Best Soul singles of the 1950s - Rate Your Music
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Top Soul singles of the 1950s

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Updated: 14 May
Average Ratings Reviews
Sam Cooke - You Send Me / Summertime, Cover art
You Send Me / Summertime
Sam Cooke
3.93 520 520 12 12
September 1957 Single
Soul
Doo-Wop Pop Soul Standards
romantic lush happy optimistic love mellow melodic summer
520 Ratings 12 Reviews 3.93 Average
Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want) / Oh I Apoligize, Cover art
Money (That's What I Want) / Oh I Apoligize
Barrett Strong
3.84 475 475 9 9
August 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Rock & Roll Motown Sound
energetic rhythmic boastful hedonistic sarcastic
475 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.84 Average
Jerry Butler and The Impressions - For Your Precious Love / Sweet Was the Wine, Cover art
For Your Precious Love / Sweet Was the Wine
Jerry Butler and The Impressions
3.72 182 182 5 5
April 1958 Single
Doo-Wop Soul
Rhythm & Blues
romantic ballad love vocal group
182 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.72 Average
Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops / In the Blue of Evening, Cover art
Lonely Teardrops / In the Blue of Evening
Jackie Wilson
3.70 247 247 4 4
October 1958 Single
Soul Pop Soul
Doo-Wop Traditional Pop
rhythmic love passionate
247 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.70 Average
The Drifters - There Goes My Baby / Oh My Love, Cover art
There Goes My Baby / Oh My Love
The Drifters
3.67 285 285 10 10
May 1959 Single
Doo-Wop Soul Brill Building
lonely longing melancholic breakup melodic love Wall of Sound
285 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.67 Average
James Brown and The Famous Flames - Try Me (I Need You) / Tell Me What I Did Wrong, Cover art
Try Me (I Need You) / Tell Me What I Did Wrong
James Brown & James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.65 197 197 3 3
November 1958 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul Doo-Wop
Doo-Wop
mellow longing love vocal group
197 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.65 Average
James Brown With The Famous Flames - Please, Please, Please / Why Do You Do Me, Cover art
Please, Please, Please / Why Do You Do Me
James Brown & James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.62 306 306 6 6
March 1956 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Doo-Wop
passionate breakup vocal group longing warm
306 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.62 Average
Sam Cooke - Only Sixteen / Let's Go Steady Again, Cover art
Only Sixteen / Let's Go Steady Again
Sam Cooke
3.41 158 158 2 2
June 1959 Single
Soul
Doo-Wop
158 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.41 Average
Sam Cooke - I'll Come Running Back to You / Forever, Cover art
I'll Come Running Back to You / Forever
Sam Cooke
3.58 118 118 1 1
November 1957 Single
Soul Rhythm & Blues
Gospel
romantic melodic love
118 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.58 Average
Lloyd Price and His Orchestra - Personality / Have You Ever Had the Blues, Cover art
Personality / Have You Ever Had the Blues
Lloyd Price and His Orchestra
3.37 133 133 5 5
May 1959 Single
Pop Soul New Orleans R&B
133 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.37 Average
Sam Cooke - Summertime (Parts 1 & 2), Cover art
Summertime (Parts 1 & 2)
Sam Cooke
3.57 105 105
September 1959 Single
Soul Standards
Traditional Pop
mellow bittersweet passionate warm romantic poetic summer
105 Ratings 3.57 Average
Sam Cooke - (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / Desire Me, Cover art
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / Desire Me
Sam Cooke
3.35 140 140 1 1
December 1957 Single
Pop Soul
Doo-Wop
romantic happy melodic love soft
140 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.35 Average
The Falcons - You're So Fine / Goddess of Angels, Cover art
You're So Fine / Goddess of Angels
The Falcons
3.51 94 94 2 2
March 1959 Single
Doo-Wop Rhythm & Blues Soul
94 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.51 Average
Jimmy Jones - Handy Man / The Search Is Over, Cover art
Handy Man / The Search Is Over
Jimmy Jones
3.39 91 91 7 7
September 1959 Single
Pop Soul Rhythm & Blues
91 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.39 Average
Sam Cooke - Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha / Little Things You Do, Cover art
Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha / Little Things You Do
Sam Cooke
3.06 121 121 3 3
February 1959 Single
Soul
Chachachá
party repetitive playful passionate
121 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.06 Average
Ray Charles - Let the Good Times Roll / Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Cover art
Let the Good Times Roll / Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
Ray Charles
3.44 69 69
December 1959 Single
Vocal Jazz Soul Big Band
69 Ratings 3.44 Average
Jackie Wilson - I'll Be Satisfied / Ask, Cover art
I'll Be Satisfied / Ask
Jackie Wilson
3.58 67 67 2 2
June 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Gospel
67 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.58 Average
The Drifters - Dance With Me / (If You Cry) True Love, True Love, Cover art
Dance With Me / (If You Cry) True Love, True Love
The Drifters
3.29 78 78 2 2
September 1959 Single
Doo-Wop Pop Soul
romantic love lush vocal group
78 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.29 Average
Brook Benton - It's Just a Matter of Time / Hurtin' Inside, Cover art
It's Just a Matter of Time / Hurtin' Inside
Brook Benton
3.31 72 72 2 2
1959 Single
Pop Soul
Traditional Pop Doo-Wop
72 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.31 Average
Jackie Wilson - To Be Loved / Come Back to Me, Cover art
To Be Loved / Come Back to Me
Jackie Wilson
3.51 61 61 2 2
March 1958 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Rock & Roll
rhythmic happy melodic love passionate
61 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.51 Average
Marv Johnson - You Got What It Takes / Don't Leave Me, Cover art
You Got What It Takes / Don't Leave Me
Marv Johnson
3.36 64 64 3 3
1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
rhythmic love optimistic
64 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.36 Average
Sam Cooke - Win Your Love for Me / Love Song From "Houseboat" (Almost in Your Arms), Cover art
Win Your Love for Me / Love Song From "Houseboat" (Almost in Your Arms)
Sam Cooke
3.31 71 71 1 1
August 1958 Single
Soul
happy romantic melodic love
71 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.31 Average
Jackie Wilson - That's Why (I Love You So) / Love Is All, Cover art
That's Why (I Love You So) / Love Is All
Jackie Wilson
3.44 64 64 1 1
March 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
rhythmic happy love passionate
64 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.44 Average
James Brown and The Famous Flames - Good Good Lovin' / Don't Let It Happen to Me, Cover art
Good Good Lovin' / Don't Let It Happen to Me
James Brown & James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.44 57 57 3 3
October 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Rock & Roll Soul
57 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.44 Average
Marv Johnson - Come to Me / Whisper, Cover art
Come to Me / Whisper
Marv Johnson
3.34 66 66 1 1
21 January 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Doo-Wop
longing energetic love
66 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.34 Average
Ron Holden - Love You So / My Babe, Cover art
Love You So / My Babe
Ron Holden
3.47 54 54 3 3
1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Doo-Wop Soul
Rock & Roll
rhythmic romantic love soothing hypnotic
54 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.47 Average
James Brown and The Famous Flames - I Want You So Bad / There Must Be a Reason, Cover art
I Want You So Bad / There Must Be a Reason
James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.44 46 46 3 3
April 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
46 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.44 Average
James Brown and The Famous Flames - Begging, Begging / That's When I Lost My Heart, Cover art
Begging, Begging / That's When I Lost My Heart
James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.21 42 42 3 3
March 1958 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Doo-Wop
42 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.21 Average
Dee Clark - Nobody but You / When I Call on You, Cover art
Nobody but You / When I Call on You
Dee Clark
3.69 27 27 1 1
1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
27 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.69 Average
James Brown With The Famous Flames - Gonna Try / Can't Be the Same, Cover art
Gonna Try / Can't Be the Same
James Brown & James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.29 36 36 1 1
March 1957 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Doo-Wop
36 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.29 Average
Ray Charles - Yes Indeed / I Had a Dream, Cover art
Yes Indeed / I Had a Dream
Ray Charles
3.30 33 33
March 1958 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
33 Ratings 3.30 Average
Connie Francis - You're Gonna Miss Me / Plenty Good Lovin', Cover art
You're Gonna Miss Me / Plenty Good Lovin'
Connie Francis
3.34 31 31 1 1
August 1959 Single
Pop Soul Teen Pop
31 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.34 Average
James Brown and The Famous Flames - I've Got to Change / It Hurts to Tell You, Cover art
I've Got to Change / It Hurts to Tell You
James Brown & James Brown and The Famous Flames
3.15 34 34 1 1
June 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Doo-Wop
34 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.15 Average
Ray Charles - You Be My Baby / My Bonnie, Cover art
You Be My Baby / My Bonnie
Ray Charles
3.25 29 29
August 1958 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
29 Ratings 3.25 Average
Sam Cooke - Love You Most of All / Blue Moon, Cover art
Love You Most of All / Blue Moon
Sam Cooke
3.05 36 36
October 1958 Single
Soul
36 Ratings 3.05 Average
The Miracles - The Feeling Is So Fine / (You Can) Depend on Me, Cover art
The Feeling Is So Fine / (You Can) Depend on Me
The Miracles
2.97 35 35 1 1
September 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Soul
Doo-Wop
35 Ratings 1 Reviews 2.97 Average
Marv Johnson - I Love the Way You Love / You Got What It Takes, Cover art
I Love the Way You Love / You Got What It Takes
Marv Johnson
3.04 32 32
November 1959 Single
Rhythm & Blues Pop Soul
32 Ratings 3.04 Average
Ron & Bill - It / Don't Say Bye Bye, Cover art
It / Don't Say Bye Bye
Ron & Bill
2.94 33 33
June 1959 Single
Pop Soul Rhythm & Blues
33 Ratings 2.94 Average
Art Neville - Arabian Love Call / What's Going On, Cover art
Arabian Love Call / What's Going On
Art Neville
3.42 16 16
January 1959 Single
New Orleans R&B Soul
16 Ratings 3.42 Average
The Satintones - My Beloved / Sugar Daddy, Cover art
My Beloved / Sugar Daddy
The Satintones
2.84 36 36 1 1
October 1959 Single
Doo-Wop Motown Sound
Pop Soul
36 Ratings 1 Reviews 2.84 Average
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