
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 04 Jun 2022.
- Spotted a mistake or do you have a suggestion to improve our list of the best hits of all time? Let us know in the comments below…
Facinating to see the difference between imperial and Canada and Australia. I was aware of the most of US differences, but not cup sizes.missing from list are the beer barrel sizes, keg, pin, etc. you could add champagne bottle sizes. And note that 640 acres is 1 square mile.