----------------------------------- hbgator Tue 16 Sep, 2008 The Billboard Hot 100 chart began identifying the top songs in America back in 1958 ----------------------------------- The Billboard Hot 100 chart began identifying the top songs in America back in 1958. The list takes airplay and sales into account and is a good measure of what the most popular songs are at a point in time. Songs that make to the very top of this list on any given week can claim the moniker "number one hit". This playlist is a collection of the best of the best. The greatest hits to ever peak on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now before you start whining about why a particular song did not make the grade please ask yourself if the song ever made it to the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. If not, it will not be on this playlist. It's easy to find a list of Billboard's number one hits, but how does one narrow it down from there? Do you select the biggest sellers, the most critically acclaimed, personal favorites? Well, ultimately I decided on some parameters to help me tailor the list into a chronological time capsule that represents the best of what planet earth had to offer in terms of popular music. The list includes just one song for each year since the Hot 100 chart began in 1958 and I made the decision to not repeat artists. Although some (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones) could easily have multiple songs on this list, I thought giving other talented acts a chance would create a better cross-section of popular music. One thing I noticed as I moved from decade to decade was that it got much harder to choose a song I could really identify with. To my ears the 60's and 70's and even the 80's were filled to the brim with timeless tracks, while both the quality and quantity of #1 hits took a nosedive in the 90's and 00's. I'm not sure if this is because I'm getting old and am out of touch with what the kids dig today, or if popular music is indeed dead. What do you think? Greatest Number One Hits 1958: All I Have To Do Is Dream - The Everly Brothers 1959: Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price 1960: Stay - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs 1961: Surrender - Elvis Presley 1962: I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles 1963: Fingertips Pt. 2 - Stevie Wonder 1964: House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals 1965: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones 1966: Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys 1967: Hello, Goodbye - The Beatles 1968: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding 1969: Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone 1970: The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 1971: Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Temptations 1972: Let's Stay Together - Al Green 1973: Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye 1974: The Joker - Steve Miller Band 1975: Island Girl - Elton John 1976: 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon 1977: Hotel California - The Eagles 1978: Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees 1979: Heart Of Glass - Blondie 1980: Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2 - Pink Floyd 1981: Starting Over, (Just Like) - John Lennon 1982: Jack And Diane - John Cougar Mellencamp 1983: Beat It - Michael Jackson 1984: When Doves Cry - Prince 1985: Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears for Fears 1986: Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel 1987: With Or Without You - U2 1988: Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses 1989: Like A Prayer - Madonna 1990: Vision Of Love - Mariah Carey 1991: Set Adrift On Memory Bliss - P.M. Dawn 1992: Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot 1993: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston 1994: Bump N' Grind - R. Kelly 1995: Waterfalls - TLC 1996: California Love - 2Pac 1997: Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G. 1998: Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill 1999: Smooth - Santana 2000: Amazed - Lonestar 2001: All For You - Janet Jackson 2002: Hot In Herre - Nelly 2003: Hey Ya! - Outkast 2004: Yeah! - Usher 2005: Gold Digger - Kanye West 2006: SexyBack - Justin Timberlake 2007: Irreplaceable - Beyonce 2008: Whatever You Like - T.I. ----------------------------------- mimi_44 Fri 19 Sep, 2008 Re: The Billboard Hot 100 chart began identifying the top songs in America back in 1958 ----------------------------------- The 50's, 60's and 70's are my favorites. I made myself walking CD's with this type of music. They have a better beat, more like getting off your "bootie" and feel like dancing, or walking in my case. I have lots of the originals on 45's and LP's. It was a great time for music. The music today, some I can relate to, if they have a good beat. :wink: ----------------------------------- jkf Mon 22 Sep, 2008 Re: The Billboard Hot 100 chart began identifying the top songs in America back in 1958 ----------------------------------- Maybe I just don't spend that much time listening to music anymore... I remember at least a dozen or so songs every year that I liked from my younger days, but now, I think i can only think of maybe a dozen songs that I can think of by title from the last 10 years... and thats pushing it... Anyone want any of the songs from the old Billboard charts? I've got the complete yearly lists going all the way back to the 50s... If you make a list, I can upload them for ya... just don't ask for the whole thing... :lol: