Here are the #1 Hot Soul Singles of 1976. Curiously, the name of this category changed several times over the years. Rhythm and blues was the dominant designation through mid-1969.
Several songs hit #1 on the pop charts, designated as (pop)
Disco Lady – Johnnie Taylor, six weeks at #1 (pop)
Something He Can Feel– Aretha Franklin, four weeks at #1. I heard the En Vogue take first, then the QoS version in her box set
Dazz– Brick, 4 weeks at #1; here’s the disco mix
(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty – KC and the Sunshine Band, four weeks at #1 (pop)
Wake Up Everybody (Part 1) -Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, two weeks at #1
Sweet Thing – Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, two weeks at #1
Livin’ for the Weekend – the O’Jays, two weeks at #1
You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine – Lou Rawls, two weeks at #1; also a #1 on the easy listening charts
Getaway – Earth, Wind & Fire, two weeks at #1. This is probably my favorite EW&F song. I especially love the triplets at the end. And for fun of it, the Funky Purrfection version
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry, two weeks at #1 (pop)
Just To Be Close To You – Commodores, two weeks at #1; version
Love Ballad – L.T.D., two weeks at #1
Car Wash – Rose Royce, two weeks at #1 (pop)
Sing A Song – Earth, Wind & Fire, two weeks at #1
One week at #1
Walk Away From Love – David Ruffin. A former Temptation
Turning Point – Tyrone Davis
Inseparable – Natalie Cole
Boogie Fever – Sylvers (pop)
Movin’ – Brass Construction
Love Hangover – Diana Ross (pop)
Kiss and Say Goodbye – Manhattans (pop)
I Want You – Marvin Gaye
Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Station
I’ll Be Good To You -The Brothers Johnson, produced by Quincy Jones. When Q put out his Back On The Block album in 1989, he covered this song with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan.
Sophisticated Lady (She’s A Different Lady) – Natalie Cole
Who’d She Coo? – Ohio Players
The Rubberband Man – Spinners. I have the album version of this song by Linda Creed and Thom Bell, as one does.
Message in Our Music – The O’Jays by Gamble and Huff. Here’s the album version.
You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) – Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. (pop)
