Saturday, August 4, 2012

Top 500 Songs of the 1960s

I wrote the preamble yesterday.  Read it here for a more detailed explanation of how this list came to be.  This is the 5th, and most difficult so far of the five best-of-the-decades lists I've made.  It's also the first one that I'm posting first on the blog without having previously appeared elsewhere.  The blog generally has led to less quibbling than I anticipated when I first introduced the blog.  Perhaps that will change now.

500) George Jones - I've Got Five Dollars And It's Satuday Night (1967)
499) Hollywood Argyles - Alley Oop (1960)
498) Herman's Hermits - Leaning On A Lamp Post (1964)
497) Shel Naylor - One Fine Day (1964)
496) Joe Hinton - Funny (1964)
495) Sonny James - Running Bear (1969)
494) The New Colony Six - At the River's Edge (1966)
493) Marianne Faithfull - Summer Nights (1965)
492) Patterson Singers - King Jesus Is My All in All (1962)
491) Clovers - Lovey (1960)
490) Chuck Berry - Jaguar & Thunderbird (1960)
489) Joe Tex - I Believe I'm Gonna Make It (1966)
488) The Knickerbockers - Lies (1965)
487) Earl-Jean - I'm Into Somethin' Good (1964)
486) Dee Mullins - Texas Tea (1969)
485) The Move - Wild Tiger Woman (1969)
484) Pink Floyd - Remember A Day (1969)
483) The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
482) Claude King - Wolverton Mountain (1962)
481) Little Jerry Williams - Hum-Baby (1963)
480) Toots & The Maytals - Broadway Jungle (1964)
479) The Kinks - Where Have All The Good Times Gone (1966)
478) Tammy Wynette - Kids Say The Darndest Things (1968)
477) Marmalade - I See The Rain (1968)
476) Chet Atkins - A Taste Of Honey (1967)
475) The Impressions - Choice of Colors (1969)
474) The Zombies - I Want You Back Again (1965)
473) Recalls - Nobody's Guy (1965)
472) Little Anthony & The Imperials - Hurt So Bad (1965)
471) Bob Dylan - The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest (1967)
470) Chubby Checker - The Twist (1960)
469) Symarip - Skinhead Moonstomp (1969)
468) Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts (1964)
467) Joker's Wild - All I See Is You (1968)
466) Booker T. & The MG's - Chinese Checkers (1963)
465) First Gear - Leave My Kitten Alone (1964)
464) Kaleidoscope - If The Night (1967)
463) Dee Dee Sharp - Mashed Potato Time (1962)
462) Thunderclap Newman - Something In the Air (1969)
461) Chicago - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is (1969)
460) John Barry - Vendetta (1966)
459) Dave Cortez With The Moon People - Happy Soul With A Hook (1968)
458) Solomon Burke - Got to Get You Off My Mind (1965)
457) The Grass Roots - Let's Live For Today (1967)
456) The Paragons - The Tide Is High (1967)
455) Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
454) Jefferson Airplane - Martha (1967)
453) Chantay's - Pipeline (1963)
452) Faron Young - Hello Walls (1961)
451) The Marvelows - Do (1965)
450) Roy Harper - Big Fat Silver Aeroplane (1966)
449) Lee Morgan - Take Twelve (1962)
448) Open Mind - Thor The Thunder God (1969)
447) Turtles - You Know What I Mean (1967)
446) Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense and Peppermint (1967)
445) Phoenix Singers - Ole Gator (1963)
444) The Gestures - Run, Run, Run (1964)
443) The Choir - It's Cold Outside (1967)
442) Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' Easy (1960)
441) Jackson, Wanda - Let's Have A Party (1960)
440) Joe Tex - Wooden Spoon (1968)
439) The Ikettes - I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song) (1961)
438) Billy Jo Spears - Get Behind Me Satan And Push (1968)
437) Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue (1969)
436) The Youngbloods - Merry-Go-Round (1966)
435) Sly & The Family Stone - Hot Fun In The Summertime (1969)
434) Van Morrison - Who Drove the Red Sports Car (1967)
433) Dion and The Belmonts - The Wanderer (1961)
432) Karen Verros - You Just Gotta Know My Mind (1965)
431) Jimmy Dean - Big Bad John (1961)
430) Joe Henderson - Caribbean Fire Dance (1966)
429) Carl Perkins - Just Coastin' (1969)
428) Louis Gittens - Spider Walk (1962)
427) Major Lance - The Monkey Time (1963)
426) The Granville Williams Orchestra - Hi-Life (1966)
425) Scott McKenzie - San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) - Scott (1967)
424) Judy Clay - It Ain't Long Enough (1969)
423) Lesley Gore - It's My Party (1963)
422) Cliff Nobles & Co. - The Horse (1968)
421) Bob Dylan - Lay, Lady, Lay (1969)
420) Van Morrison - Sweet Thing (1968)
419) The Electric Prunes - I Had To Much To Dream (Last Night) (1967)
418) The Band - King Harvest (1969)
417) Beach Boys - Surfin Safari (1962)
416) Robert Wyatt - Slow Walkin' Talk (1968)
415) Hugo Montenegro And His Orchestra - Our Man Flint (1966)
414) Booker T. & The MG's - Groovin' (1967)
413) Les McCann - Compared To What? (1966)
412) Charlie Rich - Midnite Blues (1962)
411) Oliver Nelson - Soul Street (1960)
410) Ray Ellington - The Madison (1962)
409) Dolly Parton - You're Gonna Be Sorry (1968)
408) King Curtis - Memphis Soul Stew (1967)
407) Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! (1969)
406) Lowell Fulson - Tramp (1967)
405) Dexter Gordon - Cheese Cake (1962)
404) Ike & Tina Turner - It's Gonna Work Out Fine (1960)
403) Fred Neil - Sweet Cocaine (1967)
402) Eddy Arnold - Cowpoke (1963)
401) Petula Clark - Downtown (1964)

400) Gladys Knight & The Pips - Friendship Train (1969)
399) The Animals - It's My Life (1965)
398) The Youngbloods - Euphoria (1967)
397) The Barbarians - Moulty (1966)
396) John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - I'm Your Witchdoctor (1965)
395) Blood, Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel (1969)
394) Jeannie C. Riley - Harper Valley P.T.A. (1968)
393) Desmond Dekker & The Aces - 007 (Shanty Town) (1967)
392) Jackie Brenston - Trouble Up The Road--Jackie Brenston (1961)
391) Eddie Floyd - Big Bird (1968)
390) Barret Strong - Money (That's What I Want) (1960)
389) Them - Here Comes the Night (1965)
388) Roger Miller - Dang Me (1964)
387) Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues (1967)
386) Bobby Vinton - Blue Velvet (1963)
385) The 5th Dimension - Aquarius (1969)
384) The Critters - The Teddy Bear Affair (1969)
383) Jimmy McCracklin - Just Got To Know (1961)
382) Gerry & the Pacemakers - How Do You Do It? (1963)
381) Monkees - Theme (1966)
380) Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay (1960)
379) Keith Anderson - I Need a Hit (1966)
378) Joe Tex - I'm A Man (1966)
377) The Creation - Making Time (1966)
376) Neil Young - Mr. Soul (1967)
375) Merle Travis & Joe Maphis - Blast Off (1964)
374) Richard Kiley - The Impossible Dream (The Quest) (1965)
373) Mitty Collier - I Had A Talk With My Man (1964)
372) Procol Harum - In The Wee Small Hours Of Sixpence (1968)
371) Shorty Long - Function At The Junction (1966)
370) Procol Harum - Boredom (1969)
369) O.V. Wright - Drowning On Dry Land (1968)
368) The Four Tops - You Keep Running Away (1967)
367) William Bell - You Don't Miss Your Water (1962)
366) Amoebas - Look at the Moon (1965)
365) The Impressions - This Is My Country (1968)
364) Temptations - The Way You Do The Things You Do (1964)
363) Waylon Jennings - Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line (1968)
362) Los Zafiros - Bossa Cubana (1965)
361) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Point It Out (1969)
360) Thee Midniters - Jump, Jive & Harmonize (1967)
359) Manfred Mann - Semi-Detatched. Suburban Mr. James (1966)
358) Mike Page - Long Black Shiny Car (1960)
357) The Staple Singers - The Ghetto (1968)
356) Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans (1961)
355) Bert Kaempfert - Afrikaan Beat (1963)
354) The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night (1965)
353) Booker T. & The MG's - Hang 'Em High (1968)
352) The Guess Who - These Eyes (1969)
351) Billy Stewart - I Do Love You (1965)
350) ? & The Mysterians - Can't Get Enough of You, Baby (1967)
349) Frank Sinatra - Strangers in the Night (1966)
348) Stark Reality - Say Brother (1968)
347) The Honeybus - How Long (1968)
346) Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number (1968)
345) Hal Linden - It's De-lovely (1962)
344) The Ventures - Journey To The Stars (1964)
343) Dionne Warwick - Promises, Promises (1968)
342) Jose Feliciano - High Heeled Sneakers (1969)
341) Otis Redding - I've Been Loving You Too Long (1965)
340) The Delfonics - Ready Or Not, Here I Come (1969)
339) Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson And Clover (1969)
338) Jim Tyler & Orchestra - Whatever Lola Wants (1962)
337) Ella Fitzgerald - Duke's Place (C Jam Blues) (1965)
336) Beach Boys - Fun, Fun ,Fun (1964)
335) Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law (1966)
334) The Doors - The End (1967)
333) The Beatles - In My Life (1965)
332) Sly & The Family Stone - Everybody Is A Star (1969)
331) Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation (1968)
330) The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon (1967)
329) Paul Revere & The Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay - Kicks (1966)
328) Fats Domino - Walking To New Orleans (1960)
327) Neil Young - Burned (1966)
326) Jefferson Airplane - Crown Of Creation (1968)
325) Iveys - Yesterday Ain't Coming Back (1969)
324) Shirley Bassey - Goldfinger (1964)
323) Temptations - (I Know) I'm Losing You (1967)
322) The Ventures - Fugitive (1964)
321) Dusty Springfield - Little By Little (1966)
320) Jerry Reed - Wayfaring Stranger (1969)
319) Jack Bruce - The Ministry Of Bag (1969)
318) The Sir Douglas Quintet - She's About a Mover (1965)
317) J.B. Lenoir - Mojo Boogie (1966)
316) Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man (1966)
315) Zager And Evans - In the Year 2525 (1969)
314) Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra - Some Velvet Morning (1967)
313) Diana Ross & The Supremes - I'm Livin' In Shame (1969)
312) Margaret Lewis - Conscience I'm Guilty (1962)
311) Shirley Ellis - The Real Nitty Gritty (1963)
310) The Beau Brummels - Just A Little (1965)
309) Ben E. King - Stand By Me (1961)
308) Fleetwood Mac - Albatross (1969)
307) Jorge Ben Jor - Bebete Vaobora (1969)
306) Johnny Cash & June Carter - Oh, What a Good Thing We Had (1967)
305) Link Wray - Ace of Spades (1966)
304) William Bell - Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday (1967)
303) Link Wray - The Black Widow (1963)
302) Quicksilver Messenger Service - Dino's Song (1968)
301) Prince Buster - Cincinatti Kid (1969)
300) Manfred Mann - With God On Our Side (1965)
299) Clara Ward Singers - If I Had My Way (1961)
298) Manfred Mann - Do Wah Diddy Diddy (1964)
297) Bobby Womack - Fly Me To The Moon (1968)
296) The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - Rocket 88 (1967)
295) Peter, Paul And Mary - Going to the Zoo (1963)
294) Esquivel - Music Makers (1960)
293) The Crystals - Then He Kissed Me (1963)
292) Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale (1967)
291) Hollywood Persuaders - Drums A Go-Go (1965)
290) Lemon Pipers - Green Tambourine (1968)
289) Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Walk Like A Man (1963)
288) The Marketts - Batman Theme - The Marketts (1966)
287) Chuck Berry - I'm Talking About You (1961)
286) Simon & Garfunkel - I Am A Rock (1965)
285) Turtles - Happy Together (1967)
284) The Doors - Touch Me (1969)
283) William Bell - Born Under A Bad Sign (1969)
282) Jr. Walker & The All Stars - Shake And Fingerpop (1965)
281) Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (1966)
280) Frank Sinatra - My Way (1969)
279) Pink Floyd - Bike (1968)
278) The Isley Brothers - Tell Me Who (1960)
277) Peter, Paul And Mary - If I Had a Hammer (1962)
276) Three Dog Night - One (1969)
275) Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - A Taste of Honey (1965)
274) The Exciters - Tell Him (1962)
273) The Friends Of Distinction - Grazing In The Grass (1969)
272) The Sonics - Strychnine (1965)
271) Al Caiola & His Orchestra - The Magnificent Seven (1961)
270) Vince Guaraldi - Skating (1965)
269) The Four Tops - What Is A Man (1969)
268) Dolly Parton - Down from Dover (1969)
267) Gene Pitney - (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance (1962)
266) ? & The Mysterians - 96 Tears (1966)
265) Country Gentlemen - Roving Gambler (1960)
264) Etta & Harvey - If I Can't Have You (1960)
263) Terry Callier - Spin Spin Spin (1968)
262) Gilberto Gil - Bat Macumba (1968)
261) The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (1965)
260) The Zombies - Just Out Of Reach (1966)
259) Lou Blackburn - Manha De Carnaval (1963)
258) Johnnie Taylor - Can't Trust Your Neighbor (1968)
257) The Impressions - People Get Ready (1965)
256) Jorge Ben Jor - Mas, Que Nada (1963)
255) Sam & Dave - I Thank You (1968)
254) Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder (1964)
253) Roy Orbison - Crying (1962)
252) Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice (1966)
251) Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers (1969)
250) Gal Costa - Pais Tropical (1969)
249) Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1969)
248) Del Reeves - Girl on a Billboard (1965)
247) Caetano Veloso - Irene (1969)
246) Joe Tex - Sit Yourself Down (1964)
245) Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today (1967)
244) Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl (1961)
243) The Shangri-Las - Remember (Walkin' In the Sand) (1964)
242) Rolling Stones - Time Is On My Side (1964)
241) Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
240) Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home (1969)
239) Bert Jansch - Strolling Down The Highway (1965)
238) Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride (1968)
237) The Velvet Underground - Beginning To See The Light (1968)
236) Prince Buster - Too Hot (1967)
235) Ella Fitzgerald - Smooth Sailing (1965)
234) Mama Cass Elliot - Make Your Own Kind Of Music (1968)
233) Frank Zappa - Trouble Every Day (1966)
232) Henry Mancini & His Orchestra And Chorus - The Pink Panther Theme (1964)
231) Jan and Dean - Dead Man's Curve (1964)
230) The Shangri-Las - Leader of the Pack (1964)
229) The Move - Kilroy Was Here (1967)
228) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (1967)
227) Little Milton - Grits Ain't Groceries (1969)
226) Bobby "Blue" Bland - I've Just Got To Forget You (1960)
225) Roger Miller - King of the Road (1965)
224) MC5 - Kick Out the Jams (1969)
223) Cream - Strange Brew (1967)
222) The Zombies - Time Of The Season (1968)
221) Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (1968)
220) Gloria Jones - Tainted Love (1964)
219) The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing (1969)
218) The Moody Blues - Lovely To See You (1969)
217) The Impressions - Gypsy Woman (1961)
216) The Box Tops - The Letter (1967)
215) James Carr - These Ain't Raindrops (1969)
214) Thelonious Monk - In Walked Bud (1967)
213) Tornadoes - Telstar (1962)
212) Jefferson Airplane - Embryonic Journey (1967)
211) Pink Floyd - See Emily Play (1967)
210) The Troggs - Wild Thing (1966)
209) The Supremes - You Keep Me Hanging On (1967)
208) Dion - He Looks A Lot Like Me (1968)
207) Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Put A Spell On You (1968)
206) The Ethiopians - Train To Skaville (1968)
205) The Surfaris - Wipe Out - The Surfaris (1963)
204) Linda Ronstadt - Different Drum (1967)
203) Jefferson Airplane - It's No Secret (1966)
202) Ella Fitzgerald - Desafinada (1962)
201) Ron Grainer - Doctor Who (1963)

200) Argo Singers - Divies (1964)
199) The Beatles - Lady Madonna (1968)
198) The Kinks - Shangri - La (1969)
197) The Animals - House of the Rising Sun (1964)
196) Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover (1962)
195) Oliver Nelson - The Meetin' (1960)
194) The Doors - Light My Fire (1967)
193) Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her (1967)
192) The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (1965)
191) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Love Land (1969)
190) The Kingsmen - Louie Louie (1963)
189) Chuck Berry - Promised Land (1964)
188) Merle Haggard - Okie from Muskogie (1969)
187) Patsy Cline - I Fall To Pieces (1961)
186) The Beatles - Eight Days A Week (1964)
185) Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Hip Chops (1964)
184) Skeeter Davis - Where I Ought To Be (1962)
183) The Staple Singers - When Will We Be Paid (1969)
182) S.E. Rogie - Twist With The Morningstars (1960)
181) Big Brother & The Holding Company - Piece Of My Heart (1968)
180) Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot - Bonnie And Clyde (1968)
179) Ray Charles - Hit the road Jack (1964)
178) Lesley Gore - You Don't Own Me (1963)
177) Stan Getz & João Gilberto - The Girl from Ipanema (1963)
176) Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965)
175) Ennio Morricone - Il Buono, Il Cattivo, Il Brutto (The Good, The Bad And The Ugly) (1966)
174) Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash (1968)
173) Werner Muller - Hawaiian War Chant (1967)
172) The Band - The Weight (1968)
171) The Supremes - Love Child (1968)
170) Eric Dolphy - Gazzelloni (1964)
169) Marty Robbins - Big Iron (1960)
168) Billy Mize - Planet Named Desire (1960)
167) Bo Diddley - Prisoner Of Love (1960)
166) Soft Machine - Hulloder (1968)
165) John Lennon - Give Peace A Chance (1969)
164) The Ventures - Hawaii Five-O (1969)
163) Marty Robbins - Ribbon Of Darkness (1965)
162) The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat (1969)
161) Jackie Wilson - Baby Workout (1963)
160) John Barry - The James Bond Theme (1962)
159) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tracks Of My Tears (1965)
158) Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) (1965)
157) Amboy Dukes Featuring Ted Nugent - Journey To The Center of the Mind (1968)
156) Bob Dylan - Blowin' In The Wind (1963)
155) Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam (1964)
154) Herbie Hancock - Blind Man, Blind Man (1963)
153) Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (1969)
152) The Beatles - Blackbird (1968)
151) Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin' (1967)
150) The Who - Pictures Of Lily (1967)
149) Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People (1969)
148) The Beatles - Paperback Writer (1966)
147) Badfinger - Come And Get It (1969)
146) Aretha Franklin - The House That Jack Built (1968)
145) Neil Diamond - Kentucky Woman (1968)
144) The Beatles - Day Tripper (1965)
143) Charles Mingus - Ecclusiastics (1962)
142) The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog (1969)
141) Sonny Clark - Melody For C (1961)
140) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Abraham, Martin And John (1969)
139) The Guess Who - Undun (1969)
138) Jimmy McCracklin - The Bitter And The Sweet (1963)
137) Temptations - I Can't Get Next To You (1969)
136) Skatalites - Ringo Rides (Aka Ringo) (1966)
135) The Beatles - Roll Over Beethoven (1963)
134) The Ronettes - Be My Baby (1963)
133) Moby Grape - Ain’t No Use (1967)
132) Phil Ochs - Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends (1968)
131) Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday (1967)
130) The Beatles - She Loves You (1963)
129) The Association - Along Comes Mary (1968)
128) The Kinks - You Really Got Me (1964)
127) Moody Blues - Ride My See-Saw (1968)
126) Lord Kitchener - Steel Band Music (1964)
125) Stevie Wonder - Fingertips, Part 2 (1962)
124) Dionne Warwick - Don't Make Me Over (1962)
123) The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me (1966)
122) The Marcels - Blue Moon (1961)
121) Sam & Dave - Soul Man (1967)
120) Cannonball Adderley - Well, You Needn't (1961)
119) Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden Ships (1969)
118) The Kinks - Tired Of Waiting For You (1965)
117) James Brown - Think (1960)
116) Peter, Paul And Mary - Puff (The Magic Dragon) (1963)
115) The Beatles - Got To Get You Into My Life (1966)
114) Rolling Stones - Get Off Of My Cloud (1966)
113) Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music (1968)
112) The Kinks - Stop Your Sobbing (1964)
111) Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman (1968)
110) The Who - I Can't Explain (1964)
109) Hugo Montenegro - In The Hall of the Mountain King (1960)
108) Scott Walker - The Old Man's Back Again (1969)
107) Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love (1969)
106) The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (1964)
105) Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Coming (1966)
104) Jimi Hendrix - Castles Of Made Of Sand (1967)
103) Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love (1967)
102) Love - Alone Again Or (1967)
101) Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday (1967)

100) Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Three For The Festival (1961)
99) Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower (1968)
98) The Who - I Can See For Miles (1967)
97) James Brown - Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud (1968)
96) Lee Morgan - The Hearing (1960)
95) The Youngbloods - Get Together (1967)
94) Aretha Franklin - Think (1968)
93) Charles Mingus - Solo Dancer (Stop! Look! And Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!) (1963)
92) The Four Tops - 7-Rooms Of Gloom (1967)
91) Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is? (1969)
90) Simon & Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) (1966)
89) The Ventures - Walk Don't Run (1960)
88) The Beatles - I Feel Fine (1964)
87) Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (1967)
86) The Rolling Stones - Dandelion (1967)
85) Bob Dylan - Maggie's Farm (1965)
84) The Drifters - On Broadway (1963)
83) O.V. Wright - Eight Men, Four Women (1967)
82) Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black (1966)
81) Soft Machine - Why Are We Sleeping? (1968)
80) Os Mutantes - A Minha Menina (1968)
79) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)
78) Rolling Stones - Sittin' On A Fence (1967)
77) Miles Davis & Gil Evans - Solea (1960)
76) Love - 7 & 7 Is (1967)
75) Beach Boys - California Girls (1965)
74) Lush Strings - Hawaiian War Chant ( ?)
73) Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood - Jackson (1968)
72) Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (1968)
71) Neil Diamond - I'm A Believer (1968)
70) The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love (1965)
69) The Mamas & the Papas - California Dreamin' (1966)
68) Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused (1969)
67) Nick Drake - River Man (1969)
66) The Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There (1966)
65) Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want (1969)
64) Gene Pitney - Town Without Pity (1962)
63) The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends (1967)
62) Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' (1966)
61) The Kinks - I'm Not Like Everybody Else (1966)
60) Herbie Hancock - Dolphin Dance (1965)
59) The Zombies - She's Not There (1964)
58) Beach Boys - Surfin USA (1963)
57) Emundo Ros - Brazil (1962)
56) Rolling Stones - Play With Fire (1965)
55) The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (1968)
54) The Who - My Generation (1965)
53) The Doors - People Are Stange (1967)
52) Jimi Hendrix - Manic Depression (1967)
51) The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin (1967)
50) Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five (1960)
49) Dave Dudley - Six Days on the Road (1963)
48) The Stooges - 1969 (1969)
47) Sun Ra - Urnack (1960)
46) James Brown - It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World (1966)
45) Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds Of Silence (1964)
44) Meters - Cissy Strut (1969)
43) David Bowie - Space Oddity (1969)
42) Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone (1965)
41) Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (1968)
40) The Beatles - Ticket to Ride (1965)
39) Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacre (1967)
38) James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good) (1965)
37) Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow's Parties (1967)
36) Dick Dale - Miserlou (1962)
35) The Beatles - Revolution (1968)
34) Duke Ellington With Charles Mingus & Max Roach - Wig Wise (1962)
33) Caetano Veloso - Tropicália (67) (1967)
32) The Beatles - Come Together (1969)
31) Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites (1969)
30) The Beatles - Eleanor Ribgy (1966)
29) Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1969)
28) Sun Ra - We Travel the Spaceways (1960)
27) Booker T. & The MG's - Green Onions (1962)
26) Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit (1967)
25) Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire (1963)
24) Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic (1967)
23) John Coltrane - Syeeda's Song Flute (1960)
22) Etta James - A Sunday Kind Of Love (1961)
21) Velvet Underground - There She Goes Again (1967)
20) Temptations - Cloud Nine (1968)
19) Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times (1969)
18) The Who - The Kids Are Alright (1965)
17) Patsy Cline - Crazy (1961)
16) Sun Ra - Interplanetary Music (1960)
15) Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson (1968)
14) Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze (1967)
13) Byrds - Eight Miles High (1966)
12) James Brown - Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (1964)
11) The Who - Pinball Wizard (1969)
10) Aretha Franklin - Respect (1967)
9) John Coltrane - Resolution (1964)
8) The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
7) Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come (1964)
6) Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil (1968)
5) Oliver Nelson - Stolen Moments (1961)
4) Temptations - Ball Of Confusion (1969)
3) The Beatles - A Day In The Life (1967)
2) Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (1965)
1) The Beatles - I Want to Hold Your Hand (1963)


That's it.  I'm sure I left out some good stuff.  I'm not prepared to revise the list anytime soon, but do let me know what's missing.  Remember that I mostly tried to follow a rule of no more than one song per record.  I granted myself approximately 20 so-called Stop Your Sobbin' exceptions to that rule, but I mostly honestly tried to follow it.

Also, I've included the dates, but I'm sure some of them are disputable.  The dates might be recording dates, UK release dates, US release dates, the date the single charted, or any number of other things.  I was so happy to find any date at all for many of these, I decided not to be concerned about having a consistent rule for the source.

Time to hear from the peanut gallery, aka the commentariat.

33 comments:

  1. I left out Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman". I didn't mean to. It's not a personal favorite or anything, but it belongs here somewhere. Oh well.

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  2. hi
    I'm really hoping you can help me - my mother died just before christmas and she wanted a song played for her at her funeral but I just cannot find it. anywhere.. it was called "on top of the world" or "sitting on top of the world" or "top of the world" - and it was sung by a blonde woman - thats all she could say - I'm pretty sure it was a 1960s song - and pretty sure its not the Carpenters.
    If you can help I'd be so grateful - her funeral is on 4th Jan,
    Thanks alot
    L

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  3. Nice list. Got to like someone who puts 2 Tropicalia songs in the top 100. You might like to give mine a look http://recordshops.blogspot.com Let me know what you think.
    Martin

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  4. The Beach Boys- God Only Knows
    The Drifters- Up On a Roof
    The Beatles- Hey Jude
    The Temptations- I Can't Get Next to You
    Marvin Gaye- Heard It Through the Grapevine
    Procul Harum- A Whiter Shade of Pale
    Sam Cooke- You Send Me
    Tommy James & The Shondells- I Think We're Alone Now
    Wilson Pickett- Land of a Thousand Dances
    The Mamas & the Papas- Monday Monday
    The Shirelles- Will You Love Me Tomorrow
    The Lovin' Spoonful- Do You Believe in Magic
    Stevie Wonder- For Once in My Life
    The Impressions- Keep On Pushing
    Ray Charles- I Can't Stop Loving You
    Bill Evans- Waltz for Debby
    The Beach Boys- I Get Around
    The Temptations- I Wish It would Rain
    Marvin Gaye- How Sweet It Is
    Frank Sinatra- The Summer Wind
    Ben E. King- Stand By Me
    The Temptations- The Way You Do the Things You Do
    Cyrkle- Red Rubber Ball
    Chad & Jeremy- Summer Song
    The Monkees- Last Train to Clarksville
    Mel Carter- Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
    Keith- 98.6
    Leonard Cohen- Sisters of Mercy
    The Supremes- You Can't Hurry Love
    Dionne Warwick- Walk On By
    The Beach Boys- Surfer Girl
    The Animals- House of the Rising Sun
    The Beatles- A Day in the Life
    Bobby Hebb- Sunny
    Martha & the Vandellas- Nowhere to Run
    The 5th Dimension- Up, Up and Away
    Tommy Roe- Sweet Pea
    Aaron Neville- Tell It Like It Is
    Simon & Garfunkel- Homeward Bound
    The Strangeloves- I Want Candy
    The Byrds- Tambourine Man
    The Drifters- Under the Boardwalk
    Chuck Berry- You Never Can Tell
    The Beatles- Golden Slumbers
    Ray Charles Georgia On My Mind
    The Turtles- Elenore
    Jimmy Ruffin- What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
    Simon & Garfunkel- Mrs. Robinson
    Aretha Franklin- I Never Loved a Man...
    The Beach Boys- Good Vibrations
    Glen Campbell- Wichita Lineman
    The Drifters- Save The Last Dance
    The Who- I Can See for Miles
    The Miracles- Ooh Baby Baby
    the Monkees- Valleri
    Doris Troy- Just One Look
    Glen Campbell- Galveston
    Jackson 5- I Want You Back
    Dusty Springfield- Son of a Preacher Man
    The Foundations-Build Me Up Buttercup
    The Righteous Brothers- Unchained Melody
    The Crystals- Da Do Ron Ron
    Sam & Dave- Hold On, I'm Comin'
    Peter, Paul and Mary- Puff, the Magic Dragon
    The Association- Never My Love
    Kenny Rogers & First Edition-Just Dropped in to See..
    The Delfonics- La La Means I Love You
    The Surfaris- Wipe Out
    Kyu Sakamoto- Sukiyaki
    Diana Ross & The Supremes- Reflections
    Jan & Dean- Surf City
    Elton John- Lady Samantha
    Jimi Hendrix- All Along the Watchtower
    Sly and the Family Stone- Everyday People
    The Archies- Sugar Sugar
    The Rolling Stones- Ruby Tuesday
    Van Morrison- Brown-Eyed Girl
    Sam & Dave- Soul man
    The Beatles- Paperback Writer
    The Four Tops- Can't Help Myself
    CCR-Bad moon Rising
    Neil Diamond- Sweet Caroline
    The Isley Brothers- It's your Thing
    Tommy Roe- Dizzy
    Sam Cooke- Cupid
    The Ventures- Hawaii Five O
    B.J. Thomas- Hooked On a Feeling
    The Cufflinks- Tracy
    Jerry Butler- Only the Strong Survive
    The Who- Sparks
    The Beatles- Norwegian Wood
    Crazy Elephant- Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'
    Marvin Gaye- Pride & Joy
    The Temptations- My Girl
    Sam & Dave- I Thank You
    Brenda Lee- Break It to me Gently
    The Beatles- I Saw Her Standing There
    The Miracles- Shop Around
    CCR- Suzy Q
    Roger Miller- King of the Road
    The Contours- Do You Love Me
    The Supremes- Stop in the Name of Love
    Chuck Berry- Route 66
    The Kingsmen- Louie Louie
    Curtis Lee- Pretty Angel Eyes
    Herman's Hermits- Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter
    My Favorite Things- John Coltrane
    Gene Chandler- Duke of Earl
    Ricky Nelson- Hello Mary Lou
    The Miracles- You've Really Got a Hold On Me
    Barry Mann- Who Put the Bomp
    Neil Sedaka- Breakin' Up is Hard to Do
    Elvis Presley- Can't Help Falling in Love

    of course these are in addition to your fine list. I tried not to duplicate your choices (but I probably missed a couple) and I tried to stick to one song per album as you did.

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  5. I forgot Elvis Presley- Suspicious Minds and
    Elvis Presley- If I Can Dream

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  6. and Bob Dylan-Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again

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  7. and how could I forget;
    The Band- I Shall Be Released
    and
    the Band- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

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  8. also The Iveys/Badfinger- maybe Tomorrow

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  9. And I forgot some of my jazz faves;

    Cannonball Adderley Quintet- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
    Tito Puente- Oye Como Va
    Herbie Hancock- Watermelon Man
    Sonny Rollins- St. Thomas

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  10. Thelonious Monk- Straight, No Chaser
    In Walked Bud

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  11. Vince Guaraldi- Cast Your Fate to the Wind
    Skeeter Davis- The End of the World

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  12. Ray Charles- Your Cheatin' Heart

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  13. Randy Newman- I Think It's Going to Rain Today
    Harry Hilsson- One
    Laura Nyro- Stoney End
    Three Dog Night- Eli's Coming
    Harry Nilsson-I Guess the Lord Must be in New York City

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  14. Delfonics- Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time
    Aretha Franklin- Mockingbird

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  15. Solomon Burke- Got to Get You Off My Mind
    & Down in the Valley

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  16. I'm sorry, not "Got to Get You Off My Mind" which you have on your list, but "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"

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  17. The Foundations- Baby Now that I've Found You
    & - Build Me Up Buttercup

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  18. Ferlin Husky- Wings of a Dove
    Jackson- Johnny Cash & June Carter
    Patsy Cline- She's Got You & Sweet Dreams
    Merle Haggard- Mama Tried
    Bobby Bare- Streets of Baltimore
    Hank Locklin- Please Help Me I'm falling
    Bobbie Gentry- Ode to Billie Joe
    Johnny Cash- Tennessee Flat Top Box & Daddy Sang Bass
    Glen Campbell- By the Time I Get to Phoenix

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  19. Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim- Change Partners

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  20. The Edwin Hawkins Singers- Oh Happy Day

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  21. the israelites is a great tune

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    Replies
    1. If you like the Israelites check out 007 (Shanty Town) which is awesome. !let of DD other obscure hits are great.

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  22. Does anyone know who sang the song Kathleen? Or the song Whistlin Dixie. These two songs were on a vinyl 45 in the 1950's to 1960's

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    Replies
    1. kathleen was recorded by wally lewis and sonny james

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. Wilson Pickett has to be in there

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  25. Im trying to find a old rock song. Has rhythm guitar lead guitar with string bending through reverb! The chorus part goes something like " she keeps playing that pie pie music!"I tried lyrics.com and lyricster.com sounds like Lou Reed but it's not....

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    Replies
    1. Robert: you ARE thinking of a Lou Reed song, it’s the live version of “Rock N Roll”….”she started dancin’ to that fine, fine music…”

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  26. this list is a complete waste of time. included crap you obviously liked and left off at least 2 hundred important songs. geesus! don't even have one carole king song here!

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    Replies
    1. Usually when you put a list together it's what you like, so yeah, makes sense.

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  27. MacArthur Park - Richard Harris

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