The Top 250+ New Wave/College Rock Songs

New Wave/College Rock: Top 250+ Songs

This is really two lists in one. I attempted making one list devoted to new wave and another to college rock, but they overlapped enough that it made more sense to combine them. New wave was a synth-driven musical genre in the 1980s helmed by bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, and the Cure. College radio stations helped give an audience to that music as well as more guitar-focused bands like U2 and R.E.M. While often gathered under the banner of “alternative rock,” a significant number of bands which started on the fringe had, by decade’s end become the mainstream. More than 50 lists focused on one genre or the other (or both) were aggregated to create this list. I opted to stretch the list to 250 songs to encompass all the songs that would rank in the top 100 in one list or the other. The final list came to more than 250 songs because I included all songs featured on 6 or more lists. Peaks on the two lists, if they were separated out, are indicated with CR (college rock) and NW (new wave). Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode The Best of New Wave which references songs on this list. Premiere: September 28, 2022 at 7pm CST. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST. 1. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983) NW #4, CR #16 2. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) CR #1, NW #48 3. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981) NW #1 4. The Cure “Just Like Heaven” (1987) CR #13, NW #25 5. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1982) NW #7, CR #83 6. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981) NW #2 7. Devo “Whip It” (1980) NW #12, CR #84 8. Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun” (1983) CR #2 9. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Killing Moon” (1984) CR #5 10. Gary Numan “Cars” (1979) NW #3 11. Depeche Mode “People Are People” (1984) NW #10 12. Depeche Mode “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981) NW #15, CR #76 13. The Church “Under the Milky Way” (1988) CR #3 14. The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984) CR #9, NW #96 15. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982) NW #13 16. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985) NW #11 17. Dead or Alive “You Spin Me Round Like a Record” (1985) NW #5 18. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981) CR #26, NW #45 19. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1982) NW #6 20. Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1981) NW #8 21. R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1981) CR #4 22. A Flock of Seagulls “I Ran” (1982) NW #9 23. New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle” (1986) NW #31, CR #65 24. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985) NW #18 25. Talk Talk “It’s My Life” (1984) CR #29, NW #86 26. A-ha “Take on Me” (1984) NW #14 27. The B-52’s “Rock Lobster” (1979) NW #33 28. Madness “Our House” (1982) NW #20 29. The Cure “In Between Days (Without You)” (1985) NW #50, CR #79 30. Psychedelic Furs “Pretty in Pink” (1981) CR #28, NW #97 31. Tears for Fears “Mad World” (1982) NW #28 32. The Pixies “Here Comes Your Man” (1989) CR #7 33. Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God” (1985) CR #14 34. Big Country “In a Big Country” (1983) NW #17 35. Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1987) CR #51, NW #82 36. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982) NW #23 37. Talking Heads “Burning Down the House” (1983) NW #34 38. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983) NW #16 39. The Jesus & Mary Chain “Just Like Honey” (1985) CR #10 40. The English Beat “Save It for Later” (1983) NW #55 41. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982) NW #62, CR #100 42. Echo & the Bunnymen “Lips Like Sugar” (1987) CR #20 43. Men Without Hats “The Safety Dance” (1983) NW #24 44. Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio” (1983) NW #74, CR #89 45. The Vapors “Turning Japanese” (1980) NW #26 46. Billy Idol “White Wedding” (1982) NW #21 47. Duran Duran “Girls on Film” (1981) NW #29 48. Jane’s Addiction “Jane Says” (1988) CR #8 49. The Jam “A Town Called Malice” (1982) CR #56 50. Thomas Dolby “She Blinded Me with Science” (1982) NW #27 51. Split Enz “I Got You” (1980) NW #19 52. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985) NW #43 53. The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981) NW #37 54. The Cure “Close to Me” (1985) CR #27 55. The Cult “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985) CR #25 56. Tears for Fears “Shout” (1984) NW #30 57. Yazoo “Don’t Go” (1982) CR #81, NW #99 58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” (1988) CR #6 59. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (1982) CR #46 60. They Might Be Giants “Ana Ng” (1988) CR #12 61. Love & Rockets “So Alive” (1989) CR #19 62. Psychedelic Furs “Love My Way” (1982) NW #32 63. Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978) NW #22 64. Icicle Works “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” (1984) NW #70 65. Nena “99 Red Balloons” (1983) NW #35 66. Naked Eyes “Always Something There to Remind Me” (1983) NW #36 67. Berlin “The Metro” (1983) NW #38 68. Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party” (1985) CR #35 69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” (1981) NW #52 70. Bauhaus “She’s in Parties” (1983) CR #17 71. After the Fire “Der Kommissar” (1983) NW #40 72. Animotion “Obsession” (1985) NW #41 73. XTC “Dear God” (1986) #31 CR 74. Camper Van Beethoven “Take the Skinheads Bowling” (1985) CR #11 75. The Sugarcubes “Birthday” (1987) #15 CR 76. The English Beat “Mirror in the Bathroom” (1980) NW #49 77. Romeo Void “Never Say Never” (1982) NW #59 78. INXS “Don’t Change” (1982) CR #53 79. U2 “I Will Follow” (1980) CR #24 80. The Fixx “One Thing Leads to Another” (1983) NW #53 81. Tom Tom Club “Genius of Love” (1981) NW #88 82. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Cities in Dust” (1985) CR #57 83. Culture Club “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” (1982) NW #51 84. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark “Enola Gay” (1980) NW #66 85. Peter Schilling “Major Tom (Coming Home)” (1983) NW #76 86. XTC “Making Plans for Nigel” (1979) NW #54 87. Missing Persons “Destination Unknown” (1982) NW #79 88. Bow Wow Wow “I Want Candy” (1982) NW #39 89. Pixies “Monkey Gone to Heaven” (1989) CR #18 90. The Stone Roses “I Wanna Be Adored” (1989) CR #22 91. The La’s “There She Goes” by (1988) CR #39 92. The Stone Roses “She Bangs the Drums” (1989) CR #36 93. The Plimsouls “A Million Miles Away” (1982) CR #71 94. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981) NW #44 95. Thompson Twins “Hold Me Now” (1983) NW #46 96. Ultravox “Vienna” (1980) NW #61 97. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” (1977) NW #57 98. The Police “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (1980) NW #63 99. ABC “The Look of Love” (1982) NW #47 100. When in Rome “The Promise” (1989) NW #64 101. Spandau Ballet “True” (1983) NW #73 102. R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987) CR #51 103. Yazoo “Situation” (182) NW #84 104. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979) NW #87 105. Kajagoogoo “Too Shy” (1983) NW #80 106. General Public “Tenderness” (1984) NW #92 107. Peter Gabriel “Games Without Frontiers” (1980) CR #85 108. Squeeze “Tempted” (1981) NW #56 109. The Replacements “Left of the Dial” (1985) CR #21 110. Hüsker Dü “Don’t Wanna Know if You Are Lonely” (1986) CR #23 111. INXS “Need You Tonight” (1987) NW #60 112. The Primitives “Crash” (1988) CR #41 113. Roxy Music “More Than This” (1982) 114. The Boomtown Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays’ (1979) NW #58 115. The Clash “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” (1982) CR #66 116. Erasure “A Little Respect” (1988) NW #89 117. Billy Idol “Dancing with Myself” (1981) 118. Wang Chung “Dance Hall Days” (1984) NW #77 119. The Cars “Just What I Needed” (1978) NW #95 120. Kim Wilde “Kids in America” (1981) NW #65 121. New Order “True Faith” (1987) 122. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983) CR #73 123. Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979) NW #90 124. Depeche Mode “Never Let Me Down Again” (1987) CR #75 125. Blondie “One Way Or Another” (1978) NW #68 126. David Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” (1980) CR #74 127. Haircut 100 “Love Plus One” (1982) NW #42 128. Blondie “Rapture” (1980) 129. Bananarama “Cruel Summer” (1983) NW #75 130. The Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986) 131. Re-Flex “The Politics of Dancing” (1983) NW #78 132. Public Image Ltd. “Rise” (1986) CR #30 133. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Peek-a-Boo” (1988) CR #42 134. Peter Murphy “Cuts You Up” (1990) CR #44 135. Black Flag “Rise Above” (1981) CR #33 136. Pixies “Debaser” (1989) CR #38 137. R.E.M. “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” (1984) CR #54 138. Squeeze “Pulling Mussels from the Shell” (1980) NW #83 139. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989) CR #61 140. The Specials “Ghost Town” (1981) 141. Adam Ant “Goody Two Shoes” (1982) NW #85 142. M “Pop Muzik” (1979) NW #72 143. Men at Work “Who Can It Be Now?” (1981) NW #69 144. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984) NW #71 145. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” (1987) CR #49 146. Gang of Four “I Love a Man in Uniform” (1982) CR #72 147. Visage “Fade to Grey” (1980) NW #67 148. The Cure “A Forest’ (1980) CR #58 149. Sinéad O’Connor “Mandinka” (1987) CR #63 150. The Cure “Boys Don’t Cry” (1979) 151. The Cars “Shake It Up” (1981) NW #93 152. ‘Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” (1985) 153. Bronski Beat “Smalltown Boy” (1984) NW #81 154. A Flock of Seagulls “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph)” (1982) NW #100 155. The Replacements “I Will Dare” (1984) CR #43 156. Suicidal Tendencies “Institutionalized” (1983) CR #32 157. The Smiths “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986) CR #86 158. The B-52’s “Private Idaho” (1980) 159. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Cutter” (1983) CR #70 160. Dinosaur Jr. “Freak Scene” (1988) CR #34 161. Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” (1988) CR #47 162. Mission of Burma “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” (1981) CR #37 163. Magazine “A Song from Under the Floorboard” (1980) CR #40 164. B-Movie “Nowhere Girl” (1982) CR #96 165. Bob Mould “See a Little Light” (1989) CR #55 166. 10,000 Maniacs “Like the Weather” (1987) CR #64 167. The Cure “Love Song” (1989) 168. The Dead Milkmen “Punk Rock Girl” (1988) CR #60 169. Julian Cope “World Shut Your Mouth” (1986) CR #82 170. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 171. Depeche Mode “Everything Counts” (1983) CR #91 172. The The “This Is the Day” (1983) 173. The Smiths “This Charming Man” (1983) CR #68 174. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983) 175. Simple Minds “Alive and Kicking” (1985) NW #98 176. ABC “Poison Arrow’ (1982) 177. The Go-Go’s “Vacation” (1982) NW #91 178. The Human League “Keep Feeling Fascination” (1983) NW #94 179. The Cure “Why Can’t I Be You?” (1987) 180. Nine Inch Nails “Head Like a Hole” (1989) CR #45 181. Faith No More “We Care a Lot” (1985) CR #48 182. The Minutemen “Corona” (1984) CR #50 183. Elvis Costello “Veronica” (1989) CR #62 184. Violent Femmes “Kiss Off” (1983) CR #77 185. Cocteau Twins “Lorelei” (1984) CR #67 186. Orange Juice “Rip It Up” (1982) CR #59 187. World Party “Ship of Fools (Save Me from Tomorrow)” (1986) 188. They Might Be Giants “Don’t Let’s Start” (1986) CR #94 189. Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” (1989) 190. Morrissey “Every Day Is Like Sunday” (1988) 191. The Police “Spirits in the Material World” (1981) 192. Erasure “Oh L’Amour” (1986) 193. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) 194. Duran Duran “Rio” (1982) 195. Concrete Blonde “Still in Hollywood” (1987) CR #69 196. Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark “If You Leave” (1986) 197. The Smiths “Girlfriend in a Coma” (1987) CR #78 198. Nik Kershaw “Wouldn’t It Be Good” (1984) 199. The Clash “Train in Vain “Stand by Me)” (1979) 200. Alphaville “Forever Young” (1984) 201. Killing Joke “Eighties” (1984) CR #80 202. Berlin “Sex (I’m A…)” (1983) 203. Violent Femmes “Add It Up” (1983) 204. Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again” (1983) 205. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984) 206. Elvis Costello “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding” (1979) 207. The Replacements “Bastards of Young” (1985) CR #90 208. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987) CR #98 209. Lone Justice “Ways to Be Wicked” (1985) CR #99 210. The Waterboys “The Whole of the Moon” (1985) 211. The Dead Milkmen “Bitchin’ Camaro” (1985) 212. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987) 213. Heaven 17 “Let Me Go” (1982) 214. Eurythmics “Love Is a Stranger” (1982) 215. Elvis Costello “Everyday I Write the Book” (1983) 216. The Romantics “Talking in Your Sleep” (1983) 217. Tubeway Army “Are Friends Electric?” (1979) 218. Culture Club “Karma Chamelon” (1983) 219. Tears for Fears “Pale Shelter” (1982) 220. R.E.M. “Fall on Me” (1986) 221. Dead Kennedys “Holiday in Cambodia” (1980) CR #87 222. Martha & the Muffins “Echo Beach” (1980) 223. X “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene” (1980) CR #88 224. U2 “With or Without You” (1987) 225. The Feelies “Fa cé-La” (1979) CR #92 226. The Smithereens “Behind the Wall of Sleep” (1986) CR #93 227. Fugazi “Waiting Room” (1988) CR #95 228. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions “Perfect Skin” (1984) CR #97 229. The Jam “That’s Entertainment” (1980) 230. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” (1979) 231. The Meat Puppets “Lake of Fire” (1984) 232. Nirvana “About a Girl” (1989) 233. The B-52’s “Channel Z” (1989) 234. Happy Mondays “24 Hour Party People” (1987) 235. Joe Jackson “Steppin’ Out” (1982) 236. U2 “New Year’s Day” (1983) 237. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Higher Ground” (1989) 238. Stephen Duffy “Kiss Me” (1985) 239. Billy Idol “Rebel Yell” (1983) 240. Depeche Mode “Enjoy the Silence” (1990) 241. Yello “Oh Yeah” (1985) 242. Tears for Fears “Head Over Heels” (1985) 243. The Fixx “Red Skies” (1982) 244. Tears for Fears “Change” (1983) 245. Culture Club “Time (Clock of the Heart)” (1982) 246. Depeche Mode “Master and Servant” (1984) 247. Adam & the Ants “Stand and Deliver” (1981) 248. Howard Jones “No One Is to Blame” (1985) 249. Ministry “Every Day Is Halloween” (1984) 250. The Cure “Let’s Go to Bed” (1982) 251. Erasure “Chains of Love” (1988) 252. Elvis Costello & the Attractions “Radio Radio” (1978) 253. Madness “One Step Beyond” (1979) 254. INXS “The One Thing” (1982) 255. INXS “What You Need’ (1985) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” First posted 6/9/2017; last updated 9/30/2022.

Top 100 Modern Folk Songs: 1980-2022

Modern Folk Songs, 1980-2022: Top 100 Songs

Songs on this list fall under various banners including folk, folk-rock, modern folk, alt-country, and Americana. Most genre lists at Dave’s Music Database are created by aggregating best-of lists from multiple sources. In this case, it was difficult to find lists focused on modern folk. As such, this list was compiled by pulling together any acts from 1980 forward who appeared on any best-of folk or folk rock song lists and folk/Americana album lists. Those applicable songs were then listed in order of overall ranking on Dave’s Music Database. Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 1. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988) 2. Johnny Cash “Hurt” (2003) 3. The Lumineers “Ho Hey” (2012) 4. Jeff Buckley “Hallelujah” (1994) 5. Passenger “Let Her Go” (2012) 6. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987) 7. Tracy Chapman “Give Me One Reason” (1995) 8. Shawn Colvin “Sunny Came Home” (1996) 9. Mumford & Sons “I Will Wait” (2012) 10. k.d. lang “Constant Craving” (1992) 11. Kacey Musgraves “Follow Your Arrow” (2013) 12. Grateful Dead “Touch of Grey” (1987) 13. Leonard Cohen “Hallelujah” (1984) 14. Indigo Girls “Closer to Fine” (1989) 15. Neil Young “Harvest Moon” (1992) 16. Jeff Buckley “Last Goodbye” (1994) 17. Tracy Chapman “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution” (1988) 18. Mumford & Sons “Little Lion Man” (2009) 19. Ray LaMontagne “You Are the Best Thing” (2008) 20. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova as The Swell Season “Falling Slowly” (2007) 21. Brandi Carlile “The Joke” (2017) 22. The Soggy Bottom Boys “Man of Constant Sorrow” (2001) 23. Bruce Springsteen “Atlantic City” (1982) 24. The Lumineers “Ophelia” (2016) 25. Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard “Pancho and Lefty” (1983) 26. Leonard Cohen “You Want It Darker” (2016) 27. Shawn Colvin “I Don’t Know Why” (1992) 28. The Lumineers “Stubborn Love” (2012) 29. Mumford & Sons “Believe” (2015) 30. Chris Stapleton “Tennessee Whiskey” (2015) 31. Bob Dylan “Things Have Changed” (2000) 32. Mumford & Sons “Guiding Light” (2018) 33. Bruce Cockburn “If I Had a Rocket Launcher” (1984) 34. Mumford & Sons “The Cave” (2009) 35. Beck “Lost Cause” (2002) 36. Tracy Chapman “Crossroads” (1989) 37. Indigo Girls “Galileo” (1992) 38. Tracy Chapman “Baby Can I Hold You” (1988) 39. Brandi Carlile “The Story (I Was Made for You)” (2007) 40. Loreena McKennitt “The Mummer’s Dance” (1997) 41. Kacey Musgraves “Justified” (2021) 42. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit “If We Were Vampires” (2017) 43. The Lumineers “Gloria” (2019) 44. Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos” (2017) 45. Bon Iver “Holocene” (2011) 46. Bruce Cockburn “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” (1984) 47. The Head and the Heart “All We Ever Knew” (2016) 48. Suzanne Vega & Joe Jackson “Left of Center” (1986) 49. Kacey Musgraves “Rainbow” (2018) 50. Indigo Girls “Power of Two” (1994) 51. Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal” (2008) 52. Bright Eyes “First Day of My Life” (2005) 53. Bruce Springsteen “The Ghost of Tom Joad” (1995) 54. The Highwomen “Crowded Table” (2019) 55. Kacey Musgraves “Space Cowboy” (2018) 56. Lucinda Williams “Righteously” (2003) 57. Bon Iver “Skinny Love” (2007) 58. Indigo Girls “Hammer and a Nail” (1990) 59. Tracy Chapman “Telling Stories (There Is Friction in the Space Between)” (2000) 60. Bruce Springsteen “Devils & Dust” (2005) 61. The Avett Brothers “Ain’t No Man” (2016) 62. Chris Stapleton “Starting Over” (2020) 63. The Head and the Heart “Missed Connection” (2019) 64. The Lumineers “Life in the City” (2019) 65. Sharon Van Etten “Seventeen” (2019) 66. Mumford & Sons “The Wolf” (2015) 67. Neko Case, k.d. lang, & Laura Veirs “Atomic Number” (2016) 68. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Please Read the Letter” (2007) 69. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)” (2007) 70. Sufjan Stevens “Chicago” (2005) 71. Bob Dylan “Everything Is Broken” (1989) 72. Leonard Cohen “Everybody Knows” (1988) 73. Bruce Springsteen “We Shall Overcome” (1998) 74. Suzanne Vega “Solitude Standing” (1987) 75. Bob Dylan “Mississippi” (2001) 76. Suzanne Vega “Tom’s Diner” (1987) 77. Sturgill Simpson “In Bloom” (2016) 78. Neko Case “Hold on Hold On” (2006) 79. The Head and the Heart “Lost in My Mind” (2011) 80. Neil Young “Philadelphia” (1994) 81. Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs “Beg, Steal or Borrow” (2010) 82. Shawn Colvin “Steady On” (1989) 83. Brandi Carlile “Right on Time” (2021) 84. Tracy Chapman “All That You Have Is Your Soul” (1989) 85. Indigo Girls “Get Together” (1987) 86. Bob Dylan “Dignity” (1994) 87. Shawn Colvin “Round of Blues” (1992) 88. Shawn Colvin “Diamond in the Rough” (1989) 89. The Avett Brothers “Kick Drum Heart” (2009) 90. Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues” (2011) 91. The Lumineers “Cleopatra” (2016) 92. Mumford & Sons “Lover of the Light” (2012) 93. Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen “Like I Used To” (2021) 94. The Head and the Heart “Rhythm & Blues” (2016) 95. Willie Nelson “City of New Orleans” (1984) 96. Ray LaMontagne “Strong Enough” (2020) 97. Neko Case “Last Lion of Albion” (2018) 98. Jason Isbell “24 Frames’ (2015) 99. Josh Ritter “Getting Ready to Get Down” (2015) 100. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Can’t Let Go” (2021) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Folk/Folk Rock Songs (up through 1979)” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Folk/Americana Albums of All Time” First posted 9/11/2022; last updated 9/16/2022.

Consequence of Sound: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Consequence of Sound: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The first version of this list was published in 2010. At the time, the website described it as “a definitive ranking voted and debated by our editors, staff writers, and contributors.” Then Michael Roffman, the President/Editor-in-Chief, offered up a long essay on the pros and cons of lists pretty much hitting on points which the reader already knows. In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Consequence of Sound updated the list, noting that only two staff members were part of compiling the 2010 and 2022 versions. The introduction notes, “Tastes have been reshaped, genres have been born and died away...Records that weren’t considered – or even released – the last time we undertook this challenge now have prominent placement.” Unlike the egotism that allowed the 2010 version to be referred to as “definitive,” the introduction to the 2002 acknowledges, “You’re going to disagree about as much as you agree with what we’ve done here. You’re going to wonder how album X didn’t warrant mention, or why album Y is higher than album Z. Or where the heck is artist W?” It concludes saying, “maybe you, dear reader, believe there is a definitive, eternal, unimpeachable ranking of records…Who knows, maybe you’re right. This isn’t that list.” I have included both lists below. There are 56 albums which appear on both lists. They are noted with asterisks (*). Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here. 9/12/2022 List: 1. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) * 2. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) * 3. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) * 4. The Clash London Calling (1979) * 5. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) * 6. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) * 7. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 8. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) * 9. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) * 10. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) * 11. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) 12. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966) * 13. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) * 14. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) * 15. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) * 16. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) * 17. Patti Smith Horses (1975) * 18. Beyoncé Lemonade (2016) 19. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) * 20. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) * 21. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971) * 22. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) 23. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969) * 24. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) * 25. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) * 26. Ramones Ramones (1976) 27. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) * 28. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Supa Dupa Fly (1997) 29. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973) * 30. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) 31. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) 32. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) * 33. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992) 34. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993) * 35. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) * 36. Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012) 37. OutKast Stankonia (2000) 38. Paul Simon Graceland (1986) * 39. Taylor Swift 1989 (2014) 40. Pixies Doolittle (1989) * 41. Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt (1996) 42. AC/DC Back in Black (1980) * 43. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975) * 44. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959) 45. Lady Gaga The Fame Monster (2009) 46. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994) * 47. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968) * 48. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) 49. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) * 50. The Stooges Raw Power (1973) * 51. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968) * 52. The Strokes Is This It (2001) * 53. Dr. Dre 2001 (1999) 54. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) * 55. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) * 56. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971) * 57. The Band Music from Big Pink (1968) * 58. Nina Simone I Put a Spell on You (1965) 59. Nas Illmatic (1994) 60. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006) 61. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972) * 62. Madvillain Madvillainy (2004) 63. Tom Waits Rain Dogs (1985) * 64. The Cure Disintegration (1989) 65. Leonard Cohen The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) * 66. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989) 67. Radiohead In Rainbows (2007) 68. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (2012) 69. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989) * 70. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) * 71. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) * 72. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) * 73. Parliament Mothership Connection (1975) * 74. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) * 75. Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer (2018) 76. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 77. Jay-Z The Black Album (2003) 78. Billy Joel The Stranger (1977) 79. The Police Synchronicity (1983) * 80. Erykah Badu Baduizm (1997) 81. Adele 21 (2011) 82. Peter Gabriel So (1986) * 83. Pretenders Pretenders (1979) 84. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) 85. Tupac Shakur (2pac) All Eyez on Me (1996) 86. Pearl Jam Ten (1991) 87. Slayer Reign in Blood (1986) 88. Alice Coltrane Journey in Satchidananda (1971) 89. Green Day Dookie (1994) * 90. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) 91. The Who Who’s Next (1971) * 92. The Replacements Let It Be (1984) * 93. TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994) 94. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) 95. System of a Down Toxicity (2001) 96. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) * 97. Fugazi Repeater (1990) 98. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) 99. Kamasi Washington Heaven and Earth (2018) 100. Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking (1988) 9/15/2010 List: 1. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) * 2. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) * 3. The Clash London Calling (1979) * 4. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) * 5. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) * 6. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) * 7. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973) * 8. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) * 9. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) * 10. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) * 11. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966) * 12. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969) * 13. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971) * 14. Pixies Doolittle (1989) * 15. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) * 16. The Who Who’s Next (1971) * 17. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) * 18. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971) * 19. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) * 20. Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) 21. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968) * 22. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) * 23. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) * 24. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) * 25. Peter Gabriel So (1986) * 26. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968) * 27. Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967) 28. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) * 29. AC/DC Back in Black (1980) * 30. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) * 31. Ramones Rocket to Russia (1977) 32. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) * 33. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) 34. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) * 35. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) * 36. Stevie Wonder Talking Book (1972) 37. The Police Synchronicity (1983) * 38. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979) 39. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (1977) 40. The Beatles Revolver (1966) 41. Patti Smith Horses (1975) * 42. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) 43. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) * 44. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970) 45. Nick Drake Pink Moon (1972) 46. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972) * 47. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) 48. The Stooges Raw Power (1973) * 49. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) * 50. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) * 51. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) * 52. The Replacements Let It Be (1984) * 53. Bob Marley & The Wailers Exodus (1977) 54. The Strokes Is This It (2001) * 55. Prefab Sprout Steve McQueen (aka “Two Wheels Good”) (1985) 56. The Who Quadrophenia (1973) 57. Genesis Genesis (1983) 58. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) * 59. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) * 60. The Band Music from Big Pink (1968) * 61. Green Day Dookie (1994) * 62. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993) * 63. R.E.M. Document (1987) 64. The Doors The Doors (1967) 65. Arcade Fire Funeral (2004) 66. Devo Duty Now for the Future (1979) 67. Leonard Cohen The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) * 68. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) 69. The Smiths The Smiths (1984) 70. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965) 71. Tom Waits Rain Dogs (1985) * 72. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) 73. Radiohead Kid A (2000) 74. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975) * 75. Jay-Z The Blueprint (2001) 76. Sigur Rós Ágaetis Byrjun (1999) 77. Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (1970) 78. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) * 79. Björk Post (1995) 80. Paul Simon Graceland (1986) * 81. Neil Young Harvest (1972) 82. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) 83. John Lennon Imagine (1971) 84. The Who Tommy (1969) 85. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979) 86. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) 87. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) * 88. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994) * 89. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989) * 90. Refused The Shape of Punk to Come (1998) 91. The Clash The Clash (1977) 92. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) 93. Parliament Mothership Connection (1975) * 94. Metallica Kill ‘Em All (1983) 95. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (1975) 96. Beck Midnite Vultures (1999) 97. Elliott Smith Either/Or (1997) 98. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975) 99. Talking Heads Fear of Music (1979) 100. Kanye West The College Dropout (2004) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Best-of Album Lists by Publications/Organizations Consequence of Sound (9/12/2022). “The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time” This link was originally for the 9/15/2010, but now goes to the 9/12/2022 list, which includes commentary on each album. First posted 9/15/2010; last updated 9/13/2022.

Folk/Folk Rock: Top 100 Songs

Folk/Folk Rock: Top 100 Songs

This list was created by aggregating more than 20 lists focused on folk and/or folk rock music. All those songs appearing on 3 or more lists were ranked first based on their aggregate scores. Then all songs appearing on 2 lists were ranked based on their overall status in Dave’s Music Database (“Maggie May” is the first song on 2 lists). When a title appeared by more than one artist, the highest version of the song is listed first but other versions which appeared on 2+ lists are listed as part of the same entry. Also, this list is focused just on songs released through 1979. To see songs from 1980 on, check out “The Top 100 Modern Folk Songs.” Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. Songs on 3+ Lists Ranked by Aggregate Scores: 1. The Byrds (1965), Bob Dylan (1965) “Mr. Tambourine Man” 2. Pete Seeger (1962), The Kingston Trio (1962), Joan Baez (1965) “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” 3. Simon & Garfunkel “The Sounds of Silence” (1965) 4. The Byrds (1965), Judy Collins (1969), Pete Seeger (1959) “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) 5. Woody Guthrie (1940), The Weavers (1958) “This Land Is Your Land” 6. Bob Dylan “Like a Rolling Stone” (1965) 7. Pete Seeger (1963), Peter, Paul & Mary (1962), Trini Lopez (1963) “If I Had a Hammer” 8. The Weavers (1950), Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter (1933) “Goodnight Irene” 9. Judy Collins (1968), Joni Mitchell (1969), Dave Van Ronk (1969) “Both Sides Now” 10. The Kingston Trio “Tom Dooley” (1958) 11. Bob Dylan (1963), Peter, Paul & Mary (1963) “Blowin’ in the Wind” 12. Simon & Garfunkel “Scarborough Fair” (1966) 13. Barry McGuire “Eve of Destruction” (1965) 14. Peter, Paul & Mary “Puff the Magic Dragon” (1963) 15. The Mamas & Papas “California Dreamin’” (1966) 16. Simon & Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970) 17. Arlo Guthrie “Alice’s Restaurant” (1967) 18. Leonard Cohen “Suzanne” (1967) 19. Donovan “Catch the Wind” (1965) 20. Buffalo Springfield “For What It’s Worth” (1966) 21. Simon & Garfunkel “Homeward Bound” (1966) 22. Bob Dylan “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (1964) 23. Townes Van Zandt “Pancho and Lefty” (1972) 24. The Lovin’ Spoonful “Do You Believe in Magic?” (1965) 25. The Youngbloods “Get Together” (1967) 26. Bobby Bare (1962), Peter, Paul & Mary (1963), Joan Baez (1965) “500 Miles” 27. Joan Baez “Diamonds and Rust” (1975) 28. Phil Ochs “I Ain't Marchin’ Anymore” (1965) 29. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (1969) 30. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” (1975) 31. The Band (1969), Joan Baez (1971) “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” 32. Pete Seeger “We Shall Overcome” (1963) 33. The Byrds “My Back Pages” (1967) 34. Scott McKenzie “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)” (1967) 35. The Turtles “It Ain't Me Babe” (1965) 36. Bob Dylan (1963), Peter, Paul & Mary (1963) “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” 37. Joan Baez (1965), Phil Ochs (1963) “There But for Fortune” 38. The Stanley Brothers (1950), Bob Dylan (1962) “Man of Constant Sorrow” 39. Steve Goodman “City of New Orleans” (1971) 40. Bob Dylan “Just Like a Woman” (1966) 41. Tim Hardin (1967), Bobby Darin (1966) “If I Were a Carpenter” 42. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976) 43. Janis Ian “At Seventeen” (1975) 44. We Five “You Were on My Mind” (1965) 45. Donovan “Sunshine Superman” (1966) 46. The Beatles “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (1965) 47. Country Joe & the Fish “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” (1967) 48. The Animals “The House of the Rising Sun” (1964) 49. Joni Mitchell “Woodstock” (1970) 50. Peter, Paul & Mary (1964), traditional (1865) “Go Tell It on the Mountain” 51. Buffy Sainte-Marie (1964), Donovan (1965) “The Universal Soldier” 52. Traditional “The Water Is Wide” (1906) 53. Tom Paxton “The Last Thing on My Mind” (1964) 54. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter (1940), Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969) “The Midnight Special” 55. Eric Andersen “Thirsty Boots” (1966) 56. Simon & Garfunkel “Mrs. Robinson” (1968) 57. The Grass Roots “Let’s Live for Today” (1967) 58. Gordon Lightfoot “Early Morning Rain” (1966) 59. Lonnie Donegan (1956), Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter (1942) “Rock Island Line” 60. The Highwaymen (1961), traditional (1867) “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” 61. Big Bill Broonzy “John Henry” (1951) 62. Tom Paxton “Ramblin’ Boy” (1964) 63. Roy Acuff (1938), J.A. Roff (1882) “Wabash Cannonball” 64. The Rooftop Singers “Walk Right In” (1962) 65. The Turtles “Happy Together” (1967) 66. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Marrakesh Express” (1969) 67. Simon & Garfunkel “The Boxer” (1969) 68. The Lovin’ Spoonful “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” (1965) 69. The Mamas & the Papas “Monday Monday” (1966) 70. John Prine “Angel from Montgomery” (1972) 71. Joni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970) 72. Bob Dylan “Masters of War” (1963) 73. The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer in the City” (1966) 74. John Prine “Hello in There” (1971) 75. Trini Lopez (1965), Peter, Paul & Mary (1962) “Lemon Tree” 76. The Weavers “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” (1951) 77. Neil Young “Old Man” (1972) 78. Jerry Jeff Walker “Mr. Bojangles” (1968) Songs on 2+ Lists Ranked by Overall DMDB Points: 79. Rod Stewart “Maggie May” (1971) 80. The Beatles “In My Life” (1965) 81. Neil Young “Heart of Gold” (1972) 82. Sonny & Cher “I Got You Babe” (1965) 83. The Carter Family “Wildwood Flower” (1928) 84. America “A Horse with No Name” (1971) 85. The Carter Family “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)” (1935) 86. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Ohio” (1970) 87. Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965) 88. Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (1947) 89. Harry Belafonte “Banana Boat (Day-O)” (1957) 90. The Searchers “Needles and Pins” (1964) 91. Bob Dylan “Positively 4th Street” (1965) 92. Donovan “Mellow Yellow” (1966) 93. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Teach Your Children” (1970) 94. Bob Dylan “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” (1966) 95. America “Ventura Highway” (1972) 96. The Lovin’ Spoonful “Daydream” (1966) 97. The Who “The Kids Are Alright” (1965) 98. Bob Dylan “I Want You” (1966) 99. Peter, Paul & Mary (1969), John Denver (1969) “Leaving on a Jet Plane” 100. Love “Alone Again Or” (1967) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Modern Folk Songs (1980-)” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Folk/Americana Albums of All Time” First posted 4/19/2020; last updated 9/11/2022.

Harry Styles “As It Was” makes record return to #1

As It Was Harry Styles

Writer(s): Harry Styles, Thomas Hull, Tyler Johnson (see lyrics here) Released: March 31, 2022 First Charted: April 14, 2022 Peak: 115 US, 112 BA, 11 DG, 12 ST, 111 AC, 18 A40, 14 AA, 34 AR, 110 UK, 118 CN, 18 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 6.0 US, 2.4 UK, 13.8 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 843.30 video, 3576.73 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “As It Was” was released as the lead single for Harry Styles’ third album, Harry’s House. It debuted atop the UK charts and the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. In its first 24 hours of release, “As It Was” became the most-streamed song in a single day in the United States with 8.3 million streams. SF It was knocked from the top the next week on Billboard, but then returned to #1. Then it did it again. And again. And again. On September 3, 2022, “As It Was” became the first song in the history of the charts to ascend to the top five different times. BB During all that time, it never dipped lower than #3. It became one of the longest running #1 songs in the history of the U.S. pop charts – and the UK charts, and the Canadian charts, and the Australian charts. It topped the charts in more than 30 countries overall. WK Styles said the song is “about metamorphosis and embracing change…and former self and perspective shift.” SF However, “the jaunty instrumentation is distinctly more cheerful than the introspective lyrics.” SF The song has been described as “a guitar-driven synth-pop track” WK which, as Variety’s Chris Willman said it takes heavy inspiration from Depeche Mode and a-ha. WK He said it also adopted a style similar to the Weeknd’s 2019 blockbuster single “Blinding Lights.” WK The Guardian’s Beau Beaumont-Thomas said it is a “song for everyone; an effervescent, high-tempo hit to have you clicking your heels.” WK Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield called it “a straight-from-the-heart cry that’s also an irrestible dance-floor challenge.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Harry Styles BB Billboard (8/29/2022). Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ Makes Record Return to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100” by Gary Trust SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 9/4/2022; last updated 10/12/2024.

Simple Minds: A Retrospective, 1977-2022

Simple Minds A Retrospective: 1977-2022

Overview: Rock band formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1977. Only singer Jim Kerr and guitarist/keyboardist Charlie Burchill have remained consistent through the band’s entire history. The Players: Jim Kerr (v: 77-) Charlie Burchill (g/k: 77-) Catherine AD (k: 14-18) Duncan Barnwell (rhythm g: 78) Sarah Brown (backing v: 09) Tony Donald (b: 77-78) Eddie Duffy (b: 99-10) Derek Forbes (b: 78-85, 96-98) Mel Gaynor (d: 82-91, 97-98, 02-16) John Giblin (b: 85-89) Andy Gillespie (k: 02-05, 07-16) Gordy Goudie (g/k: 01-) Ged Grimes (b: 10-) Kenny Hyslop (d: 81-82) Mick MacNeil (k: 78-90) Brian McGee (d: 77-81, 96) Allan McNeill (rhythm g: 77) John Milarky (g: 77) Mike Ogletree (d: 82) Cherisse Osei (d: 17-) Berenice Scott (k: 20-). On the Web: SimpleMinds.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia Lists: Top 50 Songs

Awards:

The Studio Albums: Hover over an album cover to see its title and year of release. Click on the album to go to its dedicated DMDB page. Compilations: C Celebration (covers 1979-80, released 1982) EG Early Gold (covers 1979-82, released 2003) GP Glittering Prize 81/92 (covers 1981-91, released 1992) B Best of (covers 1979-2001, released 2001) G2 Celebrate: The Greatest Hits (2-disc version, covers 1979-2013, released 2013) G3 Celebrate: The Greatest Hits (3-disc version, covers 1979-2013, released 2013) 40 40: The Best of 1979-2019 (covers 1979-2019, released 2019) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts.

Life in a Day

Rating: 2.259 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Released: April 20, 1979 Peak: -- US, 30 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Someone Life in a Day (3/30/79, 39 CL, 14 CO, 62 UK, 29 DF) C, EG, B, G2, G3, 40 Sad Affair All for You Pleasantly Disturbed No Cure Chelsea Girl (6/22/79, 44 CL, 27 CO) C, EG, G2, G3, 40 Wasteland Destiny Murder Story Total Running Time: 43:10

About the Album: A

Real to Real Cacophony

Rating: 3.091 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Released: November 23, 1979 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Real to Real Naked Eye Citizen (Dance of Youth) Carnival (Shelter in a Suitcase) Factory C, EG Cacophony Veldt Premonition C, EG Changeling (1/80, 44 CL, 27 CO) C, EG, G2, G3, 40 Film Theme Calling Your Name C Scar Total Running Time: 40:46

About the Album: A

Empires and Dance

Rating: 3.053 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Released: September 12, 1980 Peak: -- US, 41 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: I Travel (10/17/80, 42 CL, 13 CO) C, EG, B, G2, G3, 40 Today I Died Again Celebrate (2/81, 44 CL, 27 CO) C, EG, G2, G3, 40 This Fear of Gods Capital City Constantinople Line Twist/Run/Repulsion Thirty Frames a Second C, EG Kant-Kino Room Total Running Time: 45:33

About the Album: A

Celebration

Rating: 2.742 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Released: February 5, 1982 Covers: 1979-1980 Peak: -- US, 45 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Life in a Day Chelsea Girl Premonition Factory Calling Your Name I Travel Changeling Celebrate Thirty Frames a Second Kaleidoscope (10/17/80, 39 CO) C

About the Album: With just three albums and only a handful of hits under their belt, Simple Minds decided in 1982 to release this compilation. It features one non-album cut – “Kaleidoscope” – which was originally the B-side of “I Travel.” See previous albums for release dates and chart information for other songs on the album.

Sons & Fascination

Rating: 2.943 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings)

Released: September 4, 1981 Peak: -- US, 11 UK, 46 CN, 31 AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK Tracks: In Trance as Mission Sweat in Bullet (11/7/81, 41 CL, 14 CO, 52 UK) EG, B, G3 70 Cities as Love Brings the Fall Boys from Brazil Love Song (8/15/81, 37 CL, 10 CO, 6 UK, 38 CN, 17 AU) EG, GP, B, G2, G3, 40 This Earth That You Walk Upon Sons and Fascination Seeing Out the Angel Total Running Time: 43:50

About the Album: A

Sister Feelings Call

Rating: 02.892 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Released: September 4, 1981 Peak: -- US, 11 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, , 0.1 UK Tracks: Theme for Great Cities B, G3, 40 The American (5/23/81, 40 CL, 13 CO, 59 UK) EG, GP, B, G2, G3, 40 20th Century Promised Land Wonderful in Young Life League of Nations Careful in Career Sound in 70 Cities (dub mix of “70 Cities as Love Brings the Fall”) Total Running Time: 35:09

About the Album: A

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

Rating: 3.897 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: September 17, 1982 Peak: 69 US, 3 UK, 57 CN, 8 AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.3 UK Tracks: Someone, Somewhere in Summertime (11/13/82, 14 CO, 36 UK, 51 AU, 22 DF) EG, GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel Promised You a Miracle (4/10/82, 5 CO, 13 UK, 10 AU, 22 DF) EG, GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Big Sleep Somebody Up There Likes You New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (24 CO) EG, G3, 40 Glittering Prize (8/28/82, 11 CO, 16 UK, 9 AU) EG, GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Hunter and the Hunted King Is White and in the Crowd Total Running Time: 46:02

About the Album: A

Early Gold

Rating: 3.256 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Released: date Covers: 1979-1982 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Life in a Day Chelsea Girl Changeling Factory Premonition I Travel Celebrate Thirty Frames a Second The American Love Song Sweat in Bullet Promised You a Miracle Glittering Prize Someone, Somewhere in Summertime

About the Album: This is largely a rehash of the 1982 Celebration compilation (minus the songs “Calling Your Name” and “Kaleidoscope”) with six songs from 1980-1982 added on. It doesn’t feature any new material. Check out the individual albums for release dates and chart information on the songs.

Sparkle in the Rain

Rating: 3.359 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: February 8, 1984 Peak: 64 US, 11 UK, 14 CN, 15 AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.3 UK Tracks: Up on the Catwalk (3/12/84, 14 CO, 27 UK, 26 AU) B, G2, G3, 40 Book of Brilliant Things Speed Your Love to Me (1/9/84, 13 CO, 20 UK, 76 AU, 26 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Waterfront (11/14/83, 6 CO, 13 UK, 19 AU, 22 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 East at Easter Street Hassle White Hot Day ‘C’ Moon Cry Like a Baby The Kick Inside of Me Shake Off the Ghosts Total Running Time: 44:41

About the Album: A

Once Upon a Time

Rating: 3.934 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: October 21, 1985 Peak: 10 US, 11 UK, 3 CN, 7 AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.9 UK, 2.49 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Once Upon a Time 40 All the Things She Said (3/26/86, 28 US, 28 CB, 25 RR, 9 AR, 4 CO, 9 UK, 65 CN, 46 AU, 15 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Ghost Dancing (11/3/86, 13 CO, 13 UK, 72 AU, 19 DF) GP, B, G2, G3 Alive and Kicking (9/30/85, 3 US, 3 CB, 2 RR, 2 AR, 3 CO, 6 UK, 3 CN, 21 AU, 4 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Oh Jungleland (25 DF) I Wish You Were Here Sanctify Yourself (12/25/85, 14 US, 10 CB, 12 RR, 3 AR, 3 CO, 10 UK, 17 CN, 46 AU, 9 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Come a Long Way Total Running Time: 40:12

Street Fighting Years

Rating: 3.680 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: May 2, 1989 Peak: 70 US, 11 UK, 24 CN, 11 AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.6 UK, 2.44 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Street Fighting Years Soul Crying Out Wall of Love This Is Your Land (with Lou Reed) (4/10/89, 37 AR, 12 MR, 13 UK, 40 CN, 38 AU, 16 DF) B, G2, G3, 40 Take a Step Back (6/24/89, 14 MR, 37 DF) Kick It In (7/17/89, 15 UK, 94 AU, 39 DF) B, G2, G3 Let It All Come Down (11/27/89, 18 UK, 77 AU, 31 DF) B, G3 Mandela Day (4/1/89, 17 MR, 12 AU, 1 DF) GP, B, G3, 40 Belfast Child (2/6/89, 1 UK, 12 AU, 11 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Biko B, G3 When Spirits Rise * * CD release bonus track Total Running Time: 61:13

About the Album: A

Real Life

Rating: 3.113 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: April 8, 1991 Peak: 74 US, 2 UK, 17 CN, 13 AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.3 UK, 0.95 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Real Life (10/14/91, 34 UK, 26 DF) B, G3 See the Lights (3/23/91, 40 US, 43 CB, 35 RR, 10 AR, 12 MR, 20 UK, 10 CN, 100 AU, 1 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Let There Be Love (3/11/91, 6 UK, 15 AU, 36 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Woman Stand by Love (6/22/91, 42 AR, 4 MR, 13 UK, 70 AU, 35 DF) B, G2, G3 Let the Children Speak African Skies Ghostrider Banging on the Door (intro) Banging on the Door Travelling Man Rivers of Ice When Two Worlds Collide Total Running Time: 52:15

About the Album: A

Glittering Prize 81/92

Rating: 4.257 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: October 12, 1992 Covers: 1981-1992 Peak: -- US, 13 UK, 37 CN, 11 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.9 UK, 1.74 world (includes US and UK) Tracks (European Version): Waterfront Don’t You Forget About Me (2/20/85, 11 US, 12 CB, 12 RR, 36 AC, 1 CO, 7 UK, 11CN, 6 AU, 1 DF) GP, B, G2, G3, 40 Alive and Kicking Sanctify Yourself Love Song Someone, Somewhere in Summertime See the Lights Belfast Child The American All the Things She Said Promised You a Miracle Ghost Dancing Speed Your Love to Me Glittering Prize Let There Be Love Mandela Day

About the Album: This compilation oddly comes close to being a career retrospective, but not quite. It picks up in 1981, which means it ignores the first three Simple Minds albums. Granted those were anthologized with the Celebration collection, but it still feels like this set should have recognized that era. There is no new material here, although “Don’t You Forget About Me” makes its first appearance on a Simple Minds’ album. For details on release dates and chart data for the other songs, check the previous albums.

Good News from the Next World

Rating: 3.147 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: January 30, 1995 Peak: 87 US, 2 UK, 37 CN, 20 AU, 13 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK, 0.68 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: She’s a River (1/16/95, 52 US, 38 CN, 24 RR, 6 AR, 10 MR, 9 UK, 3 CN, 29 AU, 14 DF) B, G2, G3, 40 Night Music Hypnotised (3/27/95, 18 UK, 34 Cn, 85 AU, 35 DF) B, G2, G3, 40 Great Leap Forward (9/30/95, --) 7 Deadly Sins And the Band Played On (5/27/95, 40 AR, 36 DF) My Life Criminal World This Time Celtic Strings * * Japanese edition bonus track Total Running Time: 48:20

About the Album: A

Neapolis

Rating: 2.879 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: March 16, 1998 Peak: -- US, 19 UK, -- CN, -- AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Song for the Tribes Glitterball (3/14/98, 18 UK, 32 DF) B, G2, G3 War Babies (5/30/98, 43 UK, 30 DF) B, G2, G3, 40 Tears of a Guy Superman v. Supersoul Lightning If I Had Wings Killing Andy Warhol Androgyny Total Running Time: 45:51

About the Album: A

Our Secrets Are the Same

Rating: 1.951 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Released: October 18, 2004 Recorded: April to June 1999 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Swimming Towards the Sun Jeweller to the Stars G3, 40 Space G2, G3 Death by Chocolate Waiting at the End of the World Neon Cowboys She Knows Hello Happy Is the Man Sleeping

About the Album: This album was recorded in 1999 and set for release in early 2000, but was delayed multiple times before finally being cancelled. It was then released as part of the five-disc box set Silver Box in 2004.

Neon Lights

Rating: 2.259 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: October 8, 2001 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Gloria The Man Who Sold the World Homosapien (12/01, 36 DF) Dancing Barefoot (9/01, 24 DF) G3 Neon Lights Hello, I Love You Bring on the Dancing Horses The Needle and the Damage Done For Your Pleasure All Tomorrow’s Parties Being Boiled * Love Will Tear Us Apart * * bonus tracks Total Running Time: 41:35

About the Album: A

Best of

Rating: 3.255 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Released: November 5, 2001 Covers: 1979-2001 Peak: -- US, 34 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Don’t You Forget About Me (2) Promised You a Miracle (3) Waterfront (4) Alive and Kicking (5) Glittering Prize (6) All the Things She Said (7) Sanctify Yourself (8) Someone, Somewhere in Summertime (9) Ghost Dancing (10) Up on the Catwalk (11) Speed Your Love to Me (12) Theme for Great Cities (13) Love Song (14) The American (15) Sweat in Bullet (16) Life in a Day (17) I Travel Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Let There Be Love (2) This Is Your Land (3) Kick It In (4) Let It All Come Down (5) See the Lights (6) Stand by Love (7) Real Life (8) She’s a River (9) Hypnotised (10) Glitterball (11) War Babies (12) Mandela Day (13) Biko (14) Belfast Child (15) The Real Life (Raven Maize remix)

About the Album: This 2-disc career retrospective covers Simple Minds from the beginning right up to the present. The only new material here is the Raven Maize remix of “The Real Life.” See previous albums for details on songs’ releases and chart peaks.

Cry

Rating: 3.029 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Released: April 1, 2002 Peak: -- US, 80 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Cry (3/02, 47 UK, 26 DF) G2, G3, 40 Spaceface (6/02, --) G2, G3 New Sunshine Morning (7/15/02, --) One Step Closer (11/02, --) G3 Face in the Sun Disconnected Lazy Lately Sugar Sleeping Girl Cry Again Slave Nation The Floating World Lead the Blind * For What It’s Worth * The Garden * New Sunrise * Where Is the Max? * * tracks from 2019 deluxe edition Total Running Time: 47:36

About the Album: A

Black and White 050505

Rating: 2.578 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Released: September 12, 2005 Peak: -- US, 37 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Stay Visible G3 Home (9/5/05, 41 UK, 26 DF) G2, G3, 40 Stranger (11/14/05, 29 DF) G3 Different World (Taormina.Me) (4/1/06, --) Underneath the Ice The Jeweller Part 2 (4/1/06, --) A Life Shot in Black and White Kiss the Ground Dolphins Total Running Time: 40:57

About the Album: A

Graffiti Soul

Rating: 2.803 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Released: May 25, 2009 Peak: -- US, 10 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, 0.17 world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Moscow Underground Rockets (4/09, 16 DF) G2, G3 Stars Will Lead the Way (7/20/09, --) G2, G3, 40 Light Travels (5/09, --) Kiss and Fly Graffiti Soul Blood Type O This Is It (7/09, --) Total Running Time: 42:52

About the Album: A

Searching for the Lost Boys

Rating: 2.626 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Released: May 25, 2009 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Tracks: Rockin’ in the Free World A Song from Under the Floorboards Christine Get a Grip on Yourself Let the Day Begin Peace, Love and Understanding Teardrop Whiskey in the Jar Sloop John B

About the Album: This album of covers was released as a bonus disc with a deluxe edition of Graffiti Soul. This is the band’s second covers album after 2001’s Neon Lights. The song “Let the Day Begin” was also released later on the 2014 studio album Big Music.

Celebrate: The Greatest Hits

Rating: 3.462 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: March 25, 2013 Covers: 1979-2013 Peak: -- US, 19 UK, -- CN, -- AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK, -- world (includes US and UK) 2-disc version, Disc 1: (1) Life in a Day (2) Chelsea Girl (3) Changeling (4) I Travel (5) Celebrate (6) The American (7) Love Story (8) Promised You a Miracle (9) Glittering Prize (10) Someone, Somewhere in Summertime (11) Waterfront (12) Speed Your Love to Me (13) Up on the Catwalk (14) Don’t You Forget About Me (15) Alive and Kicking (16) Sanctify Yourself (17) All the Things She Said (18) Ghost Dancing 2-disc version, Disc 2: (1) Belfast Child (2) This Is Your Land (3) Kick It In (4) Let There Be Love (5) See the Lights (6) Stand by Love (7) She’s a River (8) Hypnotised (9) Glitterball (10) War Babies (11) Space (12) Cry (13) Spaceface (14) Home (15) Rockets (16) Stars Will Lead the Way (17) Blood Diamonds (18) Broken Glass Park 3-Disc Version, Disc 1: (1) Life in a Day (2) Chelsea Girl (3) Changeling (4) I Travel (5) Celebrate (6) The American (7) Love Song (8) Sweat in Bullet (9) Theme for Great Cities (10) Promised You a Miracle (11) Glittering Prize (12) Someone, Somewhere in Summertime (13) New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (14) Waterfront (15) Speed Your Love to Me (16) Up on the Catwalk 3-Disc Version, Disc 2: (1) Don’t You Forget About Me (2) Alive and Kicking (3) Sanctify Yourself (4) All the Things She Said (5) Ghost Dancing (6) Promised You a Miracle (live) (7) Belfast Child (8) Mandela Day (9) Biko (10) This Is Your Land (11) Kick It In (12) Let It All Come Down (13) Let There Be Love (14) See the Lights (15) Stand by Love (16) Real Love 3-Disc Version, Disc 3: (1) She’s a River (2) Hypnotised (3) Glitterball (4) War Babies (5) Space (6) Jeweller to the Stars (7) Dancing Barefoot (8) Cry (9) Spaceface (10) One Step Closer (11) Home (12) Stranger (13) Stay Visible (14) Rockets (15) Stars Will Lead the Way (16) Stagefright (17) Blood Diamonds (18) Broken Glass Park

About the Album: This career retrospective came in two versions, either of which pretty much supplants any previous compilations. The collection introduced two new songs – “Blood Diamonds” and “Broken Glass Park” – which were then released on the next studio album, Big Music, as well. The 3-disc version also included the new song “Stagefright.”

Big Music

Rating: 2.178 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

Released: October 31, 2014 Peak: -- US, 12 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Blindfolded 40 Midnight Walking (2/9/14, --) Honest Town (10/10/14, --) 40 Big Music Human Blood Diamonds G2 Let the Day Begin (12/13/14, --) Concrete and Cherry Blossom Imagination Kill or Cure Broken Glass Park G2 Spirited Away Total Running Time: 51:44

About the Album: “Let the Day Begin” first appeared on the 2009 cover album Searching for the Lost Boys.

Walk Between Worlds

Rating: 2.716 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: February 25, 2018 Peak: -- US, 4 UK, -- CN, 82 AU, 12 DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Magic (1/4/18, --) 40 Summer (5/3/18, --) Utopia The Signal and the Noise (1/11/18, --) In Dreams Barrowland Star Walk Between Worlds Sense of Discovery (1/25/18, --) 40 Silent Kiss * Angel Underneath My Skin * Dirty Old Town (live) * * deluxe edition bonus tracks

About the Album: A

40: The Best of 1979-2019

Rating: 3.940 out of 5.00 (average of 4 ratings)

Released: November 1, 2019 Covers: 1979-2019 Peak: -- US, 27 UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Waterfront (2) Love Song (3) I Travel (4) Glittering Prize (5) Sense of Discovery (6) The American (7) Up on the Catwalk (8) She’s a River (9) Someone, Somewhere in Summertime (10) See the Lights (11) Jeweller to the Stars (12) War Babies (13) Belfast Child Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Home (2) Magic (3) Promised You a Miracle (4) This Is Your Land (5) Honest Town (6) Glittering Prize (acoustic) (7) Waterfront (acoustic) (8) See the Lights (acoustic) (9) Let There Be Love (10) New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (11) All the Things She Said (12) Once Upon a Time (13) Don’t You Forget About Me Tracks, Disc 3: (1) Chelsea Girl (2) Cry (3) Hypnotised (4) Stars Will Lead the Way (5) For One Night Only (6) Theme for Great Cities (7) Life in a Day (8) Changeling (9) Celebrate (10) Blindfolded (11) Sanctify Yourself (12) Mandela Day (13) Speed Your Love to Me (14) Alive and Kicking

About the Album: With only two new studio albums released since the last compilation, 2013’s Celebrate: The Greatest Hits, this anthology seems unnecessary – especially since the aforementioned set already came in a 3-disc version. It is also a detriment that the songs are not in chronological order. This set includes new song “For One Night Only,” which was released as a single on September 30, 2019.

Direction of the Heart

Released: October 21, 2022 Peak: -- US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU, -- DF Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Tracks: Vision Thing (6/14/22, --) First You Jump Human Traffic Who Killed Truth? Solstice Kiss Act of Love (1/17/22, --) Natural Planet Zero The Walls Came Down Total Running Time: 47:59

About the Album: A

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Simple Minds Dave’s Music Database: Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists Wikipedia page for First posted 10/10/2020; last updated 9/1/2022.