List of Best Selling Soul Singles number ones of 1971

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1971 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in soul music and related African American-oriented music genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of such genres and since 2005 has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

[5] Thomas had first recorded in 1941, but did not achieve his greatest success until the early 1970s, when he was well into his 50s;[6] as with Floyd, his 1971 number one was his only chart-topping single.

[5] Honey Cone, Jean Knight, Denise LaSalle, the Persuaders, and the Chi-Lites also reached number one in 1971 for the first time in their respective careers.

In March and April, Marvin Gaye spent five weeks at number one with "What's Going On" and Jean Knight achieved the same feat in with "Mr. Big Stuff" beginning with the issue dated July 3.

It also topped the all-genre[12] Hot 100 chart, as did "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" by the Temptations and Honey Cone's "Want Ads".

Singers Gladys Knight and the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips topped the chart with " If I Were Your Woman ".
Singer Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye spent nine weeks at number one in 1971.
singer Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin reached number one with her versions of " Bridge over Troubled Water " and " Spanish Harlem ".
singer James Brown
James Brown had two number ones during 1971.
singer Denise LaSalle
Denise LaSalle (pictured in 2009) gained her first number one with " Trapped by a Thing Called Love ".
Singer Sly Stone
Sly and the Family Stone ( Sly Stone pictured in 2007) had the year's last chart-topper with " Family Affair ".