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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top R&B Songs of 1971

1970 <-

1971

-> 1972

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

10/1971

Theme from Shaft by Isaac Hayes

from Shaft

399

✫1
US

6
AC

2
R&B

4
UK

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1971]
[Enterprise 9038]
written by Isaac Hayes

12/1971

Let's Stay Together by Al Green

from Let's Stay Together

355

✫1
US

36
AC

✫1
R&B

7
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #60]
[Hi 2202]
written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell & Al Jackson Jr.

02/1971

Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) by The Temptations

from Sky's the Limit

346

✫1
US

33
AC

✫1
R&B

8
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #389]
[Gordy 7105]
written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong

10/1971

Have You Seen Her by The Chi-Lites

from (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People

338

3
US

✫1
R&B

3
UK

[Brunswick 55462]
written by Barbara Acklin & Eugene Record

11/1971

Family Affair by Sly & the Family Stone

from There's a Riot Goin' On

311

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

15
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #138]
[Epic 10805]
written by Sly Stone (as Sylvester Stewart)

10/1971

Got to Be There by Michael Jackson

from Got to Be There

306

4
US

14
AC

4
R&B

5
UK

[Motown 1191]
written by Elliot Willensky

07/1971

Spanish Harlem by Aretha Franklin

from Aretha's Greatest Hits

298

2
US

6
AC

✫1
R&B

14
UK

[Atlantic 2817]
written by Jerry Leiber & Phil Spector

01/1971

She's a Lady by Tom Jones

from She's a Lady

279

2
US

4
AC

42
R&B

13
UK

[Parrot 40058]
written by Paul Anka

03/1971

Joy to the World by Three Dog Night

from Naturally

263

✫1
US

46
R&B

24
UK

[Dunhill/ABC 4272]
written by Hoyt Axton

10.

01/1971

One Bad Apple by The Osmonds

from Osmonds

253

✫1
US

37
AC

6
R&B

51
UK

[MGM 14193]
written by George Jackson

11.

01/1971

Mama's Pearl by Jackson 5

from Third Album

251

2
US

2
R&B

25
UK

[Motown 1177]
written by Berry Gordy (as part of The Corporation), Freddie Perren (as part of The Corporation), Deke Richards (as part of The Corporation) & Fonce Mizell (as part of The Corporation)

12.

04/1971

Want Ads by The Honey Cone

from Sweet Replies

246

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Hot Wax 7011]
written by Greg Perry, Barney Perkins & General Johnson

13.

04/1971

Never Can Say Goodbye by Jackson 5

from Maybe Tomorrow

242

2
US

✫1
R&B

33
UK

[Motown 1179]
written by Clifton Davis

14.

07/1971

Tired of Being Alone by Al Green

from Al Green Gets Next to You

237

11
US

7
R&B

4
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #293]
[Hi 2194]
written by Al Green

15.

07/1971

I'm Still Waiting by Diana Ross

from Everything Is Everything

222

63
US

40
R&B

✫1
UK

[Motown 1192]
written by Deke Richards

16.

05/1971

Mr. Big Stuff by Jean Knight

from Mr. Big Stuff

217

2
US

✫1
R&B

[Stax 0088]
written by Joe Broussard (as Joseph Broussard), Ralph Williams & Carrol Washington

17.

02/1971

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

from What's Going On

217

2
US

✫1
R&B

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #4]
[Tamla 54201]
written by Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson & Marvin Gaye

18.

05/1971

Nathan Jones by The Supremes

from Touch

209

16
US

29
AC

8
R&B

5
UK

[Motown 1182]
written by Leonard Caston & Kathy Wakefield

19.

07/1971

Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers

from Just as I Am

200

3
US

2
AC

6
R&B

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #280]
[Sussex 219]
written by Bill Withers

20.

07/1971

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) by Marvin Gaye

from What's Going On

195

4
US

34
AC

✫1
R&B

51
UK

[Tamla 54207]
written by Marvin Gaye

21.

06/1971

Smiling Faces Sometimes by The Undisputed Truth

from The Undisputed Truth

187

3
US

34
AC

2
R&B

[Gordy 7108]
written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong

22.

08/1971

If You Really Love Me by Stevie Wonder

from Where I'm Coming From

181

8
US

10
AC

4
R&B

20
UK

[Tamla 54208]
written by Stevie Wonder & Syreeta

23.

10/1971

Where Did Our Love Go by Donnie Elbert

from Where Did Our Love Go

179

15
US

6
R&B

8
UK

[All Platinum 2330]
written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.

24.

01/1971

Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner

from Workin' Together

166

4
US

5
R&B

[Liberty 56216]
written by John Fogerty

25.

04/1971

Treat Her Like a Lady by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

from Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

165

3
US

20
R&B

[United Artists 50721]
written by Eddie Cornelius

26.

09/1971

A Simple Game by Four Tops

160

90
US

34
R&B

3
UK

[Motown 1196]
written by Mike Pinder

27.

05/1971

I've Found Someone of My Own by The Free Movement

from I've Found Someone of My Own

156

5
US

7
AC

20
R&B

[Decca 32818]
written by Frank Robinson

28.

04/1971

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aretha Franklin

from Aretha's Greatest Hits

155

6
US

40
AC

✫1
R&B

charted as Bridge Over Troubled Water / Brand New Me in US Hot 100 charts and in US R&B charts
[Atlantic 2796]
written by Paul Simon

29.

03/1971

I Don't Blame You at All by The Miracles

from One Dozen Roses

150

18
US

7
R&B

11
UK

as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
[Tamla 54205]
written by Smokey Robinson (as William "Smokey" Robinson)

30.

11/1971

Clean Up Woman by Betty Wright

from I Love the Way You Love

148

6
US

2
R&B

[Alston 4601]
written by Clarence Reid & Willie Clarke

31.

10/1971

Scorpio by Dennis Coffey

from Evolution

142

6
US

24
AC

9
R&B

as Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band
[instrumental]
[Sussex 226]
written by Dennis Coffey

32.

03/1971

We Can Work It Out by Stevie Wonder

from Signed, Sealed & Delivered

130

13
US

3
R&B

27
UK

[Tamla 54202]
written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

33.

10/1971

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye

from What's Going On

122

9
US

✫1
R&B

[Tamla 54209]
written by Marvin Gaye & James Nyx

34.

10/1971

Rock Steady by Aretha Franklin

from Young, Gifted and Black

118

9
US

2
R&B

[Atlantic 2838]
written by Aretha Franklin

35.

07/1971

I Just Want to Celebrate by Rare Earth

from One World

115

7
US

30
R&B

[Rare Earth 5031]
written by Dino Fekaris & Nick Zesses

36.

07/1971

Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get by The Dramatics [1°]

from Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

115

9
US

3
R&B

[Volt 4058]
written by Tony Hester

37.

08/1971

Surrender by Diana Ross

from Surrender

112

38
US

16
R&B

10
UK

[Motown 1188]
written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson

38.

07/1971

Hot Pants (Pt. 1) (She Got to Use What She Got to Get What She Wants) by James Brown

from Hot Pants

111

15
US

✫1
R&B

51
UK

[People 2501]
written by James Brown & Fred Wesley

39.

10/1971

You Are Everything by The Stylistics

from The Stylistics

111

9
US

24
AC

10
R&B

[Avco 4581]
written by Thom Bell & Linda Creed

40.

05/1971

Funky Nassau (Part 1) by The Beginning of the End

111

15
US

7
R&B

31
UK

[Alston 4595]
written by Ray Munnings (as Raphael Munnings) & Tyrone Fitzgerald

41.

08/1971

Stick-Up by The Honey Cone

from Soulful Tapestry

110

11
US

✫1
R&B

[Hot Wax 7106]
written by General Johnson (as Norman Johnson), Greg Perry (as Greg S. Perry) & Angelo Bond

42.

09/1971

Never My Love by The 5th Dimension

from The 5th Dimension Live!

109

12
US

✫1
AC

45
R&B

[live]
[Bell 45,134]
written by Dick Addrisi & Don Addrisi

43.

12/1971

Sugar Daddy by Jackson 5

from Greatest Hits

106

10
US

3
R&B

[Motown 1194]
written by Berry Gordy (as part of The Corporation), Freddie Perren (as part of The Corporation), Deke Richards (as part of The Corporation) & Fonce Mizell (as part of The Corporation)

44.

07/1971

What the World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin & John by Tom Clay

from What the World Needs Now Is Love

104

8
US

32
R&B

[spoken]
backing vocals by the Blackberries
[Mowest 5002]
written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David

45.

08/1971

Trapped by a Thing Called Love by Denise LaSalle

from Trapped by a Thing Called Love

102

13
US

✫1
R&B

[Westbound 182]
written by Denise LaSalle

46.

10/1971

Respect Yourself by The Staple Singers

from Be Altitude: Respect Yourself

102

12
US

2
R&B

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #462]
[Stax 0104]
written by Luther Ingram & Mack Rice

47.

11/1971

Drowning in the Sea of Love by Joe Simon

from Drowning in the Sea of Love

102

11
US

3
R&B

[Spring 120]
written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff

48.

04/1971

Don't Knock My Love--Part 1 by Wilson Pickett

from Don't Knock My Love

102

13
US

✫1
R&B

[Atlantic 2797]
written by Wilson Pickett & Brad Shapiro

49.

05/1971

She's Not Just Another Woman by The 8th Day

from 8th Day

102

11
US

3
R&B

[Invictus 9087]
written by Ronald Dunbar & Clyde Wilson

50.

06/1971

Bring the Boys Home by Freda Payne

from Contact

12
US

3
R&B

[Invictus 9092]
written by General Johnson (as Norman Johnson), Greg Perry & Angelo Bond

51.

11/1971

Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) by The Temptations

from Solid Rock

18
US

8
R&B

32
UK

[Gordy 7111]
written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong

52.

08/1971

Thin Line Between Love & Hate by The Persuaders

from Thin Line Between Love and Hate

15
US

✫1
R&B

[Atco 6822]
written by Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter & Jackie Members

53.

02/1971

Oye Como Va by Santana

from Abraxas

13
US

11
AC

32
R&B

[Columbia 45330]
written by Tito Puente

54.

04/1971

(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People by The Chi-Lites

from (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People

26
US

4
R&B

32
UK

[Brunswick 55450]
written by Eugene Record

55.

11/1971

One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (Part I) by The Honey Cone

from Soulful Tapestry

15
US

5
R&B

[Hot Wax 7110]
written by General Johnson & Greg Perry

56.

06/1971

I Don't Want to Do Wrong by Gladys Knight & the Pips

from If I Were Your Woman

17
US

2
R&B

[Soul 35083]
written by Merald "Bubba" Knight (as Bubba Knight), Gladys Knight, Johnny Bristol, Katherine Schaffner & William Guest

57.

01/1971

Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You by Wilson Pickett

from Wilson Pickett in Philadelphia

17
US

2
R&B

[Atlantic 2781]
written by Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellmon, Victor Drayton & Buddy Turner

58.

08/1971

Take Me Girl, I'm Ready by Jr. Walker & The All-Stars

from Rainbow Funk

50
US

18
R&B

16
UK

[Soul 35084]
written by Gloria Jones, Johnny Bristol & Pam Sawyer

59.

10/1971

Everybody's Everything by Santana

from Santana III

12
US

39
R&B

[Columbia 45472]
written by Milton Brown, Tyrone Moss & Carlos Santana

60.

06/1971

Love the One You're with by The Isley Brothers

from Givin' It Back

18
US

3
R&B

[T-Neck 930]
written by Stephen Stills

61.

08/1971

A Natural Man by Lou Rawls

from Natural Man

17
US

14
AC

17
R&B

[MGM 14262]
written by Bobby Hebb & Sandy Baron

62.

02/1971

Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes by The 5th Dimension

from Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes

19
US

6
AC

28
R&B

[Bell 965]
written by Dorothea Joyce

63.

08/1971

Make It Funky (Part 1) by James Brown

from Revolution of the Mind - Live at the Apollo, Volume III

22
US

✫1
R&B

[Polydor 14088]
written by James Brown & Charles Bobbit

64.

02/1971

You're All I Need to Get By by Aretha Franklin

from Aretha's Greatest Hits

19
US

3
R&B

[Atlantic 2787]
written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson

65.

05/1971

Never Can Say Goodbye by Isaac Hayes

from Black Moses

22
US

19
AC

5
R&B

[Enterprise 9031]
written by Clifton Davis

66.

07/1971

Maybe Tomorrow by Jackson 5

from Maybe Tomorrow

20
US

3
R&B

[Motown 1186]
written by Berry Gordy (as part of The Corporation), Freddie Perren (as part of The Corporation), Deke Richards (as part of The Corporation) & Fonce Mizell (as part of The Corporation)

67.

12/1971

Ain't Understanding Mellow by Jerry Butler

from The Saggitarius Movement

21
US

3
R&B

featuring Brenda Lee Eager
[Mercury 73255]
written by Homer Talbert & Herscholt Polk

68.

12/1971

Fire and Water by Wilson Pickett

from Don't Knock My Love

24
US

2
R&B

[Atlantic 2852]
written by Andy Fraser & Paul Rodgers

69.

01/1971

Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone by Johnnie Taylor

from One Step Beyond

28
US

✫1
R&B

[Stax 0085]
written by Kay Barker, Don Davis & James Wilson

70.

12/1971

That's the Way I Feel About 'Cha by Bobby Womack

from Communication

27
US

2
R&B

with Peace
[United Artists 50847]
written by Jimmy Grisby, Joe Hicks & Bobby Womack

71.

01/1971

I Love You for All Seasons by The Fuzz

from The Fuzz

21
US

10
R&B

[Calla 174]
written by Sheila Young

72.

12/1971

Make Me the Woman That You Go Home To by Gladys Knight & the Pips

from Standing Ovation

27
US

3
R&B

[Soul 35091]
written by Clay McMurray

73.

11/1971

Hey Big Brother by Rare Earth

from Rare Earth in Concert

19
US

40
R&B

[Rare Earth 5038]
written by Dino Fekaris & Nick Zesses

74.

03/1971

Right on the Tip of My Tongue by Brenda & the Tabulations

from Brenda and The Tabulations

23
US

10
R&B

[Top & Bottom 407]
written by Van McCoy & Joe Cobb

75.

09/1971

You've Got to Crawl (Before You Walk) by The 8th Day

from 8th Day

28
US

3
R&B

[Invictus 9098]
written by General Johnson (as Norman Johnson), Greg Perry (as Greg S. Perry) & Angelo Bond

76.

01/1971

Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life) by Four Tops

from Changing Times

40
US

9
R&B

36
UK

[Motown 1175]
written by Pam Sawyer & Leon Ware

77.

06/1971

You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart by The Supremes & Four Tops

from The Return of the Magnificent Seven

55
US

41
R&B

25
UK

[Motown 1181]
written by Dino Fekaris & Nick Zesses

78.

02/1971

Soul Power (Part 1) by James Brown

from Revolution of the Mind - Live at the Apollo, Volume III

29
US

3
R&B

[King 6368]
written by James Brown

79.

08/1971

The Breakdown (Part 1) by Rufus Thomas

from Did You Heard Me?

31
US

2
R&B

[Stax 0098]
written by Eddie Foy, Mack Rice & Rufus Thomas

80.

02/1971

Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom) by The Staple Singers

from The Staple Swingers

27
US

6
R&B

[Stax 0083]
written by Jeff Barry & Bobby Bloom (as Robert Bloom)

81.

03/1971

Baby Let Me Kiss You by King Floyd

from King Floyd

29
US

5
R&B

[Chimneyville 437]
written by King Floyd

82.

06/1971

You've Got a Friend by Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

from Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

29
US

36
AC

8
R&B

[Atlantic 2808]
written by Carole King

83.

05/1971

Reach Out (I'll Be There) by Diana Ross

from Surrender

29
US

16
AC

17
R&B

[Motown 1184]
written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland Jr.

84.

02/1971

Chairman of the Board by Chairmen of the Board

from In Session

42
US

10
R&B

48
UK

[Invictus 9086]
written by Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier

85.

01/1971

Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved (Part 1) by James Brown

from Revolution of the Mind - Live at the Apollo, Volume III

34
US

4
R&B

[King 6347]
written by James Brown, Bobby Byrd & Ron Lenhoff

86.

02/1971

Cherish What Is Dear to You (While It's Near to You) by Freda Payne

from Contact

44
US

11
R&B

46
UK

[Invictus 9085]
written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Angelo Bond

87.

12/1971

Way Back Home by Jr. Walker & The All-Stars

from Rainbow Funk

52
US

24
R&B

35
UK

[Soul 35090]
written by Wilton Felder, Gladys Knight & Johnny Bristol

88.

10/1971

Bless You by Martha and the Vandellas

from Black Magic

53
US

29
R&B

33
UK

as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
[Gordy 7110]
written by Berry Gordy (as part of The Corporation), Freddie Perren (as part of The Corporation), Deke Richards (as part of The Corporation) & Fonce Mizell (as part of The Corporation)