Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1979 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

OK, I know you all were expecting 1990, and I promise we'll get there...but I wanted to shine a light on this iconic year. A year that gave us funk, disco, hip hop, classic slow jams, and let's not forget about that baby-making music. Here are the 20 songs that topped the soul chart in 1979:

Got To Be Real - Cheryl Lynn
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
Aqua Boogie - Parliament
Bustin' Loose - Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) - Instant Funk
He's The Greatest Dancer - Sister Sledge
Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) - GQ
Reunited - Peaches & Herb
I Wanna Be With You - The Isley Brothers
Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
We Are Family - Sister Sledge
Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Good Times - Chic
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
(Not Just) Knee Deep - Funkadelic
Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
Still - The Commodores
I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
Do You Love What You Feel - Rufus & Chaka Khan


Final rankings will use an inverse point system.

You may rank whichever version you prefer (single edit, remix, etc.)

Submissions are tentatively due October 22.


YouTube Playlist

Spotify Playlist:


I couldn't find the Funkadelic song on Spotify, but it is in the YouTube Playlist.


Links to previous rankdowns:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Best Of The '80s

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}aerodynamite annoymous1 anthony11554 back2blk BB🌕 Private Dancer ccarter1023 Verisimilitude craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Troublemaker @gabingston singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca jtd Thee Stallion peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Red rowellfarm490 sergejdordij stallie Ivy Leegue™ toomuchboy Mirago Ty B-Boy wyckyd

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Ooooooohh the 70s! Love it!

[SHOOTER]

Hell yes!

[razorshark]

I've been meaning to do one of these. 79 seems like a good year to start

[#LisaRinna]

NOT another left turn!

[back2blk]

Okay, twist!!!

Acceptable, this list is fire.

[gonecountry]

Hell yeah to the baby-making music!

[Private Dancer]

AHHHHHH IM SCREAMING YESSSSS!!!!!!!! IM READY!!!!!!!!! DONNA MOTHERFUCKING SUMMER!!!

[Private Dancer]

Reunited once again and don't it feel good! Haha yes it does!!!

[Soulsista]

Kicking off the extras is a song that's considered the first mainstream hip hop song. Built on the bass line from Chic's "Good Times", it peaked at #4 on the soul chart and #36 on the Hot 100. In addition, it topped the charts in Canada, The Netherlands, and Spain, while hitting the Top 10 in 9 other countries.

Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards initially sued Sugar Hill Records for copyright infringement. A settlement was later reached that gave them songwriting credits.

Rapper's Delight - The Sugarhill Gang

[Jay D83]

I begrudingly accept.

I wanted 1990.

[CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker]

I apologize for what I'm presumably putting at 19 and 20 but one I'm burnt out on and the other one I can never get into

[SHOOTER]

Sept 17, 2021 14:48:02 GMT -5 CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker said:

I apologize for what I'm presumably putting at 19 and 20 but one I'm burnt out on and the other one I can never get into

[Soulsista]

Today's extra, released months before "Rapper's Delight", is considered the first recorded hip hop song. It peaked at #26 on the soul chart.

King Tim III (Personality Jock) - The Fatback Band

[Soulsista]

How about a little holiday cheer? Today's extra is by the first rapper to be signed to a major label. His first charted single peaked at #52 on the soul chart. Next would sample it in their #1 smash "Too Close".

Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow

[samo🦕]

definitely doing this, the quality of the songs i recognise here is almost on the same level as the '80s top 5s list

[gonecountry]

Just submitted. Couple really fun(k) discoveries. One or two snoozers, but overall a very solid year.

[Soulsista]

Today's extras come to us by these sisters from The Motor City. Their first charted single peaked at #5 on the soul chart and #38 on the Hot 100.

You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else - The Jones Girls

---

This next song was the B-side to "You Gonna Make Me Love Someobdy Else". Though it wasn't released as a single, it can arguably be considered their signature song, thanks in large part to Xscape's 1995 cover which topped the R&B chart and reached the Top 10 on the Hot 100.

Who Can I Run To - The Jones Girls

[ilikemilk]

Do you remember, the 21st night of September?

I might do this.

[Soulsista]

WEEKLY REMINDER!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. singingrulebritannia
3. legend1982
4. gonecountry

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}aerodynamite annoymous1 anthony11554 back2blk BB🌕 Private Dancer ccarter1023 Verisimilitude craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Troublemaker @gabingston singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca jtd Thee Stallion peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Red rowellfarm490 sergejdordij stallie Ivy Leegue™ toomuchboy Mirago Ty B-Boy wyckyd razorshark

[back2blk]

I'm coming. On my way.

[Soulsista]

Today's extra comes to us by this Cuban-Puerto Rican singer from NYC. Though she didn't release it as a single, it's still considered her signature song. Will Downing's version was a Top 20 R&B hit in 1991.

I Try - Angela Bofill

[Soulsista]

Today's extra comes to us by this jazz fusion from Houston that was formed in the 1960s. Their biggest hit, featuring vocals by Randy Crawford, peaked at #17 on the soul chart and #36 on the Hot 100. It's been sampled numerous times, notably in "Forget I Was a G" by The Whitehead Brothers and "Beautiful" by Mary J. Blige.

Street Life - The Crusaders

[Soulsista]

Today's extra comes to us by this late singer from Philadelphia. It closed out 1979 with a 3-week stay at #12 on the soul chart. None of her singles made it to the main Hot 100 chart, but this came the closest, bubbling under at #101.

You Know How To Love Me - Phyllis Hyman

[back2blk]

This ranking was so fun to do!!

[Soulsista]

Today's extra comes to us by group that was put together by Soul Train's Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey. It peaked at #11 on the soul chart.

Take That To The Bank - Shalamar


Shalamar's line-up at this time consisted of Gerald Brown and former Soul Train dancers Jeffrey Daniel and Jody Watley. Gerald left a few months later and was replaced by Howard Hewett.

[Soulsista]

WEEKLY REMINDER!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. singingrulebritannia
3. legend1982
4. gonecountry
5. back2blk
6. rowellfarm490

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}aerodynamite annoymous1 anthony11554 back2blk BB🌕 Private Dancer ccarter1023 Verisimilitude craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor 🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 Troublemaker @gabingston singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca jtd Thee Stallion peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Red rowellfarm490 sergejdordij stallie Ivy Leegue™ toomuchboy Mirago Ty B-Boy wyckyd razorshark

[#LisaRinna]

I'll be a bit late with this one but I'm surely IN.

[Soulsista]

First extra for today was the first Top 10 hit by this band from NYC. It spend 5 weeks at #3 on the soul chart.

I Just Want To Be - Cameo

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Next, the biggest hit by this band from Norfolk, Virginia. Peaking at #4 soul, it was notably sampled in 2 Live Crew's 1989 hit "Me So Horny".

Firecracker - Mass Production

[Soulsista]

Today's extras are a couple of pop crossovers. First, this Hot 100 charttopper was one of their 4 Top 10 hits on the soul chart, peaking at #10.

Too Much Heaven - The Bee Gees

---

Next, this #8 Hot 100 hit crossed over to the soul chart, rising to #21.

Take Me Home - Cher