RockOnTheNet
presents The Top Pop Songs
Of All Time !
We have ranked the top pop songs that have charted over the past
50+ years on The ARC Weekly Top 40 and Billboard Hot 100, and
come up with
a definitive list that will continue to expand as we add to it,
and continue to modify as new songs chart on The ARC Weekly Top
40.
"You've
got to maintain your level of self-esteem
through everything. You are who you are, and nobody
will ever be able to take that from you if
you don't let them." - Donna Summer,
1989
TIMELINE
Donna Summer was born
LaDonna Adrian Gaines In Boston, MA on December
31, 1948. By the late 60s, Donna left home,
briefly was part of a group named 'Crow,'
performed with the German production of Hair,
followed by Godspell and The Me
Nobody Knows. Donna also began singing
background and releasing demos overseas which got
her noticed by producers. By the 70s, Donna was
on her journey to be named the 'Queen of Disco'
with help from producers Giorgio Moroder,
Pete Bellotte, and Casablanca Records. During the
beginning rise of her career, Donna felt
exploited at times by her record company and
attempts control her music with over-the-top
sexual exploitation, and eventually returned to
her religious roots and control over her music's
direction with a record label change in 1980.
February: Donna released Lady
Of The Night only in the Netherlands and had her
first hit in Europe with "The Hostage"
which topped the singles charts in Germany,
Belgium, and France.
August 27: Donna released Love
To Love You Baby. The LP's title track was produced
by Giorgio Moroder and gave
Donna her first Top 10 US hit: "I told
Giorgio that I had an idea for a song, and I sang
the melody to him and he put down a track. I came
into the studio the next day and he wanted me to
put down my vocal, but I wasn't really prepared,
so I ad-libbed, and that was left on the song. I
was goofing around. I was lying on the floor
moaning and we were all hysterical. It was just
too funny." The LP hit the Top 10 in Norway,
Sweden, and Australia, and the Top 20 in the US,
Canada, and UK.
May 13: Donna releasedI
Remember Yesterday. The LP hit the Top 10 in Norway,
Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Donna was back in the Top 10 with "I Feel
Love."
August 31: Donna released Live
And More. The double LP had 3 live sides of
performances from Los Angeles, CA during the
year, and a 4th side with new material.
October 21: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart for 5 weeks with
"MacArthur Park Suite."
May 26: Donna topped the
Billboard Disco Top 100 chart for 7 weeks with
"Hot Stuff / Bad Girls."
June 2: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks with "Hot
Stuff."
June 16: Donna topped the
Billboard 200 LP chart for 6 weeks with Bad
Girls.
The LP also topped the charts in Canada, and hit
the Top 10 in Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway,
the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
June 23: Donna topped the
Billboard Soul LPs chart for 3 weeks with Bad
Girls.
July 14: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks with "Bad
Girls."
July 21: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for 1 week with
"Bad Girls."
November 24: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks with "No More
Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with Barbra Streisand. (Note: #1 total is
recorded as 3 weeks to include the week prior to
the conception of ARC Weekly Top 40).
November 24: Donna topped the
Billboard Disco Top 100 chart for 4 weeks with
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with
Barbra Streisand.
January 5: Donna topped the
Billboard 200 LP chart for 1 week with On
The Radio (Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2). Donna became the first
person to top the Billboard LP charts 3
consecutive times with a double LP.
October 20: Donna released The
Wanderer with a new record company - the
first person signed to Geffen Records. The LP hit
the Top 20 in the US, Australia, Norway, New
Zealand, and Sweden.
June 13: Donna released She
Works Hard For The Money. The LP hit the Top 10 in
the US, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and Top 20
in Canada, Germany and Norway.
September: Donna was one of 9 acts
nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
(but did not make the final list of inductees)
and continued to be overlooked for several
subsequent years.
April 19: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for 1 week
with "I'm A Fire." Donna became the
first artits to top that chart in every decade
since the chart debuted in 1974.
May 20: Donna released her 17th
and final studio LP Crayons. The LP hit the Top 20 in
the US.
July 5: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for 2 weeks
with "Stamp Your Feet."
January 31: Donna topped the
Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for 1 week
with "Fame (The Game)."
November 6 Donna topped the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Songs chart for 1 week with
"To Paris With Love."
May 17: Donna died at the age of
63 of lung cancer.
April 18: Donna was inducted into
the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Released: February, 1974
(Netherlands) Tracks: "Lady Of The
Night" - "Born To Die" -
"Friends" - "Domino" -
"The Hostage" - "Wounded"
- "Little Miss Fit" - "Let's
Work Together Now" - "Sing Along
(Sad Song)"
Released: August 27, 1975 US: Gold Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 11 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "Love To Love
You Baby" - "Full Of
Emptiness" - "Need A Man
Blues" - "Whispering Waves" -
"Pandora's Box" - "Full Of
Emptiness" (Reprise)
(also available on vinyl)
Released: March 18, 1976 US: Gold Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 21 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "Try Me, I Know
We Can Make It" - "Intro: Prelude
To Love" - "Could It Be Magic"
- "Wasted" - "Come With
Me"
(also available on vinyl)
Released: May 13, 1977 US: Gold Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 18 Billboard #1: Hot Dance/Disco Tracks: "I Remember
Yesterday" - "Love's Unkind" -
"Back In Love Again" - "I
Remember Yesterday" (Reprise) -
"Black Lady" - "Take Me"
- "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It
Over)" - "I Feel Love"
(also available on vinyl)
Released: October 31, 1977 US: Gold Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 26 Billboard #1: Hot Dance/Disco Tracks: "Once Upon A
Time" - "Faster And Faster To
Nowhere" - "Fairy Tale High" -
"Say Something Nice" - "Now I
Need You" - "Working The Midnight
Shift" - "Queen For A Day" -
"If You Got It Flaunt It" -
"Man Like You" - "Sweet
Romance" - "Once Upon A Time"
- "Dance Into My Life" -
"Rumour Has It" - "I Love
You" - "Happily Ever After" -
"Once Upon A Time"
(also available on vinyl)
Released: August 31, 1978 US: Platinum Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 1 (for 1 week) Rolling Stone: Tracks: "Once Upon A
Time" - "Fairy Tale High" -
"Faster And Faster To Nowhere" -
"Spring Affair" - "Rumour Has
It" - "I Love You" -
"Only One Man" - "I Remember
Yesterday" - "Love's Unkind" -
"My Man Medley: The Man I Love / I Got
It Bad And That Ain't Good / Some Of These
Days" - "The Way We Were" -
"Mimi's Song" - "Try Me, I
Know We Can Make It" - "Love To
Love You Baby" - "I Feel Love"
- "Last Dance" - "MacArthur
Park Suite: MacArthur Park / One Of A Kind /
Heaven Knows / MacArthur Park (reprise)"
(also available on vinyl)
Released: April 25, 1979 US: 2x Platinum Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 1 (for 6 weeks) Billboard #1: Soul LPs Grammy Nominee: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance -
Female,
Best Disco Recording Rolling Stone: Tracks: "Hot Stuff"
- "Bad Girls" - "Love Will
Always Find You" - "Walk Away" - "Dim All
The Lights" - "Journey To The
Center Of Your Heart" - "One Night
In A Lifetime" - "Can't Get To
Sleep At Night" - "On My
Honor" - "There Will Always Be A
You" - "All Through The Night"
- "My Baby Understands" - "Our
Love" - "Lucky" - "Sunset
People" - "Bad Girls" (Demo
Version) Deluxe Edition includes: "I Feel
Love" - "Last Dance" -
"MacArthur Park Suite: MacArthur
Park/One Of A Kind/Heaven Knows/MacArthur
Park Reprise" - "Hot Stuff"
(12" Version) - "Bad Girls"
(12" Version) - "Walk Away"
(12" Version) - "Dim All The
Lights" (12" Version) - "No
More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (with
Barbra Streisand) - "One The Radio"
Released: October 15, 1979 US: 2x Platinum Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 1 (for 1 week) Rolling Stone: Tracks: "On The Radio" - "Love To
Love You Baby" - "Try Me, I Know We
Can Make It" - "I Feel Love" -
"Our Love" - "I Remember
Yesterday" - "I Love You" -
"Heaven Knows" - "Last
Dance" - "MacArthur Park" -
"Hot Stuff" - "Bad Girls"
- "Dim All The Lights" -
"Sunset People" - "No More
Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (with Barbra
Streisand) - "On The Radio" (Long Version)
(also available on vinyl)
Released: September 4, 1984 Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 40 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "Supernatural
Love" - "It's Not The Way" -
"There Goes My Baby" -
"Suzanna" - "Cats Without
Claws" - "Oh Billy Please" -
"Eyes" - "Maybe It's
Over" - "i'm Free" -
"Forgive Me"
(also available on vinyl)
Released: December 2, 1985 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "She Works Hard For The
Money"
- "Bad Girls" - "On The Radio" - "Stop,
Look And Listen" - "Last
Dance" - "MacArthur Park" -
"Heaven Knows" - "Unconditional Love" - "I Love
You" - "No More Tears (Enough Is
Enough)" (with Barbra Streisand)
Released: July 13, 1987 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "I Feel
Love" - "With Your Love" -
"Last Dance" - "MacArthur Park
Suite: MacArthur Park/One Of A Kind/Heaven
Knows" - "Hot Stuff" - "Walk Away" - "Dim All
The Lights" - "No More Tears
(Enough Is Enough)" (with Barbra
Streisand)
(also available on vinyl)
Released: September 15, 1987 Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 122 Tracks: "All Systems
Go" - "Bad Reputation" -
"Love Shock" - "Jeremy" -
"Only The Fool Survives" -
"Dinner With Gershwin" -
"Fascination" - "Voices Cryin'
Out" - "Thinkin' About My
Baby"
(also available on vinyl)
Released: April 24, , 1989 Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 53 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "I Don't Wanna
Get Hurt" - "When Love Takes Over
You" - "This Time I Know It's
For Real" - "The Only
One" - "In Another Place And
Time" - "Sentimental" -
"Whatever Your Heart Desires" -
"Breakaway" - "If It Makes You
Feel Good" - "Love's About To
Change My Heart"
Released: August 23, 1991 Rolling Stone: Tracks: "Get
Ethnic" - "Body Talk" -
"Work That Magic" - "When Love
Cries" - "Heaven's Just A Whisper
Away" - "Cry Of A Waking
Heart" - "Friends Unknown" -
"Fred Astaire" - "Say A Little
Prayer" - "Mistaken Identity"
- "What Is It You Want" - "Let
There Be Peace"
Released: September 21, 1993 Tracks: "Love To Love
You Baby" - "Could It Be
Magic" - "Try Me, I Know We Can
Make It" - "Spring Affair" -
"Love's Unkiind" - "I Feel
Love" - "Once Upon A Time" -
"Rumor Has It" - "I Love
You" - "Last Dance" -
"MacArthur Park" - "Heaven
Knows" - "Hot Stuff" -
"Bad Girls" - "Dim All The
Lights" - "Sunset People" -
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"
(with Barbra Streisand) - "On The Radio" - "The Wanderer" - "Cold Love" - "I'm A
Rainbow" - "Don't Cry For Me
Argentina" - "Love Is In Control
(Finger On The Trigger)" - "State Of Independence" - "She Works Hard For The
Money"
- "Unconditional Love" - "There Goes My Baby" -
"Supernatural Love" - "All
Systems Go" - "This Time I Know It's
For Real" - "I Don't Wanna Get
Hurt" - "When Love Cries" -
"Friends Unknown" - "Carry
On"
Released: October 4, 1994 Tracks: "White
Christmas" - "Christmas Song"
- "O Come All Ye Faithful" -
"Christmas Is Here" -
"Christmas Medley: What Child Is
This?/Do You Hear What I Hear/Joy To The
World" - "I'll Be Home For
Christmas" - "Christmas
Spirit" - "Breath Of Heaven" -
"O Holy Night" - "Lamb Of
God"
Released: August 20, 1996 Tracks: "I Believe (In
You)" - "True Love Survives" -
"You To Me" - "Sweet
Emotion" - "Leave Me Alone" -
"Melanie" - "Back Where You
Belong" - "People Talk" -
"To Turn The Stone" -
"Brooklyn" - "I'm A
Rainbow" - "Walk On (Keep On
Movin')" - "Don't Cry For Me
Argentina" - "A Runner With The
Pack" - "Highway Runner" -
"Romwo" - "End Of The
Week" - "I Need Time"
Released: January 11, 2005 Tracks: "Love To Love
You Baby" - "Could It Be
Magic" - "Try Me, I Know We Can
Make It" - Spring Affair" -
"Love's Unkind" - "I Feel
Love" - "I Love You" -
"Last Dance" - "MacArthur
Park" - "Heaven Knows" -
"Hot Stuff" - "Bad Girls"
- "Dim All The Lights" -
"Sunset People" - "No More
Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (with Barbra
Streisand) - "On The Radio" - "The Wanderer" - "Love Is
In Control" - "State Of Independence" - "She Works Hard For The
Money"
- "Unconditional Love" - "There Goes My Baby" -
"Supernatural Love" - "Dinner
With Gershwin" - "All Systems
Go" - "This Time I Know It's
For Real" - "I Don't Wanna Get
Hurt" - "Love's About To Change My
Heart" - "When Loves Cries" -
"Carry On" - "Melody Of Love
(Wanna Be Loved)" - "I Will Go With You (Con
Te Partiro)" - "You're So
Beautiful"
Released: May 20, 2008 Billboard Top
200 LPs
peak: # 17 Tracks: "Stamp Your
Feet" - "Mr. Music" -
"Crayons" (with Ziggy Marley) -
"The Queen Is Back" - "Fame
(The Game)" - "Sand On My
Feet" - "Drivin' Down Brazil"
- "I'm A Fire" - "Slide Over
Backwards" - "Science Of Love"
- "Be Myself Again" - "Bring
Down The Reign" - "It's Only
Love"
Released: October 22, 2013 Tracks: "Love To Love
You Baby" (Giorgio Moroder featuring
Chris Cox Remix) - "Dim All The
Lights" (Duke Domnt Remix) - "Hot
Stuff" (Frankie Knuckles & Eric
Kupper Signature Mix) - "I Feel
Love" (Afrojack Remix) - "Love Is
In Control (Finger On The Trigger)"
(Chromeo & Oliver Remix) - "Sunset
People" (Hot Chip Dub Edit) -
"Working The Midnight Shift" (Holy
Ghost Remix) - "Bad Girls"
(Gigamesh Remix) - "MacArthur Park"
(Laidback Luke Remix) - "I Feel
Love" (Banga Remix) - "On The
Radio" (Jacques Greene Remix) -
"Last Dance" (Masters At Work
Remix) - "La Dolce Vita"
Note: Song title and position
links lead you to the song's ARC Weekly Top 40 chart run, LP links take
you to Amazon.com for that LP's info (often
including track listings and track samples), and
single cover art takes you to Amazon.com for that CD single (if
available). Songs charting prior to 1980 have
information from Billboard magazine.