The Best of 1970 Soul Music

Check out our collection of the best soul tracks from 1970. From Marvin Gaye to Aretha Franklin, these songs will get you moving.

Introduction

The 1970s was a golden era for soul music, with a host of legendary artists releasing classic tracks that have gone on to become timeless classics. If you’re a fan of soul music, then this is the list for you, as we count down the best soul tracks of the 1970s.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye (/ɡeɪ/; born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell. Gaye’s later work embraced social commentary (“What’s Going On” and “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”), mid-tempo soul (“Let’s Get It On”, “Sexual Healing”) and sexy funk (“Got to Give It Up”).

During the 1970s, he recorded the concept albums What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On. His later LP In Our Lifetime? was a personal album that reflected on his life at that time. Later in his career, Gaye ventured into disco (“You’re My Mack”) and rock music (“Far Cry”).

On April 1, 1984—Gaye’s 45th birthday—he was shot twice by his father after an argument at their house in Los Angeles. Gaye later died from his injuries at a local hospital.

The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group’s repertoire includes construction, pop, R&B, and psychedelic soul.

The Temptations were formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 by Otis Williams (baritone), Elbridge “Al” Bryant (bass), Melvin Franklin (bass/baritone), Larry Brown (first tenor), and Eddie Kendricks (second tenor). Their first hit single, “The Way You Do the Things You Do”, was released in 1964. The group’s greatest commercial successes came with their releases of “My Girl” (1964), “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (1966), and “I Can’t Get Next to You” (1969).

In 1970, the Temptations released their album Psychedelic Soul, which featured the hits “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Al Green

Al Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. He began his career singing gospel music in churches before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1965 where he started recording rhythm and blues for the Hi Records label. Green had a string of hits throughout the 1970s including “Tired of Being Alone”, “Call Me”, “Love and Happiness”, and his signature song, “Let’s Stay Together”. In the 1980s Green transitioned to a more pop-oriented sound with hits such as “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” and “Living for You”. He continued to record successfully throughout the 1990s and 2000s. His 2008 album Lay It Down topped Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, making it his first number-one album on that chart in 28 years.

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Franklin began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career, recording a series of soul albums for Columbia Records. Following her signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Spanish Harlem” and “Think”. These hits and more helped her to gain the title The Queen of Soul by the end of the 1960s decade. During this time, Franklin occasionally recorded gospel albums, beginning with 1972’s Amazing Grace. Her performance of the song at the funeral of civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson in 1968 earned her a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance.

Franklin continued to record acclaimed albums such as Sparkle (1976),Jump to Their Feet(1978),Who’s Zoomin’ Who?(1985),A Rose Is Still A Rose(1998),and so on . Aretha franklin has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling female artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best of 1970 soul music was a great year for the genre. There were many excellent albums released, and many great artists emerged. The music of this era is still enjoyable today, and it is clear that 1970 was a very important year for soul music.