Soul Train poster

Soul Train (1971)

Music · Talk-Show

Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from 1971 to 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer. Production was suspended following the 2005–06 season, with a rerun package airing for two years after that. As a nod to Soul Train's longevity, the show's opening sequence contained a claim that it was the "longest-running first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history," with over 1,100 episodes produced from the show's debut through the 2005-06 season. Despite the production hiatus, Soul Train will continue to hold this honor until at least 2016, if and when its nearest competitor, Entertainment Tonight, completes its 35th season.

IMDb rating
8.1 (787 votes)
Seasons
5
Language
EN
Type
TV series

Ratings refreshed Jul 3, 2026 · 5 seasons indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (1971)

7.95 avg 19 episodes 8.5 → 8.7

Ep 1: 8.5 · 15 votesEp 2: 8.5 · 9 votesEp 4: 7.7 · 10 votesEp 5: 8.0 · 9 votesEp 6: 7.6 · 8 votesEp 7: 7.2 · 8 votesEp 9: 7.5 · 9 votesEp 11: 8.0 · 13 votesEp 12: 8.4 · 12 votesEp 13: 7.8 · 8 votesEp 15: 7.6 · 7 votesEp 17: 8.0 · 7 votesEp 22: 8.6 · 8 votesEp 23: 8.2 · 7 votesEp 25: 8.1 · 10 votesEp 26: 6.2 · 7 votesEp 27: 8.2 · 7 votesEp 28: 8.3 · 9 votesEp 29: 8.7 · 8 votes
Season 1 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
1Gladys Knight & The Pips/Eddie Kendricks/The Honey Cone/Bobby Hutton8.515
2Charlie Wright & Watts 103rd Street Band/Carla Thomas/General Crook8.59
4Staple Singers/Freda Payne7.710
5Bill Withers/Al Green/Viola Wills8.09
6Lou Rawls/The 100 Proof/The Emotions7.68
7Martha & the Vandellas/The Intruders/G.C. Cameron7.28
9Chambers Brothers/The Five Stairsteps7.59
11Jean Knight/The Delfonics/Maurice Jackson/Ralphi Pagan8.013
12The Chi-Lites/Joe Tex/The Originals8.412
13Gene Chandler/Simtec & Wylie/The Free Movement7.88
15Dennis Coffey/Detroit Emeralds/Jesse James7.67
17Curtis Mayfield/The Honey Cone/The Persuaders8.07
22The Four Tops/Jackie Wilson/Kool & the Gang8.68
23Gladys Knight & the Pips/The Ohio Players/Garland Green8.27
25The Chi-Lites/Edwin Starr/James Gadsen8.110
26Curtis Mayfield/War/Wilson Pickett6.27
27Joe Tex/Gloria Lynne/The Independents8.27
28Lou Rawls/Otis Clay/The Peaches8.39
29Isley Brothers/Love Unlimited/Millie Jackson8.78

Season 2 (1972)

7.77 avg 19 episodes 6.4 → 7.8

Ep 1: 6.4 · 8 votesEp 2: 7.9 · 10 votesEp 3: 8.2 · 7 votesEp 5: 8.2 · 15 votesEp 6: 8.4 · 7 votesEp 7: 8.5 · 11 votesEp 13: 7.6 · 7 votesEp 14: 7.9 · 9 votesEp 15: 7.8 · 8 votesEp 19: 8.8 · 11 votesEp 21: 8.0 · 7 votesEp 22: 8.6 · 9 votesEp 23: 7.6 · 8 votesEp 24: 6.4 · 8 votesEp 25: 7.8 · 7 votesEp 26: 5.8 · 9 votesEp 27: 8.0 · 7 votesEp 30: 8.0 · 7 votesEp 37: 7.8 · 12 votes
Season 2 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
1Bobby Womack/The Bar-Kays/Candi Staton6.48
2The Isley Brothers/Luther Ingram7.910
3Gladys Knight & the Pips/The O'Jays/Major Lance8.27
5The Jackson 58.215
6Johnnie Taylor/The Undisputed Truth8.47
7Bill Withers/Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes8.511
13Billy Paul/Barbara Mason/Anacostia7.67
14Tyrone Davis/Lyn Collins7.99
15Curtis Mayfield/The Main Ingredient/Hank Ballard7.88
19James Brown8.811
21The Spinners/Sisters Love8.07
22Al Green/Mel & Tim8.69
23Friends of Distinction/Timmy Thomas/The Independents7.68
24The Chi-Lites/The Honey Cone/G.C. Cameron6.48
25The Impressions/Tyrone Davis/Billy Preston7.87
26Aretha Franklin5.89
27The O'Jays/David Ruffin/Sylvia Robinson8.07
30The Supremes/Lloyd Price8.07
37The Best of Soul Train7.812

Season 3 (1973)

7.89 avg 14 episodes 7.8 → 8.6 60 min avg

Ep 1: 7.8 · 8 votesEp 9: 8.2 · 9 votesEp 10: 8.0 · 14 votesEp 12: 8.4 · 7 votesEp 13: 8.2 · 9 votesEp 16: 8.2 · 7 votesEp 26: 5.8 · 7 votesEp 27: 8.2 · 9 votesEp 30: 8.4 · 7 votesEp 31: 7.5 · 8 votesEp 32: 8.2 · 7 votesEp 36: 7.8 · 7 votesEp 38: 7.2 · 9 votesEp 39: 8.6 · 14 votes
Season 3 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
1The Intruders/Foster Sylvers7.88
9Barry White/Love Unlimited/The Temprees8.29
10Jackson 58.014
12Tower of Power/The Pointer Sisters/Tavares8.47
13Smokey Robinson/First Choice/Al Wilson8.29
16Johnnie Taylor/Ann Peebles/Maceo and the Macs8.27
26Al Green/The Impressions5.87
27The Stylistics/Bobby Womack/Undisputed Truth8.29
30Gladys Knight & the Pips/Lamont Dozier8.47
31Sylvia/The Moments/Ecstasy, Passion & Pain7.58
32The Spinners/The Independents/Leroy Hutson8.27
36Tyrone Davis/Hugh Masekela/Black Ivory7.87
38Sly & the Family Stone/The Trammps7.29
39The Best of Soul Train: 1973-19748.614

Season 4 (1974)

8.27 avg 7 episodes 8.0 → 8.4 60 min avg

Ep 1: 8.0 · 14 votesEp 2: 8.8 · 8 votesEp 4: 8.3 · 8 votesEp 5: 7.5 · 12 votesEp 7: 8.3 · 8 votesEp 10: 8.6 · 7 votesEp 12: 8.4 · 8 votes
Season 4 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
1Billy Preston/Rufus/George McCrae/Franklin Ajaye8.014
2James Brown & the First Family of Soul8.88
4The Miracles/Herbie Hancock/Yvonne Fair8.38
5Michael Jackson/MDLT7.512
7The Chi-Lites/Bloodstone/New York City8.38
10The Ohio Players/Ecstacy, Passion & Pain/B.T. Express8.67
12The Moments/LaBelle/Carl Carlton8.48

Season 14 (1985)

7.77 avg 3 episodes 6.6 → 8.7

Ep 16: 6.6 · 6 votesEp 23: 8.0 · 7 votesEp 26: 8.7 · 8 votes
Season 14 episodes — IMDb ratings
#TitleRatingVotes
16New Edition/Rebbie Jackson6.66
23Jesse Johnson/Levert8.07
26Don Henley/Whitney Houston8.78