The BEST episodes written by Don Cornelius
#1 - Johnnie Taylor/ Ann Peebles/ Maceo and the Macs
Soul Train - Season 3 - Episode 16
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"
#2 - Carrie Lucas/ Steve Arrington
Soul Train - Season 14 - Episode 32
--Carrie Lucas ""Horsin' Around"" and ""Hello Stranger"" --Steve Arrington ""Dancin' in the Key of Life"" and ""Feels So Real""
#3 - Curtis Mayfield/ Millie Jackson/ Natural Four
Soul Train - Season 3 - Episode 11
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."
#4 - Marvin Gaye/ The Whispers
Soul Train - Season 3 - Episode 22
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."
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Musiq/ Knoc-Turn'al/ Beyoncé video
Soul Train - Season 33 - Episode 18
--Knoc-Turn'al ""The Way I Am"" and ""Knoc"" --Musiq ""Forthenight"" and ""whoknows"" --Beyonce music video ""Me, Myself and I""
#6 - Klymaxx/ Club Nouveau/ Bobby Brown
Soul Train - Season 16 - Episode 13
--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""
#7 - Chairman of the Board/ Charles Mann/ Sylvia
Soul Train - Season 2 - Episode 35
Sylvia - "Didn't I?" and "Pillow Talk." Chairman of the Board - "Finders Keepers" and "Chairman of the Board." Charles Mann - "It's All Over."
#8 - The Dells/ Bloodstone
Soul Train - Season 5 - Episode 24
--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""
#9 - Natalie Cole/ Arthur Prysock
Soul Train - Season 6 - Episode 30
--Natalie Cole ""I've Got Love On My Mind,"" ""Peaceful Living"" & ""Party Lights"" --Arthur Prysock - ""When Love Is New"" & ""I Wantcha Baby""
#10 - The Jackson Five
Soul Train - Season 5 - Episode 23
--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""
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - The Impressions/ Tyrone Davis/ Billy Preston
Soul Train - Season 2 - Episode 25
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.
#12 - Ashford & Simpson/ Tavares/ Little Beaver
Soul Train - Season 4 - Episode 8
--Ashford & Simpson ""I Wanna Be Selfish"" --Tavares ""Too Late"" and ""She's Gone"" --Little Beaver ""Joey"" and ""Wish I had a Girl Like You""
#13 - Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s/ Lyn Collins/ The Sly, The Slick & the Wicked
Soul Train - Season 3 - Episode 3
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"
#14 - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/ Billy Paul/ Maxine Weldon
Soul Train - Season 3 - Episode 23
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."
#15 - The Best of Soul Train
Soul Train - Season 2 - Episode 37
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)
Watch Now:Amazon#16 - The Commodores
Soul Train - Season 9 - Episode 13
--The Commodores ""Flying High"", ""Sail On"", and ""Still"" and ""Wonderland""
Watch Now:Amazon#17 - The S.O.S. Band / Jermaine Stewart / Juicy
Soul Train - Season 15 - Episode 27
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."
#18 - James Brown
Soul Train - Season 2 - Episode 19
--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""
Watch Now:Amazon#19 - Aretha Franklin
Soul Train - Season 2 - Episode 26
Aretha Franklin sings several of her classics including "Respect," "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone," "Think," "Call Me," "Spanish Harlem," "Rock Steady," "Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)" and "Day Dreaming." The 'Queen of Soul' also performs her latest release "Master of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes)." Plus, an interview with Aretha's brother, the Reverend Cecil Franklin.
Watch Now:Amazon#20 - Gladys Knight & the Pips/ Eddie Kendricks/ The Honey Cone/ Bobby Hutton
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 1
--Gladys Knight and the Pips performed ""Friendship Train"" and ""I Don't Wanna Do Wrong."" --Eddie Kendricks performed ""It's So Hard for Me to Say Goodbye"" and ""I Did It All For You."" --Honey Cone perfomed ""Stick-Up"" and ""Want Ads."" --Bobby Hutton performed ""You're My Only Reason.""
#21 - B.B. King/ O.C. Smith/ Patrice Halloway
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 14
--B.B. King ""Think it Over"" --O.C. Smith ""Little Green Apples"" and ""Help Me Make it Through the Night"" --Patrice Halloway ""Evidence"" and ""That's the Chance You Gotta Take""
#22 - Dennis Coffey/ Detroit Emeralds/ Jesse James
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 15
--Dennis Coffey ""Scorpio"" --Detroit Emeralds ""Wear This Ring with Love"" and ""You Want it, You Got it"" --Jesse James ""I Need You Baby"" and ""At Last""
#23 - Little Richard/ Undisputed Truth/ Nolan F. Porter
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 16
--Little Richard ""Freedom Blues"" and ""Greenwood Mississippi"" --Undisputed Truth ""Smiling Faces Sometimes"" and ""You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth""
#24 - The Impressions/ Mary Clayton/ The Three Degrees
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 18
--The Impressions ""Ain't Got Time"" and ""Love Me"" --Merry Clayton ""After All This Time"" --The Three Degrees ""There's So Much Love"", ""Maybe"" and ""Trade Winds""
#25 - The Dells/ Kim Weston/ Luther Ingram
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 19
--The Dells ""It's All Up to You"" and ""The Love We Had"" --Kim Weston ""Little By Little And Bit By Bit"" and ""If I Had it My Way"" --Luther Ingram ""Be Good to Me Baby"" and ""I'll Love You Until the End""
#26 - Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee/ Joe Tex/ Hodges, Smith, James & Crawford
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 20
--Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager ""Ain't Understanding Mellow"" --Jerry Butler ""Walk Easy my Son"" and ""How Did We Lose it Baby"" --Joe Tex ""I Gotcha"" and ""A Mother's Prayer"" --Hodges, Smith, James & Crawford ""Signal Your Intention""
#27 - Gene Chandler/ Simtex & Wylie/ The Free Movement
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 13
--Gene Chandler "Yes I'm Ready (If you Don't Let Go)" and "Stone Cold Love" --Simtex & Wylie "Got To get Over the Hump" --The Free Movement "I Found Someone" and "The Harder I Try"
#28 - The Four Tops/ Jackie Wilson/ Kool & the Gang
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 22
--The Four Tops "A Simple Game" and "MacArthur Park" --Jackie Wilson "Your Love Keeps Lifting me Higher and Higher" and "Love is Funny That Way" --Kool & the Gang "I Want to Take You Higher" and "Love The Life You Live"
#29 - Charlie Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Band/ Carla Thomas/ General Crook
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 2
--Charlie Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Band ""Express Yourself"" and ""Your Love"" --Carla Thomas ""You Got a Cushion to Fall on"" --General Crook ""Do It for Me"" and ""What Time is It""
#30 - Rufus Thomas/ The Bar-Kays/ Laura Lee
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 24
--Rufus Thomas ""Do the Funky Penguin"" and ""Breakdown"" --The Bar-Kays ""Son of Shaft"" --Laura Lee ""Rip Off"" and ""Since I Fell for You""
#31 - Curtis Mayfield/ The Honey Cone/ The Persuaders
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 17
--Curtis Mayfield ""Move on Up"" and ""Get Down"" --The Honey Cone ""Want Ads"" and ""One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"" --The Persuaders ""Thin Line Between Love and Hate"" and ""Love Gonna Pack Up""
#32 - Wilson Pickett/ Curtis Mayfield/ War
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 26
Curtis Mayfield - "We Got To Have Peace" & "Get Down." War - "All Day Music" & "Slippin' Into Darkness." Wilson Pickett (performing live) - "Fire and Water," "I'm In Love" and "Don't Knock My Love."
#33 - Joe Tex/ Gloria Lynne/ Independents
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 27
--Joe Tex ""You Said a Bad Word"" --Gloria Lynne ""Watermelon Man"" and ""I Wish You Love"" --Independents ""Just as Long as You Need Me""
#34 - Staple Singers/ Freda Payne
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 4
--Staple Singers ""Express Yourself"" and ""Heavy Makes You Happy"" --Freda Payne ""Band of Gold"" and ""Bring the Boys Home""
#35 - Lou Rawls/ Otis Clay/ Peaches
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 28
--Lou Rawls "His Song Shall be Sung" --Otis Clay "Trying to Live My Life without you" --Peaches “In My Heart” and “You Couldn’t Have Been Thinking About Me”
#36 - Al Green/ The Whispers/ Denise LaSalle
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 21
Denise LaSalle - "Now Run and Tell That" and "Trapped By this Thing Called Love." Al Green - "Tired Of Being Alone" and "Let's Stay Together." The Whispers - "Can't Help But Love You" and "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong."
#37 - Gladys Knight & the Pips/ The Ohio Players/ Garland Green
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 23
--Gladys Knight & the Pips ""Make me the Woman That you Go Home to"" and ""I Don't Want to Do Wrong"" --The Ohio Players ""Got Pleasure"" and ""Pain"" --Garland Green ""Just My Way of Loving You"" and ""Plain and Simple Girl""
#38 - Ike & Tina Turner/ Jerry Butler/ Brenda Lee Eager
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 30
--Ike & Tina Turner - "I Want To Take You Higher," "Feels Good" and "Proud Mary" --Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager "Close to You" --Jerry Butler "I Only Have Eyes for You"
#39 - The Chi-Lites/ Edwin Starr/ James Gadsen
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 25
--The Chi-Lites ""Oh Girl"" and ""The Coldest days of My Life"" --Edwin Starr ""War"" and ""Double Agent O Soul""
#40 - Chairmen of the Board/ Rufus Thomas/ Laura Lee
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 3
--Chairmen of the Board ""Give Me Just a little more Time"" and ""Hang on to a Memory"" --Rufus Thomas ""(Do the) Push and Pull"", ""Do the Funky Chicken"" and ""The World is Round"" --Laura Lee ""Women's Love Rights"" and ""Wedlock is Padlock""
#41 - Lou Rawls/ The 100 Proof/ The Emotions
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 6
--Lou Rawls- ""Natural Man"" --The 100 Proof ""Somebody's Been Sleeping"", ""Driveway"" and ""One Man's Leftovers"" --The Emotions ""So I Can Love You"" and ""Show Me How""
#42 - Bobby Womack/ The Bar-Kays/ Candi Staton
Soul Train - Season 2 - Episode 1
Bobby Womack "Woman's Gotta Have it" The Bar-Kays "Copy Cat" and "In the Hole" Candi Staton "Stand By Your Man" and "In the Ghetto"
#43 - Martha & the Vandellas/ The Intruders/ G.C. Cameron
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 7
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - "Dancing In The Street", "Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things" and "Bless You." The Intruders - "I Bet He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" & "Cowboys To Girls." G.C. Cameron - "Act Like A Shotgun."
#44 - Friends of Distinction/ Clarence Carter
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 8
--Friends of Distinction ""Grazing in the Grass"" and ""I Need You"" --Clarence Carter ""Patches""
#45 - Isley Brothers/ Love Unlimited/ Millie Jackson
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 29
--The Isley Brothers - "Lay Away" and "Pop That Thang" --Love Unlimited - "Walkin' in the Rain (with the One I Love) and "Fragile (Handle With Care)" --Millie Jackson - "Ask Me What You Want" & "My Man, A Sweet Man"
#46 - Bill Withers/ Al Green/ Viola Wills
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 5
--Bill Withers "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" --Al Green "I Can't Get Next to You" and "Tired of Being Alone" --Viola Wills "Sweetback" This episode introduced a staple of "Soul Train"- The Soul Train Line and its first song is "Respect Yourself" by the Staple Singers.
#47 - Chambers Brothers/ The Five Stairsteps
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 9
Chambers Brothers - "Time Has Come Today", "Let's Do It Together" and "Funky" Five Stairsteps - "O-o-h Child" and "Didn't it Look So Easy"
#48 - Junior Walker & The All Stars/ Bobby Womack/ Thelma Houston
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 10
--Jr. Walker & The All-Stars - ""Do That Shing-A-Ling"" (live) and ""These Eyes"" --Bobby Womack - ""Communication"" and ""That's the Way I Feel About 'Cha"" --Thelma Houston - ""I Want to Go Back There Again"" and ""Save The Country""
#49 - Jean Knight/ The Delfonics/ Maurice Jackson/ Ralphi Pagan
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 11
--Jean Knight ""Mr. Big Stuff"" --The Delfonics ""Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time"" and ""Hey Love"" --Maurice Jackson ""Step By Step"" --Ralphi Pagan ""Make It With Me""
#50 - Chi-Lites/ Joe Tex/ The Originals
Soul Train - Season 1 - Episode 12
The Chi-Lites - "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People" and "Have You Seen Her?" The Originals - "The Bells." Joe Tex - "I Gotcha."