Best 1970s Soul and R and B Songs

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1. 1
   CM
   ▶

   Move On Up

   Curtis Mayfield · from Curtis (1970)

   An uplifting, horn-driven groove.

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2. 2
   MG
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   What's Going On

   Marvin Gaye · from What's Going On (1971)

   A plea for peace, beautifully arranged.

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3. 3
   BW
   ▶

   Ain't No Sunshine

   Bill Withers · from Just as I Am (1971)

   Spare, aching and perfect.

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4. 4
   IH
   ▶

   Theme from Shaft

   Isaac Hayes · from Shaft (1971)

   Wah-wah funk and Oscar-winning cool.

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5. 5
   GS
   ▶

   The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

   Gil Scott-Heron · from Pieces of a Man (1971)

   Proto-rap spoken-word fire.

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6. 6
   SA
   ▶

   Family Affair

   Sly and the Family Stone · from There's a Riot Goin' On (1971)

   Murky, groundbreaking funk.

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7. 7
   SW
   ▶

   Superstition

   Stevie Wonder · from Talking Book (1972)

   The Moog bassline that Stevie wrote for Beck and kept for himself.

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8. 8
   AG
   ▶

   Let's Stay Together

   Al Green · from Let's Stay Together (1972)

   Smooth Memphis soul at its peak.

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9. 9
   BW
   ▶

   Lean on Me

   Bill Withers · from Still Bill (1972)

   A timeless, gospel-warm standard.

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10. 10
    SW
    ▶

    Higher Ground

    Stevie Wonder · from Innervisions (1973)

    The reborn-again Stevie, funkier and more urgent than anyone expected.

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11. 11
    MG
    ▶

    Let's Get It On

    Marvin Gaye · from Let's Get It On (1973)

    Definitive bedroom soul.

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12. 12
    SW
    ▶

    Living for the City

    Stevie Wonder · from Innervisions (1973)

    A funky, novelistic social epic.

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