The Best of 1970s Soul Music
A look at some of the best soul music of the 1970s, including hits from Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder.
Introduction
The 1970s was a decade of great change for soul music. The independent soul scene experienced a boom, with more and more labels and artists releasing music on their own. At the same time, disco was taking off, and many soul artists began incorporating elements of the new style into their own music. This led to some of the most innovative and exciting soul music of the decade.
There were a number of classic soul albums released in the 1970s, by both established artists and new talents. Here are just a few of the best soul albums from the decade.
The Temptations – All Directions (1972)
The Temptations were one of the most successful groups of the 1960s, and they continued their hot streak in the 1970s with All Directions. The album features a mix of uptempo tracks and ballads, all delivered with The Temptations’ trademark harmonies. Standout tracks include “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” and “Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On”.
Aretha Franklin – Amazing Grace (1972)
Aretha Franklin’s live album Amazing Grace is one of the most celebrated gospel albums of all time. Recorded over two nights at Los Angeles’ New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, the album features Franklin at her very best, belting out gospel classics with her trademark power and passion.
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)
Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On is often cited as one of the best albums of all time, not just in the realm of soul music. The album is a masterful blend of social commentary and deeply personal reflection, set to some of Gaye’s most gorgeous melodies. Tracks like “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” remain as relevant today as they were when they were first released.
Curtis Mayfield – Super Fly (1972)
Curtis Mayfield’s Super Fly soundtrack is one of the defining documents of 1970s blaxploitation cinema. It’s also one of Mayfield’s greatest achievements as an artist, seamlessly blending funk, soul, and rock to create a sound that was both fresh and timeless. The title track is an undeniable classic, but the entire album is essential listening.
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 was an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana by brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon Jackson. The band’s debut album, “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5” (1969), included the No. 1 single “I Want You Back”. The group signed with Motown Records in 1968 and went on to become one of the best-selling groups of all time.
The Jackson 5’s second album, “ABC” (1970), featured the No. 1 singles “ABC” and “The Love You Save”. The group’s third album, “Maybe Tomorrow” (1971), included the No. 1 single “Never Can Say Goodbye”. The Jackson 5’s fourth album, “Lookin’ Through the Windows” (1972), included the Top 10 single “Daddy’s Home”.
The group’s fifth album, “Get It Together” (1973), featured the Top 10 single “Don’t Say Goodbye Again”. The Jackson 5’s sixth album, “Moving Violation” (1975), featured the Top 10 single “Forever Came Today”. The group disbanded in 1989 following Jermaine Jackson’s departure.
Stevie Wonder
William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He is the founder and CEO of Motown Records. As one of the major creative forces behind Motown, Robinson produced and co-wrote many of the label’s hits. He is noted for his trademark falsetto singing voice and for his prolific songwriting abilities. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in both 1997 (as a solo artist) and 1988 (as a member of The Miracles), Robinson was ranked number 24 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” in 2008, and number 10 on their 2010 list of “The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time”.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was one of the most prolific and influential soul musicians of the 1970s. He began his career as a Motown artist, releasing a string of hits including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “What’s Going On.” Gaye later expanded his sound, incorporating elements of funk and disco into his music. He also became known for his socially conscious lyrics, addressing issues such as racism, police brutality, and drug addiction. Gaye’s final album, ” Midnight Love,” was released in 1982 and featured the hit single “Sexual Healing.”
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She is a former Gospel singer who achieved mainstream success with her recordings in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including such hit songs as “Respect”, “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)”, and “Spanish Harlem”. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Franklin is one of the best-selling female artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide.
Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn Franklin. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother was a gospel singer; both parents performed regularly in their church choir. She had three sisters: Erma, Carolyn, and Bunny, and one brother: Carl. Services were often held in the basement of their home on Bergen Street in Detroit’s North End; despite the poverty that surrounded them, the family refused to move. Aretha’s father encourages her career as a singer by buying her a piano when she was 12 years old. He also helped her secure jobs singing at local nightclubs when she was 14 years old.
Conclusion
What a time it was for soul music in the 1970s! So many incredible artists and songs came out of that decade, and it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few. But if we had to choose, these would be our picks for the best of 1970s soul music.
Do you agree with our choices? What are your favorite soul songs from the 1970s? Let us know in the comments!
