The BEST episodes of Soul Train

Every episode of Soul Train ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Soul Train!

It's the SOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUL TRAIN! Pop music has always had shows like American Bandstand to sing its praises, but R&B music had to wait a while for its own major weekly showcase. Just the same, Soul Train proved to be well worth the wait when it hit the airwaves in the 1970s. This weekly extravaganza, which showed off the latest and greatest in soul music and dance moves, became a national sensation in the mid-1970s and became a pop culture juggernaut that broke new ground for African-American entertainment. Soul Train was the brainchild of radio announcer Don Cornelius. After studying broadcasting in college, Cornelius got a job at WVON, one of Chicago's most popular urban radio stations. During this time, he pondered breaking into television with a dance and music show from an African-American perspective. In 1969, he produced a pilot episode and dubbed it "Soul Train" after a local radio promotion he had done in Chicago. The pilot impressed the Sears Roebuck Company, whic

Last Updated: 12/12/2024Network: SyndicationStatus: Ended
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#1 - The Impressions/ Tyrone Davis/ Billy Preston

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/7/1973

The Impressions - "Preacher Man" and "Lost." Tyrone Davis - "Change In Mind" and "Without You in My Life." Billy Preston - "Will it Go Round in Circles?" Diana Ross, making a cameo appearance, is interviewed by Don Cornelius. Actress Brenda Sykes also does a cameo appearance.

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#2 - The Chi-Lites/ Edwin Starr/ James Gadsen

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/18/1972

--The Chi-Lites ""Oh Girl"" and ""The Coldest days of My Life"" --Edwin Starr ""War"" and ""Double Agent O Soul""

Directors: Don Buccola
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#3 - Musiq/ Knoc-Turn'al/ Beyoncé video

Season 33 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/20/2004

--Knoc-Turn'al ""The Way I Am"" and ""Knoc"" --Musiq ""Forthenight"" and ""whoknows"" --Beyonce music video ""Me, Myself and I""

Directors: Morris Abraham
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#4 - Jon B/ Militia/ Tami Hert

Season 27 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/2/1998

--Jon B. ""Are U Still Down"" and ""Love Hurts"" --Militia ""Burn"" --Tami Hert ""If You Were Mine""

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#5 - Immature/ Terry Ellis/ Asante

Season 25 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/23/1995

--Immature ""We Got It"" and ""Lover's Groove"" --Terry Ellis ""Wherever You Are"" and ""What Did I Do To You"" --Asante ""Look What You Done""

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#6 - Damien Dame/ Jodeci/ Lisa Fischer

Season 20 - Episode 31 - Aired 6/15/1991

--Damien Dame ""Exclusivity"" --Jodeci ""Forever My Lady"" and ""Stay"" --Lisa Fischer ""How Can I Ease the Pain""

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#7 - Manhattan Transfer/ Rene Moore/ Lateasha

Season 18 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/20/1989

--Manhattan Transfer ""Killer Joe"" and ""Soul Food to Go (Sina)"" --Rene Moore ""All or Nothing"" --Lateasha ""It Just ain't Easy"" and ""Move on You""

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#8 - Klymaxx/ Club Nouveau/ Bobby Brown

Season 16 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1986

--Bobby Brown - ""Girlfriend"" and ""Girl Next Door"" --Klymaxx ""Divas Need Love Too"" and ""I Still Say Yes"" --Club Nouveau ""Lean on Me"" and ""Why You Treat Me so Bad""

Directors: J.D. Lobue
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#9 - Carrie Lucas/ Steve Arrington

Season 14 - Episode 32 - Aired 6/29/1985

--Carrie Lucas ""Horsin' Around"" and ""Hello Stranger"" --Steve Arrington ""Dancin' in the Key of Life"" and ""Feels So Real""

Directors: J.D. Lobue
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#10 - Lillo/ Cherrelle

Season 14 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/1984

--Lillo - ""Your Love's Got A Hold On Me"" and ""Holdin' On"" --Cherrelle - ""Fragile... Handle With Care"" and ""I Didn't Mean To Turn You On""

Directors: J.D. Lobue
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#11 - Natalie Cole/ Arthur Prysock

Season 6 - Episode 30 - Aired 3/12/1977

--Natalie Cole ""I've Got Love On My Mind,"" ""Peaceful Living"" & ""Party Lights"" --Arthur Prysock - ""When Love Is New"" & ""I Wantcha Baby""

Directors: J.D. Lobue
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#12 - The Dells/ Bloodstone

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 1/31/1976

--The Dells ""I Wish It was Me You Loved"" and ""Bring Back the Love of Yesterday"" --Bloodstone ""As Tikme Goes By"" and ""Yakety Yak"", ""Money (That's What i want)"" and ""Toot! Toot! Tootsie Goodbye""

Directors: Sid McCoy
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#13 - The Jackson Five

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 1/24/1976

--Michael Jackson - ""Just A Little Bit Of You,"" ""One Day In Your Life"" & ""We've Got Forever"" --The Jackson Five - ""Forever Came Today"" & ""All I Do Is Think Of You""

Directors: Sid McCoy
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#14 - Ashford & Simpson/ Tavares/ Little Beaver

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/26/1974

--Ashford & Simpson ""I Wanna Be Selfish"" --Tavares ""Too Late"" and ""She's Gone"" --Little Beaver ""Joey"" and ""Wish I had a Girl Like You""

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#15 - Tyrone Davis/ Hugh Masekela/ Black Ivory

Season 3 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/1/1974

Tyrone Davis - "There It Is" (and possibly "What Comes Up (Must Come Down)"). Hugh Masekela - "Jungle Jim." Black Ivory "What Goes Around (Comes Around)."

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#16 - Marvin Gaye/ The Whispers

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/16/1974

Marvin Gaye - "Come Get To This," "Let's Get It On," "Distant Lover" and "Keep Gettin' It On." The Whispers "A Mother for My Children" and "What More Can A Girl Ask For."

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#17 - Johnnie Taylor/ Ann Peebles/ Maceo and the Macs

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/15/1973

Johnnie Taylor "I Believe in You (You Believe in me)" and "Cheaper to Keep Her" Ann Peebles "I Can't Stand the Rain" and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" Maceo and the Macs "Cross the Track (We Better Go Back)" and "Soul Power '74"

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#18 - Curtis Mayfield/ Millie Jackson/ Natural Four

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/10/1973

Curtis Mayfield "Back to the World," "If I Were only a Child Again" and "Future Shock." Millie Jackson "Hurts So Good" and "Hypocrisy." Natural Four "Can This Be Real."

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#19 - Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s/ Lyn Collins/ The Sly, The Slick & the Wicked

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/8/1973

Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s "Doing it to Death" & "If You Don't Get it the First Time." Lyn Collins - "Take Me as I Am" Sly, the Slick & the Wicked - "Sho' Nuff"

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#20 - Chairman of the Board/ Charles Mann/ Sylvia

Season 2 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/30/1973

Sylvia - "Didn't I?" and "Pillow Talk." Chairman of the Board - "Finders Keepers" and "Chairman of the Board." Charles Mann - "It's All Over."

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#21 - The Miracles/ Chuck Jackson/ The Jackson Sisters

Season 2 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/23/1973

Smokey Robinson - "Sweet Harmony." The Miracles - "What Is a Heart Good For?" "Don't Let It End (Till You Let It Begin)," and "If You're Ever in the Neighborhood." Chuck Jackson - "I Only Get This Feeling" and "Put a Little Love Away." The Jackson Sisters - "Why Can't We Be More than Friends?"

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#22 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/ Billy Paul/ Maxine Weldon

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/23/1974

Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes "The Love I Lost" and "Yesterday I Had the Blues." Billy Paul "Thanks for Saving My Life." Maxine Weldon "Some Singing."

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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#23 - The Staple Singers/ Bunny Sigler

Season 3 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/8/1974

The Staple Singers "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)," "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" and "We the People" Mavis Staples "A House is Not a Home" Bunny Sigler "That's How Long I'll Be Loving You" and "Things Are Gonna Get Better"

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#24 - James Brown

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/10/1973

--James Brown - ""Get On The Good Foot,"" ""Soul Power,"" ""Make It Funky,"" ""Cold Sweat,"" ""Try Me,"" ""Hot Pants,"" ""Get Up (I Feel Like A) Sex Machine,"" ""Super Bad,"" ""Please Please, Please"" and ""Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud"" --Lyn Collins - Never Gonna Give You Up""

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#25 - The S.O.S. Band / Jermaine Stewart / Juicy

Season 15 - Episode 27 - Aired 6/14/1986

The SOS Band - "The Finest" and "Borrowed Love." Jermaine Stewart - "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" and "Dance Floor." Juicy - "Nobody But You."

Directors: J.D. Lobue
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