Best Soul albums of 1981 - Rate Your Music
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Top Soul albums of 1981

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Updated: 30 April
Average Ratings Reviews
Gil Scott-Heron - Reflections, Cover art
Reflections
Gil Scott-Heron
3.69 724 724 6 6
September 1981 Album
Soul
Poetry Funk Spoken Word Pop Reggae Jazz-Funk
political uplifting urban poetic eclectic mellow melodic warm
724 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.69 Average
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much, Cover art
Never Too Much
Luther Vandross
3.67 1k 1,242 16 16
12 August 1981 Album
Smooth Soul Boogie
Pop Soul
passionate sensual longing urban sentimental bittersweet rhythmic happy
1k Ratings 16 Reviews 3.67 Average
Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me, Cover art
What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
Chaka Khan
3.60 376 376 11 11
15 April 1981 Album
Funk Soul
Boogie Synth Funk Contemporary R&B
eclectic nocturnal warm party triumphant uplifting sentimental melodic
376 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.60 Average
Teena Marie - It Must Be Magic, Cover art
It Must Be Magic
Teena Marie
3.54 319 319 6 6
14 May 1981 Album
Funk Boogie Soul
Contemporary R&B Disco Adult Contemporary
romantic rhythmic energetic urban love passionate uplifting
319 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.54 Average
Marvin Gaye - In Our Lifetime, Cover art
In Our Lifetime
Marvin Gaye
3.52 795 795 19 19
February 1981 Album
Soul Funk
Psychedelic Soul
religious apocalyptic eclectic love rhythmic mellow
795 Ratings 19 Reviews 3.52 Average
Al Jarreau - Breakin' Away, Cover art
Breakin' Away
Al Jarreau
3.49 326 326 11 11
3 August 1981 Album
Jazz Pop Smooth Jazz Pop Soul
Vocal Jazz Yacht Rock Soul Jazz Smooth Soul
romantic warm love
326 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.49 Average
The Neville Brothers - Fiyo on the Bayou, Cover art
Fiyo on the Bayou
The Neville Brothers
3.50 234 234 5 5
1981 Album
New Orleans R&B Pop Soul
Funk Soul
234 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.50 Average
Quincy Jones - The Dude, Cover art
The Dude
Quincy Jones
3.45 581 581 15 15
26 March 1981 Album
Contemporary R&B Pop Soul Boogie
Boogie Funk Smooth Jazz Adult Contemporary Yacht Rock
lush warm nocturnal party sensual uplifting melodic rhythmic
581 Ratings 15 Reviews 3.45 Average
Minako Yoshida - Monsters in Town, Cover art
Monsters in Town
Minako Yoshida
3.49 159 159 2 2
21 November 1981 Album
City Pop Soul
Synth Funk Disco
repetitive happy urban lush energetic instrumental dense
159 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.49 Average
Miki Matsubara - Cupid, Cover art
Cupid
Miki Matsubara
3.44 198 198 5 5
21 April 1981 Album
City Pop Synth Funk Chicago Soul
Techno kayō Boogie New Wave Soul Jazz P-Funk
lush summer party playful rhythmic melodic love bittersweet
198 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.44 Average
Twilight - Still Loving You, Cover art
Still Loving You
Twilight
3.41 232 232 3 3
1981 Album
Funk Smooth Soul
Disco
love melodic passionate mellow lush
232 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.41 Average
Bobby Womack - The Poet, Cover art
The Poet
Bobby Womack
3.34 526 526 9 9
1 October 1981 Album
Soul Smooth Soul
Southern Soul Funk
rhythmic longing warm romantic melodic playful love bittersweet
526 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.34 Average
Randy Crawford - Secret Combination, Cover art
Secret Combination
Randy Crawford
3.48 134 134 5 5
March 1981 Album
Smooth Soul
Contemporary R&B Pop Soul Soul Jazz
134 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.48 Average
Marina - Certos acordes, Cover art
Certos acordes
Marina
3.71 76 76 1 1
October 1981 Album
Sophisti-Pop Smooth Soul
Boogie Yacht Rock MPB
soothing rhythmic mellow melancholic warm sexual romantic sensual
76 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.71 Average
Diana Ross - Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Cover art
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Diana Ross
3.03 175 175 7 7
October 1981 Album
Pop Soul Contemporary R&B
Disco Adult Contemporary Smooth Soul
175 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.03 Average
Leon Ware - Rockin' You Eternally, Cover art
Rockin' You Eternally
Leon Ware
3.45 82 82 2 2
1981 Album
Smooth Soul
Yacht Rock
sensual warm melodic love
82 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.45 Average
Smokey Robinson - Being With You, Cover art
Being With You
Smokey Robinson
3.26 107 107 1 1
17 February 1981 Album
Smooth Soul Pop Soul
107 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.26 Average
Donald Byrd - Love Byrd, Cover art
Love Byrd
Donald Byrd
3.24 98 98 1 1
1981 Album
Jazz-Funk Smooth Soul
Boogie Smooth Jazz
98 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.24 Average
Linx - Intuition, Cover art
Intuition
Linx
3.44 67 67 3 3
March 1981 Album
Britfunk Pop Soul
Boogie Contemporary R&B Yacht Rock
rhythmic love anxious nocturnal
67 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.44 Average
Commodores - In the Pocket, Cover art
In the Pocket
Commodores
3.08 119 119 4 4
22 June 1981 Album
Pop Soul Smooth Soul
Contemporary R&B Funk Disco
119 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.08 Average
Cameo - Knights of the Sound Table, Cover art
Knights of the Sound Table
Cameo
3.30 87 87 2 2
1981 Album
Funk Soul
87 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.30 Average
The Pointer Sisters - Black & White, Cover art
Black & White
The Pointer Sisters
3.21 91 91 3 3
June 1981 Album
Pop Soul
Yacht Rock
91 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.21 Average
Phyllis Hyman - Can't We Fall in Love Again, Cover art
Can't We Fall in Love Again
Phyllis Hyman
3.54 63 63 2 2
12 June 1981 Album
Disco Soul
Pop Soul Synth Funk Smooth Soul Contemporary R&B Adult Contemporary
romantic
63 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.54 Average
Deniece Williams - My Melody, Cover art
My Melody
Deniece Williams
3.49 65 65 2 2
13 March 1981 Album
Pop Soul Smooth Soul
Philly Soul Adult Contemporary
introspective romantic melodic playful love bittersweet ethereal lush
65 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.49 Average
Aretha Franklin - Love All the Hurt Away, Cover art
Love All the Hurt Away
Aretha Franklin
2.94 116 116 3 3
13 September 1981 Album
Pop Soul Funk
Smooth Soul
116 Ratings 3 Reviews 2.94 Average
Angela Bofill - Something About You, Cover art
Something About You
Angela Bofill
3.43 68 68 3 3
28 October 1981 Album
Pop Soul Smooth Soul
Contemporary R&B Adult Contemporary Boogie Synth Funk
68 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.43 Average
Al Green - Higher Plane, Cover art
Higher Plane
Al Green
3.37 74 74 1 1
1981 Album
Soul Gospel
Christian uplifting
74 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.37 Average
Atlantic Starr - Radiant, Cover art
Radiant
Atlantic Starr
3.41 57 57 2 2
6 February 1981 Album
Smooth Soul
Disco Contemporary R&B Boogie Funk
57 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.41 Average
Champaign - How 'Bout Us, Cover art
How 'Bout Us
Champaign
3.46 59 59 2 2
1981 Album
Smooth Soul
Yacht Rock Boogie
urban sensual warm summer romantic nocturnal melodic party
59 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.46 Average
Debra Laws - Very Special, Cover art
Very Special
Debra Laws
3.62 54 54 2 2
1981 Album
Contemporary R&B Smooth Soul
Pop Soul Boogie
rhythmic happy
54 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.62 Average
Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio - A Woman Needs Love, Cover art
A Woman Needs Love
Raydio & Ray Parker Jr.
3.29 61 61 1 1
1981 Album
Pop Soul Contemporary R&B
Synth Funk Dance-Pop Smooth Soul
61 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.29 Average
The Isley Brothers - Inside You, Cover art
Inside You
The Isley Brothers
3.04 87 87 2 2
9 October 1981 Album
Funk Smooth Soul
sexual
87 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.04 Average
The Jones Girls - Get as Much Love as You Can, Cover art
Get as Much Love as You Can
The Jones Girls
3.10 64 64
23 October 1981 Album
Philly Soul
Contemporary R&B
64 Ratings 3.10 Average
Rufus With Chaka Khan - Camouflage, Cover art
Camouflage
Rufus With Chaka Khan
3.17 60 60 3 3
9 October 1981 Album
Funk Contemporary R&B Soul
60 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.17 Average
Bill Loko - Dipita, Cover art
Dipita
Bill Loko
3.60 34 34 1 1
1981 Album
Makossa Soul
Disco Funk
rhythmic raw party melodic playful energetic
34 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.60 Average
Curtis Mayfield - Love Is the Place, Cover art
Love Is the Place
Curtis Mayfield
2.80 97 97 4 4
1981 Album
Soul Smooth Soul
Disco
97 Ratings 4 Reviews 2.80 Average
Cheryl Lynn - In the Night, Cover art
In the Night
Cheryl Lynn
3.57 37 37
19 June 1981 Album
Soul Disco
Boogie
rhythmic nocturnal passionate
37 Ratings 3.57 Average
DeBarge - The DeBarges, Cover art
The DeBarges
DeBarge
3.34 39 39 1 1
1981 Album
Pop Soul
Smooth Soul Boogie Funk
love
39 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.34 Average
Whispers - Love Is Where You Find It, Cover art
Love Is Where You Find It
Whispers
3.06 48 48 1 1
December 1981 Album
Disco Smooth Soul
Boogie
romantic
48 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.06 Average
Syreeta - Set My Love in Motion, Cover art
Set My Love in Motion
Syreeta
3.56 31 31 3 3
21 October 1981 Album
Soul Disco
Sophisti-Pop Boogie Funk Synth Funk Dance-Pop
rhythmic
31 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.56 Average
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Live

  • Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly - Live in New Orleans, Cover art
    Live in New Orleans
    1981 Album
    56 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.88 Average
    3.88 56 56 3 3
  • Al Green - Tokyo...Live!, Cover art
    Tokyo...Live!
    1981 Album
    62 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.40 Average
    3.40 62 62 2 2
  • James Brown - Live in New York, Cover art
    Live in New York
    1981 Album
    58 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.48 Average
    3.48 58 58 3 3
  • Leon Russell & New Grass Revival - The Live Album, Cover art
    The Live Album
    1981 Album
    23 Ratings 3.48 Average
    3.48 23 23
  • Dionne Warwick - Hot! Live and Otherwise, Cover art
    Hot! Live and Otherwise
    1981 Album
    17 Ratings 3.15 Average
    3.15 17 17
    • See all 6 Include in main chart
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