Apple Records
Having a No. 1 hit song feels like a right of passage for every great mainstream artist. However, the distinction has eluded the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, James Brown, CCR and others.
They’re among the greatest musicians of all time. But they’ve never scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. A shocker, yes. But also proof as to just how hard it can be to create a chart-topper.
Our 100 greatest No. 1 hits by artists that have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame took into account the quality of the song, cultural impact and just how insanely popular it was. It’s been updated with the Class of 2020, which is still waiting to be inducted.
Many of us are under quarantine during these trying times. But music can be our salvation, maybe now more than ever. So enjoy the sweet sounds of these Hall of Fame classics.
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Chrysalis
100. Blondie – “Heart of Glass”
Year: 1979
Weeks on top: 1
For fans that came up with Blondie in the New York punk and new wave scenes, “Heart of Glass” and its disco groove were rather cringe-worthy. But the rest of American didn’t care. The song was a dance club juggernaut that cemented Blondie as one of the biggest acts in the world.
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Philadelphia International
99. The O’Jays – “Love Train”
Year: 1973
Weeks on top: 1
The closing song on The O’Jays “Back Stabbers” album became a centerpiece of the Philadelphia Soul movement and the group’s signature hit.
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Capitol
98. Steve Miller Band – “The Joker”
Year: 1974
Weeks on top: 1
It’s crazy to think about Steve Miller’s jump from respected blues musicians to pop superstardom. That’s how big “The Joker,” both the album and single, were. The song skyrocketed to No. 1 and set the stage for Miller to close out the 1970s with an epic run.
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Columbia
97. The Byrds – “Mr. Tambourine Man”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 1
Written by Bob Dylan and covered by various artists, “Mr. Tambourine Man” is now best known for The Byrds making it a sensation. The band’s version of the song was responsible for jump starting the folk rock boom of the 1960s.
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EMI
96. David Bowie – “Let’s Dance”
Year: 1983
Weeks on top: 1
As the story goes, Bowie had mixed feelings (at best) about the club vibes of his “Let’s Dance” album. He was really the only one. Nile Rodgers’ flashy production produced three big hits for Bowie on the album, led by the title track that became a popular sample for hip hop DJs.
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EMI
95. The Rolling Stones – “Miss You”
Year: 1978
Weeks on top: 1
In 1978, The Rolling Stones were six years removed from “Exile on Main St.” and had basically been written off as past their creative prime. Then came “Some Girls,” which would become the band’s best-selling album, led by the funky disco of “Miss You.”
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Geffen
94. Peter Gabriel – “Sledgehammer”
Year: 1986
Weeks on top: 1
“Sledgehammer” rose to No. 1 on the strength of its mega-popular music video that used claymation and stop motion to take over MTV.
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Warner Bros.
93. Dire Straits – “Money for Nothing”
Year: 1985
Weeks on top: 3
With “Money for Nothing” and its satirical “I Want My MTV,” Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler was basically criticizing the idea of selling out while making the biggest hit he could imagine. He modeled the guitar parts after ZZ Top, which were second to none at the time, and the result was a massive hit with the music video to match.
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Atlantic
92. Percy Sledge – “When A Man Loves A Woman”
Year: 1966
Weeks on top: 2
It’s the song that single-handedly pushed Percy Sledge into the Rock Hall. And it’s one of the great soul songs of all time that’s proved timeless.
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RCA
91. Elvis Presley – “Suspicious Minds”
Year: 1969
Weeks on top: 1
Originally recorded by Mark James, “Suspicious Minds” became a signature hit for Elvis Presley and served as a return to form after his 1968 Comeback Special.
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Tamla
90. Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
Year: 1973
Weeks on top: 1
In many ways, “Superstition” is the starting point for Stevie Wonder’s dominant creative-period of the 1970s. It was his first chart-topper in a decade.
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Mercury
89. The Platters – “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”
Year: 1959
Weeks on top: 3
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” originated as a show tune that was song by a who’s who of jazz singers during the 1950s. But it was The Platters’ delicate and sophisticated version that soared to No. 1 to close out the decade.
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Reprise
88. Neil Young – “Heart of Gold”
Year: 1972
Weeks on top: 1
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Sire
87. Madonna – “Like a Prayer”
Year: 1989
Weeks on top: 3
Arguably Madonna’s greatest song, “Like a Prayer” finds Madonna getting more personal than she’d ever been. For cynics, it was jarring to see a woman who had created some of the most sexually suggestive pop songs of the 1980s singing about God. But the song is actually about a girl bonding with God as the only positive male figure in her life.
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Stax
86. The Staple Singers – “I’ll Take You There”
Year: 1972
Weeks on top: 1
Cover versions of “I’ll Take You There” have performed well over the years. But nothing tops The Staple Singers’ original, which was a massive hit for Stax Records and in-house songwriting/producing legend Al Bell.
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Epic
85. Michael Jackson – “Beat It”
Year: 1983
Weeks on top: 3
For a time there, it felt like the singles from “Thriller” just got bigger and bigger. “Beat It” was Michael Jackson’s rock anthem, cementing the biggest music star in the world, regardless of genre.
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Columbia
84. The Byrds – “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)”
Year: 1965
Weeks at the top: 3
The Byrds took a folk song written by Pete Seeger and turned in into one of the most important folk rock songs of the 1960s. The track was even more complex than it sounds, taking a whopping 78 takes to complete.
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Tamla
83. Stevie Wonder – “Sir Duke”
Year: 1977
Weeks on top: 3
Of all Stevie Wonder’s No. 1 hits, “Sir Duke” might be the most surprising. It’s his love song to music, more specifically jazz and Duke Ellington. It’s proof that Wonder could do no wrong during his brilliant 1970s run.
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Columbia
82. Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)”
Year: 1980
Weeks on top: 4
There was no escaping Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.” And while “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” seems like an unlikely chart topper (It’s one part of a three part song), it was proof of just how big the album was.
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Paramount
81. Ray Charles – “Hit the Road Jack”
Year: 1961
Weeks on top: 2
In 1961, Ray Charles’ magic touch extended to “Hit the Road Jack,” an a cappella song written by Percy Mayfield. Charles put his voice, backup singers, and a full band behind it for one of the catchiest songs of his career.
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RCA
80. Daryl Hall and John Oates – “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”
Year: 1982
Weeks on top: 1
The fourth No. 1 single of Hall & Oates’ career has grown into the duo’s most celebrated song, a merger of R&B and soft rock with an unstoppable groove.
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Bad Boy Records
79. The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase – “Mo Money Mo Problems”
Year: 1997
Weeks on top: 2
Riding a sample of Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out,” “Mo Money Mo Problems” proved The Notorious B.I.G. was larger than life even after his death, a legend who forever changed hip-hop culture.
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Capitol
78. The Beatles-“Ticket to Ride”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 1
The first of several Beatles songs on this list. Not only was “Ticket to Ride” one of the more sophisticated compositions the Beatles had put together up until that point. It was one of the more complex and intelligent pop songs to grace this Earth.
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77. Prince and the Revolution – “Kiss”
Year: 1986
Weeks on top: 2
“Parade” was a great soundtrack album to a bad film. And “Kiss” would have been a hit whether it was attached to a film or not. It was a monster record in 1986 and one of Prince’s most unique, yet most accessible singles.
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Apple
76. George Harrison – “My Sweet Lord”
Year: 1970
Weeks on top: 4
Pop quiz: Who was the first ex-Beatle to have a No. 1 single on their own? No, not Paul or John. It was George Harrison with the majestic “My Sweet Lord.” The song’s success proved that Harrison was just as much as creative force as his Beatles brethren.
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Island
75. U2 – “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
Year: 1987
Weeks on top: 2
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” is U2’s take you to church moment. The song builds and builds into the kind of stunning epic that helped “The Joshua Tree” become a monster album.
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MCA
74. Elton John – “Bennie and the Jets”
Year: 1974
Weeks on top: 1
Elton John didn’t want to release “Bennie and the Jets” as a single from “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” In the end, he gave in and the track became one of his most beloved.
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Motown
73. The Supremes – “Stop! In the Name of Love”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 2
By 1965, The Supremes were Motown’s biggest group. As proof, the group released three No. 1 hits in that year alone, including “Stop! in the Name of Love,” one of the catchiest songs to come from the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland.
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EMI
72. The Beatles – “Help!”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 3
“Help!” finds John Lennon dealing with the massive fame the Beatles encountered. From a music standpoint, it’s easy to see why the song was a huge hit. In trying to wrap his brain around the band’s success, Lennon (with help from McCartney) crafted one of the Beatles’ catchiest tunes/
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Columbia
71. Earth, Wind & Fire – “Shining Star”
Year: 1975
Weeks on top: 1
Maurice White got the idea for “Shining Star” while strolling the streets on a high from recording Earth, Wind & Fire’s best album “That’s The Way of the World.” And you can hear that in the song’s swagger. “Shining Star” radiates with confidence.
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London
70. The Rolling Stones – “Brown Sugar”
Year: 1972
Weeks on top: 2
To kickstart “Sticky Fingers,” The Rolling Stones went with the groove to end all grooves of “Brown Sugar.” Built around the lead guitar of Mick Taylor, the track became an immediate hit and one of The Stones’ defining songs.
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RCA
69. Elvis Presley – “Jailhouse Rock”
Year: 1957
Weeks on top: N/A
Before the Billboard Hot 100 was created in 1958, Elvis Presley was already ruling the charts with just about everything he released. That included “Jailhouse Rock,” a song released (along with the film of the same name) just as Presley’s film career was taking off.
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Buddah
68. Gladys Knight & the Pips – “Midnight Train to Georgia”
Year: 1973
Weeks on top: 2
Most acts reached their peak success while on Motown Records. For Gladys Knight & the Pips, it happened after leaving. “Midnight Train to Georgia” was the second song released after the group left Motown and landed them a Grammy and a No. 1 hit.
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Epic
67. Sly and the Family Stone – “Family Affair”
Year: 1971
Weeks on top: 3
The songs of Sly and the Family Stone’s landmark album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” were some of the most somber of the band’s career. Yet, even that couldn’t stop “Family Affair” from being enticing to listeners, as Sly Stone was making the best funk of his career.
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Tamla
66. Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get It On”
Year: 1973
Weeks on top: 2
The most sexually charged song of all time. Marvin Gaye was in the creative zone in the early 1970s, causing him to unleash “Let’s Get It On,” an anthem of sensual fury that refused to leave radio.
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Apple
65. The Beatles – “Come Together/Something”
Year: 1969
Weeks on top: 1
The Beatles 1969 chart-topper featured a double-A side with two of the great Beatles songs of all time. Both “Come Together” and “Something” are powerful tunes with distinct sounds. Together, they were a force of nature.
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Brunswick
64. Buddy Holly and The Crickets – “That’ll Be The Day”
Year: 1957
Weeks on top: N/A
Another song that pre-dates the Billboard Hot 100, but is unquestionably one of the most important tunes in rock and roll history. Buddy Holly hit all the high marks on “That’ll Be The Day,” a single that would go on over a million copies.
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Stax
63. Isaac Hayes – “Theme from Shaft”
Year: 1971
Weeks on top: 2
There are songs from movies and then there’s the “Theme from Shaft,” a track so embedded in the spirit of the film that you can’t imagine seeing the movie without hearing it. Isaac Hayes rode the song to No. 1 on the charts.
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Motown
62. The Temptations – “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”
Year: 1971
Weeks on top: 2
Released in 1971, “Just My Imagination” was a throwback for the Temptations, sounding more like something the group would release during its earlier days. The song would mark the end of an era, as Eddie Kendricks would depart soon after for a solo career.
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Sire
61. Madonna – “Vogue”
Year: 1990
Weeks on top: 3
Not just a hit single, but a cultural movement. “Vogue” was a game-changer for 1990s dance music from one of pop’s biggest stars.
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Columbia
60. Simon & Garfunkel – “The Sound of Silence”
Year: 1966
Weeks on top: 2
“The Sound of Silence” is the song that changed everything for Simon & Garfunkel. It was originally recorded for the duo’s debut album (which tanked), Simon and Garfunkel broke up after the album bombed. But they came back together once the track took off on radio.
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Capitol
59. The Beach Boys – “I Get Around”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 2
The Beach Boys’ first No. 1 hit is firmly rooted in the group’s early surf rock style. Still, “I Get Around’s” infectious melody made it a pop sensation and put Brian Wilson on the map as a hitmaker.
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Warner Bros.
58. Prince and The Revolution – “Let’s Go Crazy”
Year: 1984
Weeks on top: 2
With its extended intro, you might think “Let’s Go Crazy” is a weird chart topper. But that just shows how unstoppable “Purple Rain” was as an album. Of course, when “Let’s Go Crazy” does get going, it’s pure pop bliss that showcases Prince as the true showman he was.
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Epic/Columbia
57. Michael Jackson – “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough”
Year: 1979
Weeks on top: 2
With his first album as an adult, Michael Jackson became obsessed with mimicking the songs he heard at clubs. He wound up outdoing them. Case in point is “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” one of the great dance songs ever created and one of the first signs of Jackson’s genius.
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Motown
56. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – “The Tears of a Clown”
Year: 1970
Weeks on top: 2
“Tears of a Clown” actually dates back to 1967. But after the song became a No. 1 hit in the U.K., Motown re-released it in the U.S. where it went to No. 1.
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Motown
55. The Temptations – “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”
Year: 1972
Weeks on top: 1
The psychedelic soul of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” marked a huge departure from The Temptations’ signature sound. But, thanks to songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, it was the right move to usher the group into the 1970s. Fans couldn’t get enough of its cool factor, even if no one sings on it until nearly two-minutes in.
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Keen
54. Sam Cooke – “You Send Me”
Year: 1957
Weeks on top: N/A
Sam Cooke was a crossover success like no other in his day. He could seamlessly weave from raw R&B to pop tunes. “You Send Me” was the best of both worlds and topped the pop charts in the pre-Billboard Hot 100 era.
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Columbia
53. The Animals – “The House of the Rising Sun”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 3
The Animals’ version of “House of the Rising Sun” is the definitive one, taking an arrangement done by Bob Dylan and making it more haunting and soulful.
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Warner Bros.
52. Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams”
Year: 1977
Weeks on top: 1
Fleetwood Mac’s only No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 is also the band’s best. With lyrics written by Stevie Nicks, “Dreams” is a heartbreaker of a song that sums up the decimated personal lives of the band members.
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Columbia
51. Janis Joplin – “Me and Bobby McGee”
Year: 1971
Weeks on top: 2
Written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster (and originally performed by Roger Miller), “Me and Bobby McGee” really didn’t take shape until Janis Joplin’s version, where her powerful voice takes hold.
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Riva
50. John Cougar – “Jack and Diane”
Year: 1982
Weeks on top: 4
No one was bigger than John Mellencamp in 1982. On “Jack & Diane” he manages to merge his heartland rock storytelling with a pop-rock arrangement spearheaded by Mick Ronson. It was inescapable.
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Apple
49. The Beatles – “Let It Be”
Year: 1970
Weeks on top: 2
The Beatles final single before Paul McCartney left to start his solo career, “Let It Be” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 6, which was unheard of at the time. The track eventually worked its way to No. 1 and is considered a swang song of sorts for the greatest band of all time.
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Monument
48. Roy Orbison – “Oh, Pretty Woman”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 3
“Oh, Pretty Woman” was Roy Orbison’s second song to top the charts and became a sales juggernaut. It sold seven-million copies, bringing Orbison to his commercial peak.
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London Records
47. The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black”
Year: 1966
Weeks on top: 2
The Rolling Stones’ psychedelic anthem was groundbreaking in that it was the first No. 1 song to feature a sitar. The track was also the first major evidence that the songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards was a force to be reckoned with.
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RCA
46. ABBA – “Dancing Queen”
Year: 1977
Weeks on top: 1
“Dancing Queen” spent just one-week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it was a global sensation, topping the charts in more than a dozen countries.
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Geffen
45. Guns N’ Roses – “Sweet Child o’ Mine”
Year: 1988
Weeks on top: 2
What began as guitarist Slash joking around with a throwaway melody eventually became Guns N’ Roses signature hit and one of the ultimate karaoke songs of all time.
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Motown
44. The Supremes – “Where Did Our Love Go”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 2
The Supremes’ first No. 1 hit remains one of the group’s most celebrated hits. It began an epic run that would push them to the top of popular music, breaking ground for both women and African American musicians.
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Hi
43. Al Green – “Let’s Stay Together”
Year: 1972
Weeks on top: 1
Al Green began his career singing other people’s songs. But he reahed his peak co-writing his own material. One of those songs is the blockbuster romantic anthem “Let’s Stay Together.”
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Elektra
42. Queen – “Another One Bites the Dust”
Year: 1980
Weeks on top: 3
For all Queen’s big anthems, it was 1980’s “Another One Bites the Dust” that proved a world conquerer. The song, with its infectious bassline, was a pop sensation and massive dance hit.
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Motown
41. Four Tops – “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”
Year: 1966
Weeks on top: 2
With “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” The Four Tops became one of Motown’s biggest groups at a time when the label could do no wrong. It was also key in establishing the label’s popularity overseas, landing at No. 2 on the UK charts.
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VeeJay
40. The Four Seasons – “Sherry”
Year: 1962
Weeks on top: 5
In the pre-Beatles era, no act was as big a hit-making machine as The Four Seasons. The band scored several No. 1’s. But “Sherry” remains a signature tune and fine example of how songwriter Bob Gaudio could create a pop melody perfect for singer Frankie Valli.
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Warner Bros.
39. Van Halen – “Jump”
Year: 1984
Weeks on top: 5
The biggest hard rock band in the world puts aside its guitars in favor of a keyboard? What was Van Halen thinking? Clearly, the band new better than anyone else. Eddie Van Halen still fits in a brief guitar solo. But he goes all out in embracing 1980s synth rock for what became Van Halen’s biggest hit.
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Victor
38. Ray Charles – “Georgia on My Mind”
Year: 1960
Weeks on top: 1
Ray Charles’ cover of Hoagy Carmichael’s classic is an example of a brilliant artist transforming a fantastic song and making it their own. “Georgia On My Mind” went on to become the official state song for Georgia.
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Scepter
37. The Shirelles – “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”
Year: 1961
Weeks on top: 2
Written by the team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” stands as one of the most beautiful R&B hits of all time. It made The Shirelles the first all-black girl group to top the charts.
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Capitol
36. The Beatles – “She Loves You”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 2
Before “I Want to Hold Your Hand” there was “She Loves You.” The latter took the U.K. by storm and positioned The Beatles to invade the U.S. It stands as the best selling song of the 1960s in the U.K.
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Motown
35. The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
Year: 1970
Weeks on top: 1
Driven by one of the great basslines in music history, “I Want You Back” made The Jackson 5 a household name and introduced the world to a new superstar in Michael Jackson.
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Philles
34. The Righteous Brothers – “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 2
The Righteous Brothers have a few of the greatest pop songs of all time on their resume. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” is certainly one of them. The track also serves as one of the great showcases for Phil Spector’s groundbreaking Wall of Sound production style.
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Asylum
33. Eagles – “Hotel California”
Year: 1977
Weeks on top: 1
At six and a half minutes long with an extended intro, “Hotel California” wasn’t exactly made to be a pop hit. But some songs are just inescapable. The song’s mythology and guitar sounds made it a big hit for the Eagles and the band’s most famous tune.
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Motown
32. The Temptations – “My Girl”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 1
By the mid-1960s, The Temptations had released a few modest hits. But “My Girl,” written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, put the group over the top.
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Capitol
31. The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”
Year: 1966
Weeks on top: 1
One of the most important and amazing pop songs in music history. The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” spent just one week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. But its impact lasted forever, with Brian Wilson’s arrangement wowing the world and cementing pop music as a true art form.
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RSO
30. Bee Gees – “Stayin’ Alive”
Year: 1978
Weeks on top: 4
For better or worse, when you think disco, you think of “Stayin’ Alive.” That’s thanks in no small part to the iconic opening of “Saturday Night Fever.”
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Big Top
29. Del Shannon – “Runaway”
Year: 1961
Weeks on top: 4
“Runaway” is a true rock and roll classic whose influence you can hear in some of the great artists to come along during the 1970s, including Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.
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Island
28. U2 – “With or Without You”
Year: 1987
Weeks on top: 3
Despite being a song about Bono being torn between living the life of a rock star and being a family man, “With or Without You” has become an undeniable love song that’s been covered numerous times.
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Elektra
27. The Doors – “Light My Fire”
Year: 1967
Weeks on top: 3
The Doors brand of psychedelic rock could often sound like the world was coming to an end. But even “Light My Fire” can’t help but be catchy. Even at over seven minutes long, the song became a mainstay on radio.
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Epic
26. Sly and the Family Stone – “Everyday People”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 4
Covered by various musicians, “Everyday People” was destined to be a huge hit. The song is one of the most accessible Sly and The Family Stone every released with a hook that wouldn’t quit.
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Atlantic
25. Aretha Franklin – “Respect”
Year: 1967
Weeks on top: 2
Aretha Franklin’s version of “Respect” is one of the greatest singles in music history. Maybe, the greatest. The song, originally written and recorded by Otis Redding, made Franklin a huge star and quickly grew into an anthem of female empowerment.
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Decca
24. The Rolling Stones – “Honky Tonk Women”
Year: 1969
Weeks: 4
“Honky Tonk Women” might not be the first song you go to when thinking of the Stones’ huge hits. But it’s one of the biggest, sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a month.
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EMI
23. The Supremes – “Baby Love”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 4
“Baby Love” is the song that cemented The Supremes as Motown’s biggest act. The group became the first at the label to have multiple No. 1’s.
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Mercury
22. Rod Stewart – “Maggie May/Reason To Believe”
Year: 1971
Weeks on top: 5
“Maggie May” was originally released as a B-side to “Reason to Believe.” But radio stations preferred the former. Despite all the pop success Rod Stewart would have throughout the 1970s and 1980s, “Maggie May” stands as his most successful song on the charts.
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Del-Ray
21. The Everly Brothers – “Cathy’s Clown”
Year: 1960
Weeks on top: 5
Even with big hits like “All I Do Is Dream” and “Wake Up Little Susie” under their belt, there was no escaping The Everly Brothers’ “Cathy’s Clown.” The duo’s biggest hit spent five weeks on top of charts and went on to sell 8 million copies.
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Polydor
20. Blondie – “Call Me”
Year: 1980
Weeks on top: 6
“Call Me” is the ultimate Blondie song, combining the band’s swaggering roots with the dance music Debbie Harry and company would perfect at their peak. The track, released on the “American Gigolo” soundtrack, would become the biggest song of 1980.
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Ode
19. Carole King- “It’s Too Late” / “I Feel the Earth Move”
Year: 1971
Weeks on top: 5
One of the great A-side/B-side combinations in music history, Carole King’s 1971 release of “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel The Earth Move” proved a monster record from her landmark album “Tapestry.”
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Mercury
18. Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer”
Year: 1987
Weeks on top: 4
If you put “Livin’ on a Prayer” in a poll, for ANYTHING, it would win. The song’s popularity hasn’t faded one bit since catapulting Bon Jovi to the top of the mainstream music world in 1987. Rock anthems rarely get bigger than this.
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ATCO
17. Otis Redding – “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”
Year: 1968
Weeks on top: 4
Otis Redding has one of the most stunning voices in music history. But it’s one of his most restrained vocal performances of all time that ruled the charts. Written with Steve Cropper, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” hit the top of the charts after Redding’s death, becoming the first posthumous single to do so.
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Apple
16. The Beatles – “Yesterday”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 4
The Beatles’ “Yesterday” is one of the most covered songs in music history and considered by many to be the best showcase of songwriting of the 20th century.
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Decca
15. The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Year: 1965
Weeks on top: 4
“Satisfaction” is one of the most recognizable songs in music history just by its first three notes. Driven by Keith Richards’ unmistakable guitar riff, “Satisfaction” was banned by some radio stations for being too sexually suggestive. That still didn’t prevent it from becoming a huge hit and one of the Stones’ signature songs.
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Boardwalk Records
14. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”
Year: 1982
Weeks on top: 7
No one remembers The Arrows’ original version of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” That’s because Joan Jett’s version took over the rock world in 1982, staying at No. 1 for a staggering seven weeks. The song would make Jett a huge star and lay the groundwork for her Rock Hall worthy career.
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Virgin
13. Janet Jackson – “That’s The Way Love Goes”
Year: 1993
Weeks on top: 8
No song showcases the hit-making power of Janet Jackson more than “That’s The Way Love Goes.” The sultry song, with its hypnotizing groove, spend two months on top of the charts in 1993. Jackson was unstoppable during the period and unquestionable one of the biggest artists of the 1990s.
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ATCO
12. Bobby Darin – “Mack the Knife”
Year: 1959
Weeks on top: 9
The composition “Mack the Knife” had been around for a while, even recorded by the great Louis Armstrong. But it was Bobby Darin’s version that became a pop sensation in 1959, dominating the charts and earning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
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RCA
11. Elvis Presley – “Heartbreak Hotel”
Year: 1956
Weeks on top: N/A
Another Elvis hit that pre-dates the Billboard Hot 100. Still, “Heartbreak Hotel” dominated every medium in 1956, sitting on top of the sales charts for eight consecutive weeks. It was a huge year for Elvis (more on that in a minute).
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Sire
10. Madonna – “Like a Virgin”
Year: 1984
Weeks on top: 6
“Like a Virgin” is one of the great a star is born moments in pop music. Madonna had already released a few hits. But the title track from her sophomore album was a cultural phenomenon that would make Madonna one of the biggest stars of all time.
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Columbia
9. Simon & Garfunkel – “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Year: 1970
Weeks on top: 6
“Bridge over Troubled Water” is one of the most accomplished songs in music history. Not only did it spend six weeks on top of the charts, it earned a whopping five Grammy Awards, including sweeping both Song and Record of the Year.
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Warner Bros.
8. Prince – “When Doves Cry”
Year: 1984
Weeks on top: 5
A massive pop hit without a bass line was virtually unheard of in 1984. But leave it to Prince to make it happen. The lead single from “Purple Rain” became the top-selling hit for all of 1984, one of the biggest years in music history.
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Motown
7. Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
Year: 1968
Weeks on top: 7
Arguably, the greatest single in Motown history. “I Heart It Through the Grapevine” had bounced around at the label until it landed in the lap of Marvin Gaye. From that moment on, it was pop gold.
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Capitol
6. The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Year: 1964
Weeks on top: 7
When people talk about the British INVASION, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is what they mean. You can still hear the screams in your head from The Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” From that moment on, the Fab Four were unstoppable.
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Epic
5. Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
Year: 1983
Weeks on top: 7
Everything lined up perfectly for Michael Jackson in 1983. After doing well with “The Girl Is Mine,” MJ unleashed the second single from “Thriller.” “Billie Jean” was an instant sensation just as MTV was hitting its stride. With the video breaking down color barriers on the network, Jackson would soon become the biggest pop star on the planet.
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A&M
4. The Police – “Every Breath You Take”
Year: 1983
Weeks on top: 8
The biggest hit of 1983 was truly inescapable. Just like the song comes off as an obsessive love anthem, music fans were willing to follow “Every Breath You Take” wherever it went, which was all over radio and MTV. In 1997, Puff Daddy scored a No. 1 hit with “I’ll Be Missing You,” adding the song’s legacy. Because of that, “Every Breath You Take” still accounts for a third of Sting’s royalty payments.
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RCA
3. Elvis Presley – “Don’t Be Cruel” / “Hound Dog”
Year: 1956
Weeks on top: N/A
On their own, either of these songs would have been good enough to make the top 10 on this list. “Don’t Be Cruel” is one of Elvis’ most popular songs. But it’s also noteworthy for featuring the greatest B-side in music history in “Hound Dog.” With “Hound Dog” flipped to the A-side for later releases, the single spent 11 weeks as the sales leader in American before the Billboard Hot 100 was a thing, and 13 weeks as the top jukebox song in the country.
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Apple
2. The Beatles – “Hey Jude”
Year: 1968
Only 37 songs have spent more time on top of the Billboard Hot 100 than “Hey Jude.” And none of them were released before 1977. That should show you how ahead of its time, in terms of success, The Beatles’ biggest hit was. The song would go on to sell 8 million copies and remains one of the most recognizable tunes in music history.
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Arista
1. Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You”
Year: 1992
Weeks on top: 14
A monster record from the biggest pop star in the world that time. Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” pushed “The Bodyguard” Soundtrack to the top of the charts, while sitting on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks.
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