Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1977 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[jenglisbe]

Aug 16, 2022 10:46:47 GMT -5 Private Dancer said:

Break It To Me Gently is not a bad song, but it does not feel like Aretha either. I can see someone like Natalie Cole doing that song, but hey it became another #1 for her.

I wish it had been a soul cover of the Brenda Lee (and later Juice Newton) song. I think it would have suited Aretha very well.

"At Midnight" is a classic. Should be top 10, though I know there are many great songs left (but "Easy," really?!).

[Soulsista]

12. (Everytime I Turn Around) Back In Love Again - L.T.D.

"Back In Love Again" was the lead single from L.T.D.'s Something To Love album. In addition to topping the soul chart, it peaked inside the Top 5 on the Hot 100, making it L.T.D.'s biggest hit. It was also the biggest hit for lead singer Jeffrey Osborne, with or without L.T.D.


Stats
Chart Entry: September 10, 1977
Peak Date: November 5, 1977
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 13
Weeks On Chart: 22
Hot 100 Peak: #4

Points: 216
Average: 11.61
Standard Deviation: 4.850 (8th highest)

wyckyd - 2
DJDaveMick69 - 3
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 5

phieaglesfan712 - 6
beyoncelover - 7
mamooshka - 7
gonecountry - 8
Soulsista - 10
aerodynamite - 10

ccarter1023 - 11
SHOOTER - 12
newpower - 12
Gonza'90 - 14
samo🦕 - 14
rowellfarm490 - 15
BB🌕 - 15
annoymous1 - 15

singingrulebritannia - 16
Private Dancer - 16
#LisaRinna - 16
Ivy Leegue™ - 17
Mirago - 18
.indulgecountry - 18

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe


The last song to miss the Top 10 has the most Top 10s thus far, with twelve. On the flip side, five of you will say goodbye to a bottom 5.

[Soulsista]

11. It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me - Barry White

BABY-MAKIN' MUSIC ALERT!

"It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me" was the lead single from the Barry White Sings For Someone You Love album. It was his fifth soul charttopper as well has his final Top 10 hit on the Hot 100. It was later sampled in Mary J. Blige's "You Bring Me Joy" and Robbie Williams' "Rock DJ".


Stats
Chart Entry: August 13, 1977
Peak Date: October 1, 1977
Weeks At #1: 5
Weeks In Top 10: 13
Weeks On Chart: 21
Hot 100 Peak: #4

Points: 221
Average: 11.39
Standard Deviation: 4.600 (9th highest)

SHOOTER - 4
Private Dancer - 5

Soulsista - 6
wyckyd - 6
Gonza'90 - 8
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 8
Mirago - 8
singingrulebritannia - 9
rowellfarm490 - 9
aerodynamite - 9
Ivy Leegue™ - 10
#LisaRinna - 10

DJDaveMick69 - 11
phieaglesfan712 - 12
mamooshka - 14
BB🌕 - 14
samo🦕 - 15
newpower - 15

ccarter1023 - 16
gonecountry - 17
.indulgecountry - 17
beyoncelover - 19
annoymous1 - 20

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe

[Soulsista]

The Top 10:

I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
I've Got Love On My Mind - Natalie Cole
Got To Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Best Of My Love - The Emotions
Easy - The Commodores
Strawberry Letter 23 - The Brothers Johnson
Keep It Comin' Love - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
Serpentine Fire - Earth, Wind & Fire


Five more will be revealed tomorrow...someone will lose their #1! Plus, there are three last place rankings still out there, will any of them make it to the Top 5?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Class Of '77}singingrulebritannia wyckyd Ivy Leegue™ ccarter1023 rowellfarm490 gonecountry beyoncelover Private Dancer SHOOTER mamooshka Gonza'90 samo🦕 phieaglesfan712 BB🌕 #LisaRinna aerodynamite 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Mirago DJDaveMick69 annoymous1 .indulgecountry newpower Kelly's 10th Fan jenglisbe

[#LisaRinna]

Great top 10, but Barry deserved to be in it!

[Private Dancer]

Yay! Emotions still in! Strawberry Letter still in! Natalie still in and Stevie with Marvin! Can't wait to see what happens next

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

I wanted L.T.D. to be in the top 10. I'm surprised they didn't. 😢

[Ivy Leegue™]

I discovered Break It To Me Gently through this rankdown and it is now one of my favorite Aretha songs! I had no idea that LTD was fronted by Jeffrey Osborne! I don't like Back In Love Again but love him especially Baby Stay With Me Tonight! How the fuck is Keep It Common Law in the Top 10 though. Also, kinda surprised by Serpentine Fire, which is not one of EWF's strongest hits.

[gonecountry]

Aug 16, 2022 13:53:00 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

How the f**k is Keep It Common Law in the Top 10 though. Also, kinda surprised by Serpentine Fire, which is not one of EWF's strongest hits.

Absolutely agree w/ you on EWF. I love most EWF, but this song did not do it for me.

Will respectfully disagree w/ you on the KC song though. That song humps, bumps and grinds.

[Soulsista]

First extra for today was the breakthrough hit for this multinational band. It peaked at #5 on the soul chart and #2 on the Hot 100. It also hit #2 in Canada and Britain and topped the charts in New Zealand.

Boogie Nights - Heatwave

---

Next, the follow-up to their #1 soul hit "At Midnight". It peaked at #3 soul and #32 on the Hot 100.

Hollywood - Rufus feat. Chaka Khan

[newpower]

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 18

Great Top 10. Strawberry and KC overstayed.

[singingrulebritannia]

what is "I've Got Love On My Mind" still doing here lmao

[Private Dancer]

Aug 16, 2022 16:31:30 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

what is "I've Got Love On My Mind" still doing here lmao

This is where I stop you right there! I Got Love On My Mind is such a beautiful song and one of her best! It deserves to still be in. Feels like paradise...say it twice

[Private Dancer]

Aug 16, 2022 13:53:00 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

I discovered Break It To Me Gently through this rankdown and it is now one of my favorite Aretha songs! I had no idea that LTD was fronted by Jeffrey Osborne! I don't like Back In Love Again but love him especially Baby Stay With Me Tonight! How the f**k is Keep It Common Law in the Top 10 though. Also, kinda surprised by Serpentine Fire, which is not one of EWF's strongest hits.

I don't know if you meant this on purpose but this title is sending me!!! And I agree, this song needs to go. And I too did not know that Jeffrey was lead of LTD and I'm familiar with a lot of their hits. 

Someone said Strawberry welcome overstayed...but it's a straight up classic

[beyoncelover]

15. The Pride - The Isley Brothers: This was a good discovery as I really enjoyed this. This was a really fun and funky song. Sad to see this miss the Top 10 as I ranked this at #10 but at least it wasn't a bigger favorite of mine.

14. Break It To Me Gently - Aretha Franklin: Ooh wow, I thought I ranked this lower like 17th or 18th or something? But ok I put this at 15th. Yeah I'm fine with this showing up. I don't really know or remember this Aretha song and this didn't do a whole lots for me, but Aretha does sing and connect really well with the song. I just didn't connect with it as much as I wish I did, like with other songs here or other songs from her.

13. At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) - Rufus feat. Chaka Khan: This wasn't a song I was really too familiar with from Rufus and Chaka, but I did enjoy this. This was another really fun and funky song and I enjoy Chaka's vocals on this.

12. (Everytime I Turn Around) Back In Love Again - L.T.D.: This was one of those songs I don't remember from its song title or artist's name but when listening to it, I totally remember it. I remember it and do love it. This is sujch a fun and funky jam! It's one that made me happy while listening to it!

11. It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me - Barry White: Oooh phew yay my #19 misses the Top 10. Barry White is obviously a legend but this isn't a song I really know or was familiar with him. It didn't really do much for me on first listen but maybe it's a track that needs to grow on me? OOOH wow I totally hear the Robbie Williams' "Rock DJ" sample now that it was mentioned. :o Had no idea that song sampled this.

[beyoncelover]

Aug 16, 2022 13:11:26 GMT -5 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 said:

I wanted L.T.D. to be in the top 10. I'm surprised they didn't. 😢

Aww I was hoping for that to make the Top 10 too. :'( That is such a fun song!

[beyoncelover]

I got the following remaining:
#1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 18

Yayy my entire Top 5 still remains! 8 out of 10 of my Top 10 too. I'll be fine with most of these winning, just hopefully not my #13 or #18.

[Ivy Leegue™]

Aug 16, 2022 19:29:43 GMT -5 Private Dancer said:

Aug 16, 2022 13:53:00 GMT -5 Ivy Leegue™ said:

I discovered Break It To Me Gently through this rankdown and it is now one of my favorite Aretha songs! I had no idea that LTD was fronted by Jeffrey Osborne! I don't like Back In Love Again but love him especially Baby Stay With Me Tonight! How the f**k is Keep It Common Law in the Top 10 though. Also, kinda surprised by Serpentine Fire, which is not one of EWF's strongest hits.

I don't know if you meant this on purpose but this title is sending me!!! And I agree, this song needs to go. And I too did not know that Jeffrey was lead of LTD and I'm familiar with a lot of their hits. 

Someone said Strawberry welcome overstayed...but it's a straight up classic

I live by one rule: intention.

[Soulsista]

Welcome back!

We kick off the Top 10 with a tie. One song will placed higher because of a higher individual rank. The song leaving us right now has 13 Top 10s, and surprisingly none of them are Top 5s. On the flip side, three people will bid farewell to a bottom 5.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Class Of '77}singingrulebritannia wyckyd Ivy Leegue™ ccarter1023 rowellfarm490 gonecountry beyoncelover Private Dancer SHOOTER mamooshka Gonza'90 samo🦕 phieaglesfan712 BB🌕 #LisaRinna aerodynamite 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Mirago DJDaveMick69 annoymous1 .indulgecountry newpower Kelly's 10th Fan jenglisbe

[gonecountry]

1,2,3,5,6,7,11,13,15,16

That EWF song has overstayed its welcome.

[Soulsista]

10. Serpentine Fire - Earth, Wind & Fire

"Serpentine Fire" was the lead single from EWF's All 'N All album. It was the longest-reigning #1 of the year on the soul chart and was a Top 20 hit on the Hot 100. It was named Billboard's top soul single for 1978.


Stats
Chart Entry: October 15, 1977
Peak Date: November 19, 1977
Weeks At #1: 7
Weeks In Top 10: 12
Weeks On Chart: 20
Hot 100 Peak: #13

Points: 230
Average: 11.00
Standard Deviation: 3.656 (8th lowest)

aerodynamite - 6
singingrulebritannia - 7
phieaglesfan712 - 7
BB🌕 - 7
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 7
annoymous1 - 7
DJDaveMick69 - 8
Soulsista - 9
.indulgecountry - 9
rowellfarm490 - 10
mamooshka - 10
samo🦕 - 10
newpower - 10

Gonza'90 - 12
Ivy Leegue™ - 13
beyoncelover - 13
SHOOTER - 13
#LisaRinna - 14
ccarter1023 - 15
Private Dancer - 15

wyckyd - 16
gonecountry - 16
Mirago - 19

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe


Next: six Top 5s will go down, including four #2s. Six bottom 5s will also go away. This song has the 3rd highest SD.

[Soulsista]

9. Keep It Comin' Love - K.C. & The Sunshine Band

The fourth release from their Part 3 album, "Keep It Comin' Love" was the fourth and final soul charttopper for this interracial band from South Florida. It also peaked inside the Top 5 on the Hot 100.


Stats
Chart Entry: July 30, 1977
Peak Date: September 24, 1977
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 6
Weeks On Chart: 17
Hot 100 Peak: #2

Points: 230
Average: 11.00
Standard Deviation: 5.962 (3rd highest)

gonecountry - 2
phieaglesfan712 - 2
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 2
annoymous1 - 2
ccarter1023 - 5
beyoncelover - 5

DJDaveMick69 - 7
rowellfarm490 - 8
mamooshka - 8
wyckyd - 10

Soulsista - 12
#LisaRinna - 12
.indulgecountry - 12
singingrulebritannia - 14
Ivy Leegue™ - 15
aerodynamite - 15
Mirago - 15

BB🌕 - 16
SHOOTER - 17
newpower - 17
samo🦕 - 18
Gonza'90 - 19
Private Dancer - 20

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe


Five more Top 5s will be lost with the next reveal. Five other will shed a bottom 5.

[Soulsista]

8. I've Got Love On My Mind - Natalie Cole

The lead single from her Unpredictable album, "I've Got Love On My Mind" was Natalie's biggest hit, reaching the Top 5 on the Hot 100. It helped make Unpredictable her first album to go platinum.


Stats
Chart Entry: January 22, 1977
Peak Date: February 26, 1977
Weeks At #1: 5
Weeks In Top 10: 12
Weeks On Chart: 20
Hot 100 Peak: #5

Points: 236
Average: 10.74
Standard Deviation: 5.594 (4th highest)

Private Dancer - 2
.indulgecountry - 2
ccarter1023 - 3
#LisaRinna - 4
annoymous1 - 5

samo🦕 - 6
Soulsista - 7
SHOOTER - 8
beyoncelover - 9
DJDaveMick69 - 9
Mirago - 10

mamooshka - 11
newpower - 11
gonecountry - 13
phieaglesfan712 - 13
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 13
Ivy Leegue™ - 14
Gonza'90 - 15

aerodynamite - 16
wyckyd - 18
rowellfarm490 - 19
BB🌕 - 19
singingrulebritannia - 20

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe


The next reveal will three of you lose a Top 5. On the other end, we'll get rid of the final last place ranking.

[Soulsista]

7. Easy - The Commodores

"Easy" was the first release from The Commodores' self-titled album. Written by Lionel Richie, it's one of their biggest and most well-known hits, topping the soul chart and going Top 5 on the Hot 100. It was later covered by the rock band Faith No More.


Stats
Chart Entry: May 28, 1977
Peak Date: July 16, 1977
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 9
Weeks On Chart: 17
Hot 100 Peak: #4

Points: 257
Average: 9.83
Standard Deviation: 4.979 (7th highest)

Ivy Leegue™ - 2
mamooshka - 5
#LisaRinna - 5

singingrulebritannia - 6
beyoncelover - 6
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 6
rowellfarm490 - 7
samo🦕 - 7
.indulgecountry - 7
Soulsista - 8
ccarter1023 - 8
phieaglesfan712 - 8
newpower - 8
BB🌕 - 9
DJDaveMick69 - 10
annoymous1 - 10

gonecountry - 11
wyckyd - 13

Gonza'90 - 16
aerodynamite - 17
SHOOTER - 18
Private Dancer - 19
Mirago - 20

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe


The last song to miss the Top 5 has the highest SD. Someone will lose their #1, while four others will lose a bottom 5.

[Private Dancer]

Natalie deserved to be top five

[Soulsista]

6. Strawberry Letter 23 - The Brothers Johnson

Written and first recorded by Shuggie Otis in 1971, "Strawberry Letter 23" was the second soul charttopper for The Brothers Johnson, and peaked in the Top 5 on the Hot 100. It's been sampled numerous times, and was also notably covered by Tevin Campbell.

Here's the original by Shuggie.



Apologies to aerodynamite...


Stats
Chart Entry: June 18, 1977
Peak Date: August 6, 1977
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 12
Weeks On Chart: 19
Hot 100 Peak: #5

Points: 280
Average: 8.83
Standard Deviation: 6.478 (Highest)

aerodynamite - 1
rowellfarm490 - 2
SHOOTER - 2
DJDaveMick69 - 2
singingrulebritannia - 3
phieaglesfan712 - 3
Soulsista - 4
Private Dancer - 4
Gonza'90 - 4
BB🌕 - 4
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4

Mirago - 7
Ivy Leegue™ - 8
mamooshka - 9

Still Waiting For Their First Strawberry Letter:
samo🦕 - 13
annoymous1 - 14
wyckyd - 15
gonecountry - 15
#LisaRinna - 15
beyoncelover - 18
newpower - 18
ccarter1023 - 19
.indulgecountry - 19

Observing
Kelly's 10th Fan
jenglisbe

[Soulsista]

The Top 5:

I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
Got To Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Best Of My Love - The Emotions


Will we see an all-Stevie Top 2? Can Marvin power his way to the top? Or will it be Thelma or The Emotions?

Find out when the Billboard #1 Soul Songs Of 1977 Rankdown concludes tomorrow!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Soul Class Of '77}singingrulebritannia wyckyd Ivy Leegue™ ccarter1023 rowellfarm490 gonecountry beyoncelover Private Dancer SHOOTER mamooshka Gonza'90 samo🦕 phieaglesfan712 BB🌕 #LisaRinna aerodynamite 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 Mirago DJDaveMick69 annoymous1 .indulgecountry newpower Kelly's 10th Fan jenglisbe

[Private Dancer]

Solid top five! I'm so glad The Emotions are still in!

[singingrulebritannia]

No surprises in this top 5

1 2 4 5 8

[gonecountry]

Incredibly solid top 5!
1, 3, 5, 6, 7

I knew my love of all things KC was going to sink me.

I'm thinking Stevie may be able to get both songs in the top 3, if not top 2!