🎵 1980s Disco & Post Disco Wedding Songs
Boogie down the aisle with funky grooves, and dancefloor favorites from the decade that didn't quit.
Post-disco is a genre of music that emerged in the early 1980s, following the peak of the disco era. While it retains elements of disco, such as rhythmic beats and electronic instrumentation, post-disco incorporates new sounds and influences, including funk, new wave, and electronic music.
I must admit that I am not a house music guru. However, since I am talking about dance music, I must mention how house music emerged in Chicago in the 1980s, pioneered by Frankie Knuckles. I go more in-depth in my article Not All EDM Is Created Equal.
Table of Contents
Cocktail hour songs
Party songs
Spotify Playlist - 43 songs!
One condition to this list. Every song must have been released in the 1980s. Nothing from the 1970s and 1990s!
Check out the previously published 1980s Country, 1980s R&B, 1980s Rock, and 1980s New Wave.
1980s Disco & Post Disco
Cocktail Hour Songs
A Lover's Holiday - Change
1980 - "A Lover's Holiday" was the band’s debut single. It quickly became a dancefloor favorite and topped Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart along with two other tracks from the same album: “The Glow of Love” and “Searching”. The song is considered one of the first major boogie/disco-funk crossover hits of the ’80s.
Dolce Vita - Ryan Paris
1983 - “Dolce Vita” became a massive international success, topping charts in several countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands. In the UK, it reached #5 on the Official Singles Chart.
Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen
1982 - The song peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on the R&B chart, and #2 on the Dance chart. The music video features the forget-me-not flower, symbolizing enduring love and remembrance. It was sampled in Will Smith's 1997 hit “Men in Black”.
I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz
1986 - The song was first released in 1985. However, it was remixed by Dutch DJ and producer Peter Slaghuis and re-released the next year. The remixed version hit #1 on the Billboard Dance/Disco Club Play chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) - Kashif
1982 - The track marked Kashif's debut as a solo artist after his time with the funk band B.T. Express. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. Kashif was a pioneer in incorporating new technology into his music. He utilized the Synclavier, one of the first digital synthesizers and samplers.
I Like Chopin - Gazebo
1983 - The song was a worldwide hit, topping the charts in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, and Spain. The song remains a classic in the Italo disco era.
I Want To Be Your Man - Zapp
1987 - Roger Troutman is the frontman of the funk band Zapp. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has been featured in various films and TV shows, including Love & Basketball and Everybody Hates Chris.
I Wonder If I Take You Home - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
1985 - The song topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It also peaked at #6 on the Billboard R&B chart and #34 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track is influential in the freestyle genre.
Juicy Fruit - Mtume
1983 - “Juicy Fruit” became Mtume's biggest hit. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, holding the spot for eight consecutive weeks. Mtume crafted the song using the Linn LM-1 drum machine, a pioneering digital drum machine of the era. The song has been sampled in over 100 songs, including The Notorious B.I.G.'s “Juicy”.
Just an Illusion - Imagination
1982 - It peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and reached #15 on the Billboard Hot Dance chart. With a blend of synthesizers, handclaps, and funk rhythms, it is characteristic of the post-disco era.
Let’s Hear It for the Boy – Deniece Williams
1984 - The song was prominently featured in the movie Footloose, starring Kevin Bacon. It played during the memorable scene where Ren teaches Willard to dance. It crushed on the charts, hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, and the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Love Come Down - Evelyn "Champagne" King
1982 - “Love Come Down” became a major hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B and Dance/Disco charts and #17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Nights Over Egypt - The Jones Girls
1981 - The song blends elements of soul, funk, and jazz. It peaked at #23 on the Billboard R&B chart. The track was released as a 12-inch single, allowing DJs to play the extended version on dance floors.
Saturday Love - Cherrelle feat. Alexander O'Neal
1985 - The song reached #2 on the US R&B chart and #26 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal showcase a conversational duet style, with both artists exchanging verses that reflect on a romantic relationship. It was written and produced by the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Square Biz - Teena Marie
1981 - The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Dance Club chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A revamped version titled “Hollywood Square Biz” was used as the theme for the game show Hollywood Squares from 2002 to 2004.
Take Your Time (Do It Right) - The S.O.S. Band
1980 - The song hit #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and the Billboard Dance chart while peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Two Occasions - The Deele
1987 - I threw in a quintessential R&B ballad from the late 1980s. It was co-written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. It peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. The song was referenced by Mariah Carey in "We Belong Together".
Upside Down - Diana Ross
1980 - The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also clinched the #1 spot on both the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The track was produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic.
You're the One for Me - D-Train
1981 - The song reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and #13 on the Billboard R&B chart. It is characterized by layered electronics, drum machines, and prominent synth bass.
Party Songs
A Night to Remember - Shalamar
1982 - The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, #15 on the Dance/Disco chart, and #44 on the Billboard Hot 100. Did you know - Shalamar's Jeffrey Daniel showcased the Moonwalk during a performance of "A Night to Remember" on the UK music show Top of the Pops months before Michael Jackson's iconic rendition.