#40 Beth Orton - She Cries Your Name (1997)

 

 

This evocative track was taken from her debut Mercury Music Award nominated album "Trailer Park". I love her folky voice to an acoustic/electronic backdrop.

 

Some other close but no cigar #40's:

 

Breeders - Cannonball (1993)

Fleetwood Mac - Say You Love Me (1976)

Jam - In The City (1977 - 2002 Reissue made #36)

Manic Street Preachers - Stay Beautiful (1991)

Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream (1995)

#39 Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Shame (1978)

 

 

This debut UK chart entry sold over a million copies for the US disco/soul diva, but I had to include this track as the representative of #39 due to it spending an incredible 23 weeks in the chart.

 

Some other close but no cigar #39's:

 

Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally (1977)

Jellyfish - The King Is Half Undressed (1991)

Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule (1990)

REM - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (1991)

Steely Dan - Do It Again (1975)

 

#38 AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long (1980)

 

 

This was the lead single from an album called Back In Black, which is owned by more than a few people around the world. :lol: Featuring new lead singer & ex-Geordie vocalist Brian Johnstone who had replaced the late Bon Scott. This song is so good even Celine Dion & Anastacia could not massacre it. (Whispers: There version was actually pretty good to be honest)

 

Some other close but no cigar #38's:

 

Bryan Adams - Heaven (1985)

Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Clash - White Riot (1977)

Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way (1977)

PJ Harvey - Down By The Water (1995)

#37 Jimi Hendrix Experience - Crosstown Traffic (1969)

 

 

Taken from his double album Electric Ladyland, this tight energetic uptempo number featuring the use of a makeshift kazoo (comb + tissue paper). Lyrically it compares people with cars and life with the road.

 

Some other close but no cigar #37's:

 

Kate Bush - The Big Sky (1986)

Buzzcocks - What Do I Get? (1978)

Bryan Ferry - Sign Of The Times (1978)

Aretha Franklin - Angel (1973)

Elton John - Bennie And The Jets (1976)

 

#36 Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People (1969)

 

 

A US #1 smash hit written by the proto-Prince Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) as a plea for racial harmony. This band was legendary for their high intake of chemical substances that make Amy Winehouse seem like Leona Lewis in comparison, which eventually led to their decline & downfall. But their stunning run of material from 1968-1975 is well worth checking out.

 

Some other close but no cigar #36's:

 

AC/DC - Whole Lotta Rosie (1980)

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen The Rain (1971)

John Lennon (ft an uncredited Elton John for record co./legal reasons) - Whatever Gets You Thru The Night (1974)

Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light (1973)

Small Faces - Afterglow (Of Your Love) (1969)

#35 Bangles - In Your Room (1988)

 

 

The lead single taken from LA's all-girl melodic rock quartet fronted by Susanna Hoffs' 3rd & final album (the first time around) Everything, this song failed to repeat the top 5 success it had in America, despite its clear "inspiration" taken from Led Zeppelin's Kashmir.

 

Some other close but no cigar #35's:

 

Beck - Where Its At (1996)

Bourgeois Tagg - I Don't Mind At All (1988)

Billy Joel - Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) (1978)

Naughty By Nature - O.P.P. (1992)

Bruce Springsteen - The River (1981)

#34 ELO - Can't Get It Our Of My Head (1978)

 

 

Taken from their 4th album Eldorado, this song from 1974 became a richly deserved first US Top10 hit. However the album & single failed to trouble the UK charts. This wonderful Jeff Lynne penned track finally became a UK hit as the lead single from the ELO EP released in December 1978.

 

Some other close but no cigar #34's:

 

Bow Wow Wow - C30 C60 C90 Go (1981)

Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You) (1990)

Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (1990)

Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing (1979)

Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums (1989)

 

#33 Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK (1992)

 

 

This song does not really deserve any introduction does it? Quite simply, the most electric, most exciting debut release in the history of British popular music. The EMI release originally peaked at UK#38 in December 1976, but reached its chart peak after being re-issued to promote the Kiss This compiliation on Virgin.

 

".............Destroooooooooyyyyyyyaaaaahhhhhh"

 

Some other close but no cigar #33's:

 

Bee Gees - Lonely Days (1970)

Kinks - Victoria (1970)

Levellers - One Way (re-recording) (1999)

Pulp - Do You Remember The First Time? (1994)

Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection (1992)

 

#32 Abba - The Day Before You Came (1982)

 

 

The last song the Swedish superstars ever recorded (although not their final release), the song minutely details the story of a lonely ordinary office girl's life right before she either met her loved one or met a loved one with whom she'd previously split (another interpretation is before she died), blended with a sombre, haunting melody without anything resembling a chorus (No wonder Radiohead love this song!). Ironically this song has aged better than the rest of their back catalogue, but the British public were too busy at the time lapping up Dollar & Bucks Fizz records to notice.

 

Some other close but no cigar #32's:

 

Belly - Feed The Tree (1993)

James Brown - Get Up I Feel Like A Sex Machine (1970)

The Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais (1978)

Hollies - Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress (1972)

Jewel - You Were Meant For Me (1997)

 

#31 Undertones - Teenage Kicks (1978)

 

 

"Teenage Kicks" is a 1978 song originally recorded by Northern Ireland punk rock group The Undertones. Composed by the band's principal songwriter, John O'Neill introducing the world to the vocals of Feargal Sharkey, it was championed by DJ ("Saint") John Peel, and was his all-time favourite song, and was played at his funeral.

 

One thing John Peel's untimely death meant that he has missed out on the musical trauma of Busted's assault of this teen anthem.

 

Some other close but no cigar #31's:

 

Elvis Costello - Veronica (1989)

Cure - The Forest (1980)

Marvin Gaye - Lets Get It On (1973)

Oasis - Supersonic (1994)

Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat (1977)

#43 Nick Heywood - Kite (1993)

 

 

I never rated Nick Heywood when he was in Haircut 100 & then a solo career to ever diminishing returns..... But then suddenly in the 1990s he signed to the indie label Creation, and released this fantastic single that reminds me of the Cure on a summers day. It actually went on to be his biggest ever hit in the USA and went top 10 all over Europe.

 

It's spelt 'Heyward' :)

This is a great thread! Hadn't noticed it before :)

B)-->

QUOTE(Neil B @ Jun 2 2008, 04:18 PM) 1962586[/snapback]

This is a great thread! Hadn't noticed it before :)

 

indeed it is neil...

 

if you have any ideas for other such threads then please post away! :)

#30 Eurythmics - When Tomorrow Never Comes (1986)

 

 

Annie & Dave scored a surprisingly low chart position with this track from their Revenge album.

 

Other famous #30's

 

Duran Duran - Do You Believe In Shame? (1989)

Buddy Holly - Heartbeat (1959)

John Lennon - Stand By Me (1975)

Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (1987)

Television - Marquee Moon (1977)

 

 

 

#29 Sam Cooke - You Send Me (1957)

 

 

This track was his only US#1 in his native America.

 

Other famous #29's

 

Bjork - Venus Is A Boy (1993)

James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good) (1966)

Cocteau Twins - Pearly Dew-Drops Drop (1984)

Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains (1995)

Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (1973)

 

#28 Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally (1966)

 

 

This Atlantic Soul classic has become a bit of a pub singer/karaoke standard.

 

Other famous #28's

 

George Michael - Freedom!90 (1990)

Bruce Springsteen - Hungry Heart (1995)

Tricky Black Steel (1995)

Tubes White Punks On Dope (1977)

Yes Owner Of A Lonely Heart (1983)

 

 

 

#27 Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (1987)

 

 

Neil Finn is surely New Zealand's most famous singer/songwriter. This track reached USA#2, but did not peak in the UK until it was remixed in 1996 when he reached UK#25.

 

Other famous #27's

 

Aaliyah - (At Your Best) You Are Love (1994)

Cure - Catch (1987)

Jesus Loves You - Bow Down Mister (1991)

Radiohead - My Iron Lung (1994)

REM - Nightswiming (1993)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#26 The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again (1986)

 

 

The likes of Duran Duran (pop) & U2 (rock) may have sold more records in the 1980s, but this Mancunian outfit featuring the songwriting duo Morrissey & Marr were surely the most important band of the decade.

 

Other famous #26's

 

Tori Amos - Silent All These Years (1992)

Lloyd Cole & Commotions - Perfect Skin (1984)

Aretha Franklin - Think (1968)

Kingsmen - Louie Louie (1964)

Tears For Fears - Woman In Chains (1989)

 

 

 

#25 Kate Bush - This Woman's Work (1989)

 

 

Taken from her The Sensual World album, this emotionally heartfelt track is significantly more well known now than it was when it was first released late in 1989.

 

Other famous #25's

 

Faith No More - Epic (1990)

Buddy Holly - True Love Ways (1960)

Prince - Raspberry Beret (1985)

Roxy Music - Both Ends Burning (1975)

Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1992)

 

#24 David Bowie - Heroes (1977)

 

 

Thanks to the assistance of Brian Eno & producer Tony Visconti and the influence of bands like Kraftwerk & Can, this song that sounded like it was from an alien world over 30 years ago, sounds far more contemporary today to modern music.

 

Other famous #24's

 

Byrds - Eight Miles High (1966)

INXS - Never Tear Us Apart (1988)

Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever (1986)

Scarlet Fantastic - No Memory (1987)

Verve - History (1995)