The Best of 1970s Soul Music

A look back at some of the best soul music of the 1970s.

Introduction

The 1970s were a decade of great change for soul music. The genre continued to evolve, with artists experimenting with different sounds and styles. This decade saw the rise of disco and the decline of traditional soul, but there were still plenty of great soul songs released in the 1970s.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best soul songs of the 1970s. We’ll start with a few essential tracks, then move on to some lesser-known gems. So whether you’re a die-hard fan of soul music or just getting started, this guide will help you find some of the best music from this pivotal decade.

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, and Jermaine, with younger brothers Marlon and Michael joining soon after. The Jackson 5’s first four singles–”I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There”–were all number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They are notable as the first African American group to gain a crossover following with white audiences on the pop charts.

Stevie Wonder

With hits like “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” Stevie Wonder dominated the 1970s soul music scene. He’s one of the most successful and influential artists of all time, and his contributions to soul, R&B, and pop music are undeniable. If you’re a fan of 1970s soul music, you absolutely need to check out Wonder’s work from this era. You won’t be disappointed.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as a member of the group The Miracles, and as a solo artist. Gaye’s later recordings influenced numerous artists across musical genres including R&B, soul, pop, disco, techno and hip hop. His best-known singles include “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968), “What’s Going On” (1971), “Let’s Get It On” (1973) and “Sexual Healing” (1982).

Born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. in Washington, D.C., he was the first son of Martha and Marvin Gay Sr., who were both young African Americans from local middle-class families. His father played saxophone in Marvin Gaye Jr.’s high school band; his mother was a domestic worker. As a child, Gaye was quiet and withdrawn; he struggled through his early school years and was often teased by classmates because of his effeminate +mannerisms+. He had few close friends; one was future songwriter biography Gerry Goffin. Goffin’s parents believed that their extroverted son would benefit from spending time with their more introverted neighbor; they encouraged the boys’ friendship. By junior high school, Goffin had become friends with another neighborhood boy, Paul Simon; they bonded over their shared love of doo-wop music. In 1956, at the age of thirteen, Gaye dropped out of high school and joined different doo-wop groups including the Rainbows and Majestics.

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has been referred to as “The Queen of Soul” and “Lady Soul”. She is known for her powerful vocal ability, range, and emotional expression. Franklin began her career singing gospel music as a child at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was minister. At the age of eighteen, she embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but only achieving modest success. 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” and “Think”. These hits and more helped her to gain the title The Queen of Soul by the end of the 1960s decade. In 1998, Franklin won Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for the song “A Rose Is Still a Rose”, making her the first female artist to win in both categories in one year.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 1970s was a decade that saw the rise of soul music. With artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin producing some of the genre’s most iconic tracks, the 1970s cemented soul music’s place in music history. While the decade saw many different styles of soul music emerge, it was undoubtedly a golden age for the genre.