Billboard Hot Soul Singles – July 25, 1981

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Enjoy the 30 most popular soul songs in the warm summer of 1981, according to the most popular music magazine at the time, Billboard!

Very Special by Debra Laws was the title track of her first album, and features her brother Ronnie with call and response backing vocals. The song reached only number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it peaked at 11 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. On that chart, it ranked as the 64th biggest hit of 1981. The track has been most notably covered and/or sampled by Big Daddy Kane and Jennifer Lopez (All I Have), and has been the subject of lawsuits in this regard.

Next up is a Mixcloud Exclusive for subscribers. 

Tracklist:

Unlimited Touch – Searching To Find The One [Edit]
Phyllis Hyman & Michael Henderson – Can’t We Fall In Love Again
Shalamar – This Is For The Lover In You
Gino Soccio – Try It Out
Klique – Love’s Dance
Carl Carlton – She’s A Bad Mama Jama
Strikers – Body Music
Fatback Band – Take It Anyway You Want It
Pointer Sisters – Slow Hand
One Way – Push
Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper
Stanley Clarke/George Duke – Sweet Baby
Atlantic Starr – Does It Matter [B-Side]
Quincy Jones – Razzamatazz
Aurra – Are You Single
Larry Graham – Feels Like Love [B-Side]
Brothers Johnson – The Real Thing
Teena Marie – Square Biz
Commodores – Lady (You Bring Me Up)
Debra Laws (& Ronnie Laws) – Very Special
Taana Gardner – Heartbeat 
Cheryl Lynn – Shake It Up Tonight
Billy Ocean – Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)
Maze – Running Away
Stephanie Mills/Teddy Pendergrass – Two Hearts
Evelyn King – I’m In Love
Stacy Lattisaw – Baby I Love You [B-Side]
Cameo – Freaky Dancin’
Rick James – Give It To Me Baby
Frankie Smith – Double Dutch Bus

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