Soul R&B Music Charts of 1981 - Best-Selling Soul R&B Songs of 1981 With Free MP3 Download Links and Song Lyrics

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Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1981, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Place mouse on

to see information about song. Click on song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available) and to add to playlist. Click on

to play song. . Click on label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1981, arranged in order of highest US R&B and/or UK chart position.

More Soul R&B Songs From 1981 . . .

The following songs were released in 1981 but never made it into the Top 100 Chart.
Songs with chart position "---" either never made it into the US top 100 R&B or UK charts
of 1981 or we have no details of their highest chart positions if they did.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)
#		Artist (click for discography and biography of artist)	Title (click song title to play it, read lyrics etc.)	Year	Label
---	recordlabel: Gordy 1002 writtenby: Rick James album: Street Songs comments: [album cut] mpcode: QEXjgTI9aZU	Rick James	Make Love To Me	1981	Gordy
1	recordlabel: Gordy 7205 chartposition: US dance #1, RandB #3, US #16 writtenby: Rick James & Alonzo Miller album: Street Songs / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 12 comments: [disco funk]	Rick James	Super Freak	1981	Gordy
2	recordlabel: Gordy 7215 chartposition: US dance #1, RandB #38, US #102 writtenby: Rick James album: Street Songs comments: [Motown Sound] [funk]	Rick James	Ghetto Life	1981	Gordy
---	recordlabel: Gordy 1002 writtenby: Rick James album: Street Songs comments: [funk album cut] mpcode: 6aSPuGXtWZ8	Rick James	Call Me Up	1981	Gordy
---	recordlabel: Gordy 1002 writtenby: Rick James album: Street Songs comments: [funk album cut] mpcode: QxNLviG3c8E	Rick James	Below The Funk (Pass The J)	1981	Gordy
---	recordlabel: Gordy 1002 writtenby: Rick James album: Street Songs comments: [album cut] mpcode: qUKYiOfFCHo	Rick James	Mr. Policeman	1981	Gordy
---	recordlabel: KR 1001 album: The Definitive Collection comments: [funk jazz]	Rick Clarke	Potion	1981	KR
---	recordlabel: Boardwalk 001 writtenby: Richard Dimples Fields, Belinda Wilson album: Dimples comments: [Soul Ballad]	Richard Dimples Fields	She's Got Papers On Me	1981	Boardwalk
1	recordlabel: Boardwalk 02081 chartposition: RandB #81 writtenby: Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin and Gaynel Hodge album: Dimples comments: [ballad]	Richard Dimples Fields	Earth Angel	1981	Boardwalk
---	recordlabel: Boardwalk 7-11-131 writtenby: Betty Wright, M. Lindsay, Richard Dimples Fields album: Dimples mpcode: MylrpR44qUQ	Richard Dimples Fields	I Like Your Lovin'	1981	Boardwalk
1	recordlabel: Epic 1918(UK) chartposition: RandB #42, UK #56 writtenby: Richard Dimples Fields and Belinda Wilson album: Drift Away comments: [disco funk]	Richard Dimples Fields	I've Got to Learn to Say No!	1981	Epic (UK)
---	recordlabel: 20th Century Fox 134 writtenby: McKnight, Holmes, Anderson, Hicks, Barbee, Menter, Taylor, Jackson album: Rhyze to the Top	Rhyze	Rhyze to the Top	1981	20th Century Fo
1	recordlabel: Handshake 3 chartposition: RandB #51, US Dance #23 writtenby: Benny Diggs and Joseph Joubert album: Stand Up comments: [disco funk]	Revelation	Feel It	1981	Handshake
2	recordlabel: Handshake 02138 chartposition: RandB #89 writtenby: Bruce Dunbar, Ray Patterson and Ricky Bailey album: Stand Up comments: [disco funk]	Revelation	Stand Up	1981	Handshake
3	recordlabel: Capitol 5052 chartposition: RandB #37 writtenby: Rene Moore and Angela Winbush album: Wall to Wall comments: [disco funk]	René & Angela	Wall to Wall	1981	Capitol
4	recordlabel: Capitol 12161 chartposition: US dance #31 writtenby: R. Moore, A. Winbush album: Wall to Wall comments: [album cut]	René & Angela	Wanna Be Close To You	1981	Capitol
5	recordlabel: Capitol 9644 chartposition: RandB #14, US Dance #31 writtenby: Rene Moore and Angela Winbush album: Wall to Wall comments: [disco funk]	René & Angela	I Love You More	1981	Capitol
6	recordlabel: Venture 5017 chartposition: RandB #63 writtenby: Reggie Griffin and Kevin Ferrell album: Redd Hott #1	Redd Hott	Big Fat Bottom	1981	Venture
---	recordlabel: Polydor 2203 writtenby: James Jolis, Kevin DiSimone album: Stay comments: [album cut]	Ray, Goodman & Brown	Stay	1981	Polydor
---	recordlabel: Polydor 2208 writtenby: D. Thomas, L. Walter, A. Goodman, V. Castellano, L. Toby, H. Ray album: Stay comments: [sweet soul]	Ray, Goodman & Brown	Heaven In The Rain	1981	Polydor
1	recordlabel: Polydor 2159 chartposition: RandB #67 writtenby: H. Ray album: Ray, Goodman & Brown II comments: [sweet soul ballad]	Ray, Goodman & Brown	Shoestrings	1981	Polydor
2	recordlabel: Polydor 2191 chartposition: RandB #30 writtenby: Lee Walter, Al Goodman, Harry Ray, Billy Brown, Vinnie Castellano and Lou Toby album: Stay comments: [sweet soul ballad]	Ray, Goodman & Brown	How Can Love so Right (Be so Wrong)	1981	Polydor
3	recordlabel: Arista 0616 chartposition: RandB #26, US #21, US AC #7 writtenby: Ray Parker Jr album: A Woman Needs Love	Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio)	That Old Song	1981	Arista
4	recordlabel: Arista 12392 chartposition: US Dance #35 writtenby: Ray Parker Jr. album: A Woman Needs Love comments: [disco funk instrumental]	Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio)	Still in the Groove	1981	Arista
5	recordlabel: Arista 113 chartposition: RandB #73 writtenby: Ray Parker Jr. album: A Woman Needs Love comments: [disco funk, boogie]	Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio)	It's Your Night	1981	Arista
6	recordlabel: Arista 0592 chartposition: RandB #1, US #4, AC #11 writtenby: Ray Parker Jr album: A Woman Needs Love	Ray Parker Jr (aka Raydio)	A Woman Needs Love	1981	Arista
7	recordlabel: Warner 49857 chartposition: UK #11 writtenby: Tom Snow and Nan O'Byrne album: Secret Combination	Randy Crawford	You Might Need Somebody	1981	Warner
8	recordlabel: Warner 49767 chartposition: RandB #70, UK #48 writtenby: Franne Golde and Tom Snow album: Secret Combination comments: [beat ballad]	Randy Crawford	Secret Combination	1981	Warner
9	recordlabel: Warner 49709 chartposition: RandB #58 writtenby: Turley Richards album: Secret Combination	Randy Crawford	When I Lose My Way	1981	Warner
10	recordlabel: Warner 49821 chartposition: UK #18 writtenby: Tony Joe White album: Secret Combination comments: [ballad]	Randy Crawford	Rainy Night in Georgia	1981	Warner
---	recordlabel: Warner Bros. 49767 writtenby: Sample, Jennings album: Secret Combination comments: [ballad]	Randy Crawford	You Bring The Sun Out	1981	Warner Bros.
1	recordlabel: Chocolate City 3224 chartposition: RandB #31 writtenby: Homer Banks and Chuck Brooks album: Randy comments: [beat ballad]	Randy Brown	If I Don't Love You	1981	Chocolate City
---	recordlabel: Chocolate City 3228 writtenby: Chuck Brooks, Homer Banks and Marvell Thomas album: Randy comments: [southern soul ballad]	Randy Brown	Leave The Bridges Standing	1981	Chocolate City
1	recordlabel: Columbia 02043 chartposition: RandB #93 writtenby: M. Henderson, W. Jones and M. Lewis album: Three Pieces Suite comments: [smooth jazz ballad] ( Lead vocals: Alice Sanderson Echols)	Ramsey Lewis	So Much More	1981	Columbia
2	recordlabel: Q 2001 chartposition: US Dance #55 writtenby: Herman Berry and Steve Feldschneider comments: [disco dance]	Ramona Brooks	I Don't Want You Back	1981	Q
---	recordlabel: Headfirst 97500 writtenby: D. Gant, M. Penovich album: Rise Of The Phenix comments: [disco jazz funk]	Rahmlee	Heartbreaker	1981	Headfirst
1	recordlabel: Salsoul 2144 chartposition: RandB #21, US Dance #55 writtenby: Randy Muller album: Cameron's in Love comments: [disco funk]	Rafael Cameron	Funtown U.S.A.	1981	Salsoul
2	recordlabel: Salsoul 2151 chartposition: RandB #53 writtenby: Randy Muller album: Cameron's in Love comments: [funk]	Rafael Cameron	Boogie's Gonna Get Ya	1981	Salsoul
3	recordlabel: Salsoul 2134 chartposition: RandB #67 writtenby: Randy Muller album: Cameron	Rafael Cameron	Feelin'	1981	Salsoul
4	recordlabel: Sutra 004 chartposition: RandB #72 writtenby: R.J. Rice comments: [disco funk]	R.J.s Latest Arrival	Body Snatcher	1981	Sutra
5	recordlabel: Buddah 625 chartposition: RandB #59, US Dance #21 writtenby: R.J. Rice comments: [disco funk]	R.J.s Latest Arrival	Wind Me Up	1981	Buddah
6	recordlabel: AandM 2334 chartposition: UK #11, RandB #17, US dance #3 writtenby: Rod Temperton album: The Dude comments: [jazz funk]	Quincy Jones featuring Patti Austin	Razzamatazz	1981	A&M
7	recordlabel: AandM 12040 chartposition: UK #52, US Dance #3 writtenby: Stevie Wonder and Stephanie Andrews album: The Dude comments: [disco jazz funk]	Quincy Jones featuring Patti Austin	Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me	1981	A&M
8	recordlabel: AandM 2387 chartposition: RandB #10, US #14, US AC #5 writtenby: Kathy Wakefield, Ben Wright & Tony Coleman album: The Dude	Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram	One Hundred Ways	1981	A&M
9	recordlabel: AandM 2357 chartposition: RandB #11, US #17, UK #76, US AC #7 writtenby: Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil album: The Dude comments: [ballad]	Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram	Just Once	1981	A&M
10	recordlabel: AandM 2309 chartposition: RandB #10, UK #14, US #28, US dance #3 writtenby: Chas Jankel & Kenny Young album: The Dude comments: [disco jazz]	Quincy Jones featuring Dune	Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da)	1981	A&M
---	recordlabel: Capitol 12150 album: Pure Gold	Pure Gold	I Miss You	1981	Capitol
---	recordlabel: Capitol 4990 writtenby: Spencer, Hayes, Corprew, Stiggers, Johnson, Glover, Lawhorn, Debro album: Pure Gold comments: [disco, funk, boogie]	Pure Gold	Move Your Sexy Body	1981	Capitol
1	recordlabel: Prism 415 chartposition: US Dance #65 writtenby: Curtis Hudson album: Pure Energy comments: [disco funk]	Pure Energy	You've Got the Power	1981	Prism
2	recordlabel: Prism 407 chartposition: US Dance #35 writtenby: Curtis Hudson album: Pure Energy comments: [disco funk]	Pure Energy	When You're Dancin'	1981	Prism
3	recordlabel: Warner 49808 chartposition: RandB #3, US dance #1, US #70 writtenby: Prince album: Controversy	Prince	Controversy	1981	Warner
4	recordlabel: Warner 50002 chartposition: US dance #1, RandB #9, US #104 writtenby: Prince album: Controversy	Prince	Let's Work	1981	Warner
---	recordlabel: Soulin' 1948 writtenby: M. Stokes, R. Matlock comments: [ballad]	Premium	You Know You Want To Be Loved	1981	Soulin'
1	recordlabel: Elektra 12569 chartposition: RandB #54 writtenby: Cynthia Biggs and Dexter Wansel album: Pieces of a Dream comments: [smooth jazz funk ballad]	Pieces of a Dream	Warm Weather	1981	Elektra
---	recordlabel: Elektra 12569 writtenby: Harmon, Lloyd, Napoleon album: Pieces of a Dream comments: [instrumental]	Pieces of a Dream	Body Magic	1981	Elektra
---	recordlabel: Southwest Experience 1885 writtenby: J. Sorrells, W. Flood	Pictures Ft. Tommie Young	I'm Gonna See You Through	1981	Southwest Experience
1	recordlabel: Tropique Records 104 chartposition: US Dance #20 writtenby: Helene Bank and Yves Dessca album: Move Closer comments: [disco, hi NRG]	Phyllis Nelson	Don't Stop the Train	1981	Tropique Records
2	recordlabel: Arista 9544 chartposition: RandB #9 writtenby: John Lewis Parker and Peter Iver album: Can't We Fall in Love Again comments: [beat ballad]	Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson	Can't We Fall in Love Again	1981	Arista
---	recordlabel: Arista 424 (UK) writtenby: Sandy Linzer, Doug James album: Can't We Fall in Love Again	Phyllis Hyman	Don't Tell Me, Tell Her	1981	Arista(UK)
---	recordlabel: Arista 0637 writtenby: Larry Alexander, Phyllis Hyman album: Can't We Fall In Love Again comments: [album cut]	Phyllis Hyman	The Sunshine In My Life	1981	Arista
1	recordlabel: Arista 424 (UK) chartposition: UK #56, RandB #76 writtenby: Rick Cordera and Brian Potter album: Can't We Fall in Love Again comments: [disco dance]	Phyllis Hyman	You Sure Look Good to Me	1981	Arista(UK)
2	recordlabel: Arista 0637 chartposition: RandB #22, US Dance #30 writtenby: Bruce Hawes and Peyton Scott album: Can't We Fall in Love Again comments: [disco dance]	Phyllis Hyman	Tonight You and Me	1981	Arista
3	recordlabel: Atlantic 3790 chartposition: UK #14, US #19, US Rock #8 writtenby: Phil Collins album: Face Value	Phil Collins	I Missed Again	1981	Atlantic
4	recordlabel: EMI America 8083 chartposition: RandB #43 writtenby: Fred Harris and Ella Mitchell album: Wanted Dread and Alive comments: [Reggae]	Peter Tosh & Gwen Guthrie	Nothing But Love	1981	EMI America
5	recordlabel: Polydor 2187 chartposition: RandB #45 writtenby: Keni St. Lewis, Freddie Perren album: Sayin' Something! comments: [beat ballad]	Peaches & Herb	Bluer Than Blue	1981	Polydor
6	recordlabel: Polydor 2157 chartposition: RandB #77 writtenby: Keni St. Lewis album: Worth The Wait comments: [beat ballad]	Peaches & Herb	Surrender	1981	Polydor
7	recordlabel: Polydor 2178 chartposition: RandB #37 writtenby: Keni St. Lewis and Melvin Ragin album: Sayin' Something! comments: [disco funk]	Peaches & Herb	Freeway	1981	Polydor
8	recordlabel: Capitol 5065 chartposition: RandB #6, US #42 writtenby: Peabo Bryson album: I Am Love comments: [ballad]	Peabo Bryson	Let the Feeling Flow	1981	Capitol
9	recordlabel: Capitol 4989 chartposition: RandB #61 writtenby: Peabo Bryson album: Turn the Hands of Time comments: [ballad]	Peabo Bryson	Turn the Hands of Time	1981	Capitol
---	recordlabel: Dash 6001 writtenby: Robert Mizell, Willie Clarke	Paulette Reaves	Your Eyes	1981	Dash
1	recordlabel: Dash 6001 chartposition: US Dance #22 writtenby: Jean Anne Chapman, Ray Bunch comments: [disco dance]	Paulette Reaves	Do It Again	1981	Dash
2	recordlabel: P.I.R. 02655 chartposition: US Dance #49 writtenby: Cecil Womack and Kenny Gamble album: The Spirit's in It comments: [disco dance]	Patti LaBelle	The Spirit's in It	1981	P.I.R.
3	recordlabel: Qwest 49854 chartposition: RandB #55, US #62 writtenby: Dominic Bugatti and Frank Musker album: Every Home Should Have One	Patti Austin	Every Home Should Have One	1981	Qwest
4	recordlabel: Qwest 49754 chartposition: US dance #1, RandB #24, UK #76 writtenby: Rod Temperton album: Every Home Should Have One	Patti Austin	Do You Love Me?	1981	Qwest
5	recordlabel: Elektra 47067 chartposition: US dance #2, RandB #13, US #102 writtenby: Patrice Rushen, Charles Mims , Freddie Washington & Sheree Brown album: Posh	Patrice Rushen	Look Up	1981	Elektra
6	recordlabel: Elektra 12494 (UK) chartposition: US dance #2, RandB #30, UK #66 writtenby: Patrice Rushen & Freddie Washington album: Posh	Patrice Rushen	Never Gonna Give You Up	1981	Elektra(UK)
---	recordlabel: AandM 2325 writtenby: Valerie Johnson, Louis Johnson album: Passage	Passage	Have You Heard The Word	1981	A&M
1	recordlabel: AandM 2349 chartposition: RandB #78, US rock #23, US #13, US AC #14 writtenby: David Jenkins, Cory Lerios & John Pierce album: Reflector	Pablo Cruise	Cool Love	1981	A&M
2	recordlabel: Motown 1521 chartposition: RandB #73 writtenby: Ozone album: Send It comments: [disco funk, boogie]	Ozone	Gigolette	1981	Motown
3	recordlabel: Carrere 215(UK) chartposition: UK #49 writtenby: Daniel Vangarde and Nelly Byl album: Greatest Hits comments: [disco pop soul]	Ottawan	Help, Get Me Some Help!	1981	Carrere (UK)
4	recordlabel: Carrere 183(UK) chartposition: UK #3 writtenby: Jean Kluger, Daniel Vangarde and Nelly Byl album: Greatest Hits comments: [pop soul] [disco]	Ottawan	Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)	1981	Carrere (UK)
5	recordlabel: Bonus 5551 chartposition: US Dance #75 writtenby: Reginald Brown comments: [disco dance]	One on One	Body Music	1981	Bonus
6	recordlabel: MCA 51165 chartposition: RandB #12 writtenby: Kevin McCord album: Fancy Dancer comments: [funk]	One Way	Fancy Dancer -- Pull (Part 1)	1981	MCA
7	recordlabel: MCA 51110 chartposition: RandB #12 writtenby: Kevin McCord album: Love Is...One Way comments: [funk]	One Way	Push	1981	MCA
8	recordlabel: MCA 51054 chartposition: RandB #52 writtenby: Kevin McCord album: Love Is...One Way	One Way	My Lady	1981	MCA
9	recordlabel: Fountain 81 1 chartposition: US Dance #21 writtenby: Lawrence Hanks and Rodney Massey album: All for the One comments: [disco dance]	Omni	Out of My Hands (Love's Taken Over)	1981	Fountain
10	recordlabel: MCA 51182 chartposition: US dance #22 RandB #28, UK #7, US #1, US AC #29 writtenby: Steve Kipner & Terry Shaddick album: Physical comments: [disco pop]	Olivia Newton-John	Physical	1981	MCA
11	recordlabel: Boardwalk 5708 chartposition: RandB #40 writtenby: James Campbell, Reginald Connelly and Harry M. Woods album: Tenderness comments: [disco dance]	Ohio Players	Try a Little Tenderness	1981	Boardwalk
12	recordlabel: Boardwalk 02063 chartposition: RandB #46 writtenby: L. Bonner, M. Jones, R. Middlebrooks, M. Pierce, D. Johnson album: Tenderness comments: [funk]	Ohio Players	Skinny	1981	Boardwalk
13	recordlabel: RCA 12348 chartposition: UK #43 writtenby: Allee Willis, David Foster and Jay Graydon album: I Got the Melody comments: [ballad]	Odyssey	It Will Be Alright	1981	RCA
14	recordlabel: RCA 12240 chartposition: UK #4, RandB #68, US dance #55 writtenby: Lamont Dozier album: I Got the Melody	Odyssey	Going Back to My Roots	1981	RCA
15	recordlabel: RCA 12056 chartposition: UK #36, US Dance #6 writtenby: Sandy Linzer and L. Russell Brown album: Hang Together comments: [disco dance]	Odyssey	Hang Together	1981	RCA
---	recordlabel: Fun City 330 writtenby: Wayne Douglas Jr., Leon Watson album: First Love comments: [disco dance]	O.T. Sykes	Stone Crush On You	1981	Fun City
---	recordlabel: Fun City 450 writtenby: Wayne Douglas Jr., Jeffery Singleton album: First Love comments: [ballad]	O.T. Sykes	Come Be My Lady	1981	Fun City
1	recordlabel: Emergency 6520 chartposition: US dance #9 writtenby: Arthur Baker, Tony Carbone, Russell Presto comments: [disco, boogie] mpcode: c3avFRtT6SU	North End ft. Michelle Wallace	Happy Days	1981	Emergency
2	recordlabel: Liberty 1403 chartposition: RandB #38 writtenby: Phil Perry and Artis Philips Jr. album: All My Reasons comments: [beat ballad]	Noel Pointer	All the Reasons Why	1981	Liberty
3	recordlabel: Liberty 645 chartposition: RandB #46 writtenby: Phil Perry and Artis Philips Jr. album: All My Reasons comments: [disco dance]	Noel Pointer	Classy Lady	1981	Liberty
4	recordlabel: Ariola America 814 chartposition: RandB #79 writtenby: Brad Cole and Mark Craney album: You Are	Niteflyte	You Are	1981	Ariola America
---	recordlabel: CBS 9481 (UK) writtenby: N. Doheny album: Prone	Ned Doheny	To Prove My Love	1981	CBS(UK)
1	recordlabel: Capitol 5045 chartposition: RandB #34 writtenby: Bill Amesbury album: Happy Love comments: [ballad]	Natalie Cole	Nothin' but a Fool	1981	Capitol

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