From The TV IV

Season One of Soul Train premiered on October 2, 1971.

The "hippest trip in America" premiered as the African American answer to American Bandstand. The host was Don Cornelius.

This show had a variety of theme songs throughout its run. The very first one used was "Hot Potatoes" by King Curtis. The opening sequence features a cartoon train going down a track on a yellow background. This was seen in the Spike Lee movie Crooklyn, where the Carmichael kids watch the show on TV. Along with the theme songs, the Soul Train set itself went through major changes: The first set was train station-styled, complete with train tracks with various cities on the tracks itself, railroad crossing signs and the large title letters against the wall of the studio. This was used for the first two seasons of Soul Train.

[edit] Episodes

#	#	Title	Airdate
1	1	Gladys Knight & the Pips/ Eddie Kendricks/ The Honey Cone/ Bobby Hutton	October 2, 1971
2	2	Charlie Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Band/ Carla Thomas/ General Crook	October 9, 1971
3	3	Chairmen of the Board/ Rufus Thomas/ Laura Lee	October 16, 1971
4	4	The Staple Singers/ Freda Payne	October 23, 1971
5	5	Bill Withers/ Al Green/ Viola Wills	October 30, 1971
6	6	Lou Rawls/ The 100 Proof/ The Emotions	November 6, 1971
7	7	Martha & the Vandellas/ The Intruders/ G.C. Cameron	November 13, 1971
8	8	Friends of Distinction/ Clarence Carter	November 20, 1971
9	9	Chambers Brothers/ The Five Stairsteps	November 27, 1971
10	10	Junior Walker & The All Stars/ Bobby Womack/ Thelma Houston	December 4, 1971
11	11	Jean Knight/ The Delfonics/ Maurice Jackson/ Ralphi Pagan	December 11, 1971
12	12	Chi-Lites/ Joe Tex/ The Originals	December 18, 1971
13	13	Gene Chandler/ Simtex & Wylie/ The Free Movement	December 25, 1971
14	14	B.B. King/ O.C. Smith/ Patrice Halloway	January 1, 1972
15	15	Dennis Coffey/ The Detroit Emeralds/ Jesse James	January 8, 1972
16	16	Little Richard/ The Undisputed Truth/ Nolan F. Porter	January 15, 1972
17	17	Curtis Mayfield/ The Honey Cone/ The Persuaders	January 22, 1972
18	18	The Impressions/ Merry Clayton/ The Three Degrees	January 29, 1972
19	19	The Dells/ Kim Weston/ Luther Ingram	February 5, 1972
20	20	Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee/ Joe Tex/ Hodges, Smith, James & Crawford	February 12, 1972
21	21	Al Green/ The Whispers/ Denise LaSalle	February 19, 1972
22	22	The Four Tops/ Jackie Wilson/ Kool & the Gang	February 26, 1972
23	23	Gladys Knight & the Pips/ The Ohio Players/ Garland Green	March 4, 1972
24	24	Rufus Thomas/ The Bar-Kays/ Laura Lee	March 11, 1972
25	25	The Chi-Lites/ Edwin Starr/ James Gadsen	March 18, 1972
26	26	Wilson Pickett/ Curtis Mayfield/ War	March 25, 1972
27	27	Joe Tex/ Gloria Lynne/ Independents	April 1, 1972
28	28	Lou Rawls/ Otis Clay/ Peaches	April 8, 1972
29	29	Isley Brothers/ Love Unlimited/ Millie Jackson	April 15, 1972
30	30	Ike & Tina Turner/ Jerry Butler/ Brenda Lee Eager	April 22, 1972