Rb-40 | The AllMusic Blog

Feb. 21, 2017

R&B 40: 1978

By 1978, Parliament-Funkadelic had kicked into high gear, partly thanks to the contributions of the recently-passed Junie Morrison as keyboardist and musical director, while songs from Rick James, Chic… Read More

Jun. 14, 2016

R&B 40: 1977

Despite the prominence of disco, including progressive smashes by Donna Summer and the emergent Chic, Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart was stuffed with a variety of sounds from the likes of Stevie… Read More

Feb. 8, 2016

R&B 40: 1976

A year colored by Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as the Emotions and Denice Williams, all co-produced by EWF's Maurice White and studio partner Charles Stepney. Read More

Oct. 15, 2015

R&B 40: 1975

Hits from a pair of triple-platinum Earth, Wind & Fire albums, along with gritty funk from the Pointer Sisters, erotic disco from Donna Summer, and high-flying genre fusion from Donald Byrd, highlighted… Read More

Jul. 9, 2015

R&B 40: 1974

The emergence of disco—soul-rooted, club-propelled hits by the likes of LaBelle and Gloria Gaynor—highlighted the year in charting R&B singles. Read More

May. 6, 2015

R&B 40: 1973

Stevie Wonder kept rolling, while the likes of Ohio Players, Kool & the Gang, and Ike & Tina Turner scored with some of the decade's funkiest sounds. Read More

Mar. 11, 2015

R&B 40: 1972

Motown and Soul Train moved from the Midwest to the West Coast, Stevie Wonder released two brilliant albums, and Philadelphia's deep talent pool dominated during a year that produced dozens of classic… Read More

Feb. 5, 2015

R&B 40: 1971

The likes of Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Sly & the Family Stone, and the Dramatics are featured in our round-up of the year's charting soul singles. Read More

Dec. 3, 2014

R&B 40: 1970

The year brought dozens of distinct and still-vital soul singles, including a pair of classics powered by Stevie Wonder, as well as the first solo steps from Chicagoans Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway. Read More

Nov. 3, 2014

R&B 40: 1989

Not one of the genre's most memorable years, 1989 was highlighted by major albums by Janet Jackson and Soul II Soul, as well as a lost classic by stage and studio do-it-all Chuckii Booker. Read More