The 100 Greatest Soul Songs of the 1980s

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The 1980s was a great decade for soul music. The emergence of now legendary solo singers like Luther and Anita, and the decade dominance by Michael and Whitney, among others, created years of fantastic new music in adult soul, funk and dance — music that still resonates today.

We wanted to celebrate the music of the 80s, so over the course of several weeks, thousands of SoulTrackers nominated and then voted on the Greatest Soul Songs of the 1980s. The results were a great selection of essential songs for Soul Music lovers. And now you can hear it too, with our Spotify player below. Enjoy!

AND CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF OUR OTHER POLLS

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1  Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
2  Sweet Love – Anita Baker
3  A House Is Not a Home –Luther Vandross
4  Purple Rain – Prince
5  Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
6  Smooth Operator – Sade
7  Love T.K.O. – Teddy Pendergrass
8  Never too Much – Luther Vandross
9  When Doves Cry – Prince
10  Thriller – Michael Jackson
11 Giving You the Best I’ve Got – Anita Baker
12 The Sweetest Taboo – Sade
13 Joy and Pain – Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly
14 I Feel For You – Chaka Khan
15 After the Love Has Gone – Earth Wind & Fire
16 Fire and Desire – Rick James and Teena Marie
17 Treat Her Like a Lady – Temptations
18 Ain’t Nobody – Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
19 You Give Good Love – Whitney Houston
20 Between the Sheets – Isley Brothers
21 If You Think You’re Lonely Now – Bobby Womack
22 Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington with Bill Withers
23 Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson
24 Forget Me Nots – Patrice Rushen
25 PYT – Michael Jackson
26 Take Your Time (Do It Right) – S.O.S. Band
27 Rock Me Tonight – Freddie Jackson
28 Saturday Love – Alexander O’Neal and Cherelle
29 Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind and Fire
30 Give Me the Night – George Benson
31 Love Come Down – Evelyn Champagne King
32 Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
33 This is for the Lover in You – Shalamar
34 Through the Fire – Chaka Khan
35 You Are My Lady – Freddie Jackson
36 Whip Appeal – Babyface
37 Juicy Fruit – Mtume
38 Secret Garden – Quincy Jones
39 1999 – Prince
40 One in a Million – Larry Graham
41 Human Nature – Michael Jackson
42 Give Me the Reason – Luther Vandross
43 Never Knew Love Like This Before – Stephanie Mills
44 On My Own – Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
45 Word Up! – Cameo
46 Super Freak – Rick James
47 And the Beat Goes On – Whispers
48 On the Wings of Love – Jeffrey Osborne
49 Outstanding – The Gap Band
50 Beat It – Michael Jackson
51 I Can’t Go for That – Hall and Oates
52 Make it Last Forever – Keith Sweat
53 You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
54 Superwoman – Karyn White
55 Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson
56 Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
57 Let It Whip – Dazz Band
58 Rock Steady – Whispers
59 And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going – Jennifer Holliday
60 Square Biz – Teena Marie
61 When I Think of You – Janet Jackson
62 Solid – Ashford and Simpson
63 Can’t Get Over You – Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
64 My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
65 She’s A Bad Mama Jama – Carl Carlton
66 Upside Down – Diana Ross
67 Back II Life – Soul II Soul
68 I Keep Forgettin’ – Michael McDonald
69 Master Blaster (Jammin’) – Stevie Wonder
70 Tender Love – Force MDs
71 Just Got Paid – Johnny Kemp
72 Overjoyed – Stevie Wonder
73 Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown
74 Yearning For Your Love – The Gap Band
75 Baby Come to Me – Patti Austin and James Ingram
76 Just Once – Quincy Jones / James Ingram
77 Send for Me – Atlantic Starr
78 Yah Mo Be There – James Ingram and Michael McDonald
79 A Night to Remember – Shalamar
80 Can You Stand the Rain – New Edition
81 Give It To Me Baby – Rick James
82 Celebration – Kool and The Gang
83 I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
84 Lady – Whispers
85 Computer Love – Zapp
86 Living All Alone – Phyllis Hyman
87 Always – Atlantic Starr
88 Don’t Disturb This Groove – The System
89 The Message – Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
90 I Like It – Debarge
91 The Glamorous Life – Sheila E.
92 Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
93 Careless Whisper – Wham
94 Shining Star – Manhattans
95 Sign Your Name – Terence Trent D’Arby
96 It’s Gonna Take a Miracle – Deniece Williams
97 Joy – Teddy Pendergrass
98 Stomp – Brothers Johnson
99 Two Occasions – The Deele
100T If You Were Here Tonight – Alexander O’Neal
100T Jesus Is Love – The Commodores

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