This is a list of songs associated with the quiet storm radio format, widely heard in the United States starting in 1976 as a form of early evening/late night easy listening music aimed at a sophisticated African American audience. Quiet storm radio programs thrived in the 1980s, with many stations across the US carrying a quiet storm program at night, and a few stations broadcasting in the format all day long. The field adapted in the 1990s as new listeners embraced neo-soul experimentation, hip hop samples and beats, as well as more explicit sexual themes. Slow jams with quiet storm elements continued to be produced through the 2000s and 2010s.

Quiet storm songs are a mix of genres, including pop, contemporary R&B, smooth soul, smooth jazz and jazz fusion – songs having an easy-flowing and romantic character. The format first appeared in 1976 but initially it drew from songs recorded earlier. After the radio format became popular, songs were written to fit the format, and in that manner the radio style became a broad "super-genre" of music.

Songs

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

See also List of contemporary R&B ballads List of smooth jazz songs Urban contemporary

References