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Top R&B singles of all time

Separate: live, archival, soundtracks and scores
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Updated: 30 April
Average Ratings Reviews
Nina Simone - Sinnerman (Parts One & Two), Cover art
Sinnerman (Parts One & Two)
Nina Simone
4.49 2k 1,807 13 13
1968 Single
Rhythm & Blues Vocal Jazz
Spirituals Gospel Avant-Garde Jazz Traditional Black Gospel
Christian apocalyptic spiritual passionate progressive infernal suspenseful rhythmic
2k Ratings 13 Reviews 4.49 Average
Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come, Cover art
A Change Is Gonna Come
Sam Cooke
4.42 473 473
1967 Single
Deep Soul Traditional Pop
conscious passionate introspective uplifting lush serious protest existential
473 Ratings 4.42 Average
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On / God Is Love, Cover art
What's Going On / God Is Love
Marvin Gaye
4.37 2k 1,800 14 14
20 January 1971 Single
Soul
Smooth Soul Philly Soul
mellow conscious political passionate lush war orchestral soft
2k Ratings 14 Reviews 4.37 Average
Portishead - Glory Box, Cover art
Glory Box
Portishead
4.32 2k 2,151 15 15
2 January 1995 Single
Trip Hop Psychedelic Soul
Acid Jazz Spy Music Blues Rock
sensual sampling passionate nocturnal melancholic longing sombre anxious
2k Ratings 15 Reviews 4.32 Average
Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay / Sweet Lorene, Cover art
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay / Sweet Lorene
Otis Redding
4.30 2k 1,717 22 22
8 January 1968 Single
Southern Soul
Deep Soul
mellow lonely bittersweet melodic passionate aquatic sentimental nature
2k Ratings 22 Reviews 4.30 Average
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up / Beautiful Brother of Mine / Give It Up, Cover art
Move On Up / Beautiful Brother of Mine / Give It Up
Curtis Mayfield
4.30 1k 1,225 11 11
June 1971 Single
Funk Chicago Soul
Jazz-Funk Soul Jazz
uplifting optimistic energetic passionate lush playful warm melodic
1k Ratings 11 Reviews 4.30 Average
The Rolling Stones - Gimmie Shelter / Country Honk, Cover art
Gimmie Shelter / Country Honk
The Rolling Stones
4.29 1k 1,095 9 9
1975 Single
Blues Rock
Country Rock Psychedelic Rock Soul Roots Rock Soul Blues
passionate apocalyptic war anxious raw protest energetic dark
1k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.29 Average
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean / Can't Get Outta the Rain, Cover art
Billie Jean / Can't Get Outta the Rain
Michael Jackson
4.26 3k 2,549 27 27
11 January 1983 Single
Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop
Synth Funk Disco
passionate nocturnal anxious rhythmic cold melodic suspenseful mysterious
3k Ratings 27 Reviews 4.26 Average
Frank Ocean - Pyramids, Cover art
Pyramids
Frank Ocean
4.25 3k 2,823 13 13
8 June 2012 Single
Alternative R&B Electropop
Synth Funk Progressive Pop Trap Soul
epic sexual progressive atmospheric complex melodic sensual urban
3k Ratings 13 Reviews 4.25 Average
Kendrick Lamar - These Walls, Cover art
These Walls
Kendrick Lamar
4.25 2k 2,072 3 3
13 October 2015 Single
Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop Neo-Soul
Jazz Rap Funk Minneapolis Sound
sexual urban introspective poetic lush mellow conscious political
2k Ratings 3 Reviews 4.25 Average
Massive - Unfinished Sympathy, Cover art
Unfinished Sympathy
Massive
4.24 2k 1,631 9 9
11 February 1991 Single
Trip Hop UK Street Soul
Soul
melancholic sampling lush rhythmic urban atmospheric melodic hypnotic
2k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.24 Average
Stevie Wonder - Superstition / You've Got It Bad Girl, Cover art
Superstition / You've Got It Bad Girl
Stevie Wonder
4.23 1k 1,498 20 20
November 1972 Single
Funk Soul
rhythmic conscious energetic melodic passionate bittersweet lush repetitive
1k Ratings 20 Reviews 4.23 Average
Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer / See-Saw, Cover art
I Say a Little Prayer / See-Saw
Aretha Franklin
4.23 585 585 6 6
2 August 1968 Single
Southern Soul
Southern Gospel
uncommon time signatures longing lush lonely warm romantic uplifting breakup
585 Ratings 6 Reviews 4.23 Average
Sade - Kiss of Life, Cover art
Kiss of Life
Sade
4.23 608 608 3 3
26 April 1993 Single
Smooth Soul Sophisti-Pop Downtempo
Smooth Jazz Neo-Soul Trip Hop New Jack Swing
romantic soothing sentimental sensual uplifting melodic love ethereal
608 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.23 Average
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke / He's Misstra Know-It-All, Cover art
Sir Duke / He's Misstra Know-It-All
Stevie Wonder
4.20 1k 1,004 9 9
22 March 1977 Single
Pop Soul
Funk Jazz-Funk
happy optimistic playful party passionate uplifting energetic melodic
1k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.20 Average
Stevie Wonder - Living for the City / Visions, Cover art
Living for the City / Visions
Stevie Wonder
4.20 912 912 13 13
November 1973 Single
Soul Funk
Psychedelic Soul Singer-Songwriter
conscious urban passionate melodic rhythmic political warm protest
912 Ratings 13 Reviews 4.20 Average
OutKast - Hey Ya!, Cover art
Hey Ya!
OutKast
4.17 3k 3,152 47 47
27 October 2003 Single
Pop Soul
Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul Synth Funk
energetic melodic bittersweet love party playful breakup rhythmic
3k Ratings 47 Reviews 4.17 Average
Sam Cooke - Shake / A Change Is Gonna Come, Cover art
Shake / A Change Is Gonna Come
Sam Cooke
4.20 1k 1,221 23 23
22 December 1964 Single
Soul Rhythm & Blues
Deep Soul
optimistic lush passionate political melodic uplifting energetic bittersweet
1k Ratings 23 Reviews 4.20 Average
Stevie Wonder - As / Contusion, Cover art
As / Contusion
Stevie Wonder
4.21 700 700 11 11
November 1977 Single
Soul Jazz-Funk
Jazz Fusion Gospel Pop Soul
romantic spiritual uplifting philosophical passionate lush optimistic nature
700 Ratings 11 Reviews 4.21 Average
Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) / Wholy Holy, Cover art
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) / Wholy Holy
Marvin Gaye
4.19 774 774 7 7
16 September 1971 Single
Smooth Soul Soul
Psychedelic Soul
conscious protest pessimistic passionate urban lush political melancholic
774 Ratings 7 Reviews 4.19 Average
Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) / Sad Tomorrows, Cover art
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) / Sad Tomorrows
Marvin Gaye
4.19 806 806 6 6
10 June 1971 Single
Soul Smooth Soul
Soul Jazz Smooth Jazz
conscious mellow protest lush political nature warm passionate
806 Ratings 6 Reviews 4.19 Average
OutKast - Ms. Jackson, Cover art
Ms. Jackson
OutKast
4.16 2k 2,030 13 13
16 January 2001 Single
Southern Hip Hop Hip Hop Soul
Pop Rap Conscious Hip Hop Turntablism Neo-Psychedelia
bittersweet love conscious sampling rhythmic breakup sombre melodic
2k Ratings 13 Reviews 4.16 Average
Gil Scott-Heron with Pretty Purdie and the Playboys - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised / Home Is Where the Hatred Is, Cover art
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised / Home Is Where the Hatred Is
Gil Scott-Heron with Pretty Purdie and the Playboys
4.18 828 828 4 4
1971 Single
Funk Soul Jazz Poetry
Jazz-Funk
protest political satirical conscious rebellious rhythmic violence passionate
828 Ratings 4 Reviews 4.18 Average
OutKast - SpottieOttieDopaliscious, Cover art
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
OutKast
4.17 1k 1,002 4 4
1998 Single
Neo-Soul Funk Southern Hip Hop
Dub P-Funk Spoken Word Conscious Hip Hop Psychedelic Soul
conscious alcohol drugs summer lush warm introspective poetic
1k Ratings 4 Reviews 4.17 Average
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine / You're What's Happening (In the World Today), Cover art
I Heard It Through the Grapevine / You're What's Happening (In the World Today)
Marvin Gaye
4.17 1k 1,236 12 12
30 October 1968 Single
Soul Motown Sound
Psychedelic Soul
passionate longing breakup lush bittersweet love lonely melodic
1k Ratings 12 Reviews 4.17 Average
Earth, Wind & Fire - September / Love's Holiday, Cover art
September / Love's Holiday
Earth, Wind & Fire
4.15 2k 2,064 24 24
18 November 1978 Single
Disco Funk
Pop Soul
party happy uplifting love playful passionate romantic energetic
2k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.15 Average
The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes for You / Goodnight Sweetheart, Cover art
I Only Have Eyes for You / Goodnight Sweetheart
The Flamingos
4.15 1k 1,331 26 26
April 1959 Single
Doo-Wop
Psychedelic Soul
ethereal romantic vocal group love atmospheric surreal soothing soft
1k Ratings 26 Reviews 4.15 Average
The Animals - The House of the Rising Sun / Talkin' 'Bout You, Cover art
The House of the Rising Sun / Talkin' 'Bout You
The Animals
4.15 2k 1,691 29 29
19 June 1964 Single
British Rhythm & Blues Mod
Blues Rock Psychedelic Rock Folk Rock
passionate raw ominous pessimistic serious melodic alcohol crime
2k Ratings 29 Reviews 4.15 Average
Al Green - Let's Stay Together / Tomorrow's Dream, Cover art
Let's Stay Together / Tomorrow's Dream
Al Green
4.15 1k 1,019 9 9
December 1971 Single
Southern Soul Smooth Soul
Smooth Soul
romantic uplifting love melodic warm mellow soft passionate
1k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.15 Average
Ben E. King - Stand By Me / On the Horizon, Cover art
Stand By Me / On the Horizon
Ben E. King
4.14 1k 1,493 23 23
21 April 1961 Single
Pop Soul
Doo-Wop Brill Building
passionate melodic love romantic lush longing mellow orchestral
1k Ratings 23 Reviews 4.14 Average
Sade - No Ordinary Love, Cover art
No Ordinary Love
Sade
4.14 838 838 7 7
8 October 1992 Single
Smooth Soul Downtempo
Sophisti-Pop Trip Hop Dream Pop
soothing passionate calm atmospheric soft sensual love melodic
838 Ratings 7 Reviews 4.14 Average
Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground / Too High, Cover art
Higher Ground / Too High
Stevie Wonder
4.14 854 854 8 8
July 1973 Single
Funk Soul
Psychedelic Soul
rhythmic political triumphant optimistic urban playful conscious religious
854 Ratings 8 Reviews 4.14 Average
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough / Give a Little Love, Cover art
Ain't No Mountain High Enough / Give a Little Love
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
4.14 980 980 9 9
20 April 1967 Single
Motown Sound
uplifting triumphant love happy passionate romantic melodic anthemic
980 Ratings 9 Reviews 4.14 Average
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back / Who's Lovin You, Cover art
I Want You Back / Who's Lovin You
The Jackson 5
4.12 2k 1,639 26 26
7 October 1969 Single
Motown Sound Bubblegum
Funk
love passionate energetic romantic breakup vocal group uplifting happy
2k Ratings 26 Reviews 4.12 Average
SZA - Good Days, Cover art
Good Days
SZA
4.12 2k 2,190 13 13
25 December 2020 Single
Neo-Soul Alternative R&B
Psychedelic Soul Neo-Psychedelia Downtempo Art Pop
ethereal lush introspective mellow sentimental optimistic atmospheric longing
2k Ratings 13 Reviews 4.12 Average
The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love / Put Yourself in My Place, Cover art
You Can't Hurry Love / Put Yourself in My Place
The Supremes
4.14 946 946 15 15
25 July 1966 Single
Girl Group Motown Sound Pop Soul
melodic love optimistic energetic bittersweet vocal group longing uplifting
946 Ratings 15 Reviews 4.14 Average
Childish Gambino - Me and Your Mama, Cover art
Me and Your Mama
Childish Gambino
4.11 2k 1,618 10 10
10 November 2016 Single
Psychedelic Soul Neo-Soul Psychedelic Rock
Funk Neo-Psychedelia Blues Rock Progressive Rock Psychedelic Rock
passionate psychedelic love progressive epic energetic melodic triumphant
2k Ratings 10 Reviews 4.11 Average
Frank Ocean - Chanel, Cover art
Chanel
Frank Ocean
4.09 4k 3,731 14 14
10 March 2017 Single
Alternative R&B Pop Rap
Art Pop Alt-Pop
LGBT mellow introspective melancholic boastful atmospheric soft sentimental
4k Ratings 14 Reviews 4.09 Average
D'Angelo - Untitled (How Does It Feel?), Cover art
Untitled (How Does It Feel?)
D'Angelo
4.11 763 763 8 8
1 January 2000 Single
Neo-Soul Smooth Soul Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
mellow sensual romantic sexual passionate love uplifting melodic
763 Ratings 8 Reviews 4.11 Average
Minnie Riperton - Les fleur / Oh! By the Way, Cover art
Les fleur / Oh! By the Way
Minnie Riperton
4.12 666 666 6 6
1971 Single
Psychedelic Soul Pop Soul Baroque Pop
Baroque Pop Smooth Soul Art Pop
lush orchestral psychedelic peaceful triumphant Wall of Sound uplifting ethereal
666 Ratings 6 Reviews 4.12 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain / God, Cover art
    Purple Rain / God
    1984 Single
    2k Ratings 23 Reviews 4.24 Average
    4.24 2k 1,676 23 23
  • Prince and The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City ("Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive"), Cover art
    Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City ("Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive")
    1984 Single
    1k Ratings 28 Reviews 4.20 Average
    4.20 1k 1,384 28 28
  • Prince and The Revolution - I Would Die 4 U / Another Lonely Christmas, Cover art
    I Would Die 4 U / Another Lonely Christmas
    1984 Single
    995 Ratings 10 Reviews 4.08 Average
    4.08 995 995 10 10
  • Daft Punk - Something About Us (Love Theme From Interstella 5555), Cover art
    Something About Us (Love Theme From Interstella 5555)
    2003 Single
    980 Ratings 7 Reviews 4.07 Average
    4.07 980 980 7 7
  • Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street / Hang On in There, Cover art
    Across 110th Street / Hang On in There
    1973 Single
    579 Ratings 6 Reviews 4.06 Average
    4.06 579 579 6 6
    • See all 100 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Nina Simone - Sinnerman, Cover art
    Sinnerman
    2013 Single
    455 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.23 Average
    4.23 455 455 3 3
  • Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (Girlfriend Is Better) / Heaven, Cover art
    Stop Making Sense (Girlfriend Is Better) / Heaven
    1984 Single
    289 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.09 Average
    4.09 289 289 3 3
  • Nina Simone - Mississippi *%??**&% [Mississippi Goddam] / Sea Lion Woman, Cover art
    Mississippi *%??**&% [Mississippi Goddam] / Sea Lion Woman
    1964 Single
    382 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.00 Average
    4.00 382 382 3 3
  • Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open, Cover art
    Leave the Door Open
    2021 Single
    172 Ratings 4.09 Average
    4.09 172 172
  • Little Stevie Wonder - Fingertips - Part 1 & 2, Cover art
    Fingertips - Part 1 & 2
    1963 Single
    216 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.49 Average
    3.49 216 216 6 6
    • See all 27 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U, Cover art
    Nothing Compares 2 U
    2018 Single
    373 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.99 Average
    3.99 373 373 1 1
  • Abner Jay - Depression / I'm So Depressed, Cover art
    Depression / I'm So Depressed
    2009 Single
    365 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.95 Average
    3.95 365 365 1 1
  • Velly Joonas - Stopp, seisku aeg! / Käes on aeg, Cover art
    Stopp, seisku aeg! / Käes on aeg
    2015 Single
    294 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.53 Average
    3.53 294 294 2 2
  • Penny & The Quarters - You and Me / You Are Giving Me Some Other Love, Cover art
    You and Me / You Are Giving Me Some Other Love
    2011 Single
    198 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.91 Average
    3.91 198 198 5 5
    • See all 36 Include in main chart
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