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Best crossover jazz songs of the 1980s

Cheap drum machines and the first affordable samplers changed who was allowed to make a record. Hip-hop moved from a party you had to be at to a 12-inch you could buy, and MTV made how a song looked part of the argument.

Songs from the crossover jazz albums of the 1980s, ordered by their own ratings rather than the record's.

Migration cover№ 1Suite from the Milagro Beanfield War (Fiesta)Dave Grusin · Migration
  1. 2Migration coverSuite from the Milagro Beanfield War (Milagro)Dave Grusin · Migration
  2. 3Migration coverSuite from the Milagro Beanfield War (Pistolero)Dave Grusin · Migration
  3. 4Migration coverSuite from the Milagro Beanfield War (Coyote Angel)Dave Grusin · Migration
  4. 5Migration coverSuite from the Milagro Beanfield War (Lupita)Dave Grusin · Migration
  5. 6Migration coverPolinaDave Grusin · Migration
  6. 7Migration coverT.K.O.Dave Grusin · Migration
  7. 8Migration coverIn The Middle Of The NightDave Grusin · Migration
  8. 9Migration coverOld BonesDave Grusin · Migration
  9. 10Migration coverDancing In The TownshipDave Grusin · Migration
  10. 11Migration coverWestern WomenDave Grusin · Migration
  11. 12Migration coverFirst-Time LoveDave Grusin · Migration
  12. 13Migration coverSouthwest PassageDave Grusin · Migration
  13. 14Migration coverPunta Del SoulDave Grusin · Migration
  14. 15Blue Chip coverNo More Nachos (Por Favor)Acoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  15. 16Blue Chip coverHearts in ChainsAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  16. 17Blue Chip coverBoulder CoasterAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  17. 18Blue Chip coverHighlandAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  18. 19Blue Chip coverArianeAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  19. 20Blue Chip coverBright TigerAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  20. 21Blue Chip coverWith You in MindAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  21. 22Blue Chip coverMaking WavesAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  22. 23Blue Chip coverThe Blue Chip BopAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  23. 24Blue Chip coverCatalina KissAcoustic Alchemy · Blue Chip
  24. 25Natural Elements coverLate Night Duke StreetAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  25. 26Natural Elements coverEvil the WeaselAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  26. 27Natural Elements coverBallad for KayAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  27. 28Natural Elements coverIf OnlyAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  28. 29Natural Elements coverCasinoAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  29. 30Natural Elements coverNatural ElementsAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  30. 31Natural Elements coverOvernight SleeperAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  31. 32Natural Elements coverDrake's DrumAcoustic Alchemy · Natural Elements
  32. 33Make Someone Happy coverDuke's PlaceLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  33. 34Make Someone Happy coverCary Paul and LouisaLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  34. 35Make Someone Happy coverWives and LoversLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  35. 36Make Someone Happy coverSpeak LowLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  36. 37Make Someone Happy coverI Can't Get StartedLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  37. 38Make Someone Happy coverClose Your EyesLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  38. 39Make Someone Happy coverMake Someone HappyLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  39. 40Make Someone Happy coverSatin DollLonnie Liston Smith · Make Someone Happy
  40. 41Silhouettes coverJust Us TwoLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  41. 42Silhouettes coverOnce Again LoveLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  42. 43Silhouettes coverCity of LightsLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  43. 44Silhouettes coverEnlightenmentLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  44. 45Silhouettes coverSummer AfternoonLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  45. 46Silhouettes coverSilhouettesLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  46. 47Silhouettes coverIf You Take Care of MeLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  47. 48Silhouettes coverWarmLonnie Liston Smith · Silhouettes
  48. 49Breakin' Away cover(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo a la TurkAl Jarreau · Breakin' Away
  49. 50Breakin' Away coverRoof GardenAl Jarreau · Breakin' Away

One great song, one bad album

Tracks carry their own ratings here, so a record you would never play front to back can still have a song worth defending.

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