Thursday 6 February 2014

1001 Songs

What do the Number 1 song in Rolling Stone's 2010 List of the Greatest Songs of All Time and the Number 1 song in Heart Radio's 2013 Top 500 Hall of Fame have in common? Answer: they were both written by the same person, Bob Dylan. They weren't the same song though. Rolling Stone, fittingly  enough, had Bob's own 'Like a Rolling Stone' , while top of Heart's list was Adele's cover of the 1997 song 'Make You Feel My Love'.

Not only that, but neither list even had room for the other's top song in their Top 500. What does this say? Different people have different tastes. There are lots of songs. There are lots of lists of songs. Bob Dylan has been capable of writing songs that have appealed to different kinds of people. The listeners to Heart Radio are batshit mental? No. No. Stop, that's not the attitude I want to carry into this blog. They're just people who like music. Who is anyone to say they're wrong?

Well, I will, to some extent, be saying they're wrong , but not overly harshly, I hope. Do you remember the first time? (not in the list). Exactly five years ago, I began this blog by giving myself the thankless task of trying to evaluate "the 101 Greatest Songs of All Time", not merely my favourites, but the ones that had the highest standing and strongest place in our culture.

Five years on, I decided to do the same thing again, to see if my list would have changed at all. Except I rapidly realised that 101 would not be a natural break for me - there were just too many great songs and some would be arbitrarily and unsatisfactorily excluded. So I decided to increase to 501, but very quickly realised that even the magic number of Brian Lara and Levi's could not contain me. I wanted to find a natural break, a point where I could happily say "ok, no one could honestly say anything outside this list is perceived as a great, great, classic song". However, to be honest, I soon discovered no number could contain that idea. There are so many songs and so many tastes. Hell, there are an awful lot of my own very favourite songs which haven't made it to the number I finally decided on, 1001.

1001 is a number I'm satisfied with. Sure, I've had to leave out loads of wonderful songs, but I didn't find it all that hard to whittle it down. There aren't that many songs where I feel I'm gutted I can't include them, where I feel I am failing to say something meaningful about the range of popular culture by their exclusion. There are a few, but not all that many.

Ideally, I'll want you readers to go through it and say "Well, I don't agree with the order necessarily but he hasn't missed anything. This is an inclusive and eclectic list which sums up the 20th/21st century history of the song better than any I've ever seen". Yes, that's what I want you to say. Ok? Can you do that?

But I'm sure i will have missed something a) because I'm only human, and even this morning I saw one which would be in the upper echelons and said "How the hell did I miss that?"  and b) because you have different taste from me and even if you'd taken as conclusive a survey as I have, you'd have ended up with totally different results.

How conclusive is my survey? Really, very. It's put all other research I've done into popular music to shame. This has been the result of weeks and weeks of work (well, a lifetime's work, but weeks of specific, focused work) - some of it a bit boring, a lot of it very enjoyable.

I went to every list I could find across different genres of "Greatest Songs" from NME to Kerrang to Capital Radio, Absolute Radio, xfm, Radio 6, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, MTV, Vibe, mixmag, the Great American Songbook and read them thoroughly to look at trends and repeat offenders.

But, of course, you don't find out about songs by reading about them. I've also been doing my best to listen to everything I came across which I didn't already know. This has been a lot of songs. I've been listening to more electronica, blues, post-punk, disco and easy listening than I even knew existed. It's been rather wonderful ... sometimes. Sometimes the reaction has been "Really? This is considered great?" but i've really discovered a lot of awesome songs. Here's a personal recommendation right now - 'Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)' by The Shangri-Las. Who knew that songs were that weird in the early 60s?

Now, obviously, this blog has been going on for 5 years and there have been a lot of lists in between, so I'd say I've got a lot better at making them, at knowing my limits and knowing where I'm a good judge. I'm a lot better at understanding criteria and knowing where to enforce them.

What were to be the main criteria of this list? Initially, I thought I'd limit myself to the last 50 years (in keeping with my current and ongoing list of Albums of the Last 50 years) but I decided that there were too many fundamental songs from the first half of the 20th century and that any understanding of popular song should not exclude the great writers of those times. But, equally, I couldn't go back forever. So let's say roughly 100 years. Let's say no Gilbert and Sullivan, no Danny Boy. How else to limit myself? Well, how arrogant to presume one might know about popular song for the whole world, just because one likes a few Jacques Brel songs. So, it has to be English language, which has excluded a fair few I might have included. (Ay caramba, no La Bamba!)

Also, and this is a key thing about how I understand the idea of "song",  it's about voice and music. It's about where the two meet to create magic. This let me off the hook a bit. No instrumentals. So no jazz or dance music which is not also a "pop" song. No Miles Davis. Relieved not to be judging something I've tried and failed to understand.

And, so, with dance music/electronica, I got to let myself off the hook. There's a whole world, a whole culture out there, which I've not been a part of, which is all about the magic of music. But it's not, as such, about "songs". It's about beats and tracks and hooks and mixes and sets and ebbs and flows and moments (and drugs, of course). That doesn't mean there aren't some great songs within  that world, but those songs have to be judged on the same merits as every other song, as marriage of voice and music.

Which, of course, does not mean that every song on this list has great "meaningful" lyrics. There's some absolute gibberish. But the voice and the words are integral, somehow, to what makes the song great.

Another little thing, what version of a song am I judging? Particularly when it comes to old songs, they are standards with lots of versions. Then, there are songs like, say Mr Tambourine Man and Hounds of Love which have two very different, distinct versions which both could be included. Well, I've only allowed one placing for song, but every version of that song is part of its assessment. It helps 'Hounds of Love' that there are two great versions of it. Equally, there is a song I was initially going to put in the Top 5, 'Somewhere' from West Side Story, which I utterly love. I love the Tom Waits version and I love its soaring melody and also assumed that there were countless beautiful versions out there. But i found there aren't really. I actually didn't like any of the recorded versions I heard about from the Tom Waits version. Funny that. So, perhaps that's not the song's fault but perhaps in a way it is. So it suffers a little for that.

One final thing, which is a little subtle. What's the perspective? Who the listener is matters to the importance of a song. I've already established it's English language, but also, it's a British person's, rather than an American person's perspective. There are some songs (eg Ghost Town) which are somehow just greater if you're British). It's minor, it probably didn't make much difference (as you'll see, there's no absence of American songs here), but there we go, just for clarity.

Probably my two main sources were lists from Rolling Stones and Pitchfork, two distinctly American publications, both highly respected and learned. In assessing the huge differences between the pantheon of greatness for the two, I uncovered a fascinating battle for the very soul, the very meaning of what makes a great song.
In simple terms, Rolling Stone likes old, simple, short songs, Pitchfork likes new, complex, long songs. I like a happy medium.
The Rolling Stone perspective can seem outrageously Luddite sometimes - literally there's really only a handful of songs from the last 20 years. It's pop music, not Medieval literature, chaps (for you are overwhelmingly chaps, aren't you?). How long does a song need to establish its qualities? In some cases, only as long as the very first time it's played.
While the Pitchfork songs, which I have spent a lot of time delving into, can be irritatingly obscure and hard to access. And long ... so many long electronic songs where I'd have happily snipped 5 minutes off.

What should a song be? As I tried to come up with my Number 1, I considered that question long and hard. What is the perfect song? Is it something which pushes back the boundaries, changes the way we think of song, or is it the very distillation of the simple, elegant beauty of a song? Is it challenging or comforting?

Ideally, I'd have come up with a Number 1 song where your response would be "I hadn't thought of that, but, yes, yes, that's perfect, that's right" but I haven't, I'll tell you now. I've played it safe.
I considered nearly all of the songs which have ended up in my Top 10 for the Number 1 spot, and the songs (feel free to look down the page now, or not) which are Numbers 1 and 3 were probably the main contenders. With the eventual Number 3, I just thought "you know what, it's a bit of an imposition on people who don't like it, for whom it's rather a tuneless whine" to say this is their pop culture's greatest moment. So there. My Number 1 is a beloved, safe song.

Interestingly in terms of that battle for the essence of song, I remember when Mojo magazine did a list of Greatest Songs in the late 90s, their winner was one which has ended just outside my top 10, 'Good Vibrations'. And actually, that makes really good sense to me as a compromise of the two ideas - a complex, multi-layered song, but welcoming and beautiful and not outstaying its welcome. But, maybe, eventually that counts against it. Are there too many ideas in those 4 minutes? And is the song actually saying anything or is it really just a good vibration?

I hope you enjoy the list, Such is the nature of pop music, you'll see the sublime sitting right next to the ridiculous, the overblown next to the delicate. I've made sure I see the merits in every song on this list, even if I don't love them all. I've sucked it up and given credit where due (though not too much) to some old enemies like Bohemian Rhapsody, Hotel California and Imagine, which I've developed a frankly irrational hatred for over the years.

I'm not like Rolling Stone. I've got loads of modern songs all the way through, from top to bottom. But, at times, in my narrowing down process, I understood their perspective. As I filled my list with post-punk, classic hip-hop, thin indie of the 80s, krautrock etc, I wistfully looked at it and thought "You know what, this list could do with a few more Beatles/Dylan/Bowie/Van Morrison etc". So, I won't lie, it's all been rather smoothed out. The greats get their place. The 17th best Beatles song is greater than most people's best song. That's how it is at the moment.

Because a song's "greatness" is a complex thing, it's not just about how good we think it is, how beautifully it's designed, how complex, nor is it just about how popular, how catchy, how well known it is. It can be about how well it does it's job, how much it changed things, influenced other things, how a roomful of people responds to it, how devoid of negatives - what I think of as "sagging" - it is.

So I've operated as chairman of my own jury. I've narrowed it down gradually from several thousand, and there will of course be hints of my bias creeping through. Some of my favourites are nowhere on the list because I can recognise that it's whimsical personal taste, but there are songs I love which have a lot of critical approval but aren't necessarily acknowledged universal classics yet, which I think represent greatness, and those will be nearer the top in my list than they would in someone else's.

Of course, the difference between Number 864 and 875 is almost totally arbitrary, but what i've done is gradually break the songs into smaller and smaller units of peers, so any song has had plenty of opportunity at any point to be placed in a more fitting position. Generally, I didn't find it that hard to give songs placings. That's the boring stuff - don't worry about it.

In an interview recently, hairy old hippy David Crosby sucked on his peace pipe, let his freak flag fly and said something like "It's Joni Mitchell's songs that will be remembered the most in 100 years time. She's as good a poet as Dylan and a way better musician". Which may be true, but oddly misses the point and the magic. It's not the best poets and musicians that make the best (to borrow Dylan's own phrase) song and dance men/women. Not necessarily. There is alchemy in it. Which is why people's love of the Ramones is not phoney, why 'Louie Louie' is still a classic, why Madonna became the biggest pop star on the planet.

Within this list are maestros, pros and amateurs, people who only ever had one song in them, and people who had 1000s.

If you don't see your favourite in here, there's a good chance I did consider it and saw reason not to include it. There really are a lot of great songs.

It's rather too many to comment on, so you'll just get a pure unadulterated list, a rundown from bottom to top, and maybe a comment or two at the bottom.

By the way if I've put a /, it doesn't mean it's a duet, it means there are a few different versions to contemplate and consider.

So here we go, if anything else, it's a good playlist. I strongly suggest these are the Greatest 1001 Songs in the History of Popular Music:



1001
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
1000
Outdoor Miner - Wire
999
I Never Asked to be Your Mountain - Tim Buckley
998
Desperado - The Eagles
997
Goodbye England (Covered In Snow) - Laura Marling
996
Holiday In Cambodia - Dead Kennedys
995
Sound And Vision - David Bowie
994
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
993
Suburbia - Pet Shop Boys
992
Teen Age Riot - Sonic Youth
991
I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
990
I Ain't Marching Anymore - Phil Ochs
989
Royals - Lorde
988
Popscene - Blur
987
Plug In Baby - Muse
986
I Don't Feel like Dancing - Scissor Sisters
985
For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
984
Moondance - Van Morrison
983
Brown Sugar - D'Angelo
982
I Would Fix You - Kenickie
981
Little Baby Nothing - Manic Street Preachers
980
Totally Wired - The Fall
979
You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
978
Senses Working Overtime - XTC
977
Most of the Time - Bob Dylan
976
Genius of Love - The Tom Tom Girls
975
Love Train - O'Jays
974
Lily, Rosemary And Jack Of Hearts - Bob Dylan
973
Shot by Both Sides - Magazine
972
California Dreamin' - Mamas and the Papas
971
Dirty Old Town - Ewan MacColl
970
It Wasn't Me - Shaggy
969
Street Fighting Man - Rolling Stones
968
Screen Door - Uncle Tupelo
967
Rip It Up - Orange Juice
966
Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode
965
You’re The First, The Last My Everything - Barry White
964
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
963
White Man (In Hammersmith Palais) - The Clash
962
Just a Little Lovin' - Dusty Springfield
961
The Chalet Lines - Belle and Sebastian
960
When The Ship Comes In - Bob Dylan
959
24 Hours from Tulsa - Gene Pitney
958
Changes - David Bowie
957
Baby Can I Hold You Tonight - Tracy Chapman
956
Darkness On The Edge Of Town - Bruce Springsteen
955
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Crystals/Bruce Springsteen
954
Carol Mountain - Modesty Blaise
953
Your Song - Elton John
952
Ode to Billy Joe - Bobbie Gentry
951
To Love Somebody - The Bee Gees
950
Grudge F*** (2006) - The Pernice Brothers
949
Language Of Violence - Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
948
The Fox In the Snow - Belle and Sebastian
947
Everybody Knows (Except You) - Divine Comedy
946
Hyperballad - Bjork
945
The Children of the Revolution - T.Rex
944
The Sweetest Girl - Scritti Politti
943
Ain't No Pleasing You - Chas and Dave
942
Sail Away - Randy Newman
941
The Moon's a Harsh Mistress - Judy Collins
940
God is in the House - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
939
In the Still of the Night - The Five Satins
938
Venus in Furs - The Velvet Underground
937
Get Back - The Beatles
936
Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
935
Galveston - Glen Campbell
934
Rocket Man - Elton John
933
Sound Of Da Police - KRS-One
932
To the End - Blur
931
Tender - Blur
930
Cosmic Dancer - T.Rex
929
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
928
A Good Year for the Roses - George Jones
927
It's Your Thing - Isley Brothers
926
Can I Kick It? - A Tribe Called Quest
925
What'll I Do? - The McGarrigles/Various others
924
Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
923
Barcode Bypass - Mull Historical Society
922
I Saw The Light - Todd Rundgren
921
I’m Not In Love - 10cc
920
A Little Respect - Erasure
919
Thriller - Michael Jackson
918
Don’t Speak - No Doubt
917
My National Pride - Dexys Midnight Runners
916
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing - Stevie Wonder
915
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
914
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
913
Something Changed - Pulp
912
Fall at your Feet - Crowded House
911
Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan
910
It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding - Bob Dylan
909
Band On The Run - Wings
908
Lust for Life - Iggy Pop
907
Darling Be Home Soon - The Lovin' Spoonful
906
I Miss you - Blink-182
905
Get the Party Started - Pink
904
The Times They Are a Changin' - Bob Dylan
903
Spiders (Kidsmoke) - Wilco
902
The Boys of Summer - Don Henley 
901
El President - Drugstore
900
Brickbat - Billy Bragg
899
The Trader - Beach Boys
898
Disco Inferno - Trammps
897
Surf's Up - The Beach Boys
896
Homeward Bound - Simon and Garfunkel
895
Kathleen - Josh Ritter
894
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
893
A Matter of Time - The Leisure Society
892
Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love - Ella Fitzgerald
891
Chop Suey! - System of a Down
890
Letter from America - The Proclaimers
889
Dreamy Days - Roots Manuva
888
New American Language - Dan Bern
887
Enola Gay - OMD
886
Cornerstone - Arctic Monkeys
885
And No More Shall We Part - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
884
Dancing On My Own - Robyn
883
Angela Surf City - The Walkmen
882
Nelson Mandela - The Special A.K.A.
881
Atomic - Blondie
880
Glory Box - Portishead
879
Sabotage - Beastie Boys
878
White Lines (Don't Do It) - Melle Mel
877
She Loves You - The Beatles
876
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? - Jimmy Ruffin
875
With Arms Outstretched - Rilo Kiley
874
Lucky - Radiohead
873
Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson
872
Heartbeat - Annie
871
Someone Like You - Adele
870
California Girls - Beach Boys
869
When Doves Cry - Prince
868
Every Breath You Take - The Police
867
I Am The Resurrection - The Stone Roses
866
God Save The Queen - The Sex Pistols
865
It's Too Late - Carole King
864
Night Train - James Brown
863
When I Fall In Love - Nat King Cole
862
Run - Snow Patrol 
861
Super Bass - Nicky Minaj
860
Party Fears Two - The Associates
859
Sally MacLennane - The Pogues
858
Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
857
Spanish Bombs - The Clash
856
Street Life - Crusaders
855
In France They Kiss On Main Street - Joni Mitchell
854
Ballad of a Thin Man - Bob Dylan
853
Do You Know the Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick
852
Leave Right Now - Will Young
851
Conversation 16 - The National
850
Walking on a Wire - Richard and Linda Thompson
849
Rocks Off - Rolling Stones
848
So Here We Are - Bloc Party
847
Love Letter - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
846
Big Exit - PJ Harvey
845
Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles
844
Guess I'm Dumb - Glen Campbell
843
Good Intentions Paving Company - Joanna Newsom
842
The Sexual Loneliness of Jesus Christ - Jackie Leven
841
Sick 2 Def - Plan B
840
The Daily Growl - Lambchop
839
Brick - Ben Folds Five
838
One Love - Bob Marley
837
Needle In The Hay - Elliott Smith
836
Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
835
It's Not Right But It's OK - Whitney Houston
834
Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
833
House of Fun - Madness
832
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious - Julie Andrews
831
Drop the Pressure - Milo
830
Kinky Afro - Happy Mondays
829
Shackles - Mary Mary
828
Somebody to Love - Queen
827
You Send Me - Sam Cooke
826
Northern Lights - Super Furry Animals
825
Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
824
Things Can Only Get Better - D.Ream
823
Hotel California - The Eagles
822
Dirty Water - The Standells
821
I Put A Spell On You - Screaming Jay Hawkins
820
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
819
Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus
818
Everything I Do (I Do it For you) - Bryan Adams
817
Creep - Radiohead
816
Insane In The Brain - Cypress Hill
815
Cars And Girls - Prefab Sprout
814
Downtown Train - Tom Waits
813
Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon
812
Heart Like a Wheel - The McGarrigles
811
Keep On Running - Spencer Davis Group
810
Runaway - Del Shannon
809
This Is Just A Modern Rock Song - Belle and Sebastian
808
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
807
Smile - The Jayhawks
806
She Bangs the Drum - The Stone Roses
805
Blues Run the Game - Jackson C Frank/Laura Marling
804
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys
803
Let There Be Love - Nat King Cole
802
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of - U2
801
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
800
The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
799
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
798
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
797
Steppin’ Out - Joe Jackson
796
Cut Your Hair - Pavement
795
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
794
Supersonic - Oasis
793
Overcome By Happiness - The Pernice Brothers
792
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
791
Little Green Bag - George Baker
790
I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
789
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
788
Meet On The Ledge - Fairport Convention
787
Bloody Motherfucking Arsehole - Martha Wainwright
786
One Day Like This - Elbow
785
Itchycoo Park - Small Faces
784
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
783
Sign O' The Times - Prince And The Revolution
782
Lithuania - Dan Bern
781
More Than A Feeling - Boston
780
Ashes To Ashes - David Bowie
779
Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney
778
November Rain - Guns N Roses
777
Philadelphia - Neil Young
776
Grumpus - Lambchop
775
Abel - The National
774
Baby I Love You - The Ronettes
773
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco
772
Yes - Manic Street Preachers
771
Mr Blue Sky - ELO
770
Atmosphere - Joy Division
769
Yellow - Coldplay
768
Summertime - Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
767
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
766
See No Evil - Television
765
Oh Bondage Up Yours! - X-Ray Spex
764
(Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Öyster Cult 
763
Out on the Floor - Dobie Gray
762
Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harum
761
Sweeping the Nation - Spearmint
760
Danny Callahan - Conor Oberst
759
Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel
758
White Riot - The Clash
757
It's a Sin - Pet Shop Boys
756
Kick Out The Jams - MC5
755
Ever Fallen in Love - The Buzzcocks
754
Losing My Religion - REM
753
Eye Know - De La Soul
752
Rise - PiL
751
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
750
Heroes And Villains - The Beach Boys
749
Over And Over - Hot Chip
748
Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones
747
 I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash
746
 Like A Hurricane - Neil Young
745
Geno - Dexys Midnight Runners 
744
Smile - Nat King Cole
743
This Whole World - The Beach Boys
742
Young Americans - David Bowie
741
Luck Be a Lady - Frank Sinatra
740
Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers
739
Beetlebum - Blur
738
That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
737
I Am the Walrus - The Beatles
736
White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
735
Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits
734
Make Me Smile (Come up and See Me) - Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel
733
Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again - The Carpenters/Barry Manilow
732
I Hear a Symphony - The Supremes
731
Something - The Beatles
730
Under the Boardwalk - The Drifters
729
Love is a Losing Game - Amy Winehouse
728
Tonight - Lykke Li
727
Sunrise - The Divine Comedy
726
Dream a Little Dream - Mama Cass/Ella Fitzgerald
725
Sons and Daughters - The Decemberists
724
Lost Cause - Beck
723
Waitin' for a Superman - The Flaming Lips
722
Oblivious - Aztec Camera
721
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
720
I Threw It All Away - Bob Dylan
719
Since You’ve Been Gone - Rainbow
718
(You Make me Feel) Mighty Real - Sylvester
717
Blue - The Jayhawks
716
Easy - The Commodores
715
Drive - Cars
714
Queen of Denmark - John Grant
713
Lies  - The Knickerbockers
712
Boots of Spanish Leather - Bob Dylan
711
We Are the Champions - Queen
710
Summer Breeze - The Isley Brothers
709
Suicide Is Painless - Manic Street Preachers
708
Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young
707
Sit Down - James
706
Speak to Me Someone - Gene
705
I Can See for Miles - The Who
704
Love Minus Zero - Bob Dylan
703
Without You - Nilsson
702
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
701
Venus As A Boy - Bjork
700
Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
699
Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go - Wham!
698
Fight For Your Right To Party - The Beastie Boys
697
Knocks Me off My Feet - Stevie Wonder
696
Virginia Plain - Roxy Music
695
Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard
694
Can You Feel It - The Jacksons
693
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore - The Walker Brothers
692
I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
691
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive - Johnny Mercer
690
Girl From Mars - Ash
689
Graceland - Paul Simon
688
Buffalo Gals - Malcolm McLaren
687
Simple Twist Of Fate - Bob Dylan
686
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
685
California - Joni Mitchell
684
Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan
683
Gold Digger - Kanye West
682
Hoppipola - Sigur Ros
681
Pictures of Success - Rilo Kiley
680
Soul Man - Sam and Dave
679
I'll Never Fall in Love Again - Dusty Springfield
678
Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie
677
I Fought The Law - The Clash/Bobby Fuller
676
Run To The Hills - Iron Maiden
675
Just Like Honey -  The Jesus and Mary Chain 
674
Wake Up Boo! - Boo Radleys
673
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
672
Nuthin' but a G Thang - Dr Dre
671
Jump Around - House of Pain
670
Firestarter - The Prodigy
669
Candle in the Wind - Elton John
668
Working Class Hero - John Lennon
667
Space Oddity - David Bowie
666
Got To Get You Into My Life - The Beatles
665
Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix 
664
Dilemma - Nelly and Kelly
663
Don't You - Micah P Hinson
662
Buddy Holly - Weezer
661
Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan/Adele
660
You're the Best Thing - Style Council
659
True - Spandau Ballet
658
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany/The Rubinoos
657
Leaving New York - REM
656
Old Friends / Bookends - Simon and Garfunkel
655
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Bob Dylan
654
Pure Shores - All Saints
653
Alright - Supergrass
652
California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys
651
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
650
I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - Electric Prunes
649
Bucky Done Gun  - MIA
648
My Girl - The Temptations
647
B.O.B. - OutKast
646
Right Here - SWV
645
Karma Police - Radiohead
644
A Design for Life - Manic Street Preachers
643
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
642
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
641
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
640
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
639
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
638
Piece of My Heart - Erma Franklin/Janis Joplin
637
Revolution - The Beatles
636
Steady Pace - Matthew E White
635
Dinner at Eight - Rufus Wainwright
634
Shining Light - Ash
633
Tom Traubert's Blues - Tom Waits
632
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
631
That's Entertainment - The Jam
630
Alison - Elvis Costello
629
Close to You - The Carpenters
628
Feelgood Hit Of The Summer - Queens of the Stone Age
627
Roscoe - Midlake
626
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
625
Can't Help Loving Dat Man - Lena Horne
624
NYC - Interpol
623
When A Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
622
The Sound Of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel
621
Kung Fu - Ash
620
Sweetness Follows - REM
619
Fallin' - Alicia Keys
618
Hold On Hope - Guided by Voices
617
You Got Yr Cherry Bomb - Spoon
616
My Generation - The Who
615
Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed
614
(I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
613
Slight Return - The Bluetones
612
Single Ladies - Beyonce
611
Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn & John 
610
Cry Me A River - Julie London
609
Complicated - Avril Lavigne
608
Club Tropicana - Wham!
607
La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh) - Manic Street Preachers
606
Back To Life - Soul II Soul
605
The Message  - Grandmaster Flash
604
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
603
You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers
602
Spottieottiedopaliscious - OutKast
601
Gigantic - The Pixies
600
One More Time - Daft Punk
599
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals
598
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
597
Blue Monday - New Order
596
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
595
End of a Century - Blur
594
Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan
593
Takeover - Jay-Z
592
Heaven - The Walkmen
591
Ghost Town - The Specials
590
Bring The Noise - Public Enemy
589
Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying - Belle and Sebastian
588
The Universal - Blur
587
Stay Together - Suede
586
But Not for Me - Ginger Rogers/Ella Fitzgerald
585
Express Yourself - Charles Wright And The 103 Watts St Band
584
Fuck da Police - NWA
583
Regulate - Warren G ft. Nate Dogg 
582
Psycho - The Sonics
581
Madame George - Van Morrison
580
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
579
If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
578
Try Again - Aaliyah
577
Witness (1 Hope) - Roots Manuva
576
Video Killed the Radio Star - Buggles
575
Cars - Gary Numan
574
Heart Of Gold - Neil Young
573
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies
572
Irreplaceable - Beyonce
571
Mid Air - Paul Buchanan
570
The Last of the Melting Snow- The Leisure Society
569
Cross Road Blues - Robert Johnson
568
Independent Women - Destiny's Child
567
Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight And The Pips
566
14th Street - Rufus Wainwright
565
Trains to Brazil - The Guillemots
564
Juxtaposed With U - Super Furry Animals
563
Mississippi - Bob Dylan
562
New Slaves - Kanye West
561
Walk Away Renee - The Left Banke/Four tops
560
Drive-In Saturday - David Bowie
559
Irish Blood, English Heart - Morrissey
558
Somebody that I Used to Know - Gotye
557
The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel
556
Crosstown Traffic - The Jimi Hendrix Experience 
555
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
554
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen
553
I Got A Woman - Ray Charles
552
Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
551
The Israelites - Desmond Dekker and the Aces
550
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
549
People Get Ready - The Impressions
548
Prince Charming - Adam and the Ants
547
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
546
Sweet Thing - Van Morrison
545
That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) - Johnny Cash
544
Carey - Joni Mitchell
543
Losing My Edge - LCD Soundsystem
542
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
541
Always on My Mind -Willie Nelson/Elvis Presley/Pet Shop Boys
540
Don't Let Go - En Vogue
539
Groove is in the Heart - Deee-Lite
538
Bang - Yeah Yeah Yeahs 
537
Jesus was a Crossmaker - Judee Sill
536
Shake Rattle And Roll - Big Joe Turner
535
I'm a Cuckoo - Belle & Sebastian
534
Time to Pretend - MGMT
533
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
532
London Calling - The Clash
531
Bird On a Wire - Leonard Cohen
530
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
529
Jolene - Dolly Parton
528
Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan
527
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
526
Time For Heroes - The Libertines
525
Mr November - The National
524
Will You Love Me Tomorrow? - The Shirelles/Carole King
523
In My Life - Beatles
522
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon And Garfunkel
521
Blowin' in The Wind - Bob Dylan
520
Eleanor Rigby - Beatles
519
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and his Comets
518
Out of Space - The Prodigy
517
Basket Case - Green Day
516
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
515
Soon - My Bloody Valentine
514
Where Is My Mind? - The Pixies
513
Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
512
Helpless - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
511
Ain't Got No (I Got Life) - Nina Simone
510
Stan - Eminem
509
Good Fortune - PJ Harvey
508
Hard To Explain - The Strokes
507
Sunday Girl - Blondie
506
Metal Guru - T.Rex
505
You Make My Dreams - Hall and Oates
504
We Are Your Friends - Justice Vs Simian
503
Standing In The Way Of Control - Gossip
502
In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
501
Me Myself and I - De La Soul
500
Baggy Trousers - Madness
499
Don't You Want Me - Human League
498
Van Occupanther - Midlake
497
Mysteries - Beth Gibbons
496
Time - Tom Waits
495
Rapture - Blondie
494
Rudy, A Message to You - The Specials
493
Burn It Down - Dexys Midnight Runners
492
Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
491
Where Are We Now? - David Bowie
490
Burn Baby Burn - Ash
489
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
488
Dancing In The Street - Martha and the Vandellas
487
All Day and All of the Night - The Kinks
486
Alone Again Or - Love
485
New Partner - Bonnie Prince Billy
484
Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley
483
Video Games - Lana Del Rey
482
The Stars Of Track And Field - Belle and Sebastian
481
Stagger Lee - Nick Cave
480
Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan
479
Les Fleurs - Minnie Ripperton
478
Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello
477
Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry
476
For Tomorrow - Blur
475
Let's Face the Music and Dance - Fred Astaire
474
Boulder to Birmingham - Emmylou Harris
473
Cry Baby - Janis Joplin
472
Pompeii - Bastille
471
Monkey Gone To Heaven - The Pixies
470
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
469
Lay Down Your Weary Tune - Bob Dylan
468
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John
467
Olympian - Gene
466
The Man That Got Away - Judy Garland
465
Midnight City - M83
464
Bluetonic - The Bluetones
463
Unsatisfied - The Replacements
462
Caroline, No - Beach Boys
461
Formed a Band - Art Brut
460
No Pussy Blues - Grinderman
459
The Promise - Girls Aloud
458
Fistful Of Love - Antony and the Johnsons
457
Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens
456
Tumbling Dice - The Rolling Stones
455
This Is a Low - Blur
454
They Can't Take That Away from Me - Fred Astaire/Ella Fitzgerald
453
Old Man - Neil Young
452
River Man - Nick Drake
451
How - Regina Spektor
450
Scottish Pop - Spearmint
449
Gloria - Them
448
Ain't That Enough - Teenage Fanclub
447
Honey and the Moon - Joseph Arthur
446
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations
445
Stand by Your Man - Candi Staton/Tammy Wynette
444
Everything I Own - Bread/Ken Holt
443
The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
442
Animal Nitrate - Suede
441
I Need a Dollar- Aloe Blacc
440
In Between Days - The Cure
439
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
438
To be Young (is to be sad, is to high) - Ryan Adams
437
Kissing the Lipless - The Shins
436
Round Eye Blues - Marah
435
Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
434
Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds/Bob Dylan
433
Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns 'N Roses
432
Handle With Care - Traveling Wilburys
431
Rebel Without a Pause - Public Enemy
430
Cannonball - The Breeders
429
Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez
428
The Engine Driver - The Decemberists
427
Cheated Hearts - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
426
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins/Elvis Presley
425
Chewing Gum - Annie
424
Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
423
Floating In The Forth - Frightened Rabbit
422
Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips
421
Toxic - Britney Spears
420
More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley
419
Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
418
Save Me - Aimee Mann
417
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
416
The Impossible Dream - Andy Williams
415
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
414
A Hard Rain's a Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan
413
Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin
412
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
411
Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles
410
Respect - Aretha Franklin
409
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby Stills Nash
408
Blue - Lucinda Williams
407
Cosmia - Joanna Newsom
406
Lola - The Kinks
405
Dance To The Music - Sly and the Family Stone
404
(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin/Carole King
403
Let's Make this Precious - Dexys Midnight Runners
402
How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
401
I’m Waiting For The Man - The Velvet Underground
400
I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding
399
Days - The Kinks
398
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
397
Hounds Of Love - Kate Bush/The Futureheads
396
Get Happy - Judy Garland
395
Rise to Me - The Decemberists
394
He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot - Grandaddy
393
Tiny Tears - Tindersticks
392
American Pie - Don McLean
391
Tomorrow (From "Annie")
390
I Could Have Danced All Night - Julie Andrews/Marni Nixon
389
My Favorite Things - Julie Andrews
388
All Night Disco Party - Brakes
387
Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake
386
Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin
385
Oh Happy Day - Spiritualized
384
Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners 
383
Enter Sandman - Metallica
382
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
381
Your Cheatin’ Heart - Hank Williams
380
What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
379
Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones
378
 Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
377
 The Real Slim Shady - Eminem
376
The Final Countdown - Europe
375
Gettin' Jiggy With It - Will Smith
374
As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson
373
Moulty- The Barbarians
372
All My Trials - Joan Baez
371
She Fell into My Arms - Ed Harcourt
370
Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle
369
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
368
Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes 
367
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
366
Back For Good - Take That
365
I’m Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado
364
Birdhouse in Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
363
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
362
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
361
Hurts So Good - Millie Jackson
360
Mr Brightside - The Killers
359
Not Dark Yet - Bob Dylan
358
Drive My Car - The Beatles
357
Martha - Tom Waits
356
I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
355
Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker/Nina Simone
354
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
353
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
352
Still I Dream Of It - Brian Wilson
351
Ça Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand
350
Imagine - John Lennon
349
Vincent - Don McLean
348
7 and 7 is - Love
347
Turn, Turn, Turn - The Byrds/Pete Seeger
346
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
345
Ms. Jackson - OutKast
344
Mahgeetah - My Morning Jacket
343
Down Town - Petula Clark
342
Alfie - Dionne Warwick
341
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson
340
Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis - Tom Waits
339
Bills, Bills, Bills - Destiny's Child
338
My Wandering Days are Over - Belle and Sebastian
337
Slide Away - Oasis
336
Rock N Roll - Mos Def
335
I Believe When i fall in Love with You It Will be Forever - Stevie Wonder
334
Five Years - David Bowie
333
No Diggity - Blackstreet featuring Dr Dre
332
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
331
Trash - New York Dolls
330
I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
329
Nutmeg - Ghostface Killah
328
One Armed Scissor - At the Drive-In
327
Saint Simon -The Shins
326
The First Big Weekend - Arab Strap
325
C30, C60, C90 Go - Bow Wow Wow
324
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
323
Rave On - Buddy Holly
322
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
321
You've Got a Friend - Carole King/James Taylor
320
Misunderstood - Wilco
319
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
318
California Soul - Marlena Shaw
317
Empire State Of Mind - Jay Z and Alicia Keys
316
Jesus, Etc. - Wilco
315
Massive Night - The Hold Steady
314
Rock And Roll Music - Chuck Berry
313
Lost Highway - Hank Williams
312
Get Ready - The Temptations
311
Superstar - The Carpenters
310
Uptown Top Ranking - Althea and Donna
309
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
308
Let It Be Me - Rosie Thomas/Everly Brothers
307
Be-Bop-a-Lula - Gene Vincent
306
Suzanne - Leonard Cohen
305
Up the Junction - Squeeze
304
Stormy Weather - Billie Holiday
303
And Your Bird Can Sing - The Beatles
302
Pressure Drop - Toots and the Maytals
301
Burning Love - Elvis Presley
300
Running Up that Hill (A Deal with God) - Kate Bush
299
No Scrubs - TLC
298
Fields of Gold - Sting
297
The Way You Look Tonight - Fred Astaire
296
Find the River - REM
295
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
294
I Shall be Released - The Band/Bob Dylan
293
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald
292
I Got Rhythm - Gene Kelly/Ethel Merman
291
Love Hurts - Gram Parsons
290
The Drugs Don't Work - The Verve
289
Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie
288
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
287
 Return Of The Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
286
Pure - Lightning Seeds
285
We Shall Overcome - Pete Seeger
284
You Make Me Feel So Young - Frank Sinatra
283
That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly and the Crickets
282
The Man Don't Give a Fuck - Super Furry Animals
281
Sunshine on Leith - The Proclaimers
280
Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner
279
Simple Man - Graham Nash
278
All I Have To Do Is Dream - The Everly Brothers
277
Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
276
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
275
Africa - Toto
274
Wonderwall - Oasis
273
(Reach Out) I'll Be There - The Four Tops
272
I Know Its Over - The Smiths
271
Perfect Day - Lou Reed
270
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield
269
No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses
268
Lose Yourself - Eminem
267
The Cedar Room - Doves
266
Common People - Pulp
265
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron
264
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
263
Anyone who Had a Heart - Dionne Warwick
262
Hey Jude - The Beatles
261
He's Misstra Know-it-all - Stevie Wonder
260
The Last Thing On My Mind - Tom Paxton
259
Rise - Josh Rouse
258
Switching Off - Elbow
257
Mannish Boy - Muddy Waters 
256
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
255
Hurricane -Bob Dylan
254
For No One - The Beatles
253
For A Dancer - Jackson Browne 
252
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
251
Listen, Listen - Sandy Denny
250
Candy's Room - Bruce Springsteen
249
Fantasy - Earth Wind and Fire
248
Biology - Girls Aloud
247
Penny Lane - Beatles
246
The Winner Takes It All - Abba
245
Remember (Walkin in the Sand) - The Shangri-las
244
She's a Jar - Wilco
243
Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths
242
Where Have All The Flowers Gone - Pete Seeger
241
Blank Generation - Richard Hell & The Voidoids
240
Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - Leadbelly/Nirvana
239
Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa
238
Song 2 - Blur
237
I Know You Got Soul - Eric B and Rakim
236
I Feel Good - James Brown
235
Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
234
One Man Guy - Loudon Wainwright/ Rufus Wainwright
233
Ignition (Remix) - R. Kelly
232
Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
231
Anything Goes - Frank Sinatra
230
The Street Where You Live - Nat King Cole
229
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
228
Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
227
American Trilogy - Delgados
226
The Dark Is Rising - Mercury Rev
225
Lost in the Plot - The Dears
224
Hummingbird - Wilco
223
Ticket To Ride - Beatles
222
Visions of Johanna - Bob Dylan
221
Life on Mars? - David Bowie
220
Try Not to Breathe - REM
219
The Mercy Seat - Johnny Cash/Nick Cave
218
My Funny Valentine - Ella Fitzgerald
217
Slaveship - Josh Rouse
216
Get Off My Cloud - The Rolling Stones
215
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free - Nina Simone
214
Twist And Shout - The Isley Brothers
213
Stand and Deliver - Adam and the Ants
212
Wonderful World - Sam Cooke
211
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
210
Crazy - Patsy Cline
209
To Ramona - Bob Dylan
208
Take Me Anywhere - Tegan and Sara
207
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
206
Fun, Fun, Fun - The Beach Boys
205
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
204
Shaft (Theme From) - Isaac Hayes
203
Death or Glory - The Clash
202
Dreaming of You - The Coral
201
Careless Whisper - George Michael
200
Bat out of Hell - Meat Loaf
199
Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
198
Make Your Own Kind Of Music - Mama Cass
197
You Are the Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve - Johnny Boy
196
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
195
Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) - Spiller ft Sophie Ellis-Bextor
194
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
193
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
192
Cum On Feel The Noise - Slade
191
Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura
190
All The Things She Said - TATU
189
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head - Dionne Warwick/BJ Thomas
188
Get Ur Freak On - Missy Elliott
187
When You Wish upon a Star - Cliff Edwards
186
Here, There, and Everywhere - The Beatles
185
I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
184
No No No - Dawn Penn
183
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
182
Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
181
Our House - Madness
180
One - U2
179
Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind & Fire
178
Piano Man - Billy Joel
177
The Funeral - Band Of Horses
176
Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
175
I Used to Love H.E.R. - Common
174
Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) - John Lennon
173
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
172
Singin' in the Rain - Gene Kelly
171
Born Slippy - Underworld
170
I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
169
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us - Sparks
168
You Are Everything - Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
167
Between the Wars - Billy Bragg
166
Debaser - The Pixies
165
Every Grain of Sand - Bob Dylan
164
I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda Thompson
163
Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff
162
Paper Planes - MIA
161
Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
160
You've Lost That Loving Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
159
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
158
Why Do Fools Fall In Love? - Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
157
Up With People - Lambchop
156
Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys
155
Jackie - Scott Walker
154
I Want You - Elvis Costello
153
Search and Destroy - Iggy and the Stooges
152
You And Me Song - The Wannadies
151
Moon River - Audrey Hepburn/Andy Williams
150
 A Town Called Malice - The Jam
149
Temptation - New Order
148
Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
147
At Last - Etta James
146
Shipbuilding - Elvis Costello
145
Streets Of Your Town - The Go-Betweens
144
The First Time Ever I Saw your Face - Roberta Flack
143
The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
142
 I Feel Love - Donna Summer
141
The Ace of Spades -  Motörhead
140
Rebellion (Lies) - The Arcade Fire
139
Underneath The Weeping Willow - Grandaddy
138
This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
137
Manhattan - Ella Fitzgerald
136
Everybody Hurts - REM
135
Live Forever - Oasis
134
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
133
Be Not So Fearful - Bill Fay
132
Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers
131
If I Could Only Fly - Merle Haggard
130
No Surprises - Radiohead
129
Killing In The Name - Rage Against the Machine
128
The Kiss - Judee Sill
127
He Stopped Loving Her Today - George Jones
126
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
125
Us - Regina Spektor
124
A Day in the Life - The Beatles
123
The Weight - The Band
122
Rock'n'Roll Suicide - David Bowie
121
I Think it's Going to Rain Today - Randy Newman
120
Good Times - Chic
119
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Supremes and the Temptations
118
Trellick Tower - Emmy the Great
117
America - Simon and Garfunkel
116
Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
115
Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen
114
First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
113
Yesterday -  Beatles
112
No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
111
Carry On - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
110
Nightswimming - REM
109
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
108
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
107
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
106
$1000 Wedding - Gram Parsons
105
The Way We Were  - Barbra Streisand
104
Music Sounds Better with You - Stardust
103
Waterfalls - TLC
102
My Name Is - Eminem
101
Oxygen - Willy Mason
100
Sweet Jane - Velvet Underground
99
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
98
Until I Believe in My Soul - Dexys Midnight Runners
97
Grace - Jeff Buckley
96
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
95
Jump - Van Halen
94
Such Great Heights - The Postal Service
93
Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk
92
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space - Spiritualized
91
St Patrick - James Yorkston
90
The State That I Am In - Belle and Sebastian
89
Hard to Handle - Otis Redding
88
Who Do You Love? - Bo Diddley
87
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
86
Dry the Rain - The Beta Band
85
Cheek to Cheek - Fred Astaire
84
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
83
Like A Prayer - Madonna
82
Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
81
There She Goes, My Beautiful World - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
80
Umbrella - Rihanna
79
Ol' Man River - Paul Robeson
78
Can't Get You Outta My Head - Kylie Minogue
77
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
76
Oh Boy - Buddy Holly
75
You Get What You Give - The New Radicals
74
With Every Heartbeat - Robyn
73
Brimful Of Asha - Cornershop
72
I See a Darkness - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
71
Down In The Tube Station at Midnight - The Jam
70
Bring da Ruckus - Wu-Tang Clan
69
Bryte Side - The Pernice Brothers
68
Take On Me - Aha
67
There There My Dear - Dexys Midnight Runners
66
Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill
65
There is a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
64
Heroes - David Bowie
63
People Ain't No Good - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
62
Holes - Mercury Rev
61
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
60
Who Knows Where the Time Goes - Fairport Convention
59
Chinese Rocks - Johnny Thunders
58
So Long, Marianne - Leonard Cohen
57
Fight the Power - Public Enemy
56
There She Goes - The La's
55
Move on Up - Curtis Mayfield
54
Think - Aretha Franklin
53
Family Affair- Mary J Blige
52
Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
51
Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
50
Happiness Is A Warm Gun - Beatles
49
Crying - Roy Orbison
48
Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday
47
September Gurls - Big Star
46
Float On - Modest Mouse
45
Redemption Song - Bob Marley
44
Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
43
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
42
When the Haar Rolls In - James Yorkston
41
Emily - Joanna Newsom
40
Hey Ya - OutKast
39
Dancing Queen - ABBA
38
A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
37
 Paint It Black - Rolling Stones
36
Yes - McAlmont & Butler
35
I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams
34
Someone to Watch Over Me - Ella Fitzgerald
33
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
32
Into My Arms - Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
31
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
30
From the Morning - Nick Drake
29
I Will Dare - The Replacements
28
A Case Of You - Joni Mitchell
27
Send in the Clowns - Barbra Streisand/Frank Sinatra
26
Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
25
Idiot Wind - Bob Dylan
24
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
23
Losing You - Randy Newman
22
The Trapeze Swinger - Iron and Wine
21
(Love is like a) Heat Wave - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
20
Ice Hockey Hair - Super Furry Animals
19
In California - Joanna Newsom
18
Somewhere - Various / Tom Waits
17
My Girls - Animal Collective
16
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Bob Dylan
15
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
14
Crazy in Love - Beyonce ft JZ
13
Going Underground - The Jam
12
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
11
River Deep, Mountain High - Tina Turner
10
We Can Work it Out - The Beatles
9
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
8
The Rat - The Walkmen
7
Be My Baby - The Ronettes
6
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - The Ramones
5
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
4
Northern Sky - Nick Drake
3
Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
2
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
1
Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland

I've just noticed that the NME has literally just this week done a new Greatest 500 Songs of All Time. (I'm pretty certain it's only a couple of years since their last one). Bastards, trying to steal my thunder. I'm not going to look at it for now, I think that might fry my mind, but will compare notes in a while.

Incidentally, of the 101 songs in my list from 5 years ago, pretty much half of them are in the Top 100 this time. There are some new songs and some changes of opinion, but I suppose that exposes how far from definitive any such list can ever be.

Apart from this one. The most definitive of the definitives.

My weakness is probably for American songs of this century - there are quite a few of them near the top. But I don't think I'm wrong.

Also, I think you can safely say that the battle for the soul of the song has been won by the simple song, the precise and perfect song, rather than the bold and wild song. Distilled perfection dominates the upper echelons of the lost, and so, fittingly, the most perfect song ever is at the top.

To make it easier for anyone to examine it in more detail, here it is in an excel file, with the era helpfully included (the decades might not be perfect, I didn't check, so excuse me if some of them are misplaced).

Full List in Excel



6 comments:

  1. This is going to take a lot of digesting, and as a fan of statistics I'm inclined to copy the thing into an excel file and see how it breaks down in various ways. (before I start foolishly exclaiming 'but this kid of thing is not represented'; 'is artist x/y/z really not worthy of inclusion for any of their work etc')

    My gut reaction is a) thank you for bringing the informed opinions,
    b) I am happy to agree that you are not wrong. The top 101 is in itself exceptional. (Actually I don't knowingly know 101, but that's not the point)

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  2. Thanks. Enjoy the stats. I've made it easier for you. There are certainly more American men with guitars than you would include!

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  3. So, yes, I think your overall point about simple songs is well-gleaned from the data.
    And, in fact, three songs that I am curious about not seeing fit that description exactly - while the one artist I am curious about pointedly does not (perhaps why none of his work merits a spot).
    To whit: The tracks of my tears (without going into the hard stats, my gut would put this in the top 100)
    Windmills of my mind (I imagine enough similar songs are represented that it kind of irrelevant that this isn't here)
    Wind of Change (which is sort of a novelty song, something that I think isn't represented at all. Probably rightly? I guess the best novelty songs use the structure of the simple pop song, but by their nature are never 'great'. Except perhaps this one?)

    The absent artist - Peter Gabriel (who I like a lot, but perhaps has no individual songs objectively better than any here)

    I'm a little surprised not to find more than one from Billys Joel and Bragg. (We didn't start the Fire and the two amazing versions of A New England, surely?)

    Enough, I am clogging up the comments with nitpicks. (and niotpicks, as my freudian fingers just mis-typed)

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  4. Thanks - good spotting. Well, all those three songs were just whittled away, but i agree ' Tracks of My Tears' must have been harshly dealt with at some point, when i felt i was going a bit heavy on the Motown.
    And Gabriel? I don't think i was triggered to pursue by seeing his work/Genesis on lists of great songs. I'm not really a fan myself either so nothing he did was really that close.
    And there are two Billy Braggs, Brickbat and A New England. But I struggled with not having more by both, actually, you're right. Even to the last minute. But there we go. A lot of songs.
    Winds of Change and Windmills of My Mind are fun songs, but they're both a bit silly (i know Windmills of My Mind isn't actually silly but it has silly/mockabl connotations for me) and i suppose there was space for a few silly songs but not that many. So there is A Final Countdown, but i couldn't go that much further down that path.

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  5. Where is A New England? I tell you it's not on the list above. An accidental delete at some point when moving its position, no doubt.
    1001 just isn't a big enough number! (please don't pursue that line of thought, for you own sanity...)

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  6. No sorry, that was just a typo in my comment response - Brickbat and Between the Wars were the Billy Bragg songs. A New England was in the top 1100, but suffered a late cull.
    I appreciate your vigilance!

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