Here is the “Best Songs of All Time” list organized in chronological order, based on the definitive version of the song.  In many cases, the definitive version is the original recording by the original artists.  In other cases, it is the version that made the song a hit (or the biggest hit): Sinead O’Connor’s version of Nothing Compares 2 U; Dooley Wilson’s version of As Time Goes By in Casablanca; Bobby Darin’s Mack the Knife.  In other cases, I have made aesthetic judgments about whose version of a song was the best – I realize this may lead to disagreements.  For example, I chose Elvis Presley’s cover version of Hound Dog over Big Mama Thornton’s original.  I picked Johnny Cash’s Hurt over the Nine Inch Nails original and the rap-meets-rock Run D.M.C./Aerosmith Walk This Way over the Aerosmith original. I did struggle with identifying the definitive versions of various standards (e.g., It Had To Be You; I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and especially Summertime) and tried to find a healthy balance between my aesthetic judgment and the versions’ relative commercial success.  For those who think I should have gone with Janis Joplin’s Summertime over Billie Holiday’s, for example, believe me, I feel your pain.

In addition to the definitive recording of the song, with date and performer, I have retained the songwriters and date the song was written.  Where the definitive version was introduced (or featured prominently) in a play or movie, I have included that information.  I have also noted if the song was written specifically for a play or movie, even if that was not the definitive version.

The 1920s

• St. Louis Blues – Bessie Smith (1925). Wr: W.C. Handy (1914).
• Wildwood Flower – The Carter Family (1928). Wr: Joseph Philbrick Webster & Maud Irving (1860).
• Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Fats Waller (1929). Wr: Fats Waller, Harry Brooks & Andy Razaf (1929).

The 1930s

• Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington (1930). Wr: Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard & Irving Mills (1930).
• Minnie The Moocher – Cab Calloway (1931). Wr: Cab Calloway & Irving Mills (1931).
• Night and Day – Fred Astaire, in the play Gay Divorce (1932). Wr: Cole Porter (1932).
• Cheek to Cheek – Fred Astaire, in the movie Top Hat (1935). Wr: Irving Berlin (1935).
• Ol’ Man River – Paul Robeson, in the movie Show Boat (1936). Wr: Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II (1927).
• Summertime – Billie Holiday (1936). Wr: George Gershwin & DuBose Heyward, for the opera Porgy and Bess (1935).
• Sing, Sing, Sing – Benny Goodman (1937). Wr: Louis Prima (1936).
• One O’Clock Jump – Count Basie (1937). Wr: Count Basie (1937).
• Begin The Beguine – Artie Shaw (1938). Wr: Cole Porter, for the play Jubilee (1935).
• Tea For Two – Art Tatum (1939). Wr: Vincent Youmans & Irving Caesar, for the play No, No, Nanette (1925).
• Body and Soul – Coleman Hawkins (1939). Wr: Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton & Johnny Green (1930).
• Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday (1939). Wr: Abel Meeropol (1937?).
• Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland, in the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939). Wr: Harold Arlen & E.Y. Yarburg (1939).
• In The Mood – Glenn Miller (1939). Wr: Andy Razaf & Joe Garland (1939).

The 1940s

• When You Wish Upon a Star – Cliff Edwards, in the movie Pinocchio (1940). Wr: Leigh Harline & Ned Washington (1940).
• God Bless The Child – Billie Holiday (1941). Wr: Arthur Herzog, Jr. & Billie Holiday (1939).
• Take The ‘A’ Train – Duke Ellington (1941). Wr: Billy Strayhorn (1939).
• White Christmas – Bing Crosby (1942), featured in the movie Holiday Inn. Wr: Irving Berlin (1940).
• As Time Goes By – Dooley Wilson, in the movie Casablanca (1942). Wr: Herman Hupfeld, for the play Everybody’s Welcome (1931).
• A Night in Tunisia – Dizzy Gillespie (1942). Wr: Dizzy Gillespie & Frank Paparelli (1942).
• Stormy Weather – Lena Horne, in the movie Stormy Weather (1943). Wr: Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler (1933).
• It Had To Be You – Betty Hutton (1944). Wr: Isham Jones & Gus Kahn (1924).
• This Land Is Your Land – Woody Guthrie (1944). Wr: Woody Guthrie (1940).
• Salt Peanuts – Dizzy Gillespie (1945). Wr: Dizzy Gillespie (1943).
• ‘Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk (1947). Wr: Thelonious Monk (1944).
• Blue Moon of Kentucky – Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys (1947). Wr: Bill Monroe (1946).
• Some Enchanted Evening – Perry Como (1949). Wr: Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, for the play South Pacific (1949).
• I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Hank Williams (1949). Wr: Hank Williams (1949).

The 1950s

• Goodnight, Irene – The Weavers (1950). Traditional.  Arr. by Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter (1933).
• How High the Moon – Les Paul & Mary Ford (1951). Wr: Nancy Hamilton & Morgan Lewis, for the play Two for the Show (1940).
• I Got Rhythm – Gene Kelly, in the movie An American in Paris (1951). Wr: George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin, for the play Girl Crazy (1930) .
• Singin’ in the Rain – Gene Kelly, in the movie Singin’ in the Rain (1952). Wr: Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown (1929).
• My Funny Valentine – Chet Baker (1953). Wr: Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart, for the play Babes in Arms (1937).
• Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams (1953). Wr: Hank Williams (1952).
• Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and His Comets (1954), featured in the movie Blackboard Jungle (1955). Wr: Max C. Freedman & James E. Myers/Jimmy De Knight (1952).
• Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters (1954). Wr: Willie Dixon (1954).
• Shake, Rattle and Roll – Big Joe Turner (1954). Wr: Jesse Stone (1954).
• Stardust – Nat King Cole (1955). Wr: Hoagy Carmichael & Mitchell Parrish (music 1927; lyrics 1929).
• Misty – Erroll Garner (1955). Wr: Erroll Garner & Johnny Burke (1954).
• Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley (1955). Wr: Elias McDaniel (1955).
• Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash (1955). Wr: Johnny Cash (1955).
• The Great Pretender – The Platters (1955). Wr: Buck Ram (1955).
• Ain’t That A Shame – Fats Domino (1955). Wr: Antoine Domino & Dave Bartholemew (1955).
• Maybellene – Chuck Berry (1955). Wr: Chuck Berry (1955).
• Tutti Frutti – Little Richard (1955). Wr: Little Richard & Dorothy LaBostrie (1955).
• Long Tall Sally – Little Richard (1956). Wr: Little Richard, Enotris Johnson & Robert Blackwell (1956).
• I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra (1956). Wr: Cole Porter, for the movie Born to Dance (1936).
• Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino (1956). Wr: Vincent Rose, Larry Stock & Al Lewis, for the movie The Singing Hill (1940).
• Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins (1956). Wr: Carl Perkins (1955).
• Why Do Fools Fall in Love – Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (1956). Wr: Morris Levy & Frankie Lymon (1955).
• In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins (1956). Wr: Fred Parris (1956).
• I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash (1956). Wr: Johnny Cash (1956).
• Hound Dog – Elvis Presley (1956). Wr: Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (1952).
• Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis Presley (1956). Wr: Otis Blackwell & Elvis Presley (1956).
• Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley (1956). Wr: Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden & Elvis Presley (1956).
• Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley, in the movie Jailhouse Rock (1957). Wr: Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller (1957).
• You Send Me – Sam Cooke (1957). Wr: Sam Cooke (1955).
• That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly (1957). Wr: Buddy Holly & Jerry Allison (1956).
• Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly (1957). Wr: Buddy Holly & Jerry Allison (1957).
• Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis (1957). Wr: Otis Blackwell (1957).
• Tom Dooley – The Kingston Trio (1958). Traditional.
• La Bamba – Richie Valens (1958). Traditional; arr. by Richie Valens (1958).
• Alexander’s Ragtime Band – Ella Fitzgerald (1958). Wr: Irving Berlin (1911).
• Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard (1958). Wr: John Marascalco & Robert Blackwell (1957).
• Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran (1958). Wr: Eddie Cochran & Jerry Capehart (1958).
• Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry (1958). Wr: Chuck Berry (1958).
• The Battle of New Orleans – Johnny Horton (1959). Wr: Jimmy Driftwood (1958).
• Take Five – The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959). Wr: Paul Desmond (1959).
• So What – Miles Davis (1959). Wr: Miles Davis (1959).
• Freddie Freeloader – Miles Davis (1959). Wr: Miles Davis (1959).
• Blue In Green – Miles Davis (1959). Wr: Bill Evans (1959).
• Shout – The Isley Brothers (1959). Wr: Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley & O’Kelly Isley, Jr. (1959).
• Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin (1959). Wr: Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht, for The Threepenny Opera (1928). English lyrics: Marc Blitzstein (1954).
• What’d I Say – Ray Charles (1959). Wr: Ray Charles (1958).

The 1960s

• Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles (1960). Wr: Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell (1930).
• The Twist – Chubby Checker (1960). Wr. Hank Ballard (1958).
• Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters (1960). Wr: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman (1960).
• My Favorite Things – John Coltrane (1961). Wr: Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, for the play The Sound of Music (1959).
• Somewhere – Richard Beymer, in the movie West Side Story (1961). Wr: Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim (1957).
• Crying – Roy Orbison (1961). Wr: Joe Melson & Roy Orbison (1961).
• Stand By Me – Ben E King (1961). Wr: Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (1961).
• Moon River – Andy Williams (1961). Wr: Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer, for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).
• Crazy – Patsy Cline (1961). Wr: Willie Nelson (1961).
• I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles (1962). Wr: Don Gibson (1957).
• The Loco-Motion – Little Eva (1962). Wr: Gerry Goffin & Carole King (1962).
• We Shall Overcome – Joan Baez (1963). Traditional, arr. by Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan & Pete Seeger (1960).
• Louie Louie – The Kingsmen (1963). Wr: Richard Berry (1955).
• Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan (1963). Wr: Bob Dylan (1962).
• She Loves You – The Beatles (1963). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1963).
• I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (1963). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1963).
• Be My Baby – The Ronettes (1963). Wr: Phil Spector, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich (1963).
• Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash (1963). Wr: June Carter Cash & Merle Kilgore (1963).
• The House Of The Rising Sun – The Animals (1964). Traditional.
• The Girl From Ipanema – Astrud Gilberto, with Stan Getz & João Gilberto (1964). Wr: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes & Norman Gimbel (1962).
• A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke (1964). Wr: Sam Cooke (1963).
• Walk On By – Dionne Warwick (1964). Wr: Burt Bacharach & Hal David (1963).
• You Really Got Me – The Kinks (1964). Wr: Ray Davies (1964).
• Dancing In The Street – Martha and the Vandellas (1964). Wr: Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, & Ivy Jo Hunter (1964).
• My Girl – The Temptations (1964). Wr: Smokey Robinson & Ronald White (1964).
• The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan (1964). Wr: Bob Dylan (1964).
• Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison (1964). Wr: Roy Orbison & Bill Dees (1964).
• You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers (1964). Wr: Phil Spector, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (1964).
• Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers (1965). Wr: Alex North & Hy Zaret, for the movie Unchained (1955).
• California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas (1965). Wr: John Philips & Michelle Philips (1963).
• A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgment – John Coltrane (1965). Wr: John Coltrane (1964).
• A Love Supreme, Pt. 2: Resolution – John Coltrane (1965). Wr: John Coltrane (1964).
• A Love Supreme, Pt. 3: Pursuance – John Coltrane (1965). Wr: John Coltrane (1964).
• A Love Supreme, Pt. 4: Psalm – John Coltrane (1965). Wr: John Coltrane (1964).
• People Get Ready – The Impressions (1965). Wr: Curtis Mayfield (1964).
• Help! – The Beatles, in the movie Help! (1965). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1965).
• Yesterday – The Beatles (1965). Wr: Paul McCartney (1965).
• In My Life – The Beatles (1965). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1965).
• In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett (1965). Wr: Wilson Pickett & Steve Cropper (1965).
• Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds (1965). Wr: Bob Dylan (1965).
• Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan (1965). Wr: Bob Dylan (1965).
• Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan (1965). Wr: Bob Dylan (1965).
• My Generation – The Who (1965) Wr: Pete Townshend (1965).
• The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1965). Wr: Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore & Marvin Tarplin (1965).
• I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown (1965). Wr: James Brown (1965).
• Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – James Brown (1965). Wr: James Brown (1965).
• The Sounds Of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel (1965). Wr: Paul Simon (1965).
• (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones (1965). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1965).
• California Girls – The Beach Boys (1965). Wr: Brian Wilson & Mike Love (1965).
• Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys (1966). Wr: Brian Wilson & Mike Love (1966).
• God Only Knows – The Beach Boys (1966). Wr: Brian Wilson & Tony Asher (1966).
• Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding (1966). Wr: Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly & Harry Woods (1932).
• River Deep – Mountain High – Ike & Tina Turner (1966). Wr: Phil Spector, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich. (1965).
• Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett (1966). Wr: Mack Rice (1965).
• When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge (1966). Wr: Calvin Lewis & Andrew Wright (1966).
• Strangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra (1966). Wr: Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton & Eddie Snyder (1966).
• Respect – Aretha Franklin (1967). Wr: Otis Redding (1965).
• I’m Waiting for the Man – The Velvet Underground (1967). Wr: Lou Reed (1966).
• For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield (1967). Wr: Stephen Stills (1966).
• A Day In The Life – The Beatles (1967). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1967).
• Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles (1967). Wr: John Lennon (1967).
• (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson (1967). Wr: Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner & Carl Smith (1967).
• Ode to Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry (1967). Wr: Bobbie Gentry (1967).
• Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison (1967). Wr: Van Morrison (1967).
• Soul Man – Sam & Dave (1967). Wr: Isaac Hayes & David Porter (1967).
• What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong (1967). Wr: Bob Theile & George David Weiss (1967).
• Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks (1967). Wr: Ray Davies (1967).
• Light My Fire – The Doors (1967). Wr: Robbie Krieger & The Doors (1967).
• Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix (1967). Wr: Jimi Hendrix (1967).
• All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix (1968). Wr: Bob Dylan (1967).
• I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye (1968). Wr: Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong (1966).
• I Say A Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin (1968). Wr: Burt Bacharach & Hal David (1966).
• (Sitting On) The Dock of The Bay – Otis Redding (1968). Wr: Otis Redding & Steve Cropper (1967).
• Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf (1968), featured in the movie Easy Rider (1969). Wr: Mars Bonfire (1968).
• Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette (1968). Wr: Tammy Wynette & Billy Sherrill (1968).
• Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel (1968). Wr: Paul Simon (1968).
• Everyday People – Sly and the Family Stone (1968). Wr: Sly Stone (1968).
• Sympathy For The Devil – The Rolling Stones (1968). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1968).
• Hey Jude – The Beatles (1968). Wr: Paul McCartney (1968).
• Something – The Beatles (1969). Wr: George Harrison (1969).
• The Thrill Is Gone – B.B. King (1969). Wr: Roy Hawkins & Rick Darnell (1951).
• Everybody’s Talkin’ – Harry Nilsson (1969), featured in the movie Midnight Cowboy. Wr: Fred Neil (1966).
• Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969). Wr: John Fogerty (1968).
• Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley (1969). Wr: Mark James (1968).
• You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones (1969). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1968).
• Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones (1969). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1969).
• My Way – Frank Sinatra (1969). Wr: Claude Francois, Jacques Revaux & Paul Anka (1968).
• Space Oddity – David Bowie (1969). Wr: David Bowie (1969).
• Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – B.J. Thomas, in the movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (1969). Wr: Burt Bacharach & Hal David (1969).
• Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin (1969). Wr: John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant & Willie Dixon (1969).
• The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band (1969). Wr: Robbie Robertson (1969).
• I Want You Back – The Jackson 5 (1969). Wr: Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell & Deke Richards. (1969).
• The Boxer – Simon and Garfunkel (1969). Wr: Paul Simon (1968).

The 1970s

• Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel (1970). Wr: Paul Simon (1969).
• Mr. Bojangles – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1970). Wr: Jerry Jeff Walker (1968).
• Let It Be – The Beatles (1970). Wr: Paul McCartney (1969).
• Coal Miner’s Daughter – Loretta Lynn (1970). Wr: Loretta Lynn (1969).
• Layla – Derek and the Dominos (1970). Wr: Eric Clapton & Jim Gordon (1970).
• Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell (1970). Wr: Joni Mitchell (1970).
• Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine – James Brown (1970). Wr: James Brown, Bobby Byrd & Ron Lenhoff (1970).
• Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970). Wr: Neil Young (1970).
• Your Song – Elton John (1970). Wr: Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1970).
• Fire and Rain – James Taylor (1970). Wr: James Taylor (1970).
• What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye (1971). Wr: Renauldo Benson, Al Cleveland & Marvin Gaye (1970).
• Imagine – John Lennon (1971). Wr: John Lennon (1971).
• Jealous Guy – John Lennon (1971). Wr: John Lennon (1971).
• Maggie May – Rod Stewart (1971). Wr: Rod Stewart & Martin Quittenton (1971).
• Baba O’Riley – The Who (1971). Wr: Pete Townshend (1971).
• American Pie – Don McLean (1971). Wr: Don McLean (1971).
• Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes, in the movie Shaft. (1971). Wr: Isaac Hayes (1971).
• Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin (1971). Wr: Robert Plant & Jimmy Page (1971).
• Let’s Stay Together – Al Green (1971). Wr: Al  Green, Willie Mitchell & All Jackson (1971).
• Lean on Me – Bill Withers (1972). Wr: Bill Withers (1971).
• I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash (1972). Wr: Johnny Nash (1972).
• Superstition – Stevie Wonder (1972). Wr: Stevie Wonder (1972).
• You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder (1972). Wr: Stevie Wonder (1972).
• If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (1972). Wr:  Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff (1972).
• Killing Me Softly With His Song – Roberta Flack (1973). Wr: Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox (1971).
• Jolene – Dolly Parton (1973). Wr: Dolly Parton (1973).
• The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand, in the movie The Way We Were (1973). Wr: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch (1973).
• Candle In The Wind – Elton John (1973, 1997). Wr: Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1973).
• No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley & the Wailers (1974). Wr: Bob Marley (1974).
• Tangled Up In Blue – Bob Dylan (1975). Wr: Bob Dylan (1975).
• Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen (1975). Wr: Bruce Springsteen (1975).
• Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen (1975). Wr: Bruce Springsteen (1975).
• Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd (1975). Wr: David Gilmour & Roger Waters (1975).
• Dancing Queen – ABBA (1976). Wr: Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson (1975).
• Hotel California – The Eagles (1976). Wr: Don Henley, Glenn Frey & Don Felder (1976).
• Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones (1976). Wr: Tommy Ramone & Dee Dee Ramone (1976).
• Anarchy In The U.K. – The Sex Pistols (1976). Wr: Paul Cook, Steve Jones, Glen Matlock & Johnny Rotten (1976).
• Dreams – Fleetwood Mac (1977). Wr: Stevie Nicks (1976).
• I Feel Love – Donna Summer (1977). Wr: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte (1976).
• We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You – Queen (1977). Wr: Freddie Mercury (1977).
• Alison – Elvis Costello (1977). Wr: Elvis Costello (1977).
• Birdland – Weather Report (1977). Wr: Joe Zawinul (1977).
• How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees, in the movie Saturday Night Fever (1977). Wr: Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb (1977).
• Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees, in the movie Saturday Night Fever (1977). Wr:  Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb (1977).
• Heroes – David Bowie (1977). Wr: David Bowie & Brian Eno (1977).
• Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, in the movie Grease (1978). Wr: Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs (1971).
• Old Time Rock and Roll – Bob Seger (1978). Wr: George Jackson, Thomas E. Jones III & Bob Seger (1978).
• One Nation Under a Groove – Funkadelic (1978). Wr: George Clinton, Walter Morrison & Garry Shide (1978).
• Roxanne – The Police (1978). Wr: Sting (1978).
• I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones (1978). Wr: Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone & Johnny Ramone (1978).
• I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor (1978). Wr: Freddie Perren & Dino Fekaris (1978).
• Heart of Glass – Blondie (1978). Wr: Deborah Harry & Chris Stein (1978).
• Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd (1979). Wr: David Gilmour & Roger Waters (1979).
• Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 – Pink Floyd (1979). Wr: Roger Waters (1979).
• My Sharona – The Knack (1979). Wr: Doug Fieger & Berton Averre (1979).
• Rapper’s Delight – Sugarhill Gang (1979). Wr: Sylvia Robinson, Big Bank Hank, Wonder Mike, Master Gee, Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers (1979).
• London Calling – The Clash (1979). Wr: Joe Strummer & Mick Jones (1979).

The 1980s

• Call Me – Blondie (1980). Wr: Debbie Harry & Giorgio Moroder (1979).
• Redemption Song – Bob Marley (1980). Wr: Bob Marley (1979).
• Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division (1980). Wr: Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Bernard Summer (1979).
• 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton, in the movie 9 to 5 (1980). Wr: Dolly Parton (1980).
• He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones (1980). Wr: Billy Sherrill & George Jones (1980).
• (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon (1980). Wr: John Lennon (1980).
• Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes (1981). Wr: Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon (1974).
• Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads (1981). Wr: David Byrne, Brian Eno, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth & Jerry Harrison (1980).
• I Love Rock ‘n Roll – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1982). Wr: Alan Merrill & Jake Hooker (1975).
• 1999 – Prince (1982). Wr: Prince (1982).
• Jack & Diane – John Cougar (1982). Wr: John Mellencamp (1982).
• Beat It – Michael Jackson (1982). Wr: Michael Jackson (1982).
• Billie Jean – Michael Jackson (1982). Wr: Michael Jackson (1982).
• Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye (1982). Wr: Marvin Gaye & Odell Brown (1982).
• Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes, in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). Wr: Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie & Will Jennings (1982).
• The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (1982). Wr: Clifton Chase, Edward Fletcher, Melvin Glover & Sylvia Robinson (1982).
• Every Breath You Take – The Police (1983). Wr: Sting (1982).
• New Year’s Day – U2 (1983). Wr: U2 (1982).
• Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – The Eurythmics (1983). Wr: Annie Lennox & David A. Stewart (1982).
• Blue Monday – New Order (1983). Wr: Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Bernard Summer (1982).
• Little Red Corvette – Prince (1983). Wr: Prince (1982).
• Flashdance…What a Feeling  – Irene Cara, in the movie Flashdance (1983). Wr: Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey & Irene Cara (1982).
• Jump – Van Halen (1983). Wr: Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony & David Lee Roth (1983).
• Purple Rain – Prince, in the movie Purple Rain (1984). Wr: Prince (1983).
• When Doves Cry – Prince, in the movie Purple Rain (1984). Wr: Prince (1984).
• Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid (1984). Wr: Bob Geldof & Midge Ure (1984).
• Like a Virgin – Madonna (1984). Wr: Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly (1984).
• What’s Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner (1984). Wr: Terry Britten & Graham Lyle (1984).
• Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen (1984). Wr: Bruce Springsteen (1984).
• Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) – Kate Bush (1985). Wr: Kate Bush (1984).
• Walk This Way – Run-D.M.C. feat. Aerosmith (1986). Wr: Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (1975).
• Kiss – Prince (1986). Wr: Prince (1986).
• Graceland – Paul Simon (1986). Wr: Paul Simon (1986).
• (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) – Beastie Boys (1986). Wr: Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin & Tom Cushman (1986).
• With or Without You – U2 (1987). Wr: Bono & U2 (1986).
• I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2 (1987). Wr: Bono & U2 (1987).
• Just Like Heaven – The Cure (1987). Wr: Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams & Lol Tolhurst (1987).
• Faith – George Michael (1987). Wr: George Michael (1987).
• It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M. (1987). Wr: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe (1987).
• Push It – Salt-N-Pepa (1987). Wr: Hurby Azor & Raymond Douglas Davies.
• Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler, in the movie Beaches (1988). Wr: Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar (1982).
• Fast Car – Tracy Chapman (1988). Wr: Tracy Chapman (1987).
• Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses (1988). Wr: Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagen & Steven Adler (1988).
• Fuck Tha Police – N.W.A. (1988). Wr: Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E (1988).
• Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty (1989). Wr: Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne (1988).
• Love Shack – The B-52′s (1989). Wr: Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland & Cindy Wilson (1989).
• Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode (1989). Wr: Martin Gore (1989).

The 1990s

• Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor (1990). Wr: Prince (1985).
• Losing My Religion – R.E.M. (1991). Wr: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe (1990).
• Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana (1991). Wr: Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic & Dave Grohl (1991).
• Come As You Are – Nirvana (1991). Wr: Kurt Cobain (1991).
• (Everything I Do) I Do It for You – Bryan Adams, in the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). Wr: Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen & Robert Lange (1991).
• One – U2 (1991). Wr: Bono & U2 (1991).
• Enter Sandman – Metallica (1991). Wr: Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich (1991).
• Jeremy – Pearl Jam (1991). Wr: Eddie Vedder & Jeff Ament (1991).
• I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston, in the movie The Bodyguard (1992). Wr: Dolly Parton (1974).
• Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992). Wr: Flea, Frusciante, Kiedis & Smith (1991).
• Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang – Dr. Dre (1992). Wr: Andre Young & Calvin Broadus (1992).
• Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton (1992). Wr: Eric Clapton & Will Jennings (1992).
• Creep – Radiohead (1992). Wr: Thom Yorked & Radiohead (1992).
• All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow (1993). Wr: Wyn Cooper, Sheryl Crow, David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell & Kevin Gilbert (1993).
• Loser – Beck (1993). Wr: Beck & Carl Stephenson (1993).
• Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (1994). Wr: Leonard Cohen (1984).
• California Love – 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman (1995). Wr: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman (1995).
• Wonderwall – Oasis (1995). Wr: Noel Gallagher (1995).
• Common People – Pulp (1995). Wr: Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackay & Russell Senior (1995).
• Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve (1997). Wr: Richard Ashcroft/Jagger & Richards (1996).
• Paranoid Android – Radiohead (1997). Wr: Thom Yorke & Radiohead (1997).
• My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion, in the movie Titanic (1997). Wr: James Horner & Will Jennings (1997).
• You’re Still the One – Shania Twain (1998). Wr: Robert Lange & Shania Twain (1997).
• Smooth – Santana feat. Rob Thomas (1999). Wr: Rob Thomas & Itaal Shur (1999).

The 2000s

• Get Ur Freak On – Missy Elliott (2001). Wr. Melissa Elliott & Tim Mosley (2000).
• Hurt – Johnny Cash (2002). Wr: Trent Reznor (1994).
• Lose Yourself – Eminem, in the movie 8 Mile (2002). Wr: Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto & Jeff Bass (2002).
• Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes (2003). Wr: Jack White (2002).
• Hey Ya – Outkast (2003). Wr: André 3000 (2003).
• 99 Problems – Jay-Z (2003). Wr: Jay-Z (2003).
• American Idiot – Green Day (2004). Wr: Billie Joe Armstrong & Green Day (2003).
• Jesus Walks – Kanye West (2004). Wr: Kanye West & Che Smith (2004).
• Gold Digger – Kanye West  feat. Jamie Foxx (2005). Wr: Kanye West & Renald Richard (2004).
• Rehab – Amy Winehouse (2006). Wr: Amy Winehouse (2006).