Best Hits of All Time
Best Hits of All Time: Annual Year End Best Artist & Songs
What are the best hits of all time? This list shows you the top 5 US Billboard artists and songs for every year since 1958.
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| Year | Top 1 | Reached #2 | Reached #3 | Reached #4 | Reached Top 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Domenico Modugno (Volare) |
Everly Brothers (All I have to do is dream) |
Elvis Presley (Don’t/I Beg Of You) |
David Seville (Witch Doctor) |
Perez Prado (Patricia). |
| 1959 | Johnny Horton (The battle of New Orleans) |
Bobby Darin (Mack the knife) |
Lloyd Price (Personality) |
Frankie Avalon (Venus) |
Paul Anka (Lonely Boy). |
| 1960 | Percy Faith (Theme from “A summer place”) |
Jim Reeves (He’ll have to go) |
Everly Brothers (Cathy’s Clown) |
Johnny Preston (Running Bear) |
Mark Dinning (Teen Angel). |
| 1961 | Bobby Lewis (Tossin’ And Turnin‘) |
Patsy Cline (I fall to pieces) |
Highwaymen (Michael) |
Roy Orbison (Crying) |
Del Shannon (Runaway). |
| 1962 | Mr. Acker Bilk (Stranger on the shore) |
Ray Charles (I can’t stop loving you) |
Dee Dee Sharp (Mashed Potato Time) |
Bobby Vinton (Roses are red) |
David Rose (The Stripper). |
| 1963 | Jimmy Gilmer/ The Fireballs (Sugar Shack) |
Beach Boys (Surfin’ U.S.A.) |
Skeeter Davis (The end of the world) |
Cascades (Rhythm of the rain) |
Chiffons (He’s so fine). |
| 1964 | Beatles, The (I want to hold your hand. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Beatles, The (She loves you) |
Louis Armstrong (Hello, Dolly!) |
Roy Orbison (Oh, Pretty Woman) |
Beach Boys (I get around). |
| 1965 | Sam The Sham – The Pharaohs (Wooly Bully) |
Four Tops (I can’t help myself) |
Rolling Stones (I can’t get no satisfaction) |
We Five (You were on my mind) |
Righteous Brothers (You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin‘). |
| 1966 | Sgt. Barry Sadler (The ballad of the green berets) |
Association (Cherish) |
Righteous Brothers (Soul and inspiration) |
Four Tops (Reach out I’ll be there) |
? & The Mysterians (96 Tears). |
| 1967 | Lulu (To Sir with love) |
Box Tops (The Letter) |
Bobby Gentry (Ode to Billie Joe) |
Association (Windy) |
Monkees (I’m a believer). |
| 1968 | Beatles, The (Hey Jude. One of the best hits of all time) |
Paul Mauriat (Love is blue) |
Bobby Goldsboro (Honey) |
Otis Redding (Sittin‘ on the dock of the bay) |
Rascals (People got to be free). |
| 1969 | Archies (Sugar, Sugar) |
Fifth Dimension (Aquarius/Let the sunshine in) |
Temptations (I can’t get next to you) |
Rolling Stones (Honky Tonk Women) |
Sly/The Family Stone (Everyday people). |
| 1970 | Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge over troubled water. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Carpenters (They long to be close to you) |
Guess Who (American Woman) |
B.J. Thomas (Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head) |
Edwin Star (War). |
| 1971 | Three Dog Night (Joy to the world) |
Rod Stewart (Maggie May) |
Carole King (It’s too late/I feel the earth move) |
Osmonds (One bad apple) |
Bee Gees (How can you mend a broken heart). |
| 1972 | Roberta Flack (The first time ever I saw your face) |
Gilbert O’Sullivan (Alone again) |
Don McLean (American Pie) |
Nilsson (Without you) |
Sammy Davis, Jr. (Candy Man). |
| 1973 | Tony Orlando (Tie a yellow ribbon ‘round the Ole Oak Tree) |
Jim Croce (Bad, Bad Leroy Brown) |
Roberta Flack (Killing me softly with his song) |
Marvin Gaye (Let‘s get it on) |
Paul McCartney/ Wings (My love). |
| 1974 | Barbra Streisand (The way we were) |
Terry Jacks (Seasons in the sun) |
Love Unlimited Orchestra (Love’s Theme) |
Redbone (Come and get your love) |
Jackson Five (Dancing Machine). |
| 1975 | Captain & Tennille (Love will keep us together) |
Glen Campbell (Rhinestone Cowboy) |
Elton John (Philadelphia Freedom) |
Freddy Fender (Before the next teardrop falls) |
Frankie Valli (My eyes adored you). |
| 1976 | Wings (Silly Love Songs) |
Elton John/Kiki Dee (Don’t go breaking my heart) |
Johnnie Taylor (Disco Lady) |
Four Seasons (December, 1963/Oh what a night) |
Wild Cherry (Play that funky music). |
| 1977 | Rod Stewart (Tonight’s the night gonna be alright) |
Andy Gibb (I just want to be your everything) |
Emotions (Best of my love) |
Barbra Streisand (Love Theme from “A Star Is Born“) |
Hot (Angel in your arms). |
| 1978 | Andy Gibb (Shadow Dancing) |
Bee Gees (Night Fever) |
Debby Boone (You light up my life) |
Bee Gees (Stayin’ Alive) |
Exile (Kiss you all over). |
| 1979 | The Knack (My Sharona. One of the most irritating best hits of all time.) |
Donna Summer (Bad Girls) |
Chic (Le Freak) |
Rod Stewart (Do ya think I’m sexy) |
Peaches & Herb (Reunited). |
| 1980 | Blondie (Call Me. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Pink Floyd (Another brick in the wall) |
Olivia Newton-John (Magic) |
Michael Jackson (Rock with you) |
Captain & Tennille (Do that to me one more time). |
| 1981 | Kim Carnes (Bette Davis eyes) |
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (Endless love) |
Kenny Rogers (Lady) |
John Lennon (Just like starting over) |
Rick Springfield (Jessie’s Girl). |
| 1982 | Olivia Newton-John (Physical) |
Survivor (Eye of the tiger) |
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (I love Rock N’ Roll) |
Paul McCartney/ Stevie Wonder (Ebony and Ivory) |
J. Geils Band (Centerfold). |
| 1983 | Police (Every breath you take. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Michael Jackson (Billie Jean) |
Irene Cara (Flashdance/What a feeling) |
Men At Work (Down Under) |
Michael Jackson (Beat it). |
| 1984 | Prince & The Revolution (When doves cry) |
Tina Turner (What’s love got to do with it) |
Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (Say Say Say) |
Kenny Loggins (Footloose) |
Phil Collins (Against all odds take a look at me now). |
| 1985 | Wham! (Careless Whisper) |
Madonna (Like a virgin) |
Wham! (Wake me up before you go-go) |
Foreigner (I want to know what love is) |
Chaka Khan (I feel for you). |
| 1986 | Dionne Warwick & Friends (That’s what friends are for) |
Lionel Richie (Say you, say me) |
Klymaxx (I miss you) |
Patti LaBelle/ Michael McDonald (On my own) |
Mr. Mister (Broken Wings). |
| 1987 | Bangles (Walk like an Egyptian. One of the easiest to dance to best hits of all time.) |
Heart (Alone) |
Gregory Abbott (Shake you down) |
Whitney Houston (I wanna dance with somebody) |
Starship (Nothing’s gonna stop us now). |
| 1988 | George Michael (Faith) |
INXS (Need you tonight) |
George Harrison (Got my mind set on you) |
Rick Astley (Never gonna give you up) |
Guns N’ Roses (Sweet child o’ mine). |
| 1989 | Chicago (Look away) |
Bobby Brown (My prerogative) |
Poison (Every rose has its thorn) |
Paula Abdul (Straight up) |
Janet Jackson (Miss you much). |
| 1990 | Wilson Phillips (Hold on) |
Roxette (It must have been love) |
Sinead O’Connor (Nothing compares 2 you) |
Bell Biv Devoe (Poison) |
Madonna (Vogue). |
| 1991 | Bryan Adams (Everything I do I do it for you. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Color Me Badd (I wanna sex you up) |
C & C Music Factory (Gonna make you sweat) |
Paula Abdul (Rush Rush) |
Timmy T. (One more try). |
| 1992 | Boyz II Men (End of the road) |
Sir Mix-A-Lot (Baby got back) |
Kris Koss (Jump) |
Vanessa Williams (Save the best for last) |
TLC (Baby-Baby-Baby). |
| 1993 | Whitney Houston (I will always love you) |
Tag Team (Whoomp! There it is) |
UB 40 (Can’t help falling in love) |
Janet Jackson (That’s the way love goes) |
Silk (Freak me). |
| 1994 | Ace Of Base (The sign) |
All-4-One (I swear) |
Boyz II Men (I’ll make love to you) |
Celine Dion (The power of love) |
Mariah Carey (Hero). |
| 1995 | Coolio/L.V. (Gangsta’s Paradise) |
TLC (Waterfalls) |
TLC (Creep) |
Seal (Kiss from a rose) |
Boyz II Men (On bended knee). |
| 1996 | Los Del Rio (Macarena) |
Mariah Carey/Boyz II Men (One sweet day) |
Celine Dion (Because you loved me) |
The Tony Rich Project (Nobody knows) |
Mariah Carey (Always be my baby). |
| 1997 | Elton John (Candle in the wind 1997. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Jewel (You were meant for me) |
Puff Daddy/Faith Evans Featuring 112 (I’ll be missing you) |
Toni Braxton (Un-Break my heart) |
Puff Daddy/Mase (Can’t nobody hold me down). |
| 1998 | Next (Too close) |
Brandy/Monica (The boy is mine) |
Shania Twain (You’re still the one) |
Savage Garden (Truly madly deeply) |
LeAnn Rimes (How do I live). |
| 1999 | Cher (Believe) |
TLC (No scrubs) |
Monica (Angel of mine) |
Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans & Kelly Price (Heartbreak Hotel) |
Britney Spears (Baby one more time). |
| 2000 | Faith Hill (Breathe) |
Santana featuring Rob Thomas (Smooth) |
Santana featuring The Product G&B (Maria Maria) |
Joe (I wanna know) |
Vertical Horizon (Everything you want). |
| 2001 | Lifehouse (Hanging by a moment) |
Alicia Keys (Fallin) |
Janet Jackson (All for you) |
Train (Drops of Jupiter tell me) |
Jennifer Lopez & Ja Rule (I‘m real). |
| 2002 | Nickelback (How you remind me) |
Ashanti (Foolish) |
Nelly (Hot in here) |
Nelly/Kelly Rowland (Dilemma) |
The Calling (Wherever you will go). |
| 2003 | 50 Cent (In da club) |
R. Kelly (Ignition) |
Sean Paul (Get busy) |
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z (Crazy in love) |
3 Doors Down (When I’m gone). |
| 2004 | Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris (Yeah!) |
Usher (Burn) |
Alicia Keys (If I ain’t got you) |
Maroon 5 (This love) |
Outkast featuring Sleepy Brown (The way you move). |
| 2005 | Mariah Carey (We belong together) |
Gwen Stefani (Hollaback Girl) |
Mario (Let me love you) |
Kelly Clarkson (Since u been gone) |
Ciara featuring Missy Elliott (One, two step). |
| 2006 | Daniel Powter (Bad day) |
Sean Paul (Temperature) |
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland (Promiscuous) |
James Blunt (You‘re beautiful) |
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean (Hips don‘t lie). |
| 2007 | Fergie (Big girls don‘t cry) |
Soulja Boy Tell ‘em (Crank that) |
Rihanna (Umbrella) |
Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson (The way I are) |
Kanye West featuring Daft Punk (Stronger). |
| 2008 | Leona Lewis (Bleeding love) |
T.I. (Whatever you love) |
Lil Wayne featuring Static Major (Lollipop) |
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain (Low) |
Katy Perry (I kissed the girl). |
| 2009 | Black Eyed Peas, The (I gotta feeling) |
Black Eyed Peas, The (Boom Boom Pow) |
Lady Gaga (Poker Face) |
Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne (Down) |
Flo Rida featuring Kesha (Right Round). |
| 2010 | Eminem featuring Rihanna (Love the way you lie) |
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg (California Gurls) |
Bruno Mars (Just the way you are) |
Usher featuring Will.I.Am (OMG) |
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams (Airplanes). |
| 2011 | LMFAO featuring Bennett & Rock (Party Rock Anthem) |
Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera (Moves like Jagger) |
Katy Perry featuring Kanye West (E.T.) |
Adele (Rolling in the deep) |
Adele (Someone like you). |
| 2012 | Gotye (Somebody that I used to know) |
Fun featuring Janelle Monae (We are young) |
Carly Rae Jepsen (Call me maybe) |
Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa (Payphone) |
Maroon 5 (One more night). |
| 2013 | Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz (Thrift Shop) |
Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. + Pharrell (Blurred Lines) |
Imagine Dragons (Radioactive) |
Baauer (Harlem Shake) |
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton (Can’t Hold Us). |
| 2014 | Pharrell Williams (Happy) |
Katy Perry featuring Juicy J (Dark Horse) |
John Legend (All Of Me) |
Iggy Azalea Featuring Charli Xcx (Fancy) |
Onerepublic (Counting Stars). |
| 2015 | Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars (Uptown Funk!) |
Ed Sheeran (Thinking Out Loud) |
Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth (See You Again) |
Fetty Wap (Trap Queen) |
Maroon 5 (Sugar). |
| 2016 | Justin Bieber (Love Yourself) |
Justin Bieber (Sorry) |
Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla (One Dance) |
Rihanna Featuring Drake (Work) |
twenty one pilots (Stressed Out). |
| 2017 | Ed Sheeran (Shape Of You. One of the best hits of all time.) |
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber (Despacito) |
Bruno Mars (That’s What I Like) |
Kendrick Lamar (Humble) |
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay (Something Just Like This). |
| 2018 | Drake (God’s Plan) |
Ed Sheeran (Perfect) |
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line (Meant To Be) |
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug (Havana) |
Post Malone featuring 21 Savage (Rockstar) |
| 2019 | The best hits of 2019 will be announced during 2020. |
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- This best hits of all time list is compiled by Robert Junker, last updated 20 Aug 2019.
- Spotted a mistake or do you have a suggestion to improve our list of the best hits of all time? Please add your comments below…
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