Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1980 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

Welcome back!

Leading off today's reveals is a song that will give 4 people a perfect ranking. On the flip side, 4 more will lose a Top 5 ranking.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}God #LisaRinna Ivy Leegue™ singingrulebritannia gonecountry Doc Indie Party Rock Mirago craziaskowboi 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 rowellfarm490 B-Boy SHOOTER stallie jtd Thee Stallion Juanca Ty @gabingston @slipperyslope Mayman Glove Slap toomuchboy Red newpower

[Soulsista]

10. Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.) - Tom Browne

The biggest hit for this trumpeter from Queens topped the soul chart for 4 weeks and features Toni Smith on vocals. Mariah Carey sampled this in 2001 for her song "Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica)" from the Glitter soundtrack.

Stats
Chart Debut: August 2, 1980
Peak Date: October 4, 1980
Weeks at #1: 4
Weeks in Top 10: 11
Weeks on chart: 21
Hot 100 Peak: DNC (Did not chart)

Points: 136
Average: 9.09

SHOOTER - 2
God - 3
Mayman - 4
craziaskowboi - 5

#LisaRinna - 7
singingrulebritannia - 7
@gabingston - 8
Glove Slap - 8
rowellfarm490 - 9
jtd Thee Stallion - 9
Red - 9
Soulsista - 10
Ivy Leegue™ - 10
B-Boy - 10
stallie - 10

Doc Indie Party Rock - 11
Mirago - 11
@slipperyslope - 11
gonecountry - 12
Juanca - 12
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 13

Ty - 14
toomuchboy - 14

Observing:
newpower


The first #1 goes down with the next reveal.

[SHOOTER]

I knew you hoochie hoes would do Tom dirty!

[Soulsista]

9. Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder

The lead single from his Hotter Than July album, this ode to Bob Marley topped the soul chart for 7 weeks and peaked in the Top 5 on the Hot 100. At the time it was the longest-running #1 song on the soul chart since Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" stayed on top for 9 weeks in 1972.

Stats
Chart Debut: September 20, 1980
Peak Date: November 1, 1980
Weeks at #1: 7
Weeks in Top 10: 13
Weeks on chart: 24
Hot 100 Peak: #5

Points: 173
Average: 7.48

Ivy Leegue™ - 1
rowellfarm490 - 3
jtd Thee Stallion - 3
Juanca - 3
Mayman - 3
#LisaRinna - 4
Mirago - 5
Glove Slap - 5
toomuchboy - 5

gonecountry - 6
@gabingston - 7
Red - 8
Doc Indie Party Rock - 9
SHOOTER - 9
@slipperyslope - 9
God - 10
singingrulebritannia - 10

Soulsista - 11
B-Boy - 11
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 12
Ty - 12
craziaskowboi - 13
stallie - 13

Observing:
newpower


Up next: 7 more Top 5 rankings go down.

[Soulsista]

8. The Second Time Around - Shalamar

From their Big Fun, "The Second Time Around" was Shalamar's first single with Howard Hewett, who had replaced Gerald Brown. It hit the top of the soul chart in its 21st week, the slowest rise to the top at that time. Also peaking in the Top 10 of the Hot 100, the song was certified gold.

Stats
Chart Debut: September 29, 1979
Peak Date: February 16, 1980
Weeks at #1: 1
Weeks in Top 10: 10
Weeks on chart: 32
Hot 100 Peak: #8

Points: 179
Average: 7.22

@gabingston - 3
Glove Slap - 4
toomuchboy - 4
God - 5
stallie - 5
Ty - 5
Mayman - 5

Doc Indie Party Rock - 6
B-Boy - 6
jtd Thee Stallion - 6
@slipperyslope - 6
Ivy Leegue™ - 7
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 7
Red - 7
Soulsista - 8
singingrulebritannia - 8
#LisaRinna - 9
gonecountry - 10
Mirago - 10
Juanca - 10

rowellfarm490 - 11
craziaskowboi - 12
SHOOTER - 12

Observing:
newpower


Three more will be revealed tomorrow!

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2020 13:35:59 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

8. The Second Time Around - Shalamar
@gabingston - 3

Pure funky goodness.

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is the first charted single by another band from Dayton, Ohio. It climbed to #2 on the soul chart.

Here it is in all its 9-minute glory!

More Bounce To The Ounce - Zapp

[Deleted]

More Bounce To The Ounce is great!

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Apr 2, 2020 11:46:00 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

12. Special Lady - Ray, Goodman & Brown

Formerly known as The Moments, they were forced to change their name due to contractual reasons. Their first single under the new name went straight to the top of the soul chart and managed a Top 5 peak on the Hot 100.

Stats
Chart Debut: November 24, 1979
Peak Date: February 23, 1980
Weeks at #1: 1
Weeks in Top 10: 11
Weeks on chart: 23
Hot 100 Peak: #5

Points: 88
Average: 11.17

stallie - 3
Ty - 3
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 5

toomuchboy - 9
#LisaRinna - 10
craziaskowboi - 10

Juanca - 11
Doc Indie Party Rock - 12
Mirago - 12
B-Boy - 12
jtd Thee Stallion - 12
@slipperyslope - 12
Glove Slap - 12
Soulsista - 13
Ivy Leegue™ - 13
singingrulebritannia - 13
gonecountry - 13
rowellfarm490 - 13
Red - 13

God - 14
SHOOTER - 14
@gabingston - 14
Mayman - 14

Observing:
newpower


Next: we hit the triple digits with another Top 5 loss.

Damn I was gonna say I didn't know Ray Parker Jr was in Ray,Goodman, and Brown. The guy on the left side could be be his double. 

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

10. Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.) - Tom Browne
This was originally my #14, but then I thought this is oozing with funk. The Betty Boop stuff kicked it up a few notches.


9. Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder
Damn I could have sworn this would have been top 5. Not complaining tho since I got a P-P-P- deal, but it is one of his best ever.

8. The Second Time Around - Shalamar
This one could have stuck a round another day. It's Roller rink disco jam at its best.

[Ivy Leegue™]

Apr 2, 2020 15:00:02 GMT -5 @gabingston said:

Isn't he Drake's uncle or something?

OMG I never knew that, but the talent in that family WHEW.

Apr 3, 2020 13:14:03 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

9. Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder

The lead single from his Hotter Than July album, this ode to Bob Marley topped the soul chart for 7 weeks and peaked in the Top 5 on the Hot 100. At the time it was the longest-running #1 song on the soul chart since Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" stayed on top for 9 weeks in 1972.

Stats
Chart Debut: September 20, 1980
Peak Date: November 1, 1980
Weeks at #1: 7
Weeks in Top 10: 13
Weeks on chart: 24
Hot 100 Peak: #5

Points: 173
Average: 7.48

Ivy Leegue™ - 1
rowellfarm490 - 3
jtd Thee Stallion - 3
Juanca - 3
Mayman - 3
#LisaRinna - 4
Mirago - 5
Glove Slap - 5
toomuchboy - 5

gonecountry - 6
@gabingston - 7
Red - 8
Doc Indie Party Rock - 9
SHOOTER - 9
@slipperyslope - 9
God - 10
singingrulebritannia - 10

Soulsista - 11
B-Boy - 11
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 12
Ty - 12
craziaskowboi - 13
stallie - 13

Observing:
newpower

CRACKHEADS. This is not the news I needed or wanted to see.

[Juanca]

10. Funkin' For Jamaica (12): This is good, especially in terms of its funkiness, bass/trumpet combo and that chorus. However, it was my least favorite uptempo song in this list.

9. Master Blaster (3): Come on, now! This is JAM. I love reggae, and this is one of my favorite non-Bob-Marley reggae songs. Great music, vocals, vibe. Should've at least made the top half.

8. The Second Time Around (10): This is also good, with a nice disco, piano/bass combo, and good harmonies. However, I found the other uptempos (bar FFJ) much more interesting than this one.

[Soulsista]

Welcome back! Here are the remaining 7 songs (in chronological order):

Rock With You - Michael Jackson
And The Beat Goes On - The Whispers
Stomp! - The Brothers Johnson
Take Your Time (Do It Right) - The S.O.S. Band
Upside Down - Diana Ross
Give Me The Night - George Benson
Celebration - Kool & The Gang


The next two songs have the same number of points, but one of them has a #1 ranking, so it'll be ranked higher. But up first, this song as 8 Top 5 rankings...but one of you dared to put it in last place.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}God #LisaRinna Ivy Leegue™ singingrulebritannia gonecountry Doc Indie Party Rock Mirago craziaskowboi 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 rowellfarm490 B-Boy SHOOTER stallie jtd Thee Stallion Juanca Ty @gabingston @slipperyslope Mayman Glove Slap toomuchboy Red newpower

[Soulsista]

7. Give Me The Night - George Benson

The lead single from his album of the same name, it became George's first of 2 #1s on the soul chart and peaked in the Top 5 on the Hot 100. Written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, it's his biggest hit.

Stats
Chart Debut: June 28, 1980
Peak Date: September 13, 1980
Weeks at #1: 3
Weeks in Top 10: 12
Weeks on chart: 21
Hot 100 Peak: #4

Points: 184
Average: 7.00

craziaskowboi - 3
singingrulebritannia - 4
gonecountry - 4
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
rowellfarm490 - 4
stallie - 4
Red - 4
Juanca - 5

SHOOTER - 6
Soulsista - 7
B-Boy - 7
Glove Slap - 7
toomuchboy - 7
God - 8
Ivy Leegue™ - 8
Ty - 8
Mirago - 9
@gabingston - 9
Mayman - 9
Doc Indie Party Rock - 10
jtd Thee Stallion - 10
@slipperyslope - 10

#LisaRinna - 14

Observing:
newpower


As mentioned earlier, another #1 ranking will go down with the next reveal.

[Soulsista]

6. Stomp! - The Brothers Johnson

And here's another song produced by Quincy Jones and co-written by Rod Temperton. This song was the last of 3 #1 soul hits for The Brothers Johnson and pushed the Light Up The Night album to platinum status. Also peaked in the Top 10 of the Hot 100.

Stats
Chart Debut: February 16, 1980
Peak Date: April 5, 1980
Weeks at #1: 2
Weeks in Top 10: 11
Weeks on chart: 18
Hot 100 Peak: 7

Points: 184
Average: 7.00

gonecountry - 1
B-Boy - 3
Mirago - 4
craziaskowboi - 4
@gabingston - 4
Soulsista - 5
singingrulebritannia - 5

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 6
rowellfarm490 - 6
stallie - 6
Red - 6
Doc Indie Party Rock - 7
SHOOTER - 7
jtd Thee Stallion - 7
Juanca - 7
@slipperyslope - 8
Mayman - 8
Glove Slap - 10

Ivy Leegue™ - 11
Ty - 11
toomuchboy - 11
God - 12
#LisaRinna - 12

Observing:
newpower


Up next: One more #1 ranking goes down.

[Soulsista]

5. Celebration - Kool & The Gang

Kool & The Gang closed out 1980 with a 6-week stay atop the soul chart. Also a #1 hit on the Hot 100, it helped the Celebrate! album go platinum.

Stats
Chart Debut: October 18, 1980
Peak Date: December 20, 1980
Weeks at #1: 6
Weeks in Top 10: 14
Weeks on chart: 24
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

Points: 213
Average: 5.74

@gabingston - 1
Doc Indie Party Rock - 2
Mirago - 2
jtd Thee Stallion - 2
Mayman - 2
@slipperyslope - 3
God - 4
Juanca - 4
#LisaRinna - 5
Ivy Leegue™ - 5
gonecountry - 5

Soulsista - 6
craziaskowboi - 6
toomuchboy - 6
stallie - 7
rowellfarm490 - 8
B-Boy - 8
SHOOTER - 8
singingrulebritannia - 9
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 9
Ty - 9
Red - 10

Glove Slap - 11

Observing:
newpower


The Top 4 will be revealed tomorrow! In chronological order:

Rock With You - Michael Jackson
And The Beat Goes On - The Whispers
Take Your Time (Do It Right) - The S.O.S. Band
Upside Down - Diana Ross

[Red]

Okay, my top three (and four of my top five) made the top four, good.

I expect my lowest remaining will win or come close, but that's fine, it's a really good tune.

[Deleted]

My top 5 was the top 5 and bottom 3 was the bottom 3. Nice. I don’t think that my 1 is going to win though.

[Ivy Leegue™]

Celebration is corny but I have such positive family celebration memories attached to it, so I am glad it made it this high. I actually thought it might be #1 because of recognition alone.

[Juanca]

7 Give me the night (5): I’ve loved this song since my childhood. It does bring back that feeling of car rides with family. I like the combo of disco, jazz, funk vibe, and good vocals (including background).

6 Stomp! (7): this is good, especially the instrumental and chorus. Wish the verses were a bit stronger.

5 Celebration (4): and this is a classic! A big hit back home, and a song I’ve always liked —especially the last minute or so.

There’s only one song that I feel doesn’t belong in the top 4.

[toomuchboy]

Hopefully "And the Beat Goes On" is next to make the perfect top 3. <3

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is a song that became his biggest hit on the soul chart, peaking at #2.

Don't Push It, Don't Force It - Leon Haywood

[Soulsista]

Welcome back! Today we'll conclude the Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1980 Rankdown.

First up, this song has 3 #1 rankings...but it was a bottom 2 ranking that kept it out of the Top 3.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}God #LisaRinna Ivy Leegue™ singingrulebritannia gonecountry Doc Indie Party Rock Mirago craziaskowboi 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 rowellfarm490 B-Boy SHOOTER stallie jtd Thee Stallion Juanca Ty @gabingston @slipperyslope Mayman Glove Slap toomuchboy Red newpower

[Soulsista]

4. Take Your Time (Do It Right) - The S.O.S. Band

The first charted single for this group from Atlanta is their biggest hit, topping the soul chart for 5 weeks, peaking in the Top 5 of the Hot 100, and going platinum.


Stats
Chart Debut: April 19, 1980
Peak Date: June 28, 1980
Weeks at #1: 5
Weeks in Top 10: 10
Weeks on chart: 24
Hot 100 Peak: #3

Points: 220
Average: 5.43

Doc Indie Party Rock - 1
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 1
toomuchboy - 1
Soulsista - 3
#LisaRinna - 3
Ivy Leegue™ - 3
gonecountry - 3
Glove Slap - 3
Red - 3
SHOOTER - 4
rowellfarm490 - 5
B-Boy - 5
jtd Thee Stallion - 5
@slipperyslope - 5

God - 6
singingrulebritannia - 6
Mirago - 6
Ty - 6
Juanca - 9

craziaskowboi - 11
stallie - 11
@gabingston - 12
Mayman - 13

Observing:
newpower


The next song was ahead by just 1 point...someone will get a perfect ranking while another will lose their #1.

[Soulsista]

3. And The Beat Goes On - The Whispers

From their self-titled album, "And The Beat Goes On" topped the soul chart for 5 weeks and was their first Top 40 hit on the Hot 100. Will Smith sampled it in his song "Miami".


Stats
Chart Debut: January 19, 1980
Peak Date: March 1, 1980
Weeks at #1: 5
Weeks in Top 10: 11
Weeks on chart: 20
Hot 100 Peak: #19

Points: 221
Average: 5.39

@slipperyslope - 1
singingrulebritannia - 2
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 2
rowellfarm490 - 2
stallie - 2
Ty - 2
Red - 2
Mirago - 3
B-Boy - 4
jtd Thee Stallion - 4
Doc Indie Party Rock - 5
SHOOTER - 5
@gabingston - 5

Juanca - 6
Glove Slap - 6
gonecountry - 7
craziaskowboi - 8
Soulsista - 9
God - 9
Ivy Leegue™ - 9
Mayman - 10
toomuchboy - 10

#LisaRinna - 11

Observing:
newpower

[Soulsista]

The Top 2 will be revealed in just a moment, but first, here's another extra. This song ended the year with a 6-week run at #2 on the soul chart.

Love T.K.O. - Teddy Pendergrass

[Soulsista]

And this is it, the final 2. Together they had 16 #1 rankings!




2. Upside Down - Diana Ross

Written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, "Upside Down" is one of Diana's biggest hits, topping both the soul and Hot 100 charts.

Stats
Chart Debut: July 12, 1980
Peak Date: August 16, 1980
Weeks at #1: 4
Weeks in Top 10: 10
Weeks on chart: 19
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)

Points: 255
Average: 3.91

God - 1
#LisaRinna - 1
Mirago - 1
SHOOTER - 1
Glove Slap - 1
Soulsista - 2
Ivy Leegue™ - 2
craziaskowboi - 2
B-Boy - 2
Juanca - 2
toomuchboy - 2
singingrulebritannia - 3
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 3
Doc Indie Party Rock - 4
Ty - 4
@slipperyslope - 4
Red - 5

rowellfarm490 - 7
Mayman - 7
stallie - 8
jtd Thee Stallion - 8
gonecountry - 9

@gabingston - 11

Observing:
newpower

---

And now, the only song that everyone placed in their Top 10...




1. Rock With You - Michael Jackson

MJ kicked off the decade with a 6-week stay atop the soul chart. Written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, it's been certified double platinum.


Stats
Chart Debut: November 3, 1979
Peak Date: January 5, 1980
Weeks at #1: 6
Weeks in Top 10: 15
Weeks on chart: 25
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (4 weeks)

Points: 294
Average: 2.22

Soulsista - 1
singingrulebritannia - 1
craziaskowboi - 1
rowellfarm490 - 1
B-Boy - 1
stallie - 1
jtd Thee Stallion - 1
Juanca - 1
Ty - 1
Mayman - 1
Red - 1

God - 2
#LisaRinna - 2
gonecountry - 2
@gabingston - 2
@slipperyslope - 2
Glove Slap - 2
Doc Indie Party Rock - 3
SHOOTER - 3
toomuchboy - 3
Ivy Leegue™ - 4

Mirago - 7
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 8

Observing:
newpower


Thanks to everyone who participated! And coming soon...

The Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1981 Rankdown!

[#LisaRinna]

Fabulous top 2!!

Thank you Soulsista for this blast from the past

[Ivy Leegue™]

Truth is, I only placed Rock With You that high because I knew it would be in at least the top 3 anyway, so I didn't see a point in tanking it. It's a cool song, but the uptempos on this rankdown SLAYED it and were just more interesting overall.

That said, great job Soulsista! I enjoyed your rankdown. I also liked that it was short and sweet and I didn't have to spend hours listening to songs that I didn't know!

[SHOOTER]

Not mad at the top-5 at all. Such a near-flawless year in music. Thanks for hosting Soulsista looking forward to more!