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 August 20, 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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