TSORT: Top 200 Songs, 1900-2020

First posted 4/3/2020.

Top 200 Songs: 1900-2020

TSORT aggregates multiple best-of lists (the site indicates 230 source charts, which include over 147,000 songs and more than 82,000 albums). By aggregating these lists, they’ve created an All Time Songs top 1000 list and have also adjusted that list to create better representation of songs from multiple eras. The latter, a list of 200 songs, is presented here. It makes for a much more representative “best of all time” list than most publications. 1. White Christmas… Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers (1942) 2. “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” Bill Haley & His Comets (1954) 3. Over the Rainbow… Judy Garland (1939) 4. “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” Bryan Adams (1991) 5. “Hey Jude” The Beatles (1968) 6. “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion (1997) 7. “Bleeding Love” Leona Lewis (2007) 8. “I Will Always Love You” Whitney Houston (1992) 9. “In the Mood” Glenn Miller Orchestra (1939) 10. “Dancing Queen” Abba (1976) 11. “She Loves You” The Beatles (1963) 12. “Hips Don’t Lie” Shakira with Wyclef Jean (2006) 13. “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” Pink Floyd (1979) 14. “Nothing Compares 2 U” Sinéad O’Connor (1990) 15. “Mack the Knife” Bobby Darin (1956) 16. “My Sweet Lord” George Harrison (1970) 17. “The Way You Look Tonight” Fred Astaire with Johnny Greer’s Orchestra (1936) 18. “Believe” Cher (1998) 19. “Imagine” John Lennon (1971) 20. “Jailhouse Rock” Elvis Presley (1957) 21. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” The Beatles (1963) 22. “Gangsta’s Paradise” Coolio with L.V. (1995) 23. “Bohemian Rhapsody” Queen (1975) 24. “Let It Be” The Beatles (1970) 25. “You’re the One That I Want” Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta (1978) 26. “Yeah!” Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris (2004) 27. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” Kylie Minogue (2001) 28. “We Are the World” USA for Africa (1985) 29. “Y.M.C.A.” Village People (1978) 30. “Pennies from Heaven” Bing Crosby with George Stoll’s Orchestra (1936) 31. “Baby One More Time” Britney Spears (1998) 32. “Mona Lisa” Nat “King” Cole (1950) 33. “Swanee” Al Jolson (1920) 34. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” Stevie Wonder (1984) 35. “Wannabe” Spice Girls (1996) 36. “Swinging on a Star” Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra & Williams Brothers Quartet (1944) 37. “Seasons in the Sun” Terry Jacks (1974) 38. “Stand by Me” Ben E. King (1961) 39. “(Oh) Pretty Woman” Roy Orbison (1964) 40. “Kung Fu Fighting” Carl Douglas (1974) 41. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” Procol Harum (1967) 42. “I’ll Be Missing You” Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 (1997) 43. “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees (1977) 44. “Like a Prayer” Madonna (1989) 45. “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” Elvis Presley (1960) 46. “Bette Davis Eyes” Kim Carnes (1981) 47. “American Pie” Don McLean (1971) 48. “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)” Lou Bega (1999) 49. “Lose Yourself” Eminem (2002) 50. “Flashdance...What a Feelin’” Irene Cara (1983) 51. “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” Elton John (1997) 52. “It’s Now or Never” Elvis Presley (1960) 53. “Mmmbop” Hanson (1997) 54. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” The Rolling Stones (1965) 55. “Happy Days Are Here Again” Ben Selvin (1930) 56. “Black or White” Michael Jackson (1991) 57. “You’re Beautiful” James Blunt (2005) 58. “Moonlight Serenade” Glenn Miller Orchestra (1939) 59. “If You Leave Me Now” Chicago (1976) 60. “Sentimental Journey” Les Brown with Doris Day (1945) 61. “Hung Up” Madonna (2005) 62. “Take on Me” a-ha (1985) 63. “California, Here I Come” Al Jolson with Isham Jones’ Orchestra (1924) 64. “Vogue” Madonna (1990) 65. “Angie” The Rolling Stones (1973) 66. “Don’t Speak” No Doubt (1996) 67. “Rock Me Amadeus” Falco (1986) 68. “Whenever, Wherever” Shakira (2001) 69. “The Prisoner’s Song” Vernon Dalhart (1925) 70. “In the Summertime” Mungo Jerry (1970) 71. “Unchained Melody” The Righteous Brothers (1965) 72. “Without Me” Eminem (2002) 73. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” Aerosmith (1998) 74. “Funkytown” Lipps Inc. (1980) 75. “Another Day in Paradise” Phil Collins (1989) 76. “I’m a Believer” The Monkees (1966) 77. “Lady Marmalade” Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, & Pink (2001) 78. “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” Los Del Rio (1995) 79. “Hotel California” Eagles (1976) 80. “One O’Clock Jump” Count Basie (1937) 81. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” Ray Charles (1962) 82. “It Had to Be You” Isham Jones (1924) 83. “Medley I” Stars on 45 (1981) 84. “Where Is the Love?” Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake (2003) 85. “Billie Jean” Michael Jackson (1982) 86. “Killing Me Softly” Fugees (1996) 87. “Hound Dog” Elvis Presley (1956) 88. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Band Aid (1984) 89. “The Stars and Stripes Forever” John Philip Sousa (1900) 90. “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” Arthur Collins with Byron Harlan (1911) 91. “Barbie Girl” Aqua (1997) 92. “Get Back” The Beatles with Billy Preston (1969) 93. “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody” Al Jolson (1918) 94. “Crazy” Gnarls Barkley (2006) 95. “Paper Doll” Mills Brothers (1942) 96. “Streets of Philadelphia” Bruce Springsteen (1994) 97. “Music” Madonna (2000) 98. “Frenesi” Artie Shaw & His Orchestra (1940) 99. “Down Hearted Blues” Bessie Smith (1923) 100. “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” Meat Loaf (1993) 101. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” Whitney Houston (1987) 102. “Joyride” Roxette (1991) 103. “Sexyback” Justin Timberlake (2006) 104. “Begin the Beguine” Artie Shaw (1938) 105. “Whispering” Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra (1920) 106. “Heart of Glass” Blondie (1978) 107. “Rivers of Babylon” Boney M (1978) 108. “Strangers in the Night” Frank Sinatra (1966) 109. “Minnie the Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song)” Cab Calloway (1931) 110. “Cheek to Cheek” Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra (1935) 111. “All You Need Is Love” The Beatles (1967) 112. “The Twist” Chubby Checker (1960) 113. “Tennessee Waltz” Patti Page (1950) 114. “Never Gonna Give You Up” Rick Astley (1987) 115. “Nobody” Bert Williams (1906) 116. “A Groovy Kind of Love” Phil Collins (1988) 117. Eamon “Fuck It (I Don’t Want You Back)” (2004) 118. “Informer” Snow (1993) 119. “Back for Good” Take That (1995) 120. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” Bobby McFerrin (1988) 121. “Papa Don’t Preach” Madonna (1986) 122. “You Belong to Me” Jo Stafford (1952) 123. “Cry” Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads (1951) 124. “Eye of the Tiger” Survivor (1982) 125. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana (1991) 126. “The Ketchup Song (Asereje)” Las Ketchup (2002) 127. “Karma Chameleon” Culture Club (1983) 128. “Tainted Love” Soft Cell (1981) 129. “Night Fever” Bee Gees (1977) 130. “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” Chauncey Olcott (1913) 131. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel (1970) 132. “Fernando” Abba (1976) 133. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” Culture Club (1982) 134. “Rock Your Baby” George McCrae (1974) 135. “Runaway” Del Shannon (1961) 136. “Help!” The Beatles (1964) 137. “What’s Up?” 4 Non Blondes (1993) 138. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” Harry Richman with Earl Burtnett & His Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra (1930) 139. “Maggie May” Rod Stewart (1971) 140. “All That She Wants” Ace of Base (1993) 141. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Elton John & Kiki Dee (1976) 142. “Woman in Love” Barbra Streisand (1980) 143. “Rum and Coca-Cola” The Andrews Sisters (1945) 144. “Tom Dooley” The Kingston Trio (1958) 145. “Don’t Fence Me In” Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters (1944) 146. “God Bless America” Kate Smith (1939) 147. “I Want to Know What Love Is” Foreigner (1984) 148. “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” Vaughn Monroe Orchestra (1949) 149. “I’ll Never Smile Again” Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers (1940) 150. “Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)” Benny Goodman (1938) 151. “To Be with You” Mr. Big (1992) 152. “Careless Whisper” George Michael (1984) 153. “Give My Regards to Broadway” Billy Murray (1905) 154. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” Ricky Martin (1999) 155. “Mr. Sandman” The Chordettes (1954) 156. “Rhythm Is a Dancer” Snap! (1992) 157. “All the Things She Said” t.A.T.u. (2003) 158. “Upside Down” Diana Ross (1980) 159. “Dragostea Din Tei” O-Zone (2004) 160. “End of the Road” Boyz II Men (1992) 161. “Every Breath You Take” The Police (1983) 162. “Let’s Twist Again” Chubby Checker (1961) 163. “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” Eiffel 65 (1999) 164. “Shut Up” Black Eyed Peas (2003) 165. “Return to Sender” Elvis Presley (1962) 166. “The House of the Rising Sun” The Animals (1964) 167. “Tiger Rag” Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1918) 168. “Mull of Kintyre” Paul McCartney & Wings (1977) 169. “Take My Breath Away” Berlin (1986) 170. “A Hard Day’s Night” The Beatles (1964) 171. “Paperback Writer” The Beatles (1966) 172. “Great Balls of Fire” Jerry Lee Lewis (1957) 173. “Good Vibrations” The Beach Boys (1966) 174. “Stan” Eminem with Dido (2000) 175. “Spirit in the Sky” Norman Greenbaum (1970) 176. “Sweet Georgia Brown” Ben Bernie (1925) 177. “These Boots Are Mde for Walkin’” Nancy Sinatra (1966) 178. “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” Tony Orlando & Dawn (1973) 179. “Wind of Change” The Scorpions (1991) 180. “Don’t Cha” The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes (2005) 181. “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra (1938) 182. “Without You” Mariah Carey (1994) 183. “All for Love” Bryan Adams with Rod Stewart & Sting (1994) 184. “The Final Countdown” Europe (1986) 185. “Bye Bye Blackbird” Gene Austin (1926) 186. “I’ve Been Thinking About You” Londonbeat (1990) 187. “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” Fred Astaire with Johnny Greer’s Orchestra (1937) 188. “Oops! I Did It Again” Britney Spears (2000) 189. “Shout” Tears for Fears (1984) 190. “Sixteen Tons” Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955) 191. “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” Les Paul & Mary Ford (1953) 192. “Sugar Sugar” The Archies (1969) 193. “Let’s Dance” David Bowie (1983) 194. “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” Bryan Adams (1995) 195. “Louie Louie” The Kingsmen (1963) 196. “La Bamba” Los Lobos (1987) 197. “Those Were the Days” Mary Hopkin (1968) 198. “I Feel Love” Donna Summer (1977) 199. “Dilemma” Nelly with Kelly Rowland (2002) 200. “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Means That You’re Grand)” The Andrews Sisters (1938) Resources and Related Links: TSORT: How is the site generated? TSORT: All Time Songs TSORT: What was the greatest chart song of all time? TSORT: source charts

Bryan Adams released So Far So Good compilation

First posted 9/11/2020.

So Far So Good Bryan Adams

Rating: 3.840 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings)

Released: November 2, 1993 Recorded: 1983-1993 Peak: 6 US, 1 UK, 1 CN, 114 AU Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 0.9 UK, 15.9 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock Tracks: (1) Summer of ’69 (2) Straight from the Heart (3) It’s Only Love (with Tina Turner) (4) Can’t Stop This Thing We Started (5) Do I Have to Say the Words? (6) This Time (7) Run to You (8) Heaven (9) Cuts Like a Knife (10) Everything I Do I Do It for You (11) Somebody (12) Kids Wanna Rock (13) Heat of the Night (14) Please Forgive Me Total Running Time: 62:28

Awards:

A Brief History: Born November 5, 1959, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Bryan Adams started his career in the mid-‘70s. At only 15 years old, he became the lead singer of Sweeney Todd, a pub band. In 1978, he met Jim Vallance from the rock band Prism. The two formed a songwriting partnership which produced dozens of hits throughout Adams’ career. Adams released his first solo album in 1980 and another followed in 1981. His third album, 1983’s Cuts Like a Knife, proved to be his breakthrough, giving him his first top-10 hit in the U.S. His 1984 Reckless album was a multi-platinum smash, as was his 1991 Waking Up the Neighbours, which gave Adams the biggest hit of his career with “Everything I Do (I Do It for You).” So Far So Good captures tracks from Adams’ four studio albums released between 1983 and 1991. Links go to dedicated DMDB pages, but these albums are all spotlighted on this page. Cuts Like a Knife (1983) Reckless (1984) Into the Fire (1987) Waking Up the Neighbours (1991) Songs featured on So Far So Good are noted below in the album snapshots. Following the song titles 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. Cuts Like a Knife (1983): After two solo albums, Adams third effort, Cuts Like a Knife, proved to be his breathrough. The album gave him his first top-ten hit in the U.S. and brought him attention on the album rock chart with the title cut. Cuts Like a Knife (2/12/83, 15 US, 6 AR, 12 CN, 55 AU) Straight from the Heart (3/12/83, 10 US, 32 AR, 51 UK, 20 CN, 98 AU) This Time (8/13/83, 24 US, 21 AR, 32 CN) Reckless (1984): Reckless proved to be a monster success, producing six top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including Heaven, his first #1 hit. Five of those songs are featured on So Far So Good. “One Night Love Affair” is omitted in favor of the less well-known, minor album rock hit Kids Wanna Rock. Heaven (1/28/84, #1 US, 9 AR, 12 AC, 38 UK, 11 CN, 4 AU, airplay: 2 million) Run to You (11/3/84, 6 US, 1 AR, 11 UK, 4 CN, 4 AU) It’s Only Love (with Tina Turner) (11/24/84, 15 US, 7 AR, 29 UK, 14 CN, 57 AU) Summer of ‘69 (12/8/84, 5 US, 40 AR, 42 UK, 11 CN, 3 AU, airplay: 1 million) Kids Wanna Rock (12/15/84, 42 AR) Somebody (1/19/85, 11 US, 1 AR, 35 UK, 13 CN, 76 AU) Into the Fire (1987): While Into the Fire didn’t meet with near the success of Reckless, it was still a platinum-selling, top-ten album. Only one song is represented on the So Far So Good collection although the album did produce the top 40 hits “Hearts on Fire” and “Victims of Love.” All three songs were top-10 album rock hits. Heat of the Night (3/28/87, 6 US, 2 AR, 50 UK, 7 CN, 25 AU) Waking Up the Neighbours (1991): After the relative disappointment of Into the Fire compared to the success of Reckless, one wouldn’t be off base to assume Adams’ career was on the down slide. However, he roared back with the huge #1 hit Everything I Do (I Do It for You) and a follow-up album which produced seven songs which made appearances on various charts. It’s surprising only three of those make appearances here. “Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven” was a top-20 hit and “There Will Never Be Another Tonight” hit the top 40. Everything I Do (I Do It for You) (6/29/91, 1 US, 1 UK, 10 AR, 1 AC, sales: 3 million, airplay: 3 million) Can’t Stop This Thing We Started (9/14/91, 2 US, 12 UK, 2 AR, 40 AC, sales: ½ million) Do I Have to Say the Words? (8/1/92, 10a US, 30 UK, 5 AC) So Far So Good (1993): This collection includes one song, the top-ten ballad Please Forgive Me. Originally, the album was supposed to have another new song entitled “So Far So Good,” but it was dropped. WK Overall, this hits package does a decent job of capturing the past decade of Adams’ career, but it could easily have included three or four more songs given that the running time is just over the hour mark. Please Forgive Me (10/23/93, 7 US, 2 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU)

Resources and Related Links: Bryan Adam’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry WK Wikipedia

Bryan Adams released Waking Up the Neighbours

First posted 3/28/2011; updated 9/10/2020.

Waking Up the Neighbours Bryan Adams

Released: September 24, 1991 Peak: 6 US, 11 UK, 110 CN, 14 AU Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 0.9 UK, 13.2 world (includes US and UK) Genre: mainstream rock

Tracks: (Click for codes to singles charts.) Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya? Hey Honey, I’m Packin’ You In! Can’t Stop This Thing We Started (9/14/91, 2 US, 12 UK, 2 AR, 40 AC, sales: ½ million) Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven (2/22/92, 13 US, 8 UK, 14 AR, 36 AC) Not Guilty Vanishing House Arrest Do I Have to Say the Words? (8/1/92, 10a US, 30 UK, 5 AC) There Will Never Be Another Tonight (11/23/91, 31 US, 32 UK, 36 AR) All I Want Is You (7/18/92, 22 UK) Depend on Me Everything I Do I Do It for You (6/29/91, 1 US, 1 UK, 10 AR, 1 AC, sales: 3 million, airplay: 3 million) If You Wanna Leave Me (Can I Come Too?) Touch the Hand (5/2/92, 13 AR) Don’t Drop That Bomb on Me

Rating: 3.177 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Quotable: “Old-fashioned good time…rock & roll.” – Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide Awards:

About the Album: “Although not as good as Reckless, Bryan Adams’ 1991 album, Waking up the Neighbours, signaled his commercial apex. Bridging the time gap between ‘80s arena rock and ‘90s angst-ridden grunge, the album also ushered in an era in which Adams became more known for his sweeping power ballads than his straight-ahead rock tunes. This album, filled with nearly 75 minutes of showstopping arena rockers and mid-tempo ballads, churned out no less than five hit singles, the most notable being the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves theme Everything I Do I Do It for You. That ballad spent seven weeks atop the U.S. pop charts, becoming the longest-reigning American chart-topper since Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ seven years earlier. The song also became a phenomenon in Europe, becoming Adams’ biggest hit ever” JF with a whopping sixteen weeks atop the UK chart. “Other singles which followed included the joyous rocker Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, which became a number two hit, the mid-tempo ballads Do I Have to Say the Words? and Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven, and the fun, straight-ahead rocker There Will Never Be Another Tonight.” JF “Waking up the Neighbours was co-produced by Robert Jon ‘Mutt’ Lange, and as a result, many of these songs sound as though they could have easily been Def Leppard recordings, especially All I Want Is You, which sounds like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ part two. Nonetheless, Waking up the Neighbours is a fun album and perfect for those who expect nothing more than an old-fashioned good time from their rock & roll.” JF

Resources and Related Links: Bryan Adams’ DMDB Encyclopedia entry Mutt Lange’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry JF Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide

Bryan Adams hit #1 with “Everything I Do” for first of 7 weeks

Everything I Do (I Do It for You) Bryan Adams

Writer(s): Bryan Adams/Robert John "Mutt" Lange/Michael Kamen (see lyrics here) Released: June 18, 1991 First Charted: June 29, 1991 Peak: 17 US, 16 CB, 17 GR, 16 RR, 18 AC, 10 AR, 116 UK, 19 CN, 111 AU, 4 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.1 US, 2.0 UK, 15.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 936.0 video, 353.41 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: A tune written by “filmscore specialist” HL Michael Kamen back in the 1960s HL re-surfaced via the motion picture Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, now with the idea that it be a theme for Maid Marian, be sung by a female lead, KL and be recorded with medieval instruments. HL It ended up as a modernized rock ballad by Bryan Adams that was produced by “Mutt” Lange, who had worked with AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Foreigner. Kamen was rejected by Kate Bush and Annie Lennox before getting Julia Fordham to demo the song with Peter Cetera. That effort was turned down, as was another by Lisa Stansfield. Finally, Bryan Adams was suggested. KL Once Adams and Lange added their touches, “Everything I Do” bore little resemblance to the original piece by Kamen, although he still got a co-writing credit. The song now took on rock instrumentation HL because, as Adams told Q magazine: “We don’t want lutes and mandolins on this – this is a pop record!” FB Kamen disagreed, saying “they were asking us to make a transition…from 1195 to 1991 in the same breath.” FB The film producers wanted the melody rewritten, but the writers refused, BB resulting in the song being relegated to the end credits of the movie. TB The banishment didn’t hurt the song at all; it was #1 in the U.K. for 16 weeks, a feat only eclipsed by Frankie Laine’s 18-week run in 1953 with “I Believe.” It was also the biggest pop hit of 1991 in the U.S., CPM topped 28 other countries’ charts, TB and sold more than eight million copies globally to become one of the biggest selling singles of all time. BBC Resources: BBC BBC Radio 2 (2004). “Sold on Song Top 100” BB Billboard (9/08). “All-Time Hot 100” FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 792. HL Michael Heatley and Spencer Leigh (1998). Behind the Song: The Stories of 100 Great Pop & Rock Classics. Blandford Books: London, UK. Page 40. KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits: The Stories Behind Every Number One Single Since 1952. London, Great Britain: Omnibus Press. Page 370. TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 249. CPM Joel Whitburn (1999). A Century of Pop Music. Record Research, Inc.: Menomonee Falls, WI. Page 122. Related Links: First posted 16/29/2012; last updated 4/12/2023.