The Best of Soul Music from the 70s

The best of soul music from the 70s. Featuring Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and more.

Introduction

While the term “soul” can be used to describe almost any type of music with a strong emotional connection, it generally refers to a specific style that developed in the African American community in the early 1970s. This genre combines elements of gospel, R&B, and blues, and is often characterized by its focus on personal and social issues, as well as its use of call-and-response vocals.

Many of the most popular soul artists emerged from the South, where they were exposed to a variety of musical influences. Marvin Gaye, for example, was born in Washington, D.C., but he spent most of his childhood in Greensboro, North Carolina. Other important soul musicians from the South include Sam Cooke (Mississippi), Al Green (Arkansas), Isaac Hayes (Tennessee), and Otis Redding (Georgia).

While the North also produced some great soul musicians, such as Aretha Franklin (Michigan) and Curtis Mayfield (Chicago), it was the Southern artists who really defined the sound and style of this genre. If you’re looking for the best of soul music from the 1970s, you’ll definitely want to check out these artists!

What is Soul Music?

Soul music is a popular genre that originated in the African-American community in the United States in the 1950s. It is a combination of rhythm and blues, gospel, and sometimes jazz. Soul music became popular with mainstream audiences in the 1960s and 1970s. Artists such as Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin are considered to be some of the greatest soul musicians of all time.

The Origins of Soul Music

The term “soul” was originally coined in the late 1950s by R&B pioneer Moyfdest Pelham, of WVON radio in Chicago. At first it was used to describe African American popular music as a whole, but by the early 1960s the term “soul” was used to describe a new type of black pop music that combined elements of gospel, R&B and pop. This new sound was characterized by its passion, intensity and expressiveness, which were all qualities that Pelham felt Were missing from the polished pop sound of the time.

The first soul songs were recorded in the early 1960s by Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Otis Redding. These artists took the basic template of gospel music and infused it with a newfound sense of emotion and urgency. As the decade progressed, soul music evolved and matured, with artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Al Green pushing the genre in new and exciting directions. By the end of the 1970s, soul music had become one of the most popular and influential genres in America.

The 70s Soul Music Scene

The 1970s was a golden age for soul music, with a multitude of classic tracks released by legendary artists. Motown Records continued to produce hit after hit, while other labels like Philadelphia International Records and Stax Records were also churning out unforgettable tunes. It was a decade of incredible creativity, with new sounds and styles emerging all the time.

There were so many classic soul songs released in the 1970s, it’s impossible to list them all here. But some of the most memorable include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye, “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers, “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder, and “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. These are just a few of the countless classics that came out of the 1970s soul music scene.

The Best Soul Music of the 70s

Are you looking for the best soul music of the 70s? Look no further than this list of the decade’s top hits. From Marvin Gaye to Stevie Wonder, the 70s was a golden era for soul music. These are the songs that defined a generation.

1. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
2. “Love Train” by The O’Jays
3. “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
4. “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers
5. “Got to Give It Up (Part 1)” by Marvin Gaye
6. “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
7. “The Love I Lost” by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
8. “’80s Ladies” by Kool & The Gang
9. “Respect Yourself” by The Staple Singers
10. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder

Conclusion

The best of soul music from the 70s was a decade of great changes and evolution for the genre. Soul music became more experimental with new sounds and styles being created. Funk, disco, and electronic music all had an impact on soul music during this decade and helped to create some of the most iconic and timeless tracks in the genre. Artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, and others released some of their best work during this decade and set the stage for the future of soul music.