Top 50 New Wave Acts

New Wave: Top 50 Acts

New wave was a genre of music which emerged in the late ‘70s in the United States and United Kingdom. It grew out of punk rock, a more guitar-based and aggressive sound, but became more commercial with its more smoothed-out synthesizer-driven and danceable sound as well as colorful, trendy wardrobe. This list was created by aggregating 15 best-of lists focused on new wave acts. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre. Talking Heads 1. Talking Heads 2. Blondie 3. The Cure 4. Depeche Mode 5. The Cars 6. The B-52’s 7. Devo 8. The Police 9. New Order 10. Duran Duran 11. Tears for Fears 12. Elvis Costello 13. INXS 14. Culture Club 15. Echo & the Bunnymen 16. Psychedelic Furs 17. Eurythmics 18. Siouxsie & the Banshees 19. The Human League 20. ABC 21. Simple Minds 22. Pretenders 23. Joy Division 24. Aha 25. XTC 26. Adam Ant 27. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 28. A Flock of Seagulls 29. Erasure 30. The Smiths 31. Pet Shop Boys 32. Berlin 33. The Go-Go’s 34. Oingo Boingo 35. Soft Cell 36. Squeeze 37. Joe Jackson 38. Bangles 39. The Jam 40. Men at Work 41. Television 42. Billy Idol 43. The Fixx 44. Madness 45. Bananarama 46. Ultravox 47. Thompson Twins 48. Talk Talk 49. Spandau Ballet 50. Howard Jones Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Top 250 New Wave/College Rock Songs Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre First posted 7/1/2026.

College Rock: Top 30 Acts

College Rock: Top 30 Acts

College rock emerged in the 1980s as sort of the birth of alternative rock before that term was widely used. It got its name because of the prevalence of radio stations at college universities that would play left-of-mainstream material. Some of the genres most prominent artists (R.E.M., U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers) went on to become some of the biggest mainstream acts of the 1980s and ‘90s while others maintained more of a niche audience (The Replacements, Pixies, Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth) but have become critically acclaimed bands because of their place in rock and roll history. 11 lists focused on college rock acts were aggegrated to create this list. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre. R.E.M. 1. R.E.M. 2. The Smiths 3. The Cure 4. The Replacements 5. U2 6. Pixies 7. Hüsker Dü 8. Red Hot Chili Peppers 9. XTC 10. The Smithereens 11. Sonic Youth 12. 10,000 Maniacs 13. Love & Rockets 14. Camper Van Beethoven 15. Talking Heads 16. The B-52’s 17. Echo & the Bunnymen 18. Midnight Oil 19. Dinosaur Jr. 20. Elvis Costello 21. The Police 22. Tears for Fears 23. INXS 24. Joy Division 25. Pretenders 26. Violent Femmes 27. Siouxsie & the Banshees 28. Psychedelic Furs 29. The Jesus & Mary Chain 30. Big Star Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre Dave’s Music Database: Top 250 New Wave/College Rock Songs First posted 6/29/2026.

Elvis Costello: His Top 50 Songs

Elvis Costello Top 50 Songs

Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello was born Declan McManus in Paddington, London, England, on August 25, 1954. He changed his name to Elvis Costello in 1976. He came out of the British punk/new wave scene in 1977 and became one of the most celebrated musicians of all time with his diverse abilities for dipping his toe into multiple musical genres including R&B, country, and classical. Click here to see other best-of lists from other performers, including best albums or songs by specific acts.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. DMDB Top 2%: 1. Alison (1977) DMDB Top 5%: 2. Radio Radio (1978) 3. What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding (1978) 4. Pump It Up (1978) 5. Watching the Detectives (1977) 6. Oliver’s Army (1979) 7. Veronica (1989) DMDB Top 10%: 8. Everyday I Write the Book (1983) 9. Accidents Will Happen (1979) DMDB Top 20%: 10. I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea (1978) 11. A Good Year for the Roses (1981) 12. I Want You (1986) 13. The Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes (1977) 14. I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down (1980) 15. Less Than Zero (1977) 16. Clubland (1981) 17. The Other Side of Summer (1991) 18. The Only Flame in Town (1984) 19. Man Out of Time (1982) 20. High Fidelity (1980) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 21. Shipbuilding (1983) 22. Pills and Soap (1983) 23. Party Party (1982) 24. 13 Steps Lead Down (1994) 25. Monkey to Man (2004) 26. Watch Your Step (1981) 27. This Town (1989) 28. Baby Plays Around (1989) 29. From a Whisper to a Scream (1981) 30. Unwanted Number (2018) 31. New Amsterdam (1980) 32. Let Him Dangle (1989) 33. Tramp the Dirt Down (1989) 34. Green Shirt (1979) 35. Lipstick Vogue (1978) 36. Sweet Dreams of You (1981) 37. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (1986) 38. Psycho (1979) 39. Brilliant Mistake (1986) 40. Welcome to the Working Week (1977) 41. I’m Your Toy (1981) 42. I’m Not Angry (1977) 43. I Wanna Be Loved (1984) 44. Tokyo Storm Warning (1986) 45. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror (1989) 46. Let Them All Talk (1983) 47. All This Useless Beauty (1996) 48. Six Months in Kansas City (2014) 49. From Head to Toe (1982) 50. You Little Fool (1982) Related Links: First posted 8/25/2017; last updated 4/24/2026.

Elvis Costello: His Top 20 Albums

Elvis Costello Top 20 Albums

Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello was born Declan McManus in Paddington, London, England, on August 25, 1954. He changed his name to Elvis Costello in 1976. He came out of the British punk/new wave scene in 1977 and became one of the most celebrated musicians of all time with his diverse abilities for dipping his toe into multiple musical genres including R&B, country, and classical. While these lists reflect a definite emphasis on his work from the ‘70s and ‘80s, Costello continues to make adventurous music. His fans never know just where he might go on his next album. Click here to see other best-of lists from other performers, including best albums or songs by specific acts.

Awards:

Top 20 Albums Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by album’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, critics’ ratings, and awards. This list focuses only on studio releases, not on compilations, live recordings, or archival collections. This Year’s Model (1978) My Aim Is True (1977) Armed Forces (1979) Imperial Bedroom (1982) Get Happy!! (1980) King of America (1986) Blood and Chocolate (1986) Trust (1981) Spike (1989) The Delivery Man (2004) Punch the Clock (1983) When I Was Cruel (2002) National Ransom (2010) Almost Blue (1981) Look Now (2018) Brutal Youth (1994) Painted from Memory (with Burt Bacharach, 1998) Mighty Like a Rose (1991) Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (2009) All This Useless Beauty (1996) Related Links: First posted 8/25/2012; last updated 4/24/2026.

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Willie Nelson: Top 100 Songs

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Willie Nelson Top 100 Songs

Country singer/songwriter Willie Nelson was born on 4/29/1933 in Abbott, TX. He wrote hits for others before becoming a successful singer in his own right. He moved to Nashville in 1960 and moved back to Texas in 1970. He pioneered the “outlaw” country movement. He appeared in several movies including The Electric Horseman (1979), Honeysuckle Rose (1980), and Barbarosa (1982). Dave’s Music Database initially posted its ranking of the top 10 Willie Nelson songs on its Facebook page in response to a July 12, 2010, Paste magazine list of The 10 Best Willie Nelson Songs. It was updated and expanded to a top 80 list here in honor of Nelson’s 80th birthday (April 30, 2013). In 2023, it was expanded again – this time to a top 100 list – in honor of Nelson’s 90th birthday and the announcement that he would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This list includes songs written by Nelson but performed by others (noted in parentheses) and songs Nelson covered which have DMDB higher-ranked versions by other artists (*). For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Crazy (recorded by Patsy Cline, written by Willie Nelson; 1961) 2. Always on My Mind (1982) #1 CW DMDB Top 2%: 3. On the Road Again (1980) #1 CW DMDB Top 5%: 4. Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys (with Waylon Jennings, 1978) #1 CW 5. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (1975) #1 CW 6. Good Hearted Woman (live with Waylon Jennings, 1975) #1 CW 7. Georgia on My Mind (1978) * #1 CW 8. To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias, 1984) #1 CW 9. Pretty Paper (written by Willie Nelson, performed by Roy Orbison, 1963) 10. Hello Walls (recorded by Faron Young, written by Willie Nelson; 1961) #1 CW 11. Pancho and Lefty (with Merle Haggard, 1983) * 12. Yesterday (2014) * DMDB Top 10%: 13. The Highwayman (with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, & Kris Kristofferson, 1985) #1 CW 14. Blue Skies (1978) #1 CW * 15. All of Me (1978) * 16. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1980) #1 CW DMDB Top 20%: 17. City of New Orleans (1984) * #1 CW 18. Just Breathe (2012) * 19. Heartbreak Hotel (with Leon Russell, 1979) * #1 CW 20. September Song (1978) * 21. America the Beautiful (2001) * 22. Mona Lisa (1981) * 23. Baby It’s Cold Outside (with Norah Jones, 2009) * 24. Fire and Rain (1975) * 25. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, performed by Al Green with Lyle Lovett, 1994) 26. Help Me Make It Through the Night (1979) * 27. Without a Song (1983) * 28. Beer for My Horses (with Toby Keith, 2002) #1 CW Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 29. Live Forever (with Lucinda Williams, 2022) 30. Whiskey River (live, 1978) 31. It Was a Very Good Year (with Ray Charles, 2004) * 32. Let It Be Me (1982) 33. If I Were a Carpenter (with Sheryl Crow, 2007) * 34. What a Wonderful World (1988) * 35. Night Life (written by Willie Nelson, recorded by Rusty Draper, 1963) 36. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (with Waylon Jennings, 1982) * 37. If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time (1976) * #1 CW 38. Pretty Paper (1963) 39. Crazy (1962) 40. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (1981) * 41. Remember Me (1975) 42. Just to Satisfy You (with Waylon Jennings, 1982) #1 CW 43. Night Life (1965) 44. Forgiving You Was Easy (1985) #1 CW 45. Funny How Time Slips Away (1962) 46. That Lucky Old Sun (with Kenny Chesney, 2008) * 47. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, recorded by Jimmy Elledge, 1961) 48. Seven Spanish Angels (with Ray Charles, 1984) #1 CW 49. Night Life (written by Nelson, recorded by Ray Price, 1963) 50. Everything’s Beautiful in Its Own Way (with Dolly Parton, 1982) 51. Take It to the Limit (with Waylon Jennings, 1983) * 52. Pretty Paper (with Kenny Chesney, 2003) 53. Angels Flying Too Close to the Sun (1981) #1 CW 54. Twilight Time (1988) * 55. Hello Walls (1962) 56. Living in the Promiseland (1986) #1 CW 57. Funny How Time Slips Away (Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass with Willie Nelson, 1980) 58. Nothing I Can Do About It (1989) #1 CW 59. Uncloudy Day (1976) 60. Bloody Mary Morning (1974) 61. Faded Love (with Ray Price, 1980) * 62. Me and Paul (1972, re-recorded in 1985) 63. Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning (1982) 64. Half a Man (1963) 65. The Party’s Over (1967) 66. Good Times (1968) 67. Crazy Arms (1970) * 68. Heart of Gold (1986) * 69. On the Street Where You Live (2009) * 70. Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) (1973) 71. Yesterday’s Wine (1971) 72. Touch Me (1962) 73. Willingly (with Shirley Collie, 1962) 74. Funny How Time Slips Away (written by Nelson, recorded by Billy Walker, 1961) 75. Reasons to Quit (with Merle Haggard, 1983) 76. If You Can Touch Her at All (with Waylon Jennings, 1978) 77. I’d Have to Be Crazy (1976) 78. Shotgun Willie (1973) 79. Midnight Rider (1979) * 80. Sweet Memories (1979) 81. She’s Not for You (1965) 82. The Last Letter (1963) 83. Why Do I Have to Choose (1983) 84. Little Old Fashioned Karma (1983) 85. You Took My Happy Away (1964) 86. If I Could Only Fly (with Merle Haggard, 1987) 87. I Love You a Thousand Ways (1977) 88. Something to Brag About (with Mary Kay Place, 1977) 89. Wabash Cannonball (with Hank Wilson, 1984) * 90. I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone (1974) 91. You Ought to Hear Me Cry (1977) 92. I’m a Memory (1971) 93. One in a Row (1966) 94. Bring Me Sunshine (1968) 95. I Hope So (1969) 96. Blackjack County Chain (1967) 97. Graceland (with Paul Simon, 1993) * 98. Little Things (1968) 99. Once More with Feeling (1970) 100. I Just Can’t Let You Say Goodbye (1965) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Willie Nelson Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 4/30/2013; updated 5/6/2023.