Is this playlist for me?
If you love the sophisticated blend of pop, rock, jazz and R&B that took shape in the late 70s and early 80s and is associated with luminaries like Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, and Earth Wind & Fire, this playlist is for you. Interestingly many of the songs of that period had the word “night” in them (“Give Me The Night,” “Night Fever,” “Boogie Nights”), and seemed to evoke the sense of possibility that sets in after the sun goes down.
While this playlist is limited to new music, the songs incorporate elements like extended chords, modulation, vintage sound and production styles and the kind of intricate songcraft that distinguishes the best music of that era.
If I were just going to listen to one song, which should I pick?
Nothing at All by Sidibe is a masterpiece of this “genre” and a great place to start. Electric by Eva Celia is another, marked by the kind of stunning key changes that are harder to come by nowadays.
What genres are represented in this playlist?
R&B, Yacht rock, Jazz pop, Soul, Neo-R&B, Indie R&B,
Antecedents
This playlist is limited to new music, but it is inspired by music of the past. If you enjoy the distinct mood captured by these songs, this playlist may be worth checking out:
- Give Me The Night by George Benson
- Stomp by The Brothers Johnson
- Steppin’ Out by Joe Jackson
- Tell Me If You Still Care by The SOS Band
- Hangin’ on a String by Loose Ends
- Hey Nineteen by Steely Dan
- The Groove Line by Heatwave
If I like this playlist, what other ones should I check out?
Liminal overlaps considerably with Nightfall as both are focused on new music that weaves in the complex kinds of chord progressions that characterized popular music in the 70s and 80s. While Liminal is explicitly focused on songs where key-changes figure prominently in the construction of the song, that is just a facet of the overall sound in Nightfall.
Slow also overlaps with Nightfall, but emphasizes the laid-back, soulful aspect more. The songs in Nightfall skew more uptempo. Both of these playlists have some stunning key-changes and are worth checking out for fans of this sort of thing.
Wistful is a kind of counterpart to Nightfall. Wistful captures the bittersweet quality of late afternoon as shadows lengthen and the day winds down, while Nightfall is about the sense of excitement and intrigue that emerges after the sun sets. Both playlists are focused on new music that incorporates relatively complex chords (7th, 9th, slash chords, etc.) and modulating chord progressions.
Last Updated on December 23, 2024
