Dave’s Faves: My Top 100 Acts of All Time

Dave’s Faves: Top 100 Acts

These are my personal favorites. To offer some context, I was in grade school in the ‘70s and middle school through college in the ‘80s. As is the case with most people, it is the music of my youth which most dictates my personal tastes. Under each bio is a link to the acts’ DMDB encyclopedia entry or profile page. Beside the act’s photo are ten songs I’ve picked to represent the act. See other Acts/Music Makers by Genre lists.

The Beatles (#1)

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I Want to Hold Your Hand (1963) Twist and Shout (1963) Help! (1965) Yesterday (1965) Eleanor Rigby (1966) Strawberry Fields Forever (1967) A Day in the Life (1967) Hey Jude (1968) Something (1969) Let It Be (1970)

Bruce Springsteen (#2)

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Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (1973) Born to Run (1975) Hungry Heart (1980) The River (1980) Dancing in the Dark (1984) Born in the U.S.A. (1984) Streets of Philadelphia (1994) American Skin (41 Shots) (recorded live 2000, released 2001) The Rising (2002) We Take Care of Our Own (2012)

Marillion (#3)

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Script for a Jester’s Tear (1983) Fugazi (1984) Kayleigh (1985) Lavender (1985) Warm Wet Circles (1987) Sugar Mice (1987) Tux On (1987) After Me (1989) The Party (1991) Estonia (1997)

Styx (#4)

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Lady (1973) Suite Madame Blue (1975) Come Sail Away (1977) Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man) (1977) Renegade (1978) Babe (1979) The Best of Times (1981) Too Much Time on My Hands (1981) Mr. Roboto (1983) Dear John (1997)

The Rolling Stones (#5)

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(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965) Get Off of My Cloud (1965) Mother’s Little Helper (1966) Under My Thumb (1966) Sympathy for the Devil (1968) Honky Tonk Women (1969) You Can’t Always Get What You Want (1969) Gimme Shelter (1969) Brown Sugar (1971) Start Me Up (1981)

David Bowie (#6)

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Space Oddity (1969) Changes (1972) Ziggy Stardust (1972) Suffragette City (1972) The Jean Genie (1972) Rebel Rebel (1974) Fame (1975) Young Americans (1975) Golden Years (1975) Heroes (1977)

U2 (#7)

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New Year’s Day (1983) Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983) Pride (In the Name of Love) (1984) Bad (live, 1985) With or Without You (1987) I Still Haven’t Found What I'm Looking For (1987) Where the Streets Have No Name (1987) God Part II (1988) One (1991) Beautiful Day (2000)

John Mellencamp (#8)

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I Need a Lover (1978) Jack and Diane (1982) Pink Houses (1983) Small Town (1985) Paper in Fire (1987) Pop Singer (1989) Jackie Brown (1989) If I Die Sudden (2008) Wasted Days (with Bruce Springsteen, 2021) The Eyes of Portland (2023)

Kevin Gilbert (#9)

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Tired Old Man (1986) Last Plane Out (Toy Matinee, 1990) The Ballad of Jenny Ledge (Toy Matinee, 1990) There Was a Little Boy (Toy Matinee, 1990) Bitter Souvenir (1994) Joytown (1995) Song for a Dead Friend (1995) Kashmir (1995) Certifiable #1 Smash (1995) Suit Fugue (Dance of the A & R Men) (2000)

Bob Dylan (#10)

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Blowin’ in the Wind (1963) A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (1963) The Times They Are A-Changin’ (1964) Like a Rolling Stone (1965) Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965) Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (1966) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1973) Forever Young (with the Band, 1974) Tangled Up in Blue (1975) Hurricane (1975)

Sting (#11)

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If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (1985) We’ll Be Together (1987) They Dance Alone (1987) Englishman in New York (1987) All This Time (1991) It’s Probably Me (with Eric Clapton, 1992) Fields of Gold (1993) Epilogue (Nothing ‘Bout Me) (1993) Desert Rose (with Cheb Mani, 1999) Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing) (2003)

Eric Clapton (#12)

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For Your Love (Yardbirds, 1965) Sunshine of Your Love (1967) White Room (Cream, 1968) Badge (Cream, 1969) Layla (Derek & the Dominos, 1970) I Shot the Sheriff (1974) Cocaine (1977) Wonderful Tonight (1977) Tears in Heaven (1992) Change the World (1996)

Prince (#13)

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I Wanna Be Your Lover (1979) 1999 (1982) Little Red Corvette (1982) When Doves Cry (1984) Let’s Go Crazy (1984) Purple Rain (1984) Raspberry Beret (1985) Kiss (1986) Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) Nothing Compares 2 U (1993)

Pink Floyd (#14)

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See Emily Play (1967) Money (1973) Time (1973) Wish You Were Here (1975) Shine on You Crazy Diamond (1975) Another Brick in the Wall Part II (1979) Comfortably Numb (1979) Mother (1979) Learning to Fly (1987) One Slip (1987)

Alan Parsons Project (#15)

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I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You (1977) Damned if I Do (1979) Games People Play (1980) Eye in the Sky (1982) Old and Wise (1982) You Don’t Believe (1983) Don’t Answer Me (1984) Let’s Talk About Me (1985) Stereotomy (1986) Standing on Higher Ground (1987)

The Police (#16)

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Roxanne (1978) Message in a Bottle (1979) Don’t Stand So Close to Me (1980) De Do Do Do De Da Da Da (1980) Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981) Spirits in the Material World (1981) I Burn for You (1982) Every Breath You Take (1983) King of Pain (1983) Wrapped Around Your Finger (1983)

Led Zeppelin (#17)

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Dazed and Confused (1969) Whole Lotta Love (1969) Immigrant Song (1970) Rock and Roll (1971) Black Dog (1971) Stairway to Heaven (1971) Going to California (1971) Over the Hills and Far Away (1973) Kashmir (1975) All My Love (1979)

Billy Joel (#18)

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Piano Man (1974) Just the Way You Are (1977) Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (1977) You May Be Right (1980) It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me (1980) Goodnight Saigon (1982) The Longest Time (1983) Baby Grand (with Ray Charles, 1986) And So It Goes (1989) Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) (1993)

Pearl Jam (#19)

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Alive (1991) Even Flow (1991) Jeremy (1991) Saying No (live, 1992) Crazy Mary (with Victoria Williams, 1992) Daughter (1993) Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (1993) Better Man (1994) Just Breathe (2009) Sirens (2013)

Elton John (#20)

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Your Song (1970) Tiny Dancer (1971) Rocket Man (I Think It’s Gonna Be a Long Time) (1972) Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (1973) Philadelphia Freedom (1975) Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee, 1976) Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) (1982) I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues (1983) Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (1994) Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England's Rose) (1997)

Tears for Fears (#21)

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Mad World (1982) Shout (1984) Everybody Wants to Rule the World (1985) Head Over Heels (1985) The Working Hour (1985) I Believe (1985) Sowing the Seeds of Love (1989) Woman in Chains (with Oleta Adams, 1989) Break It Down Again (1993) No Such Thing (2021)

Squeeze (#22)

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Take Me I’m Yours (1978) Cool for Cats (1979) Up the Junction (1979) Pulling Mussels from the Shell (1980) Tempted (1981) Black Coffee in Bed (1982) Heartbreaking World (1985) I Won’t Ever Go Drinking Again (?) (1985) Hourglass (1987) Slaughtered, Gutted, and Heartbroken (1989)

Journey (#23)

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Lights (1978) Feeling That Way/Anytime (1978) Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ (1979) Who’s Crying Now (1981) Don't Stop Believin’ (1981) Open Arms (1981) Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (1983) Faithfully (1983) Ask the Lonely (1983) Be Good to Yourself (1986)

Olivia Newton-John (#24)

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I Honestly Love You (1974) You’re the One That I Want (with John Travolta, 1978) Summer Nights (with John Travolta, 1978) Magic (1980) Xanadu (with Electric Light Orchestra, 1980) Physical (1981) Make a Move on Me (1981) Heart Attack (1982) Twist of Fate (1983) It’s Hot Heaven (1988)

Eagles (#25)

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Take It Easy (1972) Desperado (1973) Lyin’ Eyes (1975) Take It to the Limit (1975) Hotel California (1976) Heartache Tonight (1979) I Can’t Tell You Why (1979) Seven Bridges Road (live) (1980) Get Over It (1994) Hole in the World (2003)

Pat Benatar (#26)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Heartbreaker (1979) Hit Me with Your Best Shot (1980) You Better Run (1980) Treat Me Right (1980) Fire and Ice (1981) Promises in the Dark (1981) Shadows of the Night (1982) Anxiety (Get Nervous) (1982) Love Is a Battlefield (1983) We Belong (1984)

The Who (#27)

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My Generation (1965) I Can See for Miles (1967) Pinball Wizard (1969) Won't Get Fooled Again (1971) Behind Blue Eyes (1971) Baba O'Riley (1971) Love Reign O’er Me (1973) Squeeze Box (1975) Who Are You (1978) You Better You Bet (1981)

The Rainmakers (#28)

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Let My People Go Go (1984) Big Fat Blonde (1984) Nobody Knows (1984) Downstream (1986) Snake Dance (1987) Small Circles (1987) The Wages of Sin (1987) Spend It on Love (1989) Another Guitar (1994) Like Dogs (2011)

Lyle Lovett (#29)

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An Acceptable Level of Ecstasy (1986) L.A. County (1988) Pontiac (1988) She’s No Lady (1988) Nobody Knows Me (1989) Church (1992) You’ve Got a Friend in Me (with Randy Newman, 1995) Step Inside This House (1998) Till It Shines (with Keb’ Mo’, 1999) 12th of June (2022)

Queen (#30)

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Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) Somebody to Love (1976) You’re My Best Friend (1976) We Will Rock You (1977) / We Are the Champions (1977) Bicycle Race/Fat Bottomed Girls (1978) Crazy Little Thing Called Love (1979) Another One Bites the Dust (1980) Under Pressure (with David Bowie, 1981) Body Language (1982) Radio Ga-Ga (1984)

R.E.M. (#31)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Radio Free Europe (1981) So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) (1984) Fall on Me (1986) Superman (1986) The One I Love (1987) It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (1987) Orange Crush (1988) Losing My Religion (1991) Man on the Moon (1992) Everybody Hurts (1992)

Elvis Presley (#32)

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That’s All Right, Mama (1954) Heartbreak Hotel (1956) Don’t Be Cruel (1956) Hound Dog (1956) Jailhouse Rock (1957) It’s Now or Never (1960) Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960) Can’t Help Falling in Love (1961) Suspicious Minds (1969) In the Ghetto (1969)

Fish (#33)

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Shortcut to Somewhere (with Tony Banks, 1986) A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (1990) Cliché (1990) Vigil (1990) Another Murder of a Day (with Tony Banks, 1991) Just Good Friends (1991) Solo (1993) Fortunes of War (1994) Garden of Remembrance (2020) This Party’s Over (2020)

Crowded House (#34)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Don't Dream It's Over (1986) Something So Strong (1986) Better Be Home Soon (1988) Into Temptation (1988) Weather with You (1991) Nails in My Feet (1993) Don’t Stop Now (2007) Silent House (2007) Saturday Sun (2010) Whatever You Want (2020)

Michael Jackson (#35)

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Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (1979) Rock with You (1979) The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney, 1982) Billie Jean (1982) Beat It (1982) Thriller (1982) Bad (1987) The Way You Make Me Feel (1987) Man in the Mirror (1987) Black or White (1991)

Sheryl Crow (#36)

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Leaving Las Vegas (1993) All I Wanna Do (1993) Strong Enough (1993) If It Makes You Happy (1996) My Favorite Mistake (1998) Picture (with Kid Rock, 2001) Safe and Sound (2001) Soak Up the Sun (2002) Always on Your Side (with Sting, 2006) Redemption Day (with Johnny Cash, 2019)

Tori Amos (#37)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Silent All These Years (1991) Me and a Gun (1991) Crucify (1992) China (1992) Smells Like Teen Spirit (1992) God (1994) Cornflake Girl (1994) Down by the Sea (with Robert Plant, 1995) Home on the Range (1996) ’97 Bonnie and Clyde (2001)

Indigo Girls (#38)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Hey Jesus (1987) Closer to Fine (1989) Prince of Darkness (1989) Hammer and a Nail (1990) The Girl with the Weight of the World in Her Hands (1990) Galileo (1992) Leeds (1997) Bitterroot (2002) Tether (2004) Dear Mr. President (with Pink, 2006)

Stevie Wonder (#39)

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Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (1965) My Cherie Amour (1969) Superstition (1972) You Are the Sunshine of My Life (1972) I Believe When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever (1972) Higher Ground (1973) Isn’t She Lovely (1976) Used to Be (with Charlene, 1982) I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984) How Come, How Long (with Babyface, 1996)

Jimi Hendrix (#40)

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Hey Joe (1966) Red House (1967) Purple Haze (1967) Are You Experienced? (1967) Little Wing (1967) All Along the Watchtower (1968) Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (1968) The Star-Spangled Banner (live, 1969) Freedom (1970) Angel (1970)

Rush (#41)

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Closer to the Heart (1977) The Trees (1978) The Spirit of Radio (1980) Free Will (1980) Tom Sawyer (1981) Limelight (1981) Red Barchetta (1981) New World Man (1982) Subdivisions (1982) Nobody’s Hero (1993)

Tom Petty (#42)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

American Girl (1976) Refugee (1979) Don’t Do Me Like That (1979) Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (with Stevie Nicks, 1981) You Got Lucky (1982) I Won’t Back Down (1989) Free Fallin’ (1989) Alright for Now (1989) Into the Great Wide Open (1991) Mary Jane’s Last Dance (1993)

Paul McCartney (#43)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Maybe I’m Amazed (1970) My Love (with Wings, 1973) Live and Let Die (with Wings, 1973) Band on the Run (with Wings, 1973) Silly Love Songs (with Wings, 1976) With a Little Luck (with Wings, 1978) Coming Up (live with Wings, 1980) Ebony and Ivory (with Stevie Wonder, 1982) Say, Say, Say (with Michael Jackson, 1983) Pipes of Peace (1983)

Genesis (#44)

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Supper’s Ready (1972) The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) Follow You, Follow Me (1978) Turn It on Again (1980) Misunderstanding (1980) Man on the Corner (1981) That’s All (1983) Invisible Touch (1986) Tonight, Tonight, Tonight (1986) No Son of Mine (1991)

Yes (#45)

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I’ve Seen All Good People (1971) Roundabout (1972) Long Distance Runaround (1971) Close to the Edge (1972) Wonderous Stories (1977) Owner of a Lonely Heart (1983) Changes (1983) Leave It (1983) Shoot High Aim Low (1987) Lift Me Up (1991)

Melissa Etheridge (#46)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Bring Me Some Water (1988) Occasionally (1988) No Souvenirs (1989) You Can Sleep While I Drive (1989) I Will Never Be the Same (1990) I’m the Only One (1993) Come to My Window (1993) Thunder Road (live with Bruce Springsteen, 1995) Scarecrow (1999) Tuesday Morning (2004)

Madonna (#47)

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Like a Virgin (1984) Material Girl (1984) Into the Groove (1985) Crazy for You (1985) Papa Don’t Preach (1986) Like a Prayer (1989) Oh Father (1989) Vogue (1990) Take a Bow (1994) Music (2000)

Van Halen (#48)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Runnin’ with the Devil (1978) You Really Got Me (1978) Ice Cream Man (1978) Oh, Pretty Woman (1982) Dancing in the Street (1982) Happy Trails (1982) Jump (1983) Why Can’t This Be Love? (1986) Dreams (1986) Finish What Ya Started (1988)

Fleetwood Mac (#49)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Black Magic Woman (1968) Oh Well (1969) Landslide (1975) Go Your Own Way (1976) Dreams (1977) Don’t Stop (1977) Sara (1979) Gypsy (1982) Big Love (1987) Little Lies (1987)

Hooters (#50)

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All You Zombies (1983) And We Danced (1985) Day by Day (1985) Where Do the Children Go (with Patty Smyth, 1985) Johnny B (1987) Satellite (1987) 500 Miles (1989) The Boys of Summer (2007) Morning Buzz (2007) White Jeans (2007)

Aerosmith (#51)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Dream On (1973) Walk This Way (1975) Sweet Emotion (1975) Back in the Saddle (1976) Dude Looks Like a Lady (1987) Angel (1987) Love in an Elevator (1989) Janie’s Got a Gun (1989) Livin’ on the Edge (1993) I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (1998)

Rod Stewart (#52)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Maggie May (1971) Stay with Me (with the Faces, 1971) Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) (1976) You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (1977) Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? (1978) Young Turks (1981) People Get Ready (with Jeff Beck, 1985) Forever Young (1988) Downtown Train (1989) Have I Told You Lately? (1991)

Peter Gabriel (#53)

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Solsbury Hill (1977) Games Without Frontiers (1980) Biko (1980) Family Snapshot (1980) Shock the Monkey (1982) Sledgehammer (1986) In Your Eyes (1986) Big Time (1986) Don’t Give Up (with Kate Bush, 1986) I/O (2023)

David Baerwald (#54)

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Welcome to the Boomtown (David + David, 1986) Swallowed by the Cracks (David + David, 1986) Ain’t So Easy (David + David, 1986) Being Alone Together (David + David, 1986) Walk Through Fire (1990) Hello Mary (1990) Secret Silken World (1992) The Waiter (1992) A Friend Like Our Dear Stranger (1999) I Won’t Back Down (2006)

Del Amitri (#55)

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Kiss This Thing Goodbye (1989) Move Away, Jimmy Blue (1989) The Return of Maggie Brown (1989) Always the Last to Know (1992) Just Like a Man (1992) Be My Downfall (1992) Roll to Me (1995) Driving with the Brakes On (1995) Not Where It’s At (1997) Jesus Saves (2002)

Neil Young (#56)

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Cinnamon Girl (1969) Southern Man (1970) Heart of Gold (1972) Old Man (1972) The Needle and the Damage Done (1972) Tonight’s the Night (1973) My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) (1979) Rockin’ in the Free World (1989) War of Man (1992) Harvest Moon (1992)

Crosby, Stills & Nash (#57)

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Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (1969) Teach Your Children (with Neil Young, 1970) Our House (with Neil Young, 1970) Woodstock (with Neil Young, 1970) Helpless (with Neil Young, 1970) Ohio (with Neil Young, 1970) Just a Song Before I Go (1977) Wasted on the Way (1982) Southern Cross (1982) American Dream (with Neil Young, 1988)

Eurythmics (#58)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Love Is a Stranger (1982) Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (1983) Here Comes the Rain Again (1983) Who’s That Girl? (1983) Would I Lie to You? (1985) Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves (with Aretha Franklin, 1985) There Must Be an Angel Playing with My Heart (with Stevie Wonder, 1985) Missionary Man (1986) Beethoven (I Love to Listen To) (1987) Brand New Day (1987) I Need You (1987)

Lou Reed (#59)

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I Can’t Stand It (1972) Walk on the Wild Side (1972) Satellite of Love (1972) Perfect Day (1972) Caroline Says I (1973) Sally Can’t Dance (1974) Coney Island Baby (1975) Street Hassle (1978) Dirty Blvd. (1989) What’s Good (1992)

Don Henley (#60)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Leather and Lace (with Stevie Nicks, 1981) Dirty Laundry (1982) I Can’t Stand Still (1982) The Boys of Summer (1984) All She Wants to Do Is Dance (1984) Sunset Grill (1984) The End of the Innocence (1989) The Heart of the Matter (1989) New York Minute (1989) Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough (with Patty Smyth, 1992)

Foreigner (#61)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Cold As Ice (1977) Hot Blooded (1978) Double Vision (1978) Head Games (1979) Urgent (1981) Waiting for a Girl Like You (1981) Juke Box Hero (1981) I Want to Know What Love Is (1984) That Was Yesterday (1984) Say You Will (1987)

Alabama (#62)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

My Home’s in Alabama (1980) Love in the First Degree (1981) Mountain Music (1982) Take Me Down (1982) Dixieland Delight (1983) The Closer You Get (1983) Roll on Eighteen Wheeler (1984) Forty Hour Week for a Livin’ (1985) I’m in a Hurry and Don’t Know Why (1992)

Velvet Underground (#63)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

I’m Waiting for the Man (with Nico, 1967) Heroin (with Nico, 1967) Venus in Furs (with Nico, 1967) All Tomorrow’s Parties (with Nico, 1967) Femme Fatale (with Nico, 1967) White Light/White Heat (1968) Pale Blue Eyes (1969) Lisa Says (1969) Rock and Roll (1970) Sweet Jane (1970)

Bob Seger (#64)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Beautiful Loser (1975) Turn the Page (live, 1976) Night Moves (1976) Old Time Rock and Roll (1978) Still the Same (1978) Against the Wind (1980) Fire Lake (1980) Shame on the Moon (1982) Like a Rock (1986) Shakedown (1987)

Frank Sinatra (#65)

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All or Nothing at All (with Harry James’ Orchestra, 1939) I’ll Never Smile Again (with Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra, 1940) Love and Marriage (1955) I’ve Got You Under My Skin (1956) High Hopes (1959) It Was a Very Good Year (1965) Strangers in the Night (1966) That’s Life (1966) My Way (1969) Theme from New York, New York (1980)

The Doors (#66)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Break on Through (1967) Light My Fire (1967) The End (1967) People Are Strange (1967) Hello I Love You (1968) Touch Me (1968) Roadhouse Blues (1970) Riders on the Storm (1971) L.A. Woman (1971) Love Her Madley (1971)

Aretha Franklin (#67)

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Respect (1967) You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (1967) I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) Chain of Fools (1967) Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (1967) I Say a Little Prayer (1968) Think (1968) Spanish Harlem (1971) Bridge Over Troubled Water (1971) Until You Come Back to Me (1973)

The Beach Boys (#68)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Surfin’ U.S.A. (1963) I Get Around (1964) Fun, Fun, Fun (1964) California Girls (1965) Barbara Ann (1965) Help Me Rhonda (1965) Good Vibrations (1966) Wouldn’t It Be Nice (1966) God Only Knows (1966) Kokomo (1988)

Elvis Costello (#69)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Alison (1977) Watching the Detectives (1977) Radio Radio (1978) Pump It Up (1978) Oliver’s Army (1979) What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding (1978) Accidents Will Happen (1979) Everyday I Write the Book (1983) Veronica (1989) Tramp the Dirt Down (1989)

Tracy Chapman (#70)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Fast Car (1988) Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution (1988) Behind the Wall (1988) Across the Lines (1988) Freedom now (1988) Crossroads (1989) All That You Have Is Your Soul (1989) Give Me One Reason (1995) Telling Stories (There Is Friction in the Space Between) (2000) I Did It All (2008)

Sinéad O’Connor (#71)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Mandinka (1987) I Want Your Hands on Me (1987) Jump in the River (1988) Nothing Compares 2 U (1990) The Emperor’s New Clothes (1990) Black Boys on Mopeds (1990) Mother (live with Roger Waters & the Band, 1990) You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart (1994) Fire on Babylon (1994) No Man’s Woman (2000)

Phil Collins (#72)

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In the Air Tonight (1981) You Can’t Hurry Love (1982) Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) (1984) Easy Lover (with Philip Bailey, 1984) One More Night (1985) Sussudio (1985) Separate Lives (with Marilyn Martin, 1985) A Groovy Kind of Love (1988) Another Day in Paradise (1989) You’ll Be in My Heart (1999)

REO Speedwagon (#73)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Like You Do (1972) Ridin’ the Storm Out (live, 1977) 157 Riverside Avenue (live, 1977) Time for Me to Fly (1978) Roll with the Changes (1978) Keep on Loving You (1980) Take It on the Run (1980) Keep the Fire Burning (1982) Can’t Fight This Feeling (1984) In My Dreams (1987)

Asia (#74)

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Heat of the Moment (1982) Only Time Will Tell (1982) Wildest Dreams (1982) Don’t Cry (1983) The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (1983) Go (1985) Days Like These (1990) Lay Down Your Arms (1992) Never Again (2008) Finger on the Trigger (2010)

Simple Minds (#75)

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Life in a Day (1979) Promised You a Miracle (1982) Waterfront (1983) Don't You Forget about Me (1985) Alive and Kicking (1985) Sanctify Yourself (1985) This Is Your Land (with Lou Reed, 1989) Mandela Day (1989) See the Lights (1991) She’s a River (1995)

Mike + the Mechanics (#76)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Silent Running (1985) All I Need Is a Miracle (1985) Taken In (1985) Nobody’s Perfect (1988) The Living Years (1988) Word of Mouth (1991) Everybody Gets a Second Chance (1991) Over My Shoulder (1995) Someone Always Hates Someone (1995) Now That You’re Gone (1999)

Robert Plant (#77)

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In the Mood (1983) Big Log (1983) Sea of Love (The Honeydrippers, 1984) Little by Little (1985) Heaven Knows (1988) Ship of Fools (1988) Hurting Kind (I’ve Got My Eyes on You) (1990) 29 Palms (1993) If I Were a Carpenter (1993) Please Read the Letter (with Alison Krauss, 2007)

Guns N’ Roses (#78)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Welcome to the Jungle (1987) Sweet Child O' Mine (1987) Paradise City (1987) Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1987) Patience (1988) Civil War (1990) You Could Be Mine (1991) Don’t Cry (1991) November Rain (1991) Sympathy for the Devil (1994)

Dennis DeYoung (#79)

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Desert Moon (1984) Don’t Wait for Heroes (1984) Call Me (1986) This Is the Time (1986) Black Wall (1986) Harry’s Hands (1989) Someone to Watch Over Me (1994) One Hundred Years from Now (2007) To the Good Old Days (with Julian Lennon, 2020) Isle of Misanthrope (2021)

Split Enz (#80)

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Late Last Night (1976) I See Red (1978) I Got You (1980) One Step Ahead (1980) What’s the Matter with You? (1980) I Hope I Never (1980) History Never Repeats (1981) Hard Act to Follow (1981) Six Months in a Leaky Boat (1982) Message to My Girl (1983)

Aha (#81)

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Take on Me (1984) The Sun Always Shines on TV (1985) Hunting High and Low (1985) I’ve Been Losing You (1986) Cry Wolf (1986) Maybe Maybe (1986) The Living Daylights (1987) Stay on These Roads (1988) Crying in the Rain (1990) Dark Is the Night for All (1993)

Roger Waters (#82)

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The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984) Folded Flags (1986) Radio Waves (1987) Sunset Strip (1987) Who Needs Information? (1987) The Tide Is Turning (1987) What God Wants (1992) Each Small Candle (2000) Smell the Roses (2017) Déjà Vu (If I Had Been God) (2017)

Little River Band (#83)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

It’s a Long Way There (1975) Happy Anniversary (1977) Help Is on Its Way (1977) Reminiscing (1978) Lady (1978) Lonesome Loser (1979) Cool Change (1979) The Night Owls (1981) We Two (1983) Soul Searching (1988)

John Lennon (#84)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Give Peace a Chance (1969) Instant Karma (We All Shine On) (1970) Imagine (1971) Jealous Guy (1971) Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (with Yoko Ono, 1971) Mind Games (1973) Whatever Gets You Through the Night (1974) Just Like Starting Over (1980) Woman (1980) Nobody Told Me (1984)

Marvin Gaye (#85)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (1964) Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (with Tammi Terrell, 1967) It Takes Two (with Kim West, 1967) I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1968) What's Going On (1971) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology Song) (1971) Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (1971) Let’s Get It On (1973) Got to Give It Up (1977) Sexual Healing (1982)

ZZ Top (#86)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

La Grange (1973) Tush (1975) I Thank You (1979) Cheap Sunglasses (1979) Pearl Necklace (1981) Gimme All Your Lovin’ (1983) Sharp Dressed Man (1983) Legs (1983) Sleeping Bag (1985) My Head’s in Mississippi (1990)

Ray Charles (#87)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

I Gotta Woman (1955) What’d I Say (1959) Night Time Is the Right Time (1959) Georgia on My Mind (1960) Hit the Road Jack (1961) I Can’t Stop Loving You (1962) Busted (1963) Crying Time (1965) Let’s Go Get Stoned (1966) America the Beautiful (1972)

Bing Crosby (#88)

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Silent Night (1935) Pennies from Heaven (with George Stoll’s Orchestra, 1936) You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby (1938) White Christmas (with the Ken Darby Singers, 1942) Sunday, Monday, or Always (1943) People Will Say We’re in Love (with Trudy Erwin, 1943) I’ll Be Home for Christmas (with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra, 1943) I’ll Be Seeing You (with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra, 1944) Swinging on a Star (with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra & the Williams Brothers Quartet, 1944) Don't Fence Me In (with the Andrews Sisters, 1944)

Shawn Colvin (#89)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Steady On (1989) Shotgun Down the Avalanche (1989) Diamond in the Rough (1989) You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (1991) I Don’t Know Why (1992) Round of Blues (1992) Polaroids (1992) Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic (1994) Get Out of This House (1996) Sunny Came Home (1996) Nothin’ on Me (1996)

Johnny Cash (#90)

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Folsom Prison Blues (1955; live: 1968) I Walk the Line (1956) The Ballad of a Teenage Queen (1957) Don’t Take Your Guns to Town (1958) I Got Stripes (1959) Ring of Fire (1963) Jackson (with June Carter Cash, 1967) A Boy Named Sue (live, 1969) The Man in Black (1971) Hurt (2002)

Berlin (#91)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Sex (I’m A…) (1983) The Metro (1983) Masquerade (1983) No More Words (1984) Now It’s My Turn (1984) Dancing in Berlin (1984) Take My Breath Away (1986) Like Flames (1986) Blink of an Eye (2002) Scream (2005)

Alanis Morissette (#92)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

You Oughta Know (1995) Hand in My Pocket (1995) Ironic (1995) You Learn (1995) Uninvited (1998) Thank U (1998) Unsent (1998) Hands Clean (2002) Everything (2004) Reasons I Drink (2019)

Nirvana (#93)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

About a Girl (1989) Sliver (1990) Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991) Come As You Are (1991) In Bloom (1991) Heart-Shaped Box (1993) All Apologies (1993) Rape Me (1993) The Man Who Sold the World (live, 1994) You Know You’re Right (2002)

Violent Femmes (#94)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Blister in the Sun (1983) Add It Up (1983) Kiss Off (1983) Country Death Song (1984) Faith (1986) No Killing (1986) Nightmares (1989) Fat (1989) Nothing Worth Living For (1989) American Music (1991)

Boston (#95)

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More Than a Feeling (1976) Foreplay/Longtime (1976) Rock and Roll Band (1976) Don’t Look Back (1978) Amanda (1986) We’re Ready (1986) Can’tcha Say/Still in Love (1986) I Need Your Love (1994) Higher Power (1997) I Had a Good Time (2002)

Dire Straits (#96)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Sultans of Swing (1978) Skateaway (1980) Romeo and Juliet (1980) Industrial Disease (1982) Money for Nothing (1985) Walk of Life (1985) So Far Away (1985) Brothers in Arms (1985) Calling Elvis (1991) Heavy Fuel (1991)

Terence Trent D’Arby (#97)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

If You Let Me Stay (1987) Wishing Well (1987) Sign Your Name (1987) As Yet Untitled (1987) Wonderful World (live, 1987) This Side of Love (1989) She Kissed Me (1993) Undeniably (1995) Tension Inside the Sweetness/Frankie and Johnny (T.I.T.S./F&J) (1993) O Divina (2001)

Def Leppard (#98)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Bringin’ on the Heartbreak (1981) Photograph (1983) Rock of Ages (1983) Animal (1987) Hysteria (1987) Pour Some Sugar on Me (1987) Love Bites (1987) Armageddon It (1987) Let’s Get Rocked (1992) Work It Out (1996)

Willie Nelson (#99)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975) Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys (with Waylon Jennings, 1978) My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1979) On the Road Again (1980) Always on My Mind (1982) Pancho and Lefty (with Merle Haggard, 1983) To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias, 1984) The Highwayman (with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, & Kris Kristofferson, 1985) Just Breathe (w/ Lukas Nelson, 2012) Live Forever (with Lucinda Williams, 2022)

Lynyrd Skynyrd (#100)

DMDB encyclopedia entry

Free Bird (1973) Gimme Three Steps (1973) Simple Man (1973) Sweet Home Alabama (1974) Don’t Ask Me No Questions (1974) Call Me the Breeze (1974) Saturday Night Special (1975) Gimme Back My Bullets (1976) What’s Your Name (1977) You Got That Right (1977)

Resources/Related Links

Dave’s Music Database: “Acts/Music Makers by Genre lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 1/15/2013; last updated 2/13/2024.