Top 10 Essential 1990s R&B and Soul Albums

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

This album is the cream of the crop, the standard-bearer, the measuring stick that all albums of its era should be judged against. It is to the '90s what Alicia Keys' album "Songs in A Minor" was to the '00s.

Track List:

1. Intro
2. Lost Ones
3. Ex-Factor
4. To Zion
5. Doo Wop (That Thing)
6. Superstar
7. Final Hour
8. When It Hurts so Bad
9. I Used to Love Him
10. Forgive Them Father
11. Every Ghetto, Every City
12. Nothing Even Matters
13. Everything Is Everything
14. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
15. Can't Take My Eyes off of You
16. Tell Him (Live)

R. (1998)

Though his past is speckled with several controversies, R. Kelly remains a musical genius. "R." is a testimony of the artist's raw talent. There are almost no duds on this album, even though there are a whopping 29 tracks between the two discs.

Disc 1 Track List:

1. Home Alone (feat. Keith Murray)
2. Spendin' Money
3. If I'm Wit You
4. Half On a Baby
5. When a Woman's Fed Up
6. Get up on a Room
7. One Man
8. We Ride
9. The Opera
10. The Interview (feat. Suzanne LeMignot)
11. Only the Loot Can Make Me Happy
12. Don't Put Me Out
13. Suicide
14. Etcetera
15. If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time
16. What I Feel/Issues

Disc 2 Track List:

1. The Chase
2. V.I.P.
3. Did You Ever Think
4. Dollar Bill
5. Reality
6. 2nd Kelly
7. Ghetto Queen (Crucial Conflict)
8. Down Low Double Life
9. Looking for Love
10. Dancing With a Rich Man
11. I'm Your Angel (Duet)
12. Money Makes the World Go Round
13. I Believe I Can Fly

Share My World (1997)

Mary J. Blige is another artist for whom it's difficult to choose a best '90s album, but "Share My World" can be considered first among equals as far as her albums go. Still, Mary's other '90s albums, "Mary" (1999), "My Life" (1994), and "What's the 411?" (1992) are all worthwhile in their own right.

Track List:

1. Intro
2. I Can Love You (feat. Lil' Kim)
3. Love Is All We Need (feat. Nas)
4. Round and Round
5. Share My World (Interlude)
6. Share My World
7. Seven Days (feat. George Benson)
8. It's On (feat. R. Kelly)
9. Thank You Lord (Interlude)
10. Missing You (feat. The Lox)
11. Everything
12. Keep Your Head
13. Can't Get You off My Mind
14. Get to Know You Better
15. Searching (feat. Roy Ayers)
16. Our Love
17. Not Gon' Cry

Brown Sugar (1995)

The opening title track in and of itself makes the "Brown Sugar" album from D'Angelo worth the purchase. There's plenty of other good music here, too, particularly a version of "Cruisin'" that's even better than Smokey Robinson's original.

Track List:

1. Brown Sugar
2. Alright
3. Jonz in My Bonz
4. Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine
5. Sh*T, Damn, Motherf*Cker
6. Smooth
7. Cruisin'
8. When We Get By
9. Lady
10. Higher

Baduizm (1997)

Erykah Badu seemingly appeared out of nowhere when she arrived on the scene in 1997 and blew up big time with her debut album, led by the single "On and On." Although she's still a relevant, creative artist to this day, nothing she's released since has equaled the overall quality of "Baduizm."

Track List:

1. Rim Shot (Intro)
2. On and On
3. Appletree
4. Other Side of the Game
5. Sometimes (Mix No. 9)
6. Next Lifetime
7. Afro (Freestyle Skit)
8. Certainly
9. 4 Leaf Clover
10. No Love
11. Drama
12. Sometimes
13. Certainly (Flipped It)
14. Rim Shot (Outro)

Forever My Lady (1991)

This album from Jodeci was considered near-perfect at the time of its release and even spawned three phenomenally successful hit singles "Forever My Lady," "Come & Talk to Me," and "Stay."

Track List:

1. Stay
2. Come & Talk to me
3. Forever My Lady
4. I'm Still Waiting
5. U and I
6. Interlude (553 Nasty)
7. My Phone
8. Gotta Love
9. Play Thang
10. It's Alright
11. Treat U
12. X's We Share
13. Cherish

Cooleyhighharmony (1991)

Back before they sold out — er, make that matured — Boyz II Men was a fun-loving, freewheeling group of guys. This album is their only one that's chock-full of the uptempo New Jack Swing that was popular at the time.

Disc 1 Track List:

1. Please Don't Go
2. Lonely Heart
3. This Is My Heart
4. Uhh Ahh
5. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
6. Motownphilly
7. Under Pressure
8. Sympin'
9. Little Things
10. Your Love
11. End of the Road
12. In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)
13. Uhh Ahh (Sequel Version)
14. Motownphilly (Remix Radio Edit)
15. Sympin' (Remix Radio Edit)
16. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye the Yesterday (Radio Version)
17. Al Final del Camino (End of the Road, Spanish Version)

Disc 2 Track List:

1. Just a Cover Up
2. Can't Be Liked
3. Motownphilly (12" Version)
4. Motownphilly (12" Dub)
5. Motownphilly (Quiet Storm Mix)
6. Under Pressure (Groovy Remix)
7. Under Pressure (Extended Remix)
8. Sympin' (Remix)
9. Sympin' (Remix Radio Edit Without Rap)
10. Uhh Ahh (Remix)
11. Uhh Ahh (Sequel Version with French Girl)
12. Uhh Ahh (Sequel Version Acappella)
13. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday (Gospel Version with Dedication)

Maxwell: MTV Unplugged (1997)

This seven-song, 34-minute live EP, which was released a year after Maxwell's debut album, is one of the best live R&B albums ever and is perfect mood-setting music for the bedroom. Check out his cover versions of Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" and Nine Inch Nails' "Closer."

Track List:

1. The Suite Urban Theme (The Hush)
2. Mello: Sumthin (The Hush)
3. The Lady Suite
4. This Woman's Work
5. Whenever Wherever Whatever
6. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
7. Gotta Get: Closer

Long Time No See (1997)

An underrated classic, Chico DeBarge had just been released from prison when he recorded this album. Instead of wildin' out, he became introspective. "Long Time No See" is sultry, soulful, and simmering. Must-hear songs "Iggin' Me," "No Guarantee," and his cover of Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man."

Track List:

1. Intro
2. Love Still Good
3. Iggin' Me
4. Virgin
5. No Guarantee
6. Ms. Wonderful
7. Was It Good
8. Physical Train
9. Trouble Man
10. Love Jones
11. Superman
12. One Love
13. Long Time No See
14. No Guarantee (feat. Joe) [Remix Version]
15. Outro

Hits (1997)

The multi-platinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! is where R&B icon Raphael Saadiq got his start in the 1980s. Since all of the the group's albums were stellar, it's near-impossible to pick just one out of the pack. This greatest hits package is the way to go.

Track List:

1. If I Had No Loot
2. Boys and Girls (Remix)
3. Annie May
4. The Blues
5. Don't Fall In Love
6. Little Walter
7. Thinking of You
8. Anniversary (Radio Version)
9. Feels Good
10. Let's Get Down
11. (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow
12. It Never Rains (In Southern California)
13. Baby Doll
14. Whatever You Want
15. My Ex-Girlfriend