The 100 Greatest Soul Songs of the 70s

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For many soul music lovers, the Golden Age of Soul Music was in the 1970s. It was a decade of political turmoil around the world, but also one of incredible creativity, as artists took control of their careers and addressed both social issues and issues of the heart in new ways. And what incredible music resulted!

Over the course of several weeks, thousands of SoulTrackers nominated and then voted on the Greatest Soul Songs of the 1970s. The results were a great selection of essential songs for Soul Music lovers.  We hope you like it. And now you can also listen to this entire list on Spotify. See the player below!

AND CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF OUR OTHER POLLS  

 
1  What’s Going On
Marvin Gaye
2  Let’s Get It On
Marvin Gaye
3  Let’s Stay Together
Al Green
4  If You Don’t Know Me by Now
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
5  Just My Imagination
Temptations
6  Me and Mrs. Jones
Billy Paul
7  Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Marvin Gaye
8  Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
The Delfonics
9  Theme From Shaft
Isaac Hayes
 10   Midnight Train to Georgia
Gladys Knight and the Pips

11  Rock With You – Michael Jackson
12  Papa Was a Rolling Stone – Temptations
13  Wake Up Everybody – Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
14  You Make Me Feel Brand New – Stylistics
15  Distant Lover – Marvin Gaye
16  Where Is the Love – Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
17  Superfly – Curtis Mayfield
18  Close the Door – Teddy Pendergrass
19  Love Train – O’Jays
20  Loving You – Minnie Riperton
21  Have You Seen Her – Chi-Lites
22  For the Love of You – Isley Brothers
23  Always and Forever – Heatwave
24  Use Ta Be My Girl – the O’Jays
25  One Nation Under A Groove – Funkadelic
26  Backstabbers – O’Jays
27  In the Rain – The Dramatics
28  Killing Me Softly – Roberta Flack
29  Tell Me Something Good – Rufus
30  I’ll Be Around – Spinners
31  Living for the City – Stevie Wonder
32  I’m Still in Love with You – Al Green
33  Betcha By Golly Wow – Stylistics
34  Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
35  Got to Give it Up – Marvin Gaye
36  You Know How to Love Me – Phyllis Hyman
37  Off The Wall – Michael Jackson
38  Oh Girl – Chi-Lites
39  What You Won’t Do For Love – Bobby Caldwell
40  Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden and Whitehead
41  Family Affair – Sly and the Family Stone
42  For the Love of Money – O’Jays
43  I Want You – Marvin Gaye
44  We Are Family – Sister Sledge
45  Shining Star – Earth Wind & Fire
46  Love Don’t Love Nobody – Spinners
47  That Lady – The Isley Brothers
48  Easy – Commodores
49  I’ll Take You There – Staples Singers
50  Love Won’t Let Me Wait – Major Harris
51  Best of My Love – The Emotions
52  September – Earth Wind & Fire
53  The Ghetto – Donny Hathaway
54  Thin Line Between Love and Hate – The Persuaders
55  You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine – Lou Rawls
56  Got to Be Real – Cheryl Lynn
57  Kiss and Say Goodbye – The Manhattans
58  Shame – Evelyn Champagne King
59  Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
60  Free – Deniece Williams
61  This Masquerade – George Benson
62  Happy Feelin’s – Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
63  Lady Marmalade – Labelle
64  Walk Away From Love – David Ruffin
65  Love On a Two Way Street – The Moments
66  Strawberry Letter 23 – Brothers Johnson
67  Street Life – The Crusaders feat. Randy Crawford
68  I Wish – Stevie Wonder
69  Float On – The Floaters
70  Lean on Me – Bill Withers
71  Natural High – Bloodstone
72  Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
73  Wildflower – New Birth
74  Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
75  Can’t Get Enough of Your love – Barry White
76  It’s a Shame – The Spinners
77  Good Times – Chic
78  Everybody Plays The Fool – The Main Ingredient
79  Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
80  Sideshow – Blue Magic
81  Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway
82  I’ll Be Good to You – Brothers Johnson
83  Smiling Faces Sometimes – The Undisputed Truth
84  O-o-h Child – The Five Stairsteps
85  Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
86  Brick House – Commodores
87  Flashlight – Parliament
88  Ladies night – Kool and the Gang
89  You’re Still a Young Man – Tower of Power
90  War – Edwin Starr
91  This Will Be – Natalie Cole
92  Walking in Rhythm – Blackbyrds
93  What A Fool Believes – Doobie Brothers
94  I Wanna Get Next to You – Rose Royce
95  Show and Tell – Al Wilson
96  Fantasy – Earth Wind & fire
97  Reunited – Peaches & Herb
98  Still Water (Love) – The Four Tops
99  Feel the Fire – Peabo Bryson
100(T) Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
100(T) The Love You Save – The Jackson 5

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