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: 3/22/2024Network: SyndicationStatus: Ended
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Chairman of the Board/ Charles Mann/ Sylvia
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#1 - 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
The Impressions/ Tyrone Davis/ Billy Preston
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#2 - 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
Musiq/ Knoc-Turn'al/ Beyoncé video
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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
Jon B/ Militia/ Tami Hert
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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""

Immature/ Terry Ellis/ Asante
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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""

Damien Dame/ Jodeci/ Lisa Fischer
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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""

Manhattan Transfer/ Rene Moore/ Lateasha
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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""

Klymaxx/ Club Nouveau/ Bobby Brown
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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
Carrie Lucas/ Steve Arrington
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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
Lillo/ Cherrelle
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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
Natalie Cole/ Arthur Prysock
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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
The Dells/ Bloodstone
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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
The Jackson Five
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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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Ashford & Simpson/ Tavares/ Little Beaver
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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
Tyrone Davis/ Hugh Masekela/ Black Ivory
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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)."

Marvin Gaye/ The Whispers
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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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Johnnie Taylor/ Ann Peebles/ Maceo and the Macs
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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
Curtis Mayfield/ Millie Jackson/ Natural Four
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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
Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s/ Lyn Collins/ The Sly, The Slick & the Wicked
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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
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/ Billy Paul/ Maxine Weldon
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#20 - 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
The Staple Singers/ Bunny Sigler
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#21 - 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"

The Best of Soul Train
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#22 - The Best of Soul Train

Season 2 - Episode 37 - Aired 8/11/1973

James Brown "Make It Funky", "Super Bad" and Medley: "Please, Please, Please" and "Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud" (from ST#49, 10-Feb-1973) James Brown & Teddy Brown (James Brown's son) interview (from ST #50- 17-Feb-1973) Chuck Berry "Johnny B. Goode" (from ST #66, 07-Jul-1973) Aretha Franklin "Day Dreaming" (from ST #56, 14-Apr-1973) Curtis Mayfield "Superfly" (from ST #45, 06-Jan-1973) The Temptations "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" (from ST #41, 18-Nov-1972) The Four Tops "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)" (from ST #50, 17-Feb-1973) The Supremes "Floy Joy" and "Bad Weather" (from ST #60, 12-May-1973) Jermaine Jackson feat. Jackson 5 "Daddy's Home" (from ST #35, 07-Oct-1972) Jackson 5 "I Want You Back" (from ST #35, 07-Oct-1972) Al Green "For The Good Times" (from ST #52, 03-Mar-1973) The O'Jays "Love Train" (from ST #57, 21-Apr-1973) Stevie Wonder "Soul Train (All The Brothers And Sisters Get Together)" (from ST #46, 13-Jan-1973)

Directors: B.J. Jackson
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The S.O.S. Band / Jermaine Stewart / Juicy
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#23 - 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
James Brown
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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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The Commodores
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#25 - The Commodores

Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/8/1979

--The Commodores ""Flying High"", ""Sail On"", and ""Still"" and ""Wonderland""

Watch Now:Amazon