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
