| The CASH BOX R&B Top 60 | ||||||
| Dark blue square = bullet (strong upward move) | Week ending DECEMBER 18, 1971 | |||||
| TW | TITLE | Artist (Label) | LW | 2WK | 3WK | WKS | |
| 1 | FAMILY AFFAIR Sly & Family Stone (Epic 10805) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 2 | GOT TO BE THERE Michael Jackson (Motown 1191) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | |
| 3 | SCORPIO Dennis Coffey & Detroit Guitar Band (Sussex 226) | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | |
| 4 | ROCK STEADY Aretha Franklin (Atlantic 2838) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | |
| 5 | I’M A GREEDY MAN (pt. 1) James Brown (Polydor 14100) | 5 | 9 | 10 | 6 | |
| 6 | CLEAN UP WOMAN Betty Wright (Alston 4601) | 7 | 10 | 14 | 6 | |
| 7 | YOU ARE EVERYTHING Stylistics (Avco 4581) | 9 | 11 | 13 | 8 | |
| 8 | DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE Joe Simon (Spring 120) | 15 | 22 | 29 | 6 | |
| 9 | ONE MONKEY DON’T STOP NO SHOW (pt. 1) Honey Cone (Hot Wax 7110) | 12 | 16 | 26 | 6 | |
| 10 | RESPECT YOURSELF Staple Singers (Stax 0104) | 11 | 13 | 8 | 12 | |
| 11 | SUPERSTAR (Remember How You Got Where You Are) Temptations (Gordy 7111) | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | |
| 12 | THEME FROM SHAFT Isaac Hayes (Enterprise 9038) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 9 | |
| 13 | HAVE YOU SEEN HER Chi-Lites (Brunswick 55462) | 10 | 5 | 4 | 8 | |
| 14 | LET’S STAY TOGETHER Al Green (Hi 2202) | 22 | 35 | 44 | 4 | |
| 15 | SUGAR DADDY Jackson 5 (Motown 1194) | 27 | — | — | 2 | |
| 16 | GET DOWN Curtis Mayfield (Curtom 1966) | 13 | 14 | 19 | 7 | |
| 17 | EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT MY GOOD THING (pt. 1) Little Johnny Taylor (Ronn 55) | 21 | 28 | 35 | 5 | |
| 18 | WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO Donnie Elbert (All Platinum 2330) | 14 | 7 | 6 | 12 | |
| 19 | A CHILD OF GOD (It’s Hard To Believe) Millie Jackson (Spring 119) | 16 | 12 | 12 | 9 | |
| 20 | INNER CITY BLUES (Make Me Wanna Holler) Marvin Gaye (Tamla 54209) | 17 | 15 | 11 | 11 | |
| 21 | EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING Santana (Columbia 45472) | 18 | 18 | 23 | 6 | |
| 22 | SHOW ME HOW Emotions (Volt 4066) | 25 | 30 | 33 | 5 | |
| 23 | YOU KEEP ME HOLDING ON Tyrone Davis (Dakar 626) | 20 | 21 | 22 | 11 | |
| 24 | THAT’S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT CHA Bobby Womack & Peace (United Artists 50847) | 31 | 39 | 42 | 5 | |
| 25 | WHAT TIME IS IT (pt. 1) General Crook (Down To Earth 77) | 29 | 32 | 40 | 8 | |
| 26 | MAKE ME THE WOMAN THAT YOU GO HOME TO Gladys Knight & Pips (Soul 35091) | 32 | 41 | — | 3 | |
| 27 | LOVE GONNA PACK UP (And Walk Out) Persuaders (Win Or Lose 220) | 33 | 40 | — | 3 | |
| 28 | LOVE IS FUNNY THAT WAY Jackie Wilson (Brunswick 55461) | 30 | 34 | 43 | 5 | |
| 29 | GRANDMA’S HANDS Bill Withers (Sussex 227) | 23 | 23 | 24 | 8 | |
| 30 | AIN’T UNDERSTANDING MELLOW Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager (Mercury 73255) | 37 | 46 | — | 3 | |
| 31 | WALK RIGHT UP TO THE SUN Delfonics (Philly Groove 169) | 19 | 17 | 15 | 10 | |
| 32 | YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEAVEN AND HELL RIGHT HERE ON EARTH Undisputed Truth (Gordy 7112) | 35 | 44 | — | 3 | |
| 33 | LAY LADY LAY Isley Brothers (T-Neck 933) | 24 | 26 | 37 | 4 | |
| 34 | AFTER ALL THIS TIME Merry Clayton (Ode 66020) | 36 | 38 | 46 | 4 | |
| 35 | SATISFACTION Smokey Robinson & Miracles (Tamla 54211) | 39 | 43 | 45 | 5 | |
| 36 | PAIN (pt. 1) Ohio Players (Westbound 188) | 47 | — | — | 4 | |
| 37 | CAN I Eddie Kendricks (Tamla 54210) | 43 | 48 | 51 | 6 | |
| 38 | I’M YOURS (Use Me Anyway You Wanna) Ike & Tina Turner (United Artists 50837) | 40 | 29 | 31 | 8 | |
| 39 | DON’T PULL YOUR LOVE Sam & Dave (Atlantic 2839) | 44 | 45 | 47 | 8 | |
| 40 | HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT O.C. Smith (Columbia 45435) | 42 | 37 | 38 | 11 | |
| 41 | MEN ARE GETTING SCARCE Chairmen Of The Board (Invictus 9103) | 46 | 51 | 54 | 4 | |
| 42 | FIRE AND WATER Wilson Pickett (Atlantic 2852) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 43 | LOVE AND LIBERTY Laura Lee (Hot Wax 7111) | 48 | 53 | — | 3 | |
| 44 | KEEP ON KEEPING ON N. F. Porter (Lizard 1010) | 51 | 55 | 57 | 4 | |
| 45 | WAY BACK HOME Jr. Walker & All Stars (Soul 35090) | 49 | 60 | — | 3 | |
| 46 | SLIPPIN’ INTO DARKNESS War (United Artists 50867) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 47 | GET UP AND GET DOWN Dramatics (Volt 4071) | 50 | 52 | 52 | 4 | |
| 48 | WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT Brenda & Tabulations (Top And Bottom 411) | 52 | 56 | — | 3 | |
| 49 | DO THE FUNKY PENGUIN (pt. 1) Rufus Thomas (Stax 0112) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 50 | LET ONE HURT DO L. J. Reynolds & Chocolate Syrup (Law-Ton 1553) | 55 | 58 | 58 | 4 | |
| 51 | THE WOOTIE-T-WOO / CAUSE THAT’S THE WAY I KNOW People’s Choice (Phil-L.A. Of Soul 352) | 53 | 54 | 55 | 4 / 2 | |
| 52 | DON’T TURN AROUND Black Ivory (Today 1501) | — | 47 | 48 | 9 | |
| 53 | YOU WANT IT, YOU GOT IT Detroit Emeralds (Westbound 192) | 54 | — | — | 2 | |
| 54 | GOOD OLD DAYS Clarence Reid (Alston 4603) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 55 | NATURALLY Jesse Hill (Blue Thumb 204) | 56 | — | 41 | 6 | |
| 56 | AT LAST Jesse James (Zay 30,002) | 59 | — | — | 2 | |
| 57 | THE LOVE OF MY MAN Dionne Warwick (Scepter 12336) | 57 | 59 | — | 3 | |
| 58 | JUNGLE FEVER Chakachas (Polydor 15030) | 60 | — | — | 2 | |
| 59 | HUNGRY COUNTRY GIRL Otis Spann with Fleetwood Mac (Blue Horizon 304) | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 60 | HEY RUBY (Shut Your Mouth) Ruby & Party Gang (Law-Ton 1554) | — | — | — | 1 | |
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