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
401	recordlabel: Elektra 12559 chartposition: US dance #4, RandB #15 writtenby: William Duckett album: Love Byrd: Donald Byrd and 125th St, N.Y.C. comments: [jazz funk]	Donald Byrd	Love Has Come Around	1981	Elektra
402	recordlabel: Polydor 234 (UK) chartposition: UK #38 writtenby: Mark King and Phil Gould album: Level 42 comments: [jazz funk]	Level 42	Love Games	1981	Polydor(UK)
403	recordlabel: Prelude 8040 chartposition: RandB #24, US Dance #6 writtenby: Willie Lester and Rodney Brown album: Love Fever comments: [disco, funk, boogie]	Gayle Adams	Love Fever	1981	Prelude
---	recordlabel: Creole 10 writtenby: Richard and Paul Freitas comments: [disco dance]	Scandal featuring Lee Genesis	Love Either Grows Or Goes	1981	Creole
1	recordlabel: Fantasy 910 chartposition: RandB #52 writtenby: Alvin Alexander, Joe Hall and Roslyn Monroe album: Better Days comments: [mid-tempo ballad]	The Blackbyrds	Love Don't Strike Twice	1981	Fantasy
2	recordlabel: TSOP 02501 chartposition: RandB #35 writtenby: Joe Jefferson and Charles Simmons album: Sweet and Wonderful comments: [ballad]	Jean Carn	Love Don't Love Nobody (Part 1)	1981	TSOP
---	recordlabel: Carnival 803 writtenby: Kenny Bristol comments: [disco funk]	The New Jersey Connection	Love Don't Come Easy	1981	Carnival
---	recordlabel: Capitol 16183 album: It's Just The Way I Feel comments: [album cut]	Gene Dunlap featuring The Ridgeways	Love Dancin'	1981	Capitol
---	recordlabel: Tropique 102 writtenby: T. Wallace, J. Shinetti	Foreal People	Love Begins With You	1981	Tropique
1	recordlabel: Elektra 47108 chartposition: RandB #60 writtenby: D'Lanie McQuaig and Mel Bolto album: No Time for Masquerading comments: [disco funk]	Mighty Fire	Love Attack	1981	Elektra
2	recordlabel: Arista 0624 chartposition: RandB #6, UK #49, US #46 writtenby: Sam Dees album: Love All The Hurt Away comments: [ballad] Â	Aretha Franklin & George Benson	Love All the Hurt Away	1981	Arista
---	recordlabel: TSOP 2183 writtenby: B. Holland, L. Dozier, B. Holland album: Sweet and Wonderful	Jean Carn	Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)	1981	TSOP
1	recordlabel: Emergency 4509 chartposition: RandB #49, US dance #3 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Maurice Cavalieri and Maurizio Sangineto comments: [disco funk]	Firefly	Love (Is Gonna Be on Your Side)	1981	Emergency
---	recordlabel: Unlimited Gold 1750 writtenby: R. Berry album: Beware!	Barry White	Louie Louie	1981	Unlimited Gold
1	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
---	recordlabel: Motown 8959 writtenby: M.L. Smith album: Lovesmith comments: [Motown Sound] [album cut]	Lovesmith	Look Out Below	1981	Motown
1	recordlabel: Atlantic 270 chartposition: RandB #64 writtenby: Willie Hutch album: Labor of Love	The Spinners	Long Live Soul Music	1981	Atlantic
2	recordlabel: Capitol 4969 chartposition: RandB #64 writtenby: Benjamin Wright and Lloyd Price album: Love Uprising comments: [ballad]	Tavares	Loneliness	1981	Capitol
---	recordlabel: Excaliber 508 (UK) writtenby: Curtis Cumbo	Leprechaun	Loc It Up	1981	Excaliber(UK)
1	recordlabel: Polydor 230(UK) chartposition: UK #52 writtenby: Bill Sharpe (as William Sharpe) album: Drivin' Hard comments: [jazz funk instrumental]	Shakatak	Living in the UK	1981	Polydor (UK)
2	recordlabel: Arista 0588 chartposition: RandB #45, US #6, US AC #5 writtenby: Gino Vannelli album: Nightwalker comments: [ballad]	Gino Vannelli	Living Inside Myself	1981	Arista
---	recordlabel: Arista 0665 writtenby: Rod Temperton album: Love All The Hurt Away	Aretha Franklin	Living In The Streets	1981	Arista
---	recordlabel: It Will Stand 4603 album: The Entertainers comments: [beach dance music] mpcode: HwwTJHzQJ4Q	The Entertainers	Livin For The Summer	1981	It Will Stand
1	recordlabel: Ensign 215 (UK) chartposition: UK #76 writtenby: Black Slate album: Sirens in the City comments: [Reggae]	Black Slate	Live a Life	1981	Ensign(UK)
2	recordlabel: Unlimited Gold 02135 chartposition: UK #76 writtenby: Webster Lewis and Barry White album: Welcome Aboard comments: [disco funk]	Love Unlimited Orchestra	Lift Your Voice and Say (United We Can Live in Peace Today)	1981	Unlimited Gold
3	recordlabel: Warner 50002 chartposition: US dance #1, RandB #9, US #104 writtenby: Prince album: Controversy	Prince	Let's Work	1981	Warner
4	recordlabel: Phase II 02449 chartposition: US dance #5, RandB #41, UK #49 writtenby: Hamilton Bohannon & Perri Johnson	Hamilton Bohannon ft. Dr. Perri Johnson	Let's Start II Dance Again	1981	Phase II
5	recordlabel: Polydor 304 chartposition: RandB #76 writtenby: Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead album: I Kinda Like Me comments: [disco dance]	Gloria Gaynor	Let's Mend What's Been Broken	1981	Polydor
6	recordlabel: Columbia 02536 chartposition: RandB #1, UK #3, US #3, US dance #3 writtenby: Wayne Vaughn & Maurice White album: Raise!	Earth, Wind & Fire	Let's Groove	1981	Columbia
7	recordlabel: West End 1235 chartposition: US Dance #11 writtenby: Larry Joseph comments: [disco dance]	Sparque	Let's Go Dancin'	1981	West End
8	recordlabel: Fantasy 201 chartposition: RandB #52 writtenby: Malcolm Noble, Marlon McClain and Roger Sause album: Shock comments: [funk]	Shock	Let's Get Crackin'	1981	Fantasy
---	recordlabel: Mercury 109 (UK) writtenby: J.W. Weeda, E. Brouwer, R. Brouwer album: Let's Funk Tonight	Blue Feather	Let's Funk Tonight	1981	Mercury(UK)
1	recordlabel: SAM 5017 chartposition: RandB #90, US Dance #10 writtenby: James Calloway, Leroy Burgess and Sonny T. Davenport comments: [disco dance]	Convertion	Let's Do It	1981	SAM
2	recordlabel: Sugar Hill 559 chartposition: RandB #18, US #88, US Dance #22 writtenby: Augie Johnson, Jerry Peters, Pleasure and Wayne Henderson album: Break Dance: Electric Boogie comments: [electro]	West Street Mob	Let's Dance (Make Your Body Move)	1981	Sugar Hill
3	recordlabel: GRP 2513 chartposition: RandB #59 writtenby: Sekou Bunch album: Magic comments: [disco jazz funk]	Tom Browne	Let's Dance	1981	GRP
---	recordlabel: Columbia 18 02269 writtenby: L. Graham, J. Mack album: Everything In Place	Tyrone Davis	Let's Be Closer Together	1981	Columbia
1	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
2	recordlabel: Columbia 02548 chartposition: RandB #77 writtenby: Leo Graham and Paul Richmond album: Black Tie comments: [disco funk]	The Manhattans	Let Your Love Come Down	1981	Columbia
---	recordlabel: Motown 1582 writtenby: B. Harris, K. Pettus, K. Kendrick album: Let The Music Play comments: [disco funk] mpcode: R3B4TeYdwn0	Dazz Band	Let The Music Play	1981	Motown
1	recordlabel: RCA 93 chartposition: RandB #66, US Dance #40 writtenby: Keni Burke album: You're the Best comments: [disco dance]	Keni Burke	Let Somebody Love You	1981	RCA
2	recordlabel: Warner 49750 chartposition: RandB #72 writtenby: Sylvester Levay and Pete Bellotte album: Sue Ann comments: [disco funk]	Sue Ann	Let Me Let You Rock Me	1981	Warner
3	recordlabel: WMOT 02237 chartposition: US Dance #41 writtenby: Butch Ingram and James Ingram album: A Piece of My Life	Barbara Mason	Let Me Give You Love	1981	WMOT
4	recordlabel: Epic 51014 chartposition: RandB #64, US Dance #68 writtenby: C. Fearing, C. Veal Jr., M. Dean album: Let Me Be the One comments: [disco dance]	Webster Lewis	Let Me Be the One	1981	Epic
---	recordlabel: High Note 20 album: Sings Love comments: [album cut]	Sonya Spence	Let Love Flow On	1981	High Note
1	recordlabel: Capitol 5074 chartposition: US dance #1 writtenby: Jesse Boyce album: I'll Keep On Loving You comments: [disco dance]	Linda Clifford	Let It Ride	1981	Capitol
2	recordlabel: Arista 0583 chartposition: RandB #86 writtenby: Gil Scott Heron album: Real Eyes comments: [jazz funk]	Gil Scott-Heron	Legend in His Own Mind	1981	Arista
---	recordlabel: Columbia 18 02634 writtenby: S. Dees album: Everything In Place	Tyrone Davis	Leave Well Enough Alone	1981	Columbia
---	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
---	recordlabel: Beverly Glen 10000 writtenby: Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten album: The Poet... comments: [album cut]	Bobby Womack	Lay Your Lovin' On Me	1981	Beverly Glen
1	recordlabel: Tamla 54323 chartposition: RandB #29, UK #3, US #64, US AC #33 writtenby: Stevie Wonder album: Hotter Than July comments: [ballad] Â	Stevie Wonder	Lately	1981	Tamla
2	recordlabel: Capitol 4977 chartposition: RandB #77 writtenby: Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli album: Welcome Back comments: [sweet soul ballad]	Blue Magic	Land of Make-Believe	1981	Capitol
3	recordlabel: Mercury 168 chartposition: RandB #42 writtenby: Felton Pilate, Garry Jackson and Michael Cooper album: Touch comments: [disco funk]	Con Funk Shun	Lady's Wild	1981	Mercury
4	recordlabel: Motown 1514 chartposition: RandB #5, US #8, UK #56, US dance #53, US AC #13 writtenby: Harold Hudson, Shirley King & William King album: In the Pocket / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 12	The Commodores	Lady (You Bring Me Up)	1981	Motown
5	recordlabel: Boardwalk 129 chartposition: RandB #33, US #72 writtenby: William Hart and Thom Bell album: Together Again comments: [beat ballad]	Tierra	La La Means I Love You	1981	Boardwalk
6	recordlabel: Mercury 76096 chartposition: RandB #77 writtenby: Thom Bell and William Hart album: Bop Time comments: [disco funk]	L.A. Boppers	La La Means I Love You	1981	Mercury
---	recordlabel: Disc Empire 1 (UK) album: Dolphin Ride comments: [jazz funk instrumental]	The Breakfast Band	L.A. 14	1981	Disc Empire(UK)
1	recordlabel: Spring 166 chartposition: RandB #64 writtenby: Carole Sylvan, Gerry Thomas and Steven Bush album: Tasty Jam comments: [funk]	Fatback Band	Kool Whip	1981	Spring
2	recordlabel: Motown 1515 chartposition: RandB #44 writtenby: Eric Fearman and Bobby Harris album: Let the Music Play comments: [love ballad]	Dazz Band	Knock Knock	1981	Motown
3	recordlabel: MJS 101 chartposition: US Dance #54 writtenby: Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya album: Sound of a Rainbow comments: [disco dance]	Letta Mbulu	Kilimanjaro	1981	MJS
4	recordlabel: AandM 2382 chartposition: RandB #10, US #102, US Dance #36 writtenby: Carle Vickers and Jimmie Davis album: Love Magic comments: [funk]	L.T.D.	Kickin' Back	1981	A&M
5	recordlabel: Capitol 5035 chartposition: RandB #69 writtenby: W. Brown, L. Reynolds album: L.J. Reynolds	L.J. Reynolds	Key to the World	1981	Capitol
6	recordlabel: Epic 02112 chartposition: RandB #69, US Dance #68 writtenby: W. Lewis, J. Gadson album: Let Me Be the One comments: [disco funk]	Webster Lewis	Kemo Kimo	1981	Epic
7	recordlabel: Chocolate City 3223 chartposition: RandB #28 writtenby: Ernesto Phillips and Ky Adeyemo album: Keep On It comments: [disco funk]	Starpoint	Keep On It	1981	Chocolate City
---	recordlabel: Cotillion 46027 writtenby: Bobby Eli, Jeff Prusan album: Keep It Comin' comments: [ballad]	Jean Knight & Premium	Keep It Comin'	1981	Cotillion
1	recordlabel: Elektra 45128 chartposition: RandB #3, US #2, UK #34, AC #2 writtenby: Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald & William Salter album: Winelight comments: [jazz funk]	Grover Washington, Jr. featuring Bill Withers	Just the Two of Us	1981	Elektra
2	recordlabel: A Side 2221 (UK) chartposition: UK #31 writtenby: R. Vanwarmer, T. Wilson album: Will It Last Forever comments: [reggae]	Barbara Jones	Just When I Needed You Most	1981	A Side(UK)
---	recordlabel: DeLite 3 writtenby: Jhon Christopher, Leon Bryant, Liz Temzin album: Leon Bryant comments: [disco dance]	Leon Bryant	Just The Way You Like It	1981	DeLite
1	recordlabel: Columbia 02191 chartposition: RandB #19 writtenby: Leo Graham and Paul Richmond album: Black Tie comments: [ballad]	The Manhattans	Just One Moment Away	1981	Columbia
2	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
3	recordlabel: Columbia 02269 chartposition: RandB #62 writtenby: Leo Graham and Paul Richmond album: Everything In Place	Tyrone Davis	Just My Luck	1981	Columbia
---	recordlabel: Beverly Glen 203 writtenby: Cecil Womack album: The Poet...	Bobby Womack	Just My Imagination	1981	Beverly Glen
1	recordlabel: GRP 251 chartposition: RandB #33, US Dance #85 writtenby: Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright , Al Flythe and Barry Johnson album: 'Nard comments: [hip hop funk]	Bernard Wright	Just Chillin' Out	1981	GRP
2	recordlabel: Warner 49744 chartposition: RandB #4, US #67 writtenby: Larry Graham album: Just Be My Lady comments: [ballad] Â	Larry Graham	Just Be My Lady	1981	Warner
---	recordlabel: Capitol writtenby: Frankie Beverly album: Joy And Pain comments: [album cut]	Maze featuring Frankie Beverly	Joy And Pain	1981	Capitol
1	recordlabel: De lite 813 chartposition: RandB #33, UK #17, US #39 writtenby: George Brown & Kool & the Gang album: Celebrate	Kool & the Gang	Jones vs. Jones	1981	De lite
2	recordlabel: GTO 290 chartposition: UK #34 writtenby: Rod Temperton album: Candles comments: [disco funk]	Heatwave	Jitterbuggin'	1981	GTO
3	recordlabel: Brunswick 220 chartposition: RandB #65 writtenby: Vaughan Mason comments: [funk]	Vaughan Mason	Jammin Big Guitar	1981	Brunswick
4	recordlabel: Venture 145 chartposition: RandB #81 writtenby: George Jackson album: Mr. Clarence Carter in Person comments: [southern soul]	Clarence Carter	It's a Monster Thang	1981	Venture
5	recordlabel: Solar 12154 chartposition: RandB #2, UK #9, US #28, US dance #4 writtenby: William Shelby & Dana Meyers album: Imagination	The Whispers	It's a Love Thing	1981	Solar
6	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
---	recordlabel: Uno Melodic 7012 writtenby: D.D. Bridgewater, R. Ayers	Ethel Beatty	It's Your Love	1981	Uno Melodic
1	recordlabel: ARC/Columbia 02108 chartposition: RandB #45, UK #76 writtenby: Thom Bell and Deniece Williams album: My Melody comments: [pop soul]	Deniece Williams	It's Your Conscience	1981	ARC/Columbia
2	recordlabel: ARC 02222 chartposition: RandB #38 writtenby: Bernard Taylor, Michael Brookins and Robert Brookins album: Matinee comments: [disco funk]	Afterbach	It's You	1981	ARC
---	recordlabel: P.I.R. 37491 writtenby: K. Gamble, L. Huff album: It's Time For Love comments: [album cut]	Teddy Pendergrass	It's Time For Love	1981	P.I.R.
---	recordlabel: Warner Bros. 49867 writtenby: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson album: Performance	Ashford & Simpson	It's The Long Run	1981	Warner Bros.
---	recordlabel: Capitol 16183 album: It's Just The Way I Feel	Gene Dunlap featuring The Ridgeways	It's Just The Way I Feel	1981	Capitol
1	recordlabel: WMOT 02909 chartposition: RandB #69, UK #76, US Dance #67 writtenby: Mel Brooks and Pete Wingfield comments: [novelty]	Mel Brooks	It's Good to Be the King	1981	WMOT
2	recordlabel: Devaki 4003 chartposition: RandB #80 writtenby: Al Boyd, Bobby Massey, Dennis Edwards and Eddie Levert album: Coming Home comments: [ballad]	Truth	It's Gonna Take a Miracle	1981	Devaki
3	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
4	recordlabel: Cotillion 46024 chartposition: RandB #61 writtenby: Julie Reeder, Billy Thomas and Bobby Reeder album: With You	Stacy Lattisaw	It Was So Easy	1981	Cotillion
---	recordlabel: Black Satin 001 writtenby: C. Green, J. Simon album: Get It Don't Stop	Superior Elevation	It Was September	1981	Black Satin
---	recordlabel: Warner Bros. 49805 writtenby: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson album: Performance	Ashford & Simpson	It Shows In The Eyes	1981	Warner Bros.
---	recordlabel: Gordy 1004 album: It Must Be Magic comments: [Complete Album]	Teena Marie	It Must Be Magic (full album)	1981	Gordy
1	recordlabel: Gordy 7212 chartposition: RandB #30, US dance #12 writtenby: Teena Marie album: It Must Be Magic / Motown Chartbusters Vol. 12 comments: [disco funk]	Teena Marie	It Must Be Magic	1981	Gordy
---	recordlabel: Gordy 7213 writtenby: D. Edwards, O. Williams, D. English, R. Street, G. Leonard album: Power comments: [Motown Sound]	The Temptations	Isn't The Night Fantastic	1981	Gordy
---	recordlabel: Marlin 3347 writtenby: C. Reid, F. Stonewall, I.J. Kitts album: Just Arrived	Lew Kirton	Island Girl	1981	Marlin
---	recordlabel: Prelude 528 writtenby: W. Lester, R. Brown album: The Main Attraction	Bobby Thurston	Is Something Wrong With You	1981	Prelude
1	recordlabel: Elektra 47124 chartposition: RandB #27, US #15, US AC #15 writtenby: Lee Ritenour, Eric Tagg & Eric Champlin comments: (vocal: Eric Tagg)	Lee Ritenour	Is It You?	1981	Elektra
---	recordlabel: Eastern 783 writtenby: Mike Young, Bill Young, B. Hank, J. Thomas, K. Young comments: [disco, boogie]	Young & Company	Is It Good To You	1981	Eastern
---	recordlabel: Motown 952 writtenby: Jermaine Jackson, Rita Coolidge album: I Like Your Style comments: [Motown Sound] [album cut]	Jermaine Jackson & Rita Coolidge	Is It Always Gonna Be Like This	1981	Motown

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