Billboard: The DMDB Ranking of the Hot 100 Chart Toppers

Billboard magazine has just hit a major milestone – Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” becomes the 1,000th song to top the Hot 100 in the chart’s 52-year history. (See full story here). In celebration of the event, Dave’s Music Database has assembled its own list. How do those 1000 songs stack up in the DMDB rankings when other elements are factored in, such as sales, radio airplay, awards, success on other charts, and placement on best-of lists by multiple publications? Well, the results are below. By the way, this offers a glimpse into the DMDB book Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999 (available here). 58 of the songs on this list appear in that book. By the way, if you’re interested in seeing a straight ranking of the #1 songs based solely on weeks at #1, check out the DMDB list “The Biggest #1 Pop Songs in U.S. Chart History.”

1. The Beatles…Hey Jude (1968)
2. The Rolling Stones…(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1965)
3. The Police…Every Breath You Take (1983)
4. Marvin Gaye…I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1968)
5. Whitney Houston…I Will Always Love You (1992)
6. Simon & Garfunkel…Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
7. Eagles…Hotel California (1977)
8. The Beach Boys…Good Vibrations (1966)
9. Otis Redding…(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (1968)
10. Aretha Franklin…Respect (1967)

11. The Beatles…Yesterday (1965)
12. Michael Jackson…Billie Jean (1983)
13. The Beatles…I Want to Hold Your Hand (1963)
14. Elton John…Candle in the Wind 1997 (1997)
15. Roy Orbison…Oh, Pretty Woman (1965)
16. Don McLean…American Pie (1971)
17. The Righteous Brothers…You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (1964)
18. The Beatles…Let It Be (1970)
19. The Animals…The House of the Rising Sun (1964)
20. Bobby Darin…Mack the Knife (1959)

21. Celine Dion…My Heart Will Go On (1997)
22. The Doors…Light My Fire (1967)
23. Percy Sledge…When a Man Loves a Woman (1966)
24. Bryan Adams…(Everything I Do) I Do It for You (1991)
25. Bee Gees…Stayin’ Alive (1977)
26. The Temptations…My Girl (1965)
27. Guns N’ Roses…Sweet Child O’ Mine (1988)
28. Prince…When Doves Cry (1984)
29. Stevie Wonder…Superstition (1972)
30. U.S.A. for Africa…We Are the World (1985)

31. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts…I Love Rock and Roll (1981)
32. Rod Stewart…Maggie May (1971)
33. Chubby Checker…The Twist (1960)
34. Four Tops…Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (1966)
35. Sinead O’Connor…Nothing Compares 2 U (1990)
36. Roberta Flack…Killing Me Softly with His Song (1973)
37. Abba…Dancing Queen (1976)
38. The Rolling Stones…Honky Tonk Women (1969)
39. Ray Charles…I Can’t Stop Loving You (1962)
40. U2…With Or Without You (1987)

41. Michael Jackson…Beat It (1983)
42. Al Green…Let’s Stay Together (1971)
43. Simon & Garfunkel…Mrs. Robinson (1968)
44. OutKast…Hey Ya! (2003)
45. Pink Floyd…Another Brick in the Wall Part II (1979)
46. Gloria Gaynor…I Will Survive (1978)
47. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross…Endless Love (1981)
48. Elvis Presley…Suspicious Minds (1969)
49. The Beatles…She Loves You (1963)
50. Mariah Carey…We Belong Together (2005)

51. Kim Carnes…Bette Davis Eyes (1981)
52. Del Shannon…Runaway (1961)
53. Ray Charles…Georgia on My Mind (1960)
54. Elvis Presley…It’s Now Or Never (1960)
55. The Everly Brothers…All I Have to Do Is Dream (1958)
56. The Monkees…I’m a Believer (1966)
57. The Fifth Dimension…Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (1969)
58. The Human League…Don’t You Want Me? (1981)
59. Barbra Streisand…The Way We Were (1973)
60. George Harrison…My Sweet Lord (1970)

61. The Archies…Sugar Sugar (1969)
62. Simon & Garfunkel…The Sound of Silence (1965)
63. Roberta Flack…The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1972)
64. Los Del Rio…Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) (1995)
65. Rihanna with Jay-Z…Umbrella (2007)
66. The Byrds…Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
67. The Jackson 5…I Want You Back (1969)
68. Boyz II Men…I’ll Make Love to You (1994)
69. Debby Boone…You Light Up My Life (1977)
70. Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris…Yeah! (2004)

71. George Michael…Careless Whisper (1984)
72. Boyz II Men…End of the Road (1992)
73. Cher…Believe (1998)
74. Beyonce with Jay-Z…Crazy in Love (2003)
75. Frank Sinatra…Strangers in the Night (1966)
76. Chic…Le Freak (1978)
77. Tina Turner…What’s Love Got to Do with It (1984)
78. The Rolling Stones…Brown Sugar (1971)
79. Santana with Rob Thomas…Smooth (1999)
80. Coolio with L.V….Gangsta’s Paradise (1995)

81. Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112…I’ll Be Missing You (1997)
82. Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men…One Sweet Day (1995)
83. Blondie…Heart of Glass (1979)
84. Irene Cara…Flashdance…What a Feelin’ (1983)
85. Madonna…Like a Prayer (1989)
86. Dionne & Friends…That’s What Friends Are For (1985)
87. Isaac Hayes…Theme from ‘Shaft’ (1971)
88. The Beatles…Penny Lane (1967)
89. Three Dog Night…Joy to the World (1971)
90. Survivor…Eye of the Tiger (1982)

91. Toni Braxton…Un-Break My Heart (1996)
92. Bee Gees…How Deep Is Your Love (1977)
93. Eminem…Lose Yourself (2002)
94. Kenny Rogers…Lady (1980)
95. The Shirelles…Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1960)
96. The Beatles…Help! (1965)
97. Bee Gees…Night Fever (1978)
98. Gladys Knight & the Pips…Midnight Train to Georgia (1973)
99. Tony Orlando & Dawn…Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree (1973)
100. The Platters…Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1958)

---

Resources and Related Links:

• DMDB book Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999
• DMDB blog: The Biggest #1 Pop Songs in U.S. Chart History
• Billboard: Lady Gaga Claims 1,000th Hot 100 No. 1 with ‘Born This Way’ (2/16/2011)

---