Soul Train

Soul Train was a long running syndication show that featured the top names in R & B and later rap music as well as the top hits for the Soul Train Dancers to dance to. Don Cornelius. the show's creator, host and packager was the key to the show's success. He was cool, calm and classy and was very knowledgeable about the genre and it showed in his interviews with the guests. There were also two best known features on Soul Train, The Scramble Board and the Soul Train Line, which gave the dancers an opportunity to showcase their talent. Also worth mentioning is the show's announcer, Sid McCoy, who also had some small roles in TV shows.

Unfortunately, the show went downhill after Cornelius decided to step down as host, turning things over to a weekly guest host before Mystro Clark, Shemar Moore and Dorian Gregory became permanent hosts. They weren't as good as Cornelius but there were plenty of talented guest stars and dancers. I'll close by quoting Cornelius' traditional closing "We wish you love, peace, and soul."

Soul Train was one of my favorite shows while growing up in the 1980s. It was a first-class, highly enjoyable entertainment all around, not at all a mediocre black version of "American Bandstand". It featured all kinds of great, talented R&B/Rap stars that were making their mark in that glorious decade.

It was awesome: full of fun and great music, plus the funky dancing, the hip clothes, and the scramble board. It brings back some great memories. I remember watching artists like Midnight Star, Whitney Houston, Atlantic Starr, Janet Jackson, New Edition, Cameo, Debarge, Prince, Levert, and many more performing on it. And who could forget opening moments where the animated train rides into the city, screaming "SOUL TRAIN!"

Don Cornelius was an excellent host who kept the show going until it succumbed to banality in the 90s. From early 90s onward, Soul Train lost its excitement as it became a run-of-the-mill Saturday afternoon variety show, hosted by various celebrities.

But for us urban music junkies, 80s Soul Train remains something to be cherished.

Soul Train started as a local Chicago teen dance show in the late 1960's. The local show was still running for a few years even after Don Cornelius mounted the national syndicated version in California. I remember that everyone would stop what they were doing when this show came on. The show totally rocked in the 1970's and 1980's. We all learned the latest dances from watching the Soul Train line, near the end of the telecast. I remember that Don Cornelius used to feature comedians right along with the musical acts back in the 1970's; Richard Pryor was a guest in one episode. Another classic episode featured James Brown and Bobby "Blue" Bland, who teamed up for several songs. Unfortunately, times and the music changed. The dancers were originally known as the "Soul Train Gang", and there were regulars among them, including Damita Jo Freeman (an excellent dancer) and Little Joe Chisum. The late football player Walter Payton danced on the show as well, earlier on. In later years, actress Rosie Perez and singer Jody Watley were featured dancers.

Unfortunately, the times and the music changed. Soul Train is no longer the "appointment TV" event it once was, but it has endured for over 30 years.

I totally agree with the poster below. Lately they've been showing "The Best of Soul Train" which I'm so excited about because I've been wondering if they were ever going to re-air the classic episodes again. Well, I'm happy to say that they are and it's great! They show the '70s and the '80s. The '80s was my time growing up and I absolutely loved the show as a little kid. The dancers, the music, Don Cornelius, and of course that animated train during the opening sequence and before commercials :p. Awesome times! Big question for anyone who could help me out, WHEN IS SOUL TRAIN '70S AND '80S COMING TO DVD, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ;) Thanks

This show used to knock American Bandstand off the block all through the seventies. The clothes, music, dancing, and general all round energy were here when this show started. But when Don Cornelius cut off his afro and the girls started doing bump and grind moves in hoochie mama spandex you knew the party was over.