The Best Soul Music of the 1970s

The 1970s were a decade of great soul music. Here are some of the best soul songs of the 1970s.

Introduction

The 1970s was a decade of tremendous change for soul music. The classic sound of the 1960s gave way to a more experimental style as artists began to explore new ways to express themselves. This period saw the rise of funk, disco, and other hybrid genres that would come to dominate the pop charts in the years to follow.

While some purists may decry the change that took place during this time, there is no denying that the 1970s produced some of the most innovative and timeless soul music ever recorded. From Al Green to Marvin Gaye to Curtis Mayfield, the decade was overflowing with talented artists who pushed the genre in new and exciting directions.

In this article, we’ll countdown the 20 best soul songs of the 1970s. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to groove!

The Birth of Soul Music

In the early 1970s, soul music began to change. Gone were the delicate love ballads and mellow grooves of the previous decade. In their place came a new breed of soul singer, one who was not afraid to speak up about the problems facing society. This new brand of soul music, which would come to be known as “conscious soul,” would deal with topics such as poverty, racism, and other social ills. The best soul music of the 1970s would come from these “conscious” singers, who would use their music to spread a message of hope and equality.

The Golden Age of Soul Music

The 1970s was a truly golden age for soul music. It was a decade when the genre reached its commercial and artistic peak, with a blend of smooth, sexually charged R&B and tough, politicized funk creating hits for everyone from Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield to James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic. But it was also a time of great upheaval in America, as the civil rights movement gave way to Black Power, and economic recession turned cities like Detroit and Philadelphia into war zones. These social and economic forces shaped the sound of soul in the 1970s, making it both more reflective of reality and more escapist than ever before. Here are ten essential soul tracks from the 1970s.

The Legacy of Soul Music

The 1970s was a decade that saw the birth of a new genre of music: soul. Soul music was a blend of rhythm and blues, gospel, and pop, and it quickly became one of the most popular genres of the time. The 1970s was also a decade that saw the rise of some of the most iconic soul artists of all time, including Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Donna Summer.

While soul music is often associated with the African-American experience, it was actually created by both black and white musicians. In fact, some of the most popular soul songs of the 1970s were penned by white songwriters, such as Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Nevertheless, soul music would come to be inextricably linked with the African-American experience, particularly in terms of its themes of love, loss, and struggle.

The legacy of soul music can still be heard today in the work of contemporary artists like Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars. But its impact can also be felt in other genres like hip-hop and R&B. Indeed, without soul music, contemporary pop music would sound very different indeed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 1970s was a great decade for soul music. Many different artists and styles emerged during this time, and the genre continued to evolve. There were many different subgenres of soul music that developed during the 1970s, and each had its own unique sound and style. The 1970s was a decade of great soul music, and it is still remembered fondly by many fans today.