Top Southern Soul Songs
Rank All Time Artist Song Subgenre(s) Other Genre(s) Year
1
6
 Aretha Franklin Respect 1967
2
17
 Otis Redding (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay 1968
3
29
 Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come Deep Soul 1964
4
76
 Al Green Let's Stay Together 1971
5
154
 Percy Sledge When a Man Loves a Woman Deep Soul 1966
6
234
 Otis Redding Try a Little Tenderness Deep Soul 1966
7
241
 Wilson Pickett In the Midnight Hour 1965
8
340
 Ann Peebles I Can't Stand the Rain 1973
9
348
 Aretha Franklin I Say a Little Prayer 1968
10
382
 Otis Redding I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) Deep Soul 1965
11
483
 James Brown It's a Man's Man's Man's World Deep Soul 1966
12
494
 Al Green Tired of Being Alone 1971
13
512
 Bill Withers Ain't No Sunshine Deep Soul Smooth Soul 1971
14
552
 Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) Deep Soul 1967
15
564
 Aretha Franklin Chain of Fools 1967
16
585
 Sam & Dave Soul Man 1967
17
681
 James Carr The Dark End of the Street Deep Soul 1967
18
906
 Sam & Dave Hold On, I'm Comin' 1966
19
952
 Aretha Franklin (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Pop Soul 1967
20
987
 Al Green Take Me to the River 1974
21
1104
 Al Green Love and Happiness 1972
22
1157
 Aretha Franklin Think 1968
23
1163
 Aaron Neville Tell It Like It Is Deep Soul 1966
24
1210
 The Staple Singers Respect Yourself 1971
25
1363
 Lorraine Ellison Stay with Me Deep Soul 1966
26
1495
 Etta James I'd Rather Go Blind Soul Blues 1967
27
1662
 Al Green Call Me (Come Back Home) Smooth Soul 1973
28
1913
 Wilson Pickett Mustang Sally 1966
29
1950
 Betty Wright Clean Up Woman 1971
30
1980
 Eddie Floyd Knock on Wood 1966
31
1996
 Arthur Conley Sweet Soul Music 1967
32
2772
 The Mar-Keys Last Night Rhythm & Blues 1961
33
2786
 Otis Redding & Carla Thomas Tramp 1967
34
2874
 Jean Knight Mr. Big Stuff Funk 1971
35
2924
 Johnnie Taylor Who's Making Love 1968
36
3023
 Aretha Franklin Rock Steady Funk 1971
37
3059
 Al Green How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Smooth Soul 1972
38
3122
 Wilson Pickett Land of 1000 Dances 1966
39
3132
 Al Green I'm Still in Love with You Smooth Soul 1972
40
3160
 Otis Redding Respect Deep Soul 1965
41
3414
 Arthur Alexander You Better Move On Rhythm & Blues 1961
42
3501
 The Parliaments (I Wanna) Testify 1967
43
3576
 Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song 1970
44
3593
 Luther Ingram (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right 1972
45
3739
 Otis Redding Mr. Pitiful Deep Soul 1964
46
3781
 Sam & Dave When Something Is Wrong with My Baby Deep Soul 1967
47
3848
 Leon Bridges Coming Home  Smooth Soul 2015
48
3940
 Joe Tex Hold What You've Got Country Soul 1964
49
3978
 Bobby Bland Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City Deep Soul 1974
50
3994
 Clarence Carter Patches 1970
51
4216
 Booker T. & The MG's Time Is Tight Rhythm & Blues 1969
52
4275
 Joe Tex Show Me 1967
53
4541
 James & Bobby Purify I'm Your Puppet Pop Soul 1966
54
4662
 Etta James Tell Mama Soul Blues 1967
55
4674
 Sam & Dave I Thank You 1968
56
4762
 Irma Thomas Time Is on My Side 1964
57
4766
 Brenda Holloway Every Little Bit Hurts Deep Soul 1964
58
4819
 Irma Thomas Wish Someone Would Care Deep Soul 1964
59
4972
 Otis Redding Hard to Handle 1968
60
5020
 Al Green Let's Get Married Smooth Soul 1973
61
5192
 Aretha Franklin Angel 1973
62
5228
 Al Green L-O-V-E (Love) 1975
63
5312
 Al Green Look What You Done for Me Smooth Soul 1972
64
5355
 Denise LaSalle Trapped By a Thing Called Love 1971
65
5385
 Al Green I Can't Get Next to You 1970
66
5491
 William Bell You Don't Miss Your Water Deep Soul 1961
67
5571
 Mel and Tim Starting All Over Again 1972
68
5580
 Wilson Pickett Funky Broadway Funk 1967
69
5601
 Carla Thomas Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) Rhythm & Blues 1960
70
5620
 Bettye LaVette Let Me Down Easy Deep Soul 1965
71
5639
 Otis Redding Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) Deep Soul 1966
72
5770
 Wilson Pickett Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do) 1966
73
5939
 Don Covay Mercy, Mercy 1964
74
6072
 Little Richard I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me Soul Blues 1965
75
6176
 Charles Bradley Changes Deep Soul Psychedelic Soul 2016
76
6278
 Otis Redding These Arms of Mine Deep Soul Rhythm & Blues 1962
77
6793
 Aretha Franklin (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone Pop Soul 1968
78
6903
 Otis Redding I Can't Turn You Loose 1965
79
7247
 Howard Tate Ain't Nobody Home 1966
80
7249
 Dorothy Moore Misty Blue Deep Soul 1975
81
7342
 O.V. Wright A Nickel and a Nail 1971
82
7376
 Clarence Carter Slip Away 1968
83
7506
 Creedence Clearwater Revival Long As I Can See the Light Swamp Rock 1970
84
7612
 Solomon Burke Don't Give Up on Me Deep Soul 2002
85
7770
 Judy Clay and William Bell Private Number 1968
86
7839
 Joe Simon The Chokin' Kind Country Soul 1969
87
7847
 Otis Redding Pain in My Heart 1963
88
8086
 Clarence Carter Making Love (At the Dark End of the...) 1969
89
8524
 Millie Jackson If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don’t Want To Be Right) Deep Soul Smooth Soul 1974
90
8767
 Wilson Pickett Don't Knock My Love 1971
91
8842
 Allen Toussaint From a Whisper to a Scream 1970
92
9002
 Irma Thomas It's Raining Deep Soul New Orleans R&B 1962
93
9020
 Aretha Franklin The House that Jack Built 1968
94
9165
 Percy Sledge Take Time to Know Her Deep Soul 1968
95
9184
 Ann Peebles I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down 1973
96
9256
 Otis Redding Shake 1965
97
9307
 Otis Redding I've Got Dreams to Remember Deep Soul 1968
98
9424
 Sam & Dave You Don't Know Like I Know 1965
99
9431
 Lee Dorsey Holy Cow New Orleans R&B 1966
100
9526
 Aretha Franklin A Change Is Gonna Come Deep Soul 1967
101
9552
 Bobby Womack Woman's Gotta Have It 1972
102
9557
 Otis Redding Change Gonna Come Deep Soul 1965
103
9691
 Otis Clay Trying to Live My Life Without You 1972
104
9785
 Al Green Here I Am (Come and Take Me) 1973
105
9831
 Candi Staton I'm Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin') 1970
106
9869
 Booker T. & The MG's Hang 'Em High 1968

Songs "bubbling under" the all-time top 10000:
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings 100 Days, 100 Nights 2007
Carla Thomas B-A-B-Y 1966
Aretha Franklin Bridge Over Troubled Water Deep Soul Gospel 1971
Al Green You Oughta Be With Me Smooth Soul 1972
Aretha Franklin Call Me Pop Soul 1970
Aaron Neville Hercules Deep Soul Funk 1973
Otis Redding Ole Man Trouble Deep Soul 1965
Linda Jones Your Precious Love Deep Soul 1972
Aretha Franklin Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You) 1971
Paul Kelly [USA] Stealing in the Name of the Lord Deep Soul Gospel 1970
O.V. Wright That's How Strong My Love Is Deep Soul 1964
Solomon Burke Got to Get You Off My Mind 1965
Sam Cooke Good Times 1964
Otis Redding My Girl Pop Soul 1965
Donny Hathaway I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know Deep Soul Smooth Soul 1972
Otis Redding Love Man 1969
Otis Redding Satisfaction Rhythm & Blues 1965
Wilson Pickett I Found a Love 1967
Etta James Something's Got a Hold on Me 1962
The Staple Singers Long Walk to D.C. 1968
Otis Redding Cigarettes and Coffee Deep Soul 1966
Jimmy Hughes Steal Away Deep Soul 1964
Irma Thomas Ruler of My Heart 1963
Bobby Womack Please Forgive My Heart 2012
Maurice and Mac You Left the Water Running 1968
Al Green Lay It Down 2008
James Carr Pouring Water on a Drowning Man Deep Soul 1966
Michael Kiwanuka Cold Little Heart Deep Soul Psychedelic Soul 2016
Doris Duke I Don’t Care Anymore Deep Soul 1969
Johnnie Taylor I Believe in You (You Believe in Me) 1973
Aretha Franklin Brand New Me Deep Soul Gospel 1971
Al Green I'm a Ram 1971
O.V. Wright Ace of Spade 1970
Doris Allen A Shell of a Woman Deep Soul 1969
Arthur Alexander Anna (Go to Him) Country Soul 1962
Sam & Dave Wrap It Up 1968
Arthur Alexander Soldier of Love 1962
Eddie Floyd Got to Make a Comeback 1966
Eddie Floyd Big Bird 1968
Jackie Wilson No Pity (In the Naked City) Deep Soul Chicago Soul 1965
Allen Toussaint Southern Nights Psychedelic Soul 1975
Wilson Pickett If You Need Me 1963
Aretha Franklin Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business) 1967
William Bell I Forgot to Be Your Lover Deep Soul 1968
Laura Lee Dirty Man 1967
Joe Tex The Love You Save (May Be Your Own) 1966
Mable John Your Good Thing (Is About to End) 1966
The Staple Singers Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom) 1970
Gwen McCrae Rockin' Chair Funk 1975
Aretha Franklin Spirit in the Dark Gospel 1970
Allen Toussaint Night People New Orleans R&B 1978