The Top 100 Pop Songs of All Time

1. Friday I'm In Love, The Cure

2008-04-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

Friday I'm In Love, The Cure. Written by Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Porl Thompson and Boris Williams.
'Thursday doesn't even start.'

2. Venus, Shocking Blue

2008-04-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Venus, Shocking Blue. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen.
'Black as the dark night she was.'

3. Daydream Believer, The Monkees

2008-04-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Daydream Believer, The Monkees. Written by John Stewart.
'How much, baby, do we really need?'

Click here to watch 'Daydream Believer, The Monkees'

4. Dancing Queen, ABBA

2008-04-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Dancing Queen, ABBA. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
'Anybody could be that guy.'

5. No Matter What, Badfinger

2008-04-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

No Matter What, Badfinger. Written by Pete Ham.
'Knock down the old grey wall, be a part of it all.'

Badfinger performing No Matter What (with live vocals):

6: Sleeping In My Car, Roxette

2008-04-13T00:29:00.001-07:00

Sleeping In My Car, Roxette. Written by Per Gessle.
'The night is so pretty and so young.'

7: Love Shack, The B-52s

2008-04-13T00:28:00.001-07:00

Love Shack, The B-52s. Written by Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, and Cindy Wilson.
'The whole shack shimmies!'

8: Bus Stop, The Hollies

2008-04-13T00:27:00.001-07:00

Bus Stop, The Hollies. Written by Graham Gouldman.
'Every morning I would see her waiting at the stop.'

9: Cracklin' Rosie, Neil Diamond

2008-04-13T00:26:00.001-07:00

Cracklin' Rosie, Neil Diamond. Written by Neil Diamond.
'Find us a dream that don't ask no questions, yeah.'

10: Denim Goddess, Soho Jets

2008-04-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

Denim Goddess, Soho Jets.
'Dimestore Venus, she took me to the cleaners.'

Listen (click on song title):

11: Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks

2008-03-29T22:34:00.000-07:00

Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies.
'Chilly, chilly is the evening time.'

12: Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In, The Fifth Dimension

2008-03-29T22:31:00.001-07:00

Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In, The Fifth Dimension. Written by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot.
'Mystic crystal revelations and the mind's true liberation.'

13: She's So High, Tal Bachman

2008-03-29T22:27:00.001-07:00

She's So High, Tal Bachman. Written by Tal Bachman.
'What could a guy like me ever really offer?'

Click here to watch 'She's So High, Tal Bachman'

14: Knowing Me, Knowing You, ABBA

2008-03-29T22:26:00.001-07:00

Knowing Me, Knowing You, ABBA. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
'Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes.'

15: The Mighty Quinn, Manfred Mann

2008-03-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Mighty Quinn, Manfred Mann. Written by Bob Dylan.

16: Do You Wanna Dance, Barry Blue

2008-03-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

Do You Wanna Dance, Barry Blue. Written by Barry Blue, Ron Roker and Gerry Shury.
'Well do you wanna?'

Listen (click on song title):

17: Pretty Flamingo, Manfred Mann

2008-03-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Pretty Flamingo, Manfred Mann. Written by Mark Barkan.
'When she walks she moves so fine like a flamingo.'

18: Take On Me, A-Ha

2008-03-28T05:28:00.002-07:00

Take On Me, A-Ha. Written by Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Pål Waaktaar.
'Needless to say I'm odds and ends, but that's me, stumbling away.'

19: Weather With You, Crowded House.

2008-03-28T05:28:00.001-07:00

Weather With You, Crowded House. Written by Tim Finn and Neil Finn.
'Things ain't cooking in my kitchen.'

20: Friday On My Mind, The Easybeats

2008-03-28T05:27:00.001-07:00

Friday On My Mind, The Easybeats. Written by George Young and Harry Vanda.
'Know of nothing else that bugs me more than working for the rich man.'

21: Downtown, Petula Clark

2008-03-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

Downtown, Petula Clark. Written by Tony Hatch.
'Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty.'

22: Lay Me Down, Badfinger

2008-03-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Lay Me Down, Badfinger. Written by Pete Ham.
'In our nest we are blessed with our love.'

Listen (click on song title):

23: Lola, The Kinks

2008-03-27T07:06:00.001-07:00

Lola, The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies.
'I'm not dumb but I can't understand why she walked like a woman and talked like a man.'

24: Rain, Dragon

2008-03-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Rain, Dragon. Written by Todd Hunter and Johanna Pigott.
'Full moon and thunder, ribbons of blue.'

25: Tied To The 90s, Travis

2008-03-26T16:41:00.001-07:00

Tied To The 90s, Travis. Written by Fran Healy.
'Remember the 80's, they were something worse than the 90's.'

Britpop's finest moment!

26: Band of Gold, Freda Payne

2008-03-26T16:38:00.001-07:00

Band of Gold, Freda Payne. Written by Edythe Wayne and Ron Dunbar.
'That night, on our honeymoon, we stayed in separate rooms.'

27: Dead End Street, The Kinks

2008-03-26T16:35:00.001-07:00

Dead End Street, The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies.
'No money coming in, the rent collector's knocking trying to get in.'

28: Get The Party Started, Pink

2008-03-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

Get The Party Started, Pink. Written by Linda Perry.
'We'll be looking flashy in my Mercedes Benz.'

29: Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, Travis

2008-03-25T15:51:00.001-07:00

Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, Travis. Written by Fran Healy.
'I can't sleep tonight, everybody saying everything's alright.'

30: S.O.S, ABBA

2008-03-25T15:50:00.001-07:00

S.O.S, ABBA. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
'You seem so far away though you are standing near.'

31: Starman, David Bowie

2008-03-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

Starman, David Bowie. Written by David Bowie.
'He'd like to come and meet us but he thinks he'd blow our minds.'

32: Raw Ramp, T. Rex

2008-03-25T15:44:00.001-07:00

Raw Ramp, T. Rex. Written by Marc Bolan.
'Baby, you feed your chimp a girl, you ain't nothing but a raw ramp.'

33: Glad To Know You, Paul and Barry Ryan

2008-03-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Glad To Know You, Paul and Barry Ryan. Written by Paul Ryan.
'She's a typical teaser, she takes a chance.'

Listen (click on song title):

34: The Cat, The Merseys

2008-03-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Cat, The Merseys. Written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook.
'Sure he's the cream, a tall walking feminine dream.'

Listen (click on song title):

35: Raspberry Beret, Prince

2008-03-21T04:43:00.001-07:00

Raspberry Beret, Prince. Written by Prince.
'Something about the clouds and her mixed.'

36: Everlasting Love, Love Affair

2008-03-21T04:42:00.001-07:00

Everlasting Love, Love Affair. Written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden.
'Where life really flows, no one really knows.'

37: Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool

2008-03-21T04:34:00.001-07:00

Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool. Written by Ross Wilson.
'I'm just crazy 'bout the way we move.'

38: When You Walk In The Room, The Searchers

2008-03-21T04:32:00.001-07:00

When You Walk In The Room, The Searchers. Written by Jackie DeShannon.
'I close my eyes for a second and pretend it's me you want.'

39: Teenage Dirtbag, Girls Aloud

2008-03-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

Teenage Dirtbag, Girls Aloud. Written by Brendan B. Brown.
'I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden baby, come with me Friday, don't say maybe.'

40: Georgy Girl, The Seekers

2008-03-18T18:45:00.001-07:00

Georgy Girl, The Seekers. Written by Tom Springfield and Jim Dale.
'You're always window shopping but never stopping to buy.'

41: Hair, The Cowsills

2008-03-18T03:25:00.000-07:00

Hair, The Cowsills. Written by Gerome Ragni and James Rado.
'Let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees.'

42: Mini Marianne, Paul Cass

2008-03-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

Mini Marianne, Paul Cass. Written by Paul Cass.
'Mini Marianna was in the pantry making coca cola jellies.'

43: Dizzy, Tommy Roe

2008-03-18T03:17:00.000-07:00

Dizzy, Tommy Roe. Written by Tommy Roe and Freddy Weller.
'My head is spinning, like a whirlpool it never ends.'

44: Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), Edison Lighthouse

2008-03-17T02:23:00.001-07:00

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), Edison Lighthouse. Written by Tony Macaulay and Barry Mason.
'Her hair is kind of wild and free.'

45: People Got To Be Free, The Young Rascals

2008-03-17T02:19:00.001-07:00

People Got To Be Free, The Young Rascals. Written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati.
'Why can't you and me learn to love one another?'

46: Something So Strong, Crowded House

2008-03-17T02:16:00.000-07:00

Something So Strong, Crowded House. Written by Neil Finn.
'Taste of jealousy, it's like a lust for gold.'

47: Bang A Boomerang, ABBA

2008-03-17T02:12:00.001-07:00

Bang A Boomerang, ABBA. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
'Love is a tune you hummy-hum hum.'

48: Love Is Gonna Come At Last, Badfinger

2008-03-17T02:02:00.000-07:00

Love Is Gonna Come At Last, Badfinger. Written by Joey Molland
'There are times when it seemed to hard just to carry on.'

49: Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me), Cockney Rebel

2008-03-15T22:44:00.001-07:00

Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me), Cockney Rebel. Written by Steve Harley.
'Blue eyes, blue eyes, how come you tell so many lies?'

50: Sorrow, The Merseys

2008-03-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

Sorrow, The Merseys. Written by Written by Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer.
'Something tells me you're the devil's daughter.'

51: Love So Pure, Puffy AmiYumi

2008-03-15T18:23:00.001-07:00

Love So Pure, Puffy AmiYumi. Written by Andy Sturmer.
'Call it fate or just two hearts magnetized.'

52: Sunny Afternoon, The Kinks

2008-03-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

Sunny Afternoon, The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies.
'I can't sail my yacht, he's taken everything I've got.'

53: Cherish, Madonna

2008-03-15T18:20:00.003-07:00

Cherish, Madonna. Written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard.
'So tired of broken hearts and losing at this game before I start.'

54: I Want To Save You, Rescue Co. No 1

2008-03-15T07:58:00.001-07:00

I Want To Save You, Rescue Co. No 1. Written by Chris Arnold, David Martin and Geoff Morrow.

Listen (click on song title):

55. Always Something There To Remind Me, Sandie Shaw

2008-03-15T07:56:00.001-07:00

Always Something There To Remind Me, Sandie Shaw. Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
'When shadows fall, I pass the small cafe where we would dance at night.'

56: Surrender, Cheap Trick

2008-03-15T07:55:00.001-07:00

Surrender, Cheap Trick. Written by Rick Nielsen.
'When I woke up mum and dad were rolling on the couch.'

Click here to watch 'Surrender, Cheap Trick'

57: Tears Of A Clown, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

2008-03-15T07:53:00.000-07:00

Tears Of A Clown, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Written by Stevie Wonder, Hank Cosby and Smokey Robinson.
'Don't let my glad expression give you the wrong impression.'

58: Horny '98, Mousse T

2008-03-15T07:52:00.001-07:00

Horny '98, Mousse T. Written by Mousse T.
'I got so desperate I sent a rocket to the moon.'

But to be honest I prefer the rock version:

59: Send Me A Postcard, Shocking Blue

2008-03-15T07:49:00.001-07:00

Send Me A Postcard, Shocking Blue. Written by Robbie van Leuwen.
'Ain't no lover like me in town.'

60: Because I Love You, Badfinger

2008-03-14T18:30:00.001-07:00

Because I Love You, Badfinger. Written by Joey Molland.
'Somehow life is fine today.'

Listen (click on song title):

61: Disco 2000, Pulp

2008-03-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Disco 2000, Pulp. Written by Candida Doyle, Jarvis Cocker, Mark Webber, Nick Banks, Russell Senior and Steve Mackey.
'Your house was very small, with woodchip on the wall.'

62: Summer Holiday, Cliff Richard

2008-03-14T18:21:00.001-07:00

Summer Holiday, Cliff Richard. Written by Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett.
'We've seen it in the movies, so let's see if it's true.'

63: Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Manfred Mann

2008-03-14T03:20:00.000-07:00

Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Manfred Mann. Written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.

64: Sorry Suzanne, The Hollies

2008-03-14T03:14:00.001-07:00

Sorry Suzanne, The Hollies. Written by Geoff Stephens and Tony Macauley.
'I was wrong and I knew I was all along.'

65: Arkansas Grass, Axiom

2008-03-14T03:12:00.001-07:00

Arkansas Grass, Axiom. Written by Brian Cadd and Don Mudie.
'Home home, lovers alone, laying on Arkansas grass.'

Listen (click on song title):

66: The Look, Roxette

2008-03-14T03:07:00.001-07:00

The Look, Roxette. Written by Per Gessle.
'Hittin' like a hammer, she's a juvenile scam.'

67: Tired of Waiting, The Kinks

2008-03-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

Tired of Waiting, The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies.
'It's your life and you can do what you want.'

68: Dancing In The Street, Martha & The Vandellas

2008-03-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

Dancing In The Street, Martha & The Vandellas. Written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter.

69: I'm Alive, The Hollies

2008-03-12T06:20:00.001-07:00

I'm Alive, The Hollies. Written by Clint Ballard Jr.
'I can taste all the sugar sweetness in your kiss.'

70: Star Studded Sham, Hello

2008-03-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

Star Studded Sham, Hello. Written by Russ Ballard.
'If you don't really want to love me, then let me go.'

The last great pop group:

71: Does Your Mother Know?, ABBA

2008-03-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

Does Your Mother Know?, ABBA. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson.
'I know what you mean when you give me a flash of that smile.'

72: Rock'n'Roll Love Letter, The Records

2008-03-12T06:16:00.000-07:00

Rock'n'Roll Love Letter, The Records. Written by Tim Moore.
'Electricity's a devil with a twenty amp fuse.'

Listen (click on song title):

The greatest 'new wave' pop record. Elvis Costello eat your heart out - you never did anything nearly as good.

The Bay City Rollers' version is also worth a listen:

73: What's Been Done, Wimple Winch

2008-03-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

What's Been Done, Wimple Winch.
'If you don't want him, you know where to come.'

Listen (click on song title):

74: Girls On The Avenue, Richard Clapton

2008-03-11T15:37:00.001-07:00

Girls On The Avenue, Richard Clapton. Written by Richard Clapton.
'Sometimes they seem as fragile as glass.'

75: Love Her Madly, The Doors

2008-03-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

Love Her Madly, The Doors. Written by Robbie Krieger.
'Don't you love her as she's walking out the door.'

76: It's Only Natural, Crowded House

2008-03-11T15:32:00.001-07:00

It's Only Natural, Crowded House. Written by Neil Finn and Tim Finn.
'I want you to know I feel completely at ease.'

77: Heartbreaker, UK Baby

2008-03-10T22:03:00.001-07:00

Heartbreaker, UK Baby. Written by Iain Sutherland.
'You tear apart all the world and say you've got the answer 'til the people's on their knee.'

Listen (click on song title):

78: Behind A Painted Smile, The Isley Brothers

2008-03-10T21:59:00.000-07:00

Behind A Painted Smile, The Isley Brothers. Written by Verdi, Beatrice and Ivy Jo Hunter.
'My life's a masquerade, a world of let's pretend.'

79: I Only Want To Be With You, Dusty Springfield

2008-03-10T21:56:00.001-07:00

I Only Want To Be With You, Dusty Springfield. Written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymond.
'I never knew that I could be in love like this.'

80: Apeman, The Kinks

2008-03-10T21:51:00.001-07:00

Apeman, The Kinks. Written by Ray Davies.
'I don't feel safe in this world no more.'

81: Say Goodbye, The Killer

2008-03-10T07:25:00.001-07:00

Say Goodbye, The Killer.

Listen (click on song title):

82: Sun In Her Hand, Blond

2008-03-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sun In Her Hand, Blond. Written by Göran Lagerberg, Anders Henriksson and K. J. Green.
'I saw a girl in a silver land.'

Listen (click on song title):

83: Baby Bear, Axiom

2008-03-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Baby Bear, Axiom. Written by Brian Cadd and Don Mudie.
'What's the use of sighing for love?'

Listen (click on song title):

84: Indian Uprising, The Garnets

2008-03-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

Indian Uprising, The Garnets.
'She's gonna start a revolution, we can tell, but we don't care.'

Listen (click on song title):

85: 1X2X3X4, The Zoot

2008-03-10T05:02:00.000-07:00

1X2X3X4, The Zoot. Written by Terry Britten.
Listen (click on song title):

86: Rattler, Shocking Blue

2008-03-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

Rattler, Shocking Blue. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen.
'You don't have to beg anymore.'

87: Ding Dinge Dong, Teach-In

2008-03-10T04:50:00.000-07:00

Ding Dinge Dong, Teach-In. Written by Wil Luikinga, Dick Bakker and Eddy Ouwens.
'Everyone is funny when they sing a song that goes ding dinge dong.'

88: With A Girl Like You, The Troggs

2008-03-09T21:23:00.001-07:00

With A Girl Like You, The Troggs. Written by Reg Presley.

89: Saturday In The Park, Chicago

2008-03-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday In The Park, Chicago. Written by Robert Lamm.
'Can you dig it? Yes I can.'

90: Tonite, Stumblebunny

2008-03-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

Tonite, Stumblebunny. Written by Chris Robison.
'There is no trouble nowhere in sight.'

Listen (click on song title):

91: Pale Green (Hmmmm) Driving Man, Prowler

2008-03-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

Pale Green Hmmmm Driving Man, Prowler. Written by Martin Briley and Brian Engel.
'I’m that nasty shifty kind, that greasy 1950s kind.'

A hook-laden gem of a song, sourced from http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com

To listen, click on the following link:

Pale Green (Hmmm) Driving Man

Both the version posted above, in which the word 'Vauxhall' was edited out for airplay on the BBC, and the original version are available on an album, Between The Sea And The Sky, which has just been released by RPM/Cherry Red Records. The album is substantially that made by Martin Briley and Brian Engel in 1972 but which was never released. http://www.cherryred.co.uk/rpm/artists/martinbrileybrianengel.htm

92: Midnight Confessions, The Grass Roots

2008-03-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

Midnight Confessions, The Grass Roots. Written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri.
'A little gold ring you wear on your hand makes me understand.'

93: Counting The Beat, The Swingers

2008-03-08T18:30:00.000-08:00

Counting The Beat, The Swingers. Written by Phil Judd and Bones Hillman.
'I'm thinking about just you and me.'

94: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy), Harpers Bizarre

2008-03-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy), Harpers Bizarre. Written by Paul Simon.
'I come to watch yer flowers growing.'

95: I Get So Excited, Real McCoy

2008-03-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

I Get So Excited, Real McCoy. Written by Eddy Grant.

96: I See The Rain, The Marmalade

2008-03-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

I See The Rain, The Marmalade. Written by The Marmalade.
'Stay indoors, while it pours, til tomorrow.'

NB: The YouTube video is heavily distorted. This version is clearer:

The song is also one of the four included on The Marmalade's MySpace page and can be heard there: http://www.myspace.com/marmaladepop

97: That's My Baby, Just Four Men

2008-03-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

Listen (click on song title):

98: Naughty Naughty, Wig Wam

2008-03-05T03:43:00.000-08:00

Naughty Naughty, Wig Wam. Written by Jason and Gerome.
Listen (click on song title):

I owe the discovery of this wonderful bubblegum track from 1972 to Robin Wills's blog purepop
http://purepop1uk.blogspot.com

99: Bend Me, Shape Me, The American Breed

2008-03-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

Bend Me, Shape Me, The American Breed. Written by Scott English and Larry Weiss.
'You got the power to turn on the light.'

100: Susan, The Buckinghams

2008-03-03T04:28:00.000-08:00

Susan, The Buckinghams. Written by Jim Holvay.
'I love you, yes I do, I do.'