Grooves That Never Fade: The Essential Bands of 70s Funk, Soul & R&B

I am a crazy music freak. At the peak of my vinyl obsession, I owned somewhere around 15,000 to 20,000 albums and 10,000 to 13,000 singles (45s). That was a mountain of music. Later came CDs, and I ended up with another mountain — around 12,000 to 14,000.

Why, you may ask, would one person want to own so much music? Easy. I’m a music junkie. Music is, and always has been, my drug.

I don’t just listen to music. I live it, I breathe it in, I memorize it, and I become the music myself.

It’s a one‑of‑a‑kind love affair that’s hard to explain but easy to enjoy.

One of my favorite genres is R&B, which includes soul, funk, disco, and other related off‑shoots.

My interest in R&B started with Al Wilson when I heard his 1973 #1 hit “Show and Tell.” From there, my 13‑year‑old mind explored more great R&B tunes by Gladys Knight and the Pips and, most prominently, Stevie Wonder.

This list is not a countdown. Each artist is listed in alphabetical order by the first letter of the group name. I chose 30 of the most prominent R&B/soul/funk bands of the 1970s.

The criteria for making this list were as follows: These are all bands, not solo artists. Each band had to be recognized prominently as an R&B, funk, soul, or disco band, and they needed to have more hits on the R&B charts than on the pop charts. Therefore, The Bee Gees are not on this list, as they are mostly recognized as a pop band. Very few of their songs made it onto the R&B charts. However, I do want to give a shout‑out to The Bee Gees, as they did make it into the R&B Top Ten four times. Their biggest R&B hit was “Stayin’ Alive,” which reached #4 on the R&B chart in 1978.

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The Essential Bands of 70s Funk, Soul & R&B

Bands with a 🐦‍⬛by their name are my personal favorites.

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The Bar-says

The Bar-Kays were a funk group that was a staple of the dance floor in the late 1970s with hits like “Shake Your Rump to the Funk,” “Too Hot to Stop,” and “Move Your Boogie Body.” They had hits into the 1980s, including “Freakshow on the Dance Floor.”

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The Blackbyrds

🐦‍⬛The Blackbyrds were formed by master jazz and funk musician Donald Byrd. Although Byrd produced all of The Blackbyrds’ albums, he performed on only two. Their music transcended genres, dipping into R&B, disco, jazz, and adult contemporary. The band is best known for their 1975 hit “Walking in Rhythm” and “Happy Music” from 1976.

Note from RHC: The Blackbyrds are one of those groups who focused on recording albums, not singles. All their albums were solid and filled with great songs beyond the hit singles.

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Bootsy's Rubber Band

Bootsy’s Rubber Band was the side project for Parliament/Funkadelic member Bootsy Collins. Collins rose to prominence in the early 70s playing bass for James Brown. Bootsy’s Rubber Band is best remembered for their 1978 #1 hit “Bootzilla.”

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The Brothers Johnson

🐦‍⬛The Brothers Johnson made a huge impression on the pop charts from 1976 to 1980. They had four consecutive Top 10 albums, all certified platinum. They scored several hits including “I’ll Be Good to You” (1976), “Strawberry Letter 23” (1977), and “Stomp” (1980).

Sidenote from RHC: Brothers Johnson had to have been one of the coolest funk bands of the day. Louis Johnson, in my opinion, was one of the greatest bass players of all time. He was also a super nice person.

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Cameo

Cameo was one of the most respected funk outfits of the 1970s into the 1980s. Their biggest hits in the 70s were “Insane,” “I Just Want to Be,” and “Sparkle.” But they had their biggest hits in the 1980s with “She’s Strange,” “Candy,” and “Word Up.”

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Chic

Chic was one of the most popular bands from 1977 to 1979. They had three albums chart high around the world that were certified gold and platinum. During this time they amassed five Top 40 hits. Their classic hits include “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah),” “Everybody Dance,” “Le Freak,” “I Want Your Love,” and “Good Times.” Founding band member Nile Rodgers went on to produce many big-name acts such as Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, and many more.

Note from RHC: Bernard Edwards was one of the funkiest bass players of the late 1970s.

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The Chi-Lites

The Chi-Lites had a long career with 12 charting albums and 42 charting songs. But their prime period lasted less than a year, with “Have You Seen Her” (1971) reaching #3 and their #1 hit “Oh Girl” (1972).

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The Commodores

The Commodores were one of the most popular groups of the 1970s, placing eight albums in the Top 30 and 12 songs in the Top 40. Their success continued through the early 1980s with another five Top 40 hits. The hits stopped shortly after primary lead singer Lionel Richie left the band to pursue a successful solo career. Their best-loved songs are “Easy,” “Brick House,” “Three Times a Lady,” “Sail On,” and “Still.”

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Con Funk Shun

Con Funk Shun was a staple of funk music in the 70s and 80s. Influenced by James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone, their horn-powered hooks and complex songwriting put them in a class of their own. They had four consecutive gold-certified albums along with several hit singles including “Ffun,” “Shake and Dance with Me,” and “Too Tight.”

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The Delfonics

The Delfonics had six Top 40 hits from 1968 to 1970. On the R&B charts their hits continued into 1974. They are best remembered for “La La (Means I Love You)” (1968) and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” (1970).

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The Dramatics

The Dramatics splintered into two different groups after their first (and most successful) album. The “classic five” was the most successful iteration of the band, having two major hits from the album Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get. Over the next few albums the successes were minor in comparison. The third version of the band, known as Ron Banks and The Dramatics, was certified gold for their album Do What You Wanna Do in 1978. Their biggest hit singles are “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” (1971), “In the Rain” (1972) (their biggest hit), “Hey You! Get Off My Mountain” (1973), and “Me and Mrs. Jones” (1975).

Note from RHC: The Quiet Storm classic “In the Rain” is one of my all-time favorite songs.

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Earth, Wind & Fire

🐦‍⬛Earth, Wind & Fire is possibly the most successful R&B/funk outfit of their time. They have often been linked to the classic rock band Chicago because both groups’ roots go back to Chicago. Both bands famously feature large, dynamic horn sections and both recorded with Columbia Records in their heyday. In total, EWF has had 22 albums in the Top 100 as well as 16 Top 40 hit singles. Some of their biggest hits are “Shining Star” (1975), “That’s the Way of the World” (1975), “Sing a Song” (1975), “September” (1978), “After the Love Has Gone” (1979), and “Let’s Groove” (1981).

Note from RHC: Maurice White, the mastermind behind EWF, won seven Grammys and worked with other artists including Cher, Barbra Streisand, and Neil Diamond.

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The Four Tops

The Four Tops are a staple of Motown and R&B music. Lead singer Levi Stubbs maintained a humble demeanor.Qr and made working as a group a priority. They made it into the Top 100 of the U.S. album charts 15 times and had 24 Top 40 hits. Their biggest hits during the 1970s were “Still Water (Love)” (1970), “Keeper of the Castle” (1972), and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I Got)” (1973).

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Gladys Knight & The Pips

Gladys Knight & the Pips was a family R&B/funk vocal group consisting of Gladys and her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight, their cousin William Guest, and friend William Patten. The group hit 18 Top 100 albums and 24 Top 40 singles. Their best-known hits are “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Neither One of Us,” “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination,” and “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.”

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Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

🐦‍⬛Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes — let me start out by saying that Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes is one of my favorite R&B/funk outfits. Their brand of Philly soul is solid and meaningful. Best of all, you just can’t get around Teddy Pendergrass’ exceptional vocal abilities — the man’s got the skills. The band had been putting out records since 1965 and not much was really happening with them. Teddy Pendergrass joined the group in 1970 and everything turned around. The hits started rolling and the band was responsible for half a dozen or more classic R&B tunes. Their best songs are “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” “The Love I Lost,” “Wake Up Everybody,” “Bad Luck,” and “Don’t Leave Me This Way.”

Note from RHC: My favorite song by HM&TBN is “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” Thelma Houston did a great disco cover version and had a huge hit with it, but I much prefer the original by HM&TBN. The band incorporates more of a funk feel which grooves well with Teddy Pendergrass’ laid-back soulful tones.

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Heatwave

🐦‍⬛Heatwave ranks right up near the top of my favorite of favorites. Band leader Rod Temperton had an immense talent for putting together some of the best disco-funk music of the time. He worked with many greats including Donna Summer, Manhattan Transfer, Brothers Johnson, Michael Jackson, and many more. With Heatwave, Temperton wrote the classic hits “Boogie Nights,” “Always and Forever,” and “The Groove Line.” Several of their deep cuts such as “All You Do Is Dial” and “Send Out For Sunshine” are fan favorites.

Note from RHC: Rod Temperton wrote the Michael Jackson classics “Rock with You” and “Off the Wall.” But he first offered those songs to Karen Carpenter for her solo album. She turned them down, so Temperton wrote “If We Try” and “Loveliness” specifically for her.

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Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate is a British band that blends funk, soul, and rock to create a sound that was popular in both the U.S. and the UK. Their biggest hits are “Emma” (1974), “Disco Queen” (1975), “You Sexy Thing” (1975), “So You Win Again” (1977), and “Every 1’s a Winner” (1978).

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The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers initially formed as a gospel quartet in 1954 featuring brothers Kelly, Rudy, Ron, and Vernon Isley. Vernon was killed in 1955 when a car struck him while he was riding his bike. The trio moved to Ohio and had their first hit in 1959 with “Shout.” They had a few other hits in the 1960s, but their biggest hits happened in the 1970s. By this time the trio expanded to a sextet, adding brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper. This classic lineup is known for their hits “It’s Your Thing,” “That Lady,” and “Fight the Power.” Throughout the decades they’ve gone through a few name changes including The Isleys and Isley, Jasper, Isley.

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The Jacksons/Jackson 5

🐦‍⬛ The Jacksons/Jackson 5 initially formed as the Jackson 5 with the lion’s share of lead vocals done by Michael Jackson. He was only 11 years old when they had their first #1 hit in 1969 with “I Want You Back.” They followed that up with three more #1 hits: “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.” All four songs were #1 on both the pop and R&B charts. Their last hits as the Jackson 5 were “Dancing Machine” (1974) and “I Am Love” (1975), both of which paved the way for what came next. Jermaine Jackson left the Jackson 5 and younger brother Randy joined the group. Now called The Jacksons, they left Motown to record for Epic Records, a subsidiary of CBS/Columbia at the time. The group went on to have some of their biggest and most enduring career hits with dance club hits such as “Enjoy Yourself” (1976) and “Shake Your Body Down to the Ground” (1978).

Note from RHC: Whenever I hear Michael Jackson sing I become inspired. He was gifted with such a joyful and soulful voice.

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Kool & the Gang

🐦‍⬛Kool & the Gang made their mark in the 1970s with six Top 40 hits, but their biggest successes happened in the 1980s with 15 Top 40 hits. Their sound in the 80s evolved into a soulful pop style that fit well on the charts, while in the 70s Kool & the Gang was hardcore funk. Their biggest hits during the 1970s were “Jungle Boogie” (1973), “Hollywood Swinging” (1974), “Higher Plane” (1974), “Spirit of the Boogie” (1975), “Ladies Night” (1979), and “Too Hot” (1979).

Note from RHC: I am mostly a fan of Kool’s hardcore funk output of the 70s but also love their 80s pop hits.

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The Ohio Players

The Ohio Players were one of the premiere funk bands of the 1970s. They placed 12 songs in the Top 10 of the R&B charts. Several of their songs have been sampled by hip-hop and rap artists (as have all the bands on this list). Their most popular hits are “Funky Worm” (1973), “Skin Tight” (1974), “Fire” (1974), “Love Rollercoaster” (1975), and “Who’d She Coo?” (1976).

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The O'Jays

The O’Jays had an impressive run of hits from 1972 to 1979. They placed nine songs in the Top 40, with six of those reaching the Top 10. Sixteen of their songs reached the Top 10 on the R&B chart, with eight of those placing at #1. Founding member and lead singer Eddie Levert was the father of Gerald and Sean Levert, who formed the popular R&B group LeVert. Sean and Gerald have both since passed away. Father Eddie is still alive as of this writing (December 2025). The O’Jays’ biggest hits include “Back Stabbers” (1972), “Love Train” (1973), “For the Love of Money” (1974), “I Love Music” (1975), and “Use Ta Be My Girl” (1978).

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Parliament/Funkadelic

🐦‍⬛Parliament/Funkadelic is the premiere funk band of all funk bands. Legendary singer, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer George Clinton formed the Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk) collective in the late 1960s. The band members of Parliament and Funkadelic are interchangeable. A few of the better-known band members include Bootsy Collins, Eddie Hazel, and Bernie Worrell. In forming his P-Funk collective, George Clinton was most influenced by James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Frank Zappa, and Jimi Hendrix. Spinoff groups from Parliament and Funkadelic include Bootsy’s Rubber Band, The Brides of Funkenstein, and Parlet. Best-known Parliament songs include “Up for the Down Stroke” (1974), “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” (1976), “Flashlight” (1978), “Aqua Boogie” (1978), and “One Nation Under a Groove” (Funkadelic, 1978).

Note from RHC: Parliament/Funkadelic is my favorite funk collective. I love the wild, crazy, humorous, rock ’n’ roll funk songs. I could listen to them day after day and never get tired of them. My favorite songs from them overall are “Up for the Down Stroke” and “Flashlight.”

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Rose Royce

🐦‍⬛Rose Royce is one of the most underrated R&B/soul bands of the 1970s. Beyond their two massive hits — “Car Wash” (1976) and “I Wanna Get Next to You” (1977) — the rest of their catalog has been all but ignored. Gwen Dickey’s voice has been described as powerful, soulful, and angelic. Their soulful ballads, paired with infectious funk, were both classic and innovative. Their best songs beyond the two already mentioned are “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” (1978) and “Wishing on a Star” (1978).

Note from RHC: While I have many favorite songs by Rose Royce, my favorite is “Wishing on a Star.” How this song did not chart in the U.S. is a mystery to me. However, it was a big hit in the UK. Many of you may be familiar with “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” due to Madonna’s cover version.

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Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

🐦‍⬛Rufus featuring Chaka Khan is one of the most iconic funk/soul bands of the 70s. Powerhouse vocalist Chaka Khan alone was the driver of this band. That’s not to discount the precision of the band — they were all top-notch performers. They put six albums into the U.S. Top 20, with five of those certified Gold and one certified Platinum. Ten of their hits made it into the American Top 40. Their biggest hits include “Tell Me Something Good” (1974), “You Got the Love” (1974), “Once You Get Started” (1975), “Sweet Thing” (1975), and “At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)” (1977).

Note from RHC: “Tell Me Something Good” was one of the most played songs of the 1970s. It was one of those songs that was loved across genres. It appealed to classic rock lovers because of its metallic rock guitar chords and Chaka Khan’s aggressive yet tuneful vocals. Pop music fans loved it for it's catchy hooks and feel-good feel. The talk box vocals by Tony Maiden sealed the deal. This is my favorite Rufus song. Once I found out that Stevie Wonder wrote it, the song was elevated to an all-time favorite of any genre.

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Sly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone integrated rock, psychedelia, and soul with funk, creating a unique sound in the late 1960s. They were one of the earliest funk outfits and paved the road for many to follow. The bulk of their major hits happened between 1967 and 1969, but they remained a major force into the 1970s with classic hits such as “Dance to the Music” (1967), “Everyday People” (1968), “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (1969), and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (1969), all of which continued receiving heavy rotation on U.S. radio stations well into the 1970s. They achieved their third #1 hit, “Family Affair,” in 1971, with a total of five Top 40 hits in the 70s (nine songs made it into the Top 40 of the R&B charts). Two of their albums were certified Gold, and another two were certified Platinum during the decade.

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The Spinners

The Spinners were one of the most popular R&B groups of the 1970s. They had a total of 17 Top 40 hits from 1961 to 1980, with 15 of those occurring between 1970 and 1980. Many of their hits were produced by legendary producer Thom Bell. Their biggest hits include “It’s a Shame” (1970), “I’ll Be Around” (1972), “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” (1972), “One of a Kind (Love Affair)” (1973), “Then Came You” (with Dionne Warwick) (1974), “Games People Play” (1975), and “Rubberband Man” (1976).

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The Stylistics

The Stylistics had ten consecutive Top 40 hits from 1971 to 1974 in the U.S. However, in the UK, their hits came a year later, with fourteen non-consecutive Top 40 hits from 1972 to 1977. Their biggest hits are “You Are Everything” (1971), “Betcha By Golly, Wow” (1972), “I’m Stone in Love with You” (1972), “Break Up to Make Up” (1973), and “You Make Me Feel Brand New” (1974).

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The Temptations

🐦‍⬛The Temptations are one of the most popular groups of all time. They went through many personnel changes with several lineups. The two that stand out the most are: Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin (1964–1968); and Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Dennis Edwards (1968–1971). There were other lineups before and after these two, but these were the most iconic — the ones responsible for their biggest hits. In total, The Temptations put 28 albums into the U.S. Top 40. Thirty-eight of their songs made it into the American Top 40. Fourteen of their singles and eleven of their albums charted in the Top 40 during the 1970s. Their biggest hits of the 1970s were “Psychedelic Shack” (1970), “Ball of Confusion” (1970), “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” (1971), “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972), and “Masterpiece” (1973).

Note from RHC: The Temptations have long been a staple in my music library. Many of their songs are my favorites, with their output from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s being my favorite. Both “Just My Imagination” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” are on my all-time favorite songs list. Their 1971 album Solid Rock is their most underrated, with funk gems like “Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are),” “Stop the War Now,” and “What It Is.”

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War

🐦‍⬛War was one of the most consistent hit-makers of the 1970s. They churned out classic after classic. They reached the U.S. Top 40 with a total of 12 songs, six of which were certified Gold. But what made War stand above the rest is that not only did they have great singles — their albums were solid. Many of the tracks on their albums were just as strong as the hit singles. Eleven of their albums made it into the Top 40, with several certified Gold.

Their biggest hits were “Spill the Wine” (featuring Eric Burdon) (1970), “Slipping into Darkness” (1972), “The World Is a Ghetto” (1972), “The Cisco Kid” (1972), “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” (1975), “Low Rider” (1975), and “Summer” (1976).

Note from RHC: I love all their classic hits. But some of my favorite lesser-known songs are “Me and Baby Brother,” “Beetles in the Bog,” “Where Was You At,” “Four Cornered Room,” “All Day Music,” “Smile Happy,” “So,” “In Mazatlan,” “Slowly We Walk Together,” and “Galaxy.” When I made the leap over to CDs, War was in that first purchase which also included Moody Blues and David Bowie.

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The Playlist

I have curated a playlist of all the songs featured in this article along with a few other favorites (as listed below).

Spotify:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcIUUisGNQpA-W6cNak7Cg0o22vuUkfM_&si=o6-gX185YiNS2VL8

The Other Favorites on the Playlist:

Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive

Bloodstone - Natural High

Blue Magic - Sideshow

Brass Construction - Movin’

Fat Larry’s Band - Boogie Town

Labelle - Lady Marmalade

Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage

The Main Ingredient - Everybody Plays the Fool

The Manhattans - Shining Star

Slave - Slide

Tavares - It Only Takes a Minute

The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again

Trammps - Disco Inferno

Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces

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As you can see, the 1970s were packed with incredible R&B, soul, funk, and disco bands that shaped the soundtrack of an entire generation. These groups didn’t just make hits — they created music that still moves people today. For me, exploring these bands has always been more than a hobby. It’s been a lifelong journey filled with discovery, joy, and a deep appreciation for the artists who poured their hearts into every note. My hope is that this list inspires you to revisit some old favorites, discover a few new ones, and enjoy the timeless grooves that continue to stand the test of time.

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Musically Yours, RHC ❤️