 1991 Teddy Pendergrass "It Should've Been You " Truly Blessed [ 1] 1991 Luther Vandross "Power of Love/Love Power " Power of Love [ 4] 1991 Tracie Spencer "Tender Kisses " Make the Difference [ 4] 1991 Phyllis Hyman "When You Get Right Down to It" Prime of My Life [ 13] 1992 Boyz II Men "End of the Road " Boomerang [ 4] 1992 Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You " The Bodyguard [ 1] 1992 Toni Braxton "Love Shoulda Brought You Home " Toni Braxton [ 27] 1992 Sade "No Ordinary Love " Love Deluxe [ 6] 1993 Sade "Kiss of Life " Love Deluxe [ 4] 1993 Sade "Cherish the Day " Love Deluxe [ 4] 1993 Vanessa Williams "Love Is " Beverly Hills 90210 (duet with Brian McKnight [ 20] ) 1993 Jon Lucien "Would You Believe in Me" Mother Nature's Son [ 28] 1993 Toni Braxton "Another Sad Love Song " Toni Braxton [ 4] 1993 Toni Braxton "Breathe Again " Toni Braxton [ 4] 1993 Toni Braxton "Seven Whole Days " Toni Braxton [ 4] 1994 Barry White "Practice What You Preach " The Icon Is Love [ 4] 1994 Janet Jackson "Any Time, Any Place " Janet [ 4] 1994 Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You " II [ 4] 1994 Luther Vandross "Always and Forever " Songs 1995 Faith Evans "Soon as I Get Home " Faith [ 4] 1995 Whitney Houston "Exhale (Shoop Shoop) " Waiting to Exhale [ 4] 1995 D'Angelo "Brown Sugar " Brown Sugar [ 4] 1995 TLC "Red Light Special " CrazySexyCool [ 4] 1996 Keith Sweat "Nobody " Keith Sweat (duet with Athena Cage [ 4] ) 1996 Maxwell "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) " Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite [ 4] 1996 Maxwell "Whenever Wherever Whatever" Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite [ 4] 1996 Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart " Secrets [ 4] 1997 Toni Braxton "How Could an Angel Break My Heart " Secrets [ 4] 1997 Toni Braxton "Let It Flow " Secrets [ 4] 1997 Toni Braxton "I Love Me Some Him " Secrets [ 4] 1997 Toni Braxton "I Don't Want To " Secrets [ 4] 1997 Erykah Badu "Next Lifetime " Baduizm [ 4] 1997 Mary J. Blige "Missing You " Share My World [ 4] 1997 Maxwell "This Woman's Work " independent single [ 4] 1997 Rachelle Ferrell "Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This" Rachelle Ferrell (duet with Will Downing [ 29] ) 1997 Walter Beasley "Visions" Tonight We Love [ 30] 1997 Usher "Nice & Slow " My Way [ 4] 1998 Monica "Angel of Mine " The Boy Is Mine [ 4] 1998 Jon B. "They Don't Know " Cool Relax [ 4] 1998 Phyllis Hyman "Funny How Love Goes" Forever with You (duet with Damon Williams [ 13] ) 1998 Phyllis Hyman "The Kids" Forever with You [ 13] 1998 Dru Hill "Beauty" Enter the Dru [ 4] 1998 Tyrese "Sweet Lady " Tyrese [ 4] 1998 Lauryn Hill "Ex-Factor " The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill [ 4] 1999 Brandy "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You " Never Say Never [ 4] 1999 Case "Happily Ever After " Personal Conversation [ 4] 1999 Brian McKnight "Back at One " Back at One [ 4] 1999 Luther Vandross "I'm Only Human" I Know (featuring Cassandra Wilson and Bob James [ 10] ) 1999 Joe "I Wanna Know " My Name Is Joe [ 4] 2000 D'Angelo "Untitled (How Does It Feel) " Voodoo [ 4] 2000 D'Angelo "Send It On " Voodoo 2000 Donell Jones "Where I Wanna Be " Where I Wanna Be [ 4] 2000 Kelly Price "As We Lay" Mirror Mirror [ 4] 2000 Carl Thomas "Lady Lay Your Body" Emotional [ 4] 2000 Sisqó "Incomplete " Unleash the Dragon [ 4] 2000 Musiq Soulchild "Love " Aijuswanaseing [ 4] 2004 Beyoncé and Luther Vandross "The Closer I Get to You " Dangerously in Love and Dance with My Father [ 4] 2004 Usher "Burn " Confessions [ 4] 2007 Justin Timberlake "Until the End of Time " FutureSex/LoveSounds (featuring Beyoncé [ 4] ) 2010 Alicia Keys "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready) " The Element of Freedom [ 31] 2012 Usher "Climax " Looking 4 Myself [ 32] 2013 Alicia Keys "Fire We Make " Girl on Fire [ 33] 2014 Nicki Minaj "Four Door Aventador" The Pinkprint 2015 Janet Jackson "No Sleeep " Unbreakable (featuring J. Cole [ 34] )