# Greatest R&B and Soul hits. Nominate your top 5 favorites. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773 "2015-01-14T00:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/1 "2015-01-14T00:57:03Z")
I’ve been listening to and playing a lot of R&B lately. Its revived my passion for this music. Lets share our top 5 favorites. Here’s mine. [Four Tops Baby I Need Your Loving](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xGInUUwk3U) [Jimmy Ruffin What Becomes of the Broken Hearted](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vf3ZE7CLg0) [Hector Rivera and the Latin Renaissance ? I Want You, I Need You, I Love You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRk_RFfXtfs) [What Does It Take To Win Your Love’ Jr. Walker & The All Stars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pLaO-DFRto) [Fifth Dimension - Stone Soul Picnic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgPGDRc7_kM) ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/2 "2015-01-14T02:23:48Z")
I list I can get with. In no particular order. 🙂 The Temptations - [I Wish it Would Rain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrjJeP1GGxY) Sam Cooke - [A Change is Gonna Come](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOYuhLNwh3A) Gladys Knight and the Pips - [Midnight Train to Georgia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwbmufPphP0) Otis Redding - [Sitting at the Dock of the Bay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVjnBo96Ug) Marvin Gaye - [Let’s Get it On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3okb3kuts) I’ll stop there, but I could literally name twenty more right this minute. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/3 "2015-01-14T03:48:33Z")
This is very tough… I know I’m going to miss a whole lot. But off the top of my head, in no particular order: Living for the City - Stevie Wonder You’re All I Need to Get By - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell I Know I’m Losing You -Temptations Sittin on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding Busted - Ray Charles ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/4 "2015-01-14T04:07:58Z")
_Respect_, Aretha Franklin _Poppa’s Got A Brand New Bag_, James Brown _A Change Is Gonna Come_, Sam Cooke _I’ll Be Around_, The Spinners _Let’s Stay Together_, Al Green _Everybody Plays The Fool_, Aaron Neville Yeah, it’s six. So sue me. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/5 "2015-01-14T12:29:30Z")
It’s fun playing the favorites as people post them. In terms of harmony and pure music R&B is the best music ever recorded. I like other styles of music. But the harmonies in R&B are so special. It’s a shame this music isn’t being recorded anymore. It’s rare to even here a bridge in a modern song. It’s just verse and chorus these days. They don’t play a real bridge. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/6 "2015-01-14T12:36:40Z")
I heard it through the grapevine – Marvin Gaye When a Man loves a Woman - Percy Sledge In the Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett My Girl - Temptations You make me feel like a natural woman - Aretha Franklin ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/7 "2015-01-14T12:38:56Z")
Modern R&B bands - Motown, Philly Soul type bands: - Kings Go Forth - Eli “Paperboy” Reed - Aloe Blacc - Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Sharon Jones and the Dapp Kings - etc… I love the old stuff. This new stuff is quite good. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/8 "2015-01-14T12:45:48Z")
I’ll check the new R&B out. Thanks WordMan ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/9 "2015-01-14T13:03:12Z")
_I Heard It Through The Grapevine_ - Marvin Gaye _That’s How Strong My Love Is_ - Otis Redding _You Send Me_ - Sam Cooke _Take Me To The River_ - Al Green _It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World_ - James Brown ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/10 "2015-01-14T13:10:33Z")
Just as a warning, my wife tells me “R and B” is used for a different kind of music these days: slow-paced, slickly-produced, vocals-focused pop sung mainly by African Americans. No rhythm, no blues, and about as far from Bo Diddley (say) as you can get. No answer in this pre-poll has yet shown any confusion in this matter, but I thought I’d mention it as a preventative measure. (The one group I know from WordMan’s “new…” list, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, I’d call funk-soul. I deliberately avoid calling them “R and B” for the reason I just gave, and I assume that applies to the other acts on WordMan’s list.) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/11 "2015-01-14T14:10:41Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > (The one group I know from WordMan’s “new…” list, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, I’d call funk-soul. I deliberately avoid calling them “R and B” for the reason I just gave, and I assume that applies to the other acts on WordMan’s list.) Indeed. But for folks looking at the titles of amazing songs in this thread, these artists are worth checking out. - Aloe Blacc, I Need a Dollar (Live - note Paul McCartney and Alice Cooper looking on - fellow guests on Later with Jools Holland): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-V8EzyNtk0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-V8EzyNtk0) If that ain’t badass 70’s-style R&B, I got nuthin’ - Eli Paperboy Reed & the True Loves, Take My Love With You, also off Jools: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy6q9HfsJmo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy6q9HfsJmo) More 60’s Motown/Brill Building-ish…love his old Gibson… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/12 "2015-01-14T17:07:45Z")
Otis Redding “Try a Little Tenderness” Wilson Pickett - “Mustang Sally” Sam and Dave - “When Something’s Wrong With My Baby” Aretha Franklin - “Respect” James Brown - “Please Please Please” Honorable Mention: Eddie Floyd - “Knock on Wood” ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/13 "2015-01-14T17:36:34Z")
Chi-Lites - Oh Girl The Temptations - Just My Imagination Marvin Gaye - Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology) (…or anything from the What’s Goin’ On? album) Aretha Franklin - R-E-S-P-E-C-T Ray Charles - What’d I Say? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/14 "2015-01-14T17:46:15Z")
Man, the best R&B recordings are just some of the best of all 20th century music. Not a song mentioned here so far that isn’t great. I don’t want to have to pick five, but I will add one to the list: [People Get Ready](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdKEbnS1eBE) - Curtis Mayfield The song has been covered by tons of people. My favorite is [People Get Ready](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_tf6chQD1s) as done by The Chambers Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/15 "2015-01-14T17:51:52Z")
And, though it’s so drenched in 80s you could wring this track out and create both Bon Jovi and Cyndi Lauper out of the drippings, I love the [Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC_j_dzkaVE) cover as well. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/16 "2015-01-14T17:56:54Z")
In no particular order (save for the last one, which constantly trades places with “A Day in the Life” for the honor of being my favorite song of all time): [“Spanish Harlem”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOoutJtMCi8) - Ben E. King [“Chain Gang”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBn5aIfZElE) - Sam Cooke [“I Want You Back”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGDyAb6pePo) - The Jackson Five [“I Wish”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKYka-PNt0) - Stevie Wonder [“A Change Is Gonna Come”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOYuhLNwh3A) - Sam Cooke ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/17 "2015-01-14T18:19:52Z")
Oh, and one more, a modern R&B classic, to my ears at least: [“MoneyGrabber”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3WRXYYBwRA) - Fitz and the Tantrums ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/18 "2015-01-14T18:34:23Z")
Temptations - Papa was a rolling stone - oh very very YES The Staple Singers - If you’re ready Lorraine Ellison - Stay with me baby - this makes your spine tingle - she really hits this hard Brook Benton - A rainy night in Georgia - This is one for a certain time in your life, if this does not touch, you’ve never been there Bill Withers - Who is he and what is he to you - dagumitt! this is an essay in paranoid jealousy, or is it? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9vlM1ekJ144/maxresdefault.jpg "Bill Withers - Who Is He (And What Is He to You)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vlM1ekJ144) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/19 "2015-01-14T21:46:59Z")
As soon as I click “Reply,” I’ll probably think of some I like better, but let’s try… Marvin Gaye: “Ain’t That Peculiar” Temptations: “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” Stevie Wonder: “Superstition” Jackson 5: “I Want You Back” Sam & Dave: “Hold On, I’m Coming” ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773/20 "2015-01-14T22:23:14Z")
I lean more towards Memphis/Stax than Detroit/Motown Temptations: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg Sam & Dave: Hold On, I’m Coming Eddie Floyd: Knock On Wood (in the top 5 of all songs all time regardless of category) Wilson Pickett: Land of 1000 Dances Aretha Franklin: Think ETA: Bonus picks: Eddie Ruffin: What Becomes of the Brokenhearted Al Green: Here I Am, Baby Carla Thomas: B-A-B-Y Otis Redding: Try a Little Tenderness Gladys Knight & the Pips: I Heard it Through the Grapevine [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-r-b-and-soul-hits-nominate-your-top-5-favorites/709773.md?page=2)