Classic Soul artists, songs, decades and similar genres

classic soul music timeline

Explore classic soul history by listening to songs from every decade. Click on the decade to view songs.

2020s 2010s 2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s

Similar Genres to classic soul

Discover more related genres to classic soul genre. This list is ordered by similarity from left to right.

soul,motown,funk,quiet storm,southern soul,disco,post-disco,brill building pop,rhythm and blues,philly soul,urban contemporary,chicago soul,souldies,jazz funk,memphis soul,northern soul,new jack swing,electro,soul blues,doo-wop,adult standards,beach music,soul jazz,classic girl group,rock-and-roll,deep disco,instrumental soul,folk rock,psychedelic soul,vocal jazz,neo soul,soft rock,afrobeat,southern soul blues,girl group,modern funk,rare groove,mellow gold,new orleans blues,louisiana blues,popping,r&b,brit funk,minneapolis sound,rockabilly,instrumental funk,indie soul,new orleans funk,chicago house,funk rock,traditional soul,jazz blues,p funk,indie jazz,post-disco soul,deep southern soul,memphis blues,classic rock,harlem hip hop,classic uk pop,rock steady,rock,latin afrobeat,latin jazz,boogaloo,retro soul,electronica,lounge,brass band,gospel soul,roots rock,jazz vibraphone,diva house,blues,afropop,synth funk,mexican classic rock,world,gangster rap,latin rock,piano blues,rock keyboard,blues rock,chicago blues,deep funk,vocal house,latinx alternative,deep northern soul,dance pop,jump blues,alternative roots rock,afrofuturism,boogie,jazz flute,new orleans jazz,traditional blues,go-go,electric blues,smooth jazz,bahamian pop,psychedelic rock,country rock,torch song,salsa,ethio-jazz,jazz saxophone,hammond organ,salsa international,bubblegum pop,bboy,slam poetry,second line,boogie-woogie,political hip hop,modern blues,hi-nrg,conscious hip hop,disco house,swing,nu jazz,street band,smooth soul,jazz,rock drums,latin hip hop,musica tradicional cubana,tropical,deep motown,finnish soul,cool jazz,spirituals,freak folk,jam band,chicano rap,jazz drums,jazz trumpet,cuban rumba,dixieland,german indie pop,soda pop,romanian trap,europop,hard bop,stomp and holler,punk blues,baltimore indie,yacht rock,memphis americana,easy listening,merseybeat,acoustic blues,swamp pop,la indie,contemporary post-bop,indie rock,modern blues rock,san diego rap,big band,jazz piano,jazz cubano,drone folk,native american,jazz fusion,bebop,indie folk,new wave pop,deep new americana,g funk,

classic soul playlist created by Chosic

Enjoy this playlist of popular classic soul music. We made this playlist using an algorithm created by our team.

Play on spotify

List of classic soul artists

Here is a list of classic soul artists on Spotify, ranked based on popularity, who exemplifies the classic soul genre. You can find out what classic soul genre sounds like where you can preview artists or sort them the way you want, just click the headers to sort.

#	name	Popularity	instrumentalness	danceability	energy	acousticness	Happiness	tempo	followers
1	Marvin Gaye	74	7	60	61	36	70	121	5011116
2	Aretha Franklin	71	0	58	46	53	58	115	3139518
3	Otis Redding	70	0	62	38	48	65	128	2090715
4	Sam Cooke	68	0	52	48	69	65	113	1488659
5	Ray Charles	68	6	51	36	76	55	118	2038177
6	Tammi Terrell	67	0	57	75	43	69	97	163643
7	Al Green	66	6	66	41	34	64	112	1801705
8	Four Tops	63	0	60	67	26	77	120	1031449
9	The Isley Brothers	63	2	62	63	42	70	122	1682006
10	The Emotions	62	6	67	56	43	79	115	542460
11	The Spinners	61	0	65	57	42	71	128	838150
12	The O'Jays	59	0	62	64	34	70	120	1138945
13	Curtis Mayfield	59	6	66	64	32	73	116	1027535
14	Sly & The Family Stone	59	9	70	64	29	73	119	957727
15	Gladys Knight & The Pips	59	2	58	57	35	62	117	1171921
16	Jackie Wilson	58	1	58	62	52	76	113	419285
17	Sam & Dave	58	1	68	43	36	70	120	306520
18	Bobby Womack	58	2	59	58	41	68	113	663369
19	Wilson Pickett	58	2	66	55	23	83	121	586346
20	Booker T. & the M.G.'s	57	74	68	39	48	63	117	269838
21	Smokey Robinson & The Miracles	57	0	52	55	45	74	115	1118876
22	War	57	14	69	61	22	70	123	402912
23	Donny Hathaway	56	4	48	40	65	44	102	537069
24	Martha Reeves & The Vandellas	56	1	56	69	37	75	130	425248
25	Smokey Robinson	55	2	60	51	50	66	122	1157991
26	Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes	54	0	60	62	32	63	110	540824
27	The Staple Singers	54	4	67	57	35	74	107	321061
28	Percy Sledge	54	0	51	33	38	44	107	468105
29	Billy Paul	54	1	52	57	39	63	120	261819
30	Rufus	53	1	82	57	15	86	113	214204
31	The Stylistics	53	0	54	48	60	55	118	786324
32	Ike & Tina Turner	53	4	61	60	47	71	110	286929
33	Minnie Riperton	53	1	53	47	57	54	111	353049
34	The Five Stairsteps	52	0	47	60	28	62	115	77652
35	Lou Rawls	52	0	60	62	37	72	117	182275
36	The Whispers	52	2	70	63	19	77	113	609435
37	The Manhattans	51	0	58	46	35	58	112	562826
38	Isaac Hayes	51	17	55	56	15	67	118	642763
39	The Dramatics	51	0	58	55	39	70	125	349265
40	The Contours	51	0	61	75	52	80	140	120584
41	Marlena Shaw	51	4	53	60	35	54	116	69603
42	Rose Royce	51	0	69	54	31	67	112	439535
43	Evelyn "Champagne" King	51	3	77	66	11	82	120	319570
44	Peaches & Herb	50	1	69	57	37	65	111	152909
45	The Impressions	50	3	55	53	45	65	113	259767
46	The Marvelettes	50	0	67	65	47	83	118	327758
47	Mary Wells	50	0	68	55	57	88	118	288955
48	The Delfonics	50	5	50	57	61	60	117	497850
49	Irma Thomas	49	1	57	41	48	56	117	94001
50	Edwin Starr	49	10	69	67	20	83	117	148909
51	Jr. Walker & The All Stars	49	1	65	63	16	75	121	210451
52	Heatwave	49	6	66	57	20	65	112	423922
53	Betty Wright	48	1	67	59	41	79	120	257890
54	Ohio Players	48	4	60	65	22	72	116	637878
55	William DeVaughn	47	8	72	46	29	72	108	30693
56	The Miracles	47	5	56	64	50	66	115	367665
57	Mary Jane Girls	46	7	76	60	9	81	118	252154
58	The Chi-Lites	46	0	56	57	34	63	121	535232
59	Jimmy Ruffin	46	0	68	63	48	67	105	182055
60	Billy Stewart	45	0	59	59	56	65	112	84204
61	Dazz Band	45	3	74	72	19	81	125	306156
62	The Jones Girls	45	2	70	58	37	72	117	111235
63	The Love Unlimited Orchestra	45	70	61	65	5	83	114	83851
64	Little Anthony & The Imperials	44	1	48	37	75	54	114	97064
65	One Way	44	0	86	47	24	69	107	177406
66	The Elgins	44	6	61	64	44	69	121	68307
67	Con Funk Shun	44	1	71	53	23	76	132	356500
68	McFadden & Whitehead	44	0	65	72	12	80	120	47107
69	Lakeside	44	1	68	64	23	74	117	303039
70	The Blackbyrds	44	5	66	61	13	73	105	125988
71	Timmy Thomas	44	26	73	52	25	77	120	15976
72	Ashford & Simpson	43	10	68	64	21	77	113	442798
73	Bloodstone	43	2	53	53	33	60	132	197820
74	Joe Bataan	43	28	64	67	29	80	122	46958
75	The Intruders	43	0	46	52	46	64	134	211955
76	Ralfi Pagan	43	18	57	32	75	55	111	37296
77	The Main Ingredient	43	5	48	55	61	63	129	201590
78	Fatback Band	43	20	71	69	6	76	111	128143
79	Barbara Lewis	43	0	57	39	54	77	111	67490
80	The Bar-Kays	43	30	78	67	15	88	121	264599
81	Eddie Kendricks	42	2	57	61	35	75	115	289338
82	Betty Everett	42	7	60	47	74	83	124	29092
83	Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose	42	0	57	60	33	87	116	21058
84	Blue Magic	41	1	53	45	55	50	128	223772
85	Gene Chandler	41	0	54	50	51	66	113	78085
86	Phyllis Hyman	41	0	64	55	30	60	120	312064
87	Brick	41	12	76	75	9	89	115	156800
88	Barbara Mason	41	1	59	52	39	66	123	110449
89	James Carr	41	0	59	52	39	67	120	48473
90	G.Q.	41	1	67	58	6	81	131	52926
91	Willie Hutch	41	7	58	65	35	78	123	80523
92	MFSB	40	53	64	68	20	72	114	75748
93	Barbara Lynn	40	0	64	46	45	70	124	47295
94	The Originals	40	8	48	53	44	64	123	99220
95	Yarbrough & Peoples	40	9	76	69	10	79	106	61128
96	Merry Clayton	40	0	52	70	41	73	122	26260
97	James & Bobby Purify	40	0	61	47	42	73	130	24697
98	David Ruffin	40	0	56	52	35	68	108	215330
99	Melba Moore	40	0	75	66	19	81	118	142451
100	The Velvelettes	39	0	67	76	33	85	109	134904
101	The Dells	39	0	49	48	42	62	120	256640
102	Papa Bear & His Cubs	39	8	49	33	84	64	109	9564
103	The Floaters	39	0	57	62	26	74	96	25999
104	Archie Bell & The Drells	39	2	61	64	29	74	122	85779
105	The Temprees	39	0	51	29	53	45	123	95998
106	Sunny & The Sunliners	39	0	51	42	63	58	118	23436
107	Slave	39	7	70	58	12	76	113	222520
108	Syreeta	38	12	61	61	56	59	115	14881
109	The Persuaders	38	0	54	44	67	60	119	84991
110	The Undisputed Truth	38	5	64	63	34	72	120	49770
111	The Fuzz	38	0	47	49	48	74	100	4746
112	Johnny Bristol	37	0	60	82	26	72	116	14521
113	The Sylvers	37	0	66	77	37	88	125	26978
114	Love Unlimited	37	2	58	58	28	62	115	62839
115	Skyy	37	2	74	67	10	76	117	151361
116	Jerry Butler	37	0	47	51	58	61	112	152771
117	The Friends Of Distinction	37	0	43	57	53	50	123	47741
118	Lenny Williams	37	0	66	60	38	64	91	58240
119	Supreme Jubilees	36	0	60	35	62	55	111	7851
120	Leon Haywood	36	4	74	59	40	92	103	13804
121	Leroy Hutson	36	4	59	61	27	71	110	34599
122	Eddie Holman	36	2	43	45	47	52	124	28604
123	Enchantment	35	1	53	61	29	64	119	54607
124	Barbara Acklin	35	0	66	64	37	78	113	8606
125	Freddie Scott	35	0	55	49	48	67	103	9005
126	Thee Midniters	35	4	40	61	34	65	116	16934
127	The Moments	35	0	52	52	32	52	127	153078
128	Bob & Earl	35	1	66	76	33	76	121	6548
129	Dee Dee Sharp	34	0	61	59	34	78	133	33159
130	Yvonne Fair	34	0	66	38	57	62	126	6965
131	T-Connection	34	17	73	81	16	88	114	42223
132	Brenda And The Tabulations	34	2	37	45	58	48	151	5507
133	Jean Carn	34	0	63	63	27	71	113	46148
134	Pete Wingfield	34	13	70	33	33	44	113	3033
135	Mandrill	33	5	63	67	30	73	108	79095
136	Michael Henderson	33	2	59	61	24	50	105	61436
137	The Notations	33	7	52	53	35	58	137	16717
138	The Tymes	33	0	57	56	58	60	98	12301
139	The New Birth	33	10	57	58	38	69	121	132746
140	Willie Mitchell	33	75	75	53	43	87	122	15238
141	Donnie Elbert	33	0	49	53	63	53	98	14035
142	D.J. Rogers	33	0	55	57	49	59	132	4192
143	Z.Z. Hill	33	0	67	52	17	70	110	79365
144	Tierra	32	0	45	55	50	55	153	21689
145	Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces	32	0	68	56	18	77	99	2843
146	Linda Jones	32	0	52	61	43	70	105	23247
147	Sly, Slick & Wicked	32	0	64	44	51	57	127	21146
148	People's Choice	32	22	72	70	11	78	120	25663
149	Chairmen Of The Board	32	0	63	64	18	60	125	25236
150	The Vanguards	32	0	39	46	71	59	112	4884
151	Rotary Connection	31	5	47	53	44	62	87	16103
152	B.T. Express	31	8	73	77	8	83	119	119755
153	Milton Wright	31	4	64	68	18	83	114	8978
154	Brass Construction	31	19	71	73	11	73	110	122413
155	Norman Connors	31	11	55	68	25	67	120	54918
156	The Mad Lads	30	1	63	38	52	73	115	21163
157	Maxine Brown	30	0	56	51	50	67	126	15613
158	Lovelites	30	0	51	61	41	77	126	4219
159	Ace Spectrum	29	3	55	59	42	59	123	3513
160	Lamont Dozier	29	0	68	63	19	91	125	34511
161	The Whatnauts	29	5	52	44	50	57	112	24263
162	Major Harris	29	2	58	46	70	57	123	66060
163	The Brothers Of Soul	28	0	48	51	44	72	132	13792
164	Brenda Holloway	28	0	50	44	59	57	134	42835
165	Jackie Moore	27	1	70	69	23	79	127	7028
166	The Escorts	27	0	52	55	45	61	135	42305
167	The Monitors	27	0	30	35	5	54	178	22591
168	Crown Heights Affair	27	20	68	82	5	74	120	25381
169	Baby Washington	27	1	56	54	58	69	113	11688
170	The Ethics	27	1	50	50	54	51	134	2727
171	The Sweet Inspirations	26	1	57	33	62	63	105	11882
172	Mass Production	26	8	66	58	25	76	117	53106
173	Garland Green	26	0	57	56	21	75	135	5135
174	Friday, Saturday And Sunday	26	0	62	48	56	94	100	1570
175	Ann Sexton	26	1	68	46	61	77	121	6061
176	Ronnie Dyson	25	0	52	59	27	67	108	4510
177	Al Johnson	25	0	59	54	37	72	99	3614
178	La Mission	25	0	68	43	49	60	125	6605
179	Honey Cone	25	0	65	81	33	93	190	8380
180	The Ebonys	24	0	50	60	54	61	127	36980
181	Margie Joseph	24	1	59	46	42	65	121	12398
182	Dee Dee Warwick	23	0	57	54	46	71	113	10593
183	Ted Taylor	23	1	59	60	44	74	119	4464
184	The Natural Four	23	0	57	45	19	76	110	19298
185	Ronnie McNeir	22	0	54	47	39	62	139	2869
186	New York City	22	0	65	54	48	73	139	935
187	Rosie And Ron	21	81	51	48	89	96	107	2238
188	The Superbs	21	9	35	44	58	46	150	4897
189	Brighter Side of Darkness	21	0	45	48	71	56	143	5214
190	Shorty Long	21	0	74	62	24	75	114	11932
191	The Radiants	21	0	55	56	41	69	97	1667
192	The Futures	21	4	59	58	55	68	115	2630
193	The Fantastic Four	20	0	80	68	11	83	114	5164
194	Gloria Scott	20	1	60	72	7	72	99	2819
195	Walter Jackson	19	0	54	49	52	61	108	5053
196	Fuller Bros.	19	0	70	45	54	92	92	872
197	Black Ivory	19	3	48	59	24	53	124	24316
198	The Masqueraders	19	37	43	37	62	42	118	5489
199	The Montclairs	19	0	45	45	67	72	131	10594
200	Mike And The Censations	19	0	52	56	51	66	107	1730

Top artists of classic soul genre

classic soul music timeline

Similar Genres to classic soul

classic soul playlist created by Chosic

List of classic soul artists

Useful links

Royalty Free Music

Languages

Connect

Also on Chosic