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Elvis' Christmas: Bestselling Christmas Album of All Time
Elvis' Christmas Album Studio album: Elvis Presley Released: October 15, 1957 Genre: Christmas, pop, gospel, rock & roll Elvis' Christmas Album is the best-selling Christmas LP of all time. Rolling Stones ranks it number 2 on their list of The 25 Greatest Christmas Albums of All Time. According to the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ), the record and its re-issues sold over 17 million copies in the US. Worldwide, its total sales are more than 20 million. Three tracks were released as singles: "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)," "Blue Christmas," and "Santa Claus Is Back in Town."
Pop-Up Video: Everybody Hurts (1993)
Everybody Hurts Single: R.E.M. Album: Automatic for the People Released: April 5, 1993 Genre: Alternative rock, soft rock Songwriters: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe "Everybody Hurts" - released from R.E.M . 's eighth studio album, Automatic for the People - peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It reached the top 10 on the Australian, Canadian, and UK music charts. In 2003, Q ranked the song number 31 of the "1001 Best Songs Ever." Blender placed it at number 238 of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" in 2005. It topped a poll compiled by PRS For Music of the songs most likely to make a grown man cry. Second in the list came Eric Clapton 's " Tears In Heaven " followed by Leonard Cohen 's " Hallelujah ."
Colour by Numbers: Rolling Stones #96 of 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s
Colour by Numbers Studio album: Culture Club Released: October 10, 1983 Genre: New wave, pop, blue-eyed soul Colour by Numbers is the second album by the British new wave group Culture Club . It spawned four hits in the US: "Church of the Poison Mind," "Karma Chameleon," "Miss Me Blind," and "It's a Miracle." In addition, " Victims " was released as a single in the UK. In 1989, Colour by Numbers was ranked number 96 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s. It came in at number 7 among NME's list of "Albums of the Year" for 1983. The LP is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Nothing Compares 2 U: Rolling Stones #165 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2004)
Nothing Compares 2 U Single: Sinéad O'Connor Album: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got B-side: Jump in the River Released: January 8, 1990 Genre: Pop Songwriter: Prince Prince wrote "Nothing Compares 2 U" in 1984. In 1989, Sinéad O'Connor covered it for her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got . It hit Number 1 in 17 countries and topped the Billboard Hot 100 single's chart in the US for four weeks, making the song the number 3 single for 1990. The track came in at number 2 for the year in Great Britain, behind a re-release of the Righteous Brothers ' hit " Unchained Melody ." It ranks number 165 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and 18 on VH's list of 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders.
Breakfast in America: Number 207 of Guinness' All Time Top 1000 Albums
Breakfast in America Studio album: Supertramp Released: March 29, 1979 Genre: Pop, art rock, soft rock Breakfast in America , Supertramp 's sixth LP, is their biggest-selling. It spent six weeks atop Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart and sold over 20 million copies; the biggest-selling prog album of all time after Dark Side Of The Moon . It spawned four US Billboard hit singles: " The Logical Song ,"" Goodbye Stranger ," " Take the Long Way Home ," and " Breakfast in America ." Bob C. Benberg, the drummer for Supertramp, has said, "We think artistically we hit our peak with " Crime of the Century ," and commercially with "Breakfast in America." In 1980, the record won Grammy Awards for Best Album Package and Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording. In 1987, The World Critics List 's Joel Whitburn ranked Breakfast in America the fourth greatest album of all time. The Guinness All Time Top 1000 Albums ' 19
Pop-Up Video: Hello (1984 )
Hello Single: Lionel Richie Album: Can't Slow Down Released: February 13, 1984 Genre: Pop, R&B, Soft Rock Songwriter: Lionel Richie "Hello" by Lionel Richie was the second number 1 song released from his sophomore solo effort, Can't Slow Down. The other chart-topper was " All Night Long (All Night). " In total, the LP spawned five singles, including " Running with the Night , " " Stuck on You , " and " Penny Lover . " The biggest-selling album in the history of Motown Records, Can't Slow Down won the 1984 Grammy for Album of the Year. The video for "Hello" was voted the worst music video of all time in a poll of 8,000 music fans by the UK TV music channel The Box.
I'm Eighteen: One of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll
I'm Eighteen Single by: Alice Cooper Album: Love It to Death Released: November 1970 Genre: Hard rock, glam rock Songwriters: Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, Glen Buxton, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith " I'm Eighteen , " from their third album, Love It to Death , was Alice Cooper 's breakthrough hit, reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 single's chart. The song describes the frustrations of being an American teenager. According to the group's drummer, Neal Smith: "It was a song about growing up in the '60s, with lines like you could go to war, but you couldn't vote. We had no idea it would become an anthem; we thought it would be a cool song."
Tumbleweed Connection: Rolling Stones #458 of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012)
Tumbleweed Connection Studio album: Elton John Released: October 30, 1970 Recorded: March 1970 Genre: Roots rock, country rock Tumbleweed Connection is Elton John 's third studio album. His attempt at American country and western themes reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and 5 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was certified platinum in the US in August 1998. In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Tumbleweed Connection number 458 among the 500 greatest albums.
Pop-Up Video: In the Air Tonight (1985)
Take Me Home Single: Phil Collins Album: No Jacket Required Released: July 15, 1985 (UK) January 8, 1986 (US) Genre: Soft rock, electronic Rock, new wave, worldbeat Songwriter: Phil Collins "Take Me Home" by Phil Collins is about a patient in a mental institution. Collin's inspiration came from the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Popular among his fans, it's his song choice for the majority of encores at his concerts. Sting , ex-Genesis band mate Peter Gabriel , and former Culture Club backing singer Helen Terry supplied backup vocals. The song is the final track on Collins' album, No Jacket Required .
Sylvester: Rolling Stones #169 of The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time (2023)
Sylvester Sylvester Born: Sylvester James Jr. September 6, 1947 Watts, Los Angeles, California Died: December 16, 1988 (aged 41) San Francisco, California, US. Occupation: Singer, songwriter, composer, record producer Genres: Dance, Hi-NRG, R&B, disco, soul, funk Instruments: Vocals, keyboards, piano Sylvester James Jr., known simply as Sylvester , was an American singer-songwriter of disco, rhythm & blues, and soul. Known for his flamboyant, androgynous appearance and falsetto singing voice, he was nicknamed the "Queen of Disco" in the late 1970s. San Francisco awarded him the key to the city. In 2005, Sylvester and Chic and Gloria Gaynor were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame . In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him number 169 of The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Rock This Town: One of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll (1982)
Rock This Town Single: Stray Cats Album: Stray Cats (UK) Built for Speed (US) Released: January 30, 1981 (UK) August 31, 1982 (US) Genre: Rockabilly Songwriter: Brian Setzer "Rock This Town," by the American rockabilly band Stray Cats , was first released in the UK from the band's 1981 debut album, Stray Cats . It peaked at Number Nine on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, the song was released in 1982 from the band's LP Built for Speed , which rose to Number Nine on Billboard's Singles chart. It's listed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the " 500 Songs " that Shaped Rock and Roll."
Cheap Thrills: Rolling Stones # 372 of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020)
Cheap Thrills Studio album: Big Brother and the Holding Company Released: August 12, 1968 Recorded: March 2 – May 20, 1968 Genre: Blues, rock, acid rock Big Brother & the Holding Company 's second album, Cheap Thrills , was their last with lead singer Janis Joplin . The LP features three cover songs: "Ball and Chain," "Summertime." and "Piece of My Heart." The underground comic book artist R. Crumb , best known for his "Keep On Truckin'..." image, provided the cover art. It's number nine on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Album Covers list. In 1987, Rolling Stone magazine listed Cheap Thrills as number 50 on their Top 100 Albums of the Past 20 Years. It's number 372 of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Deemed " culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant " by The Library of Congress in 2012, it's preserved in the National Recording Registry .
Sugar, Sugar: Number One Song of 1969
Sugar, Sugar Single: The Archies Album: Everything's Archie B-side: Melody Hill Released: May 24, 1969 (Calendar label) Re-released July 1969 (Kirshner label) Genre: Bubblegum pop Songwriter: Andy Kim, Jeff Barry Producer: Jeff Barry Billboard's Top 5 Songs of 1969 "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies " Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In " by The 5th Dimension " I Can't Get Next to You " by The Temptations " Honky Tonk Women " by The Rolling Stones " Everyday People " by Sly & the Family Stone
Rock Island Line: One of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll (1955)
The Rock Island Line By: Lonnie Donegan Released: 1955 Genre: S kiffle "Rock Island Line" is an American folk song about the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad. Clarence Wilson wrote the tune in 1929 for the Rock Island Colored Booster Quartet, a singing group made up of rail line workers in Little Rock, Arkansas. The original verses described people and activities associated with the yard. In 1934, folklorist and musicologist John A. Lomax recorded the song performed by the Arkansas Cummins State Farm prison inmates. Lead Belly accompanied Lomax. In the 1940s, he rearranged the tune and made a phonograph record. A young English singer, Lonnie Donegan , imitated Leadbelly's version. It became the precursor of and impetus for the British rock & roll invasion. As such, his cover is listed among the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. Lead Belly Lead Belly Birth name: Huddie William Ledbetter Born: January 23, 1
Pop-Up Video: Sledgehammer (1986)
Sledgehammer Single: Peter Gabriel Album: So Released: April 21, 1986 Genre: Dance, rock, blue-eyed soul, funk Songwriter: Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel won a record nine honors at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards and was the Best British Video at the 1987 Brit Awards . Gabriel was also nominated for three Grammy Awards ; Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. The accompanying video ranks number 4 on MTV's 1999 list of the 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made. In a 2005 poll conducted by Channel 4, the clip was voted number 2 on their list of the 100 Greatest Pop Videos .
I Shall Be Released: Rolling Stones #6 of 100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs (1968)
I Shall Be Released Song: The Band Album: Music from Big Pink Released: July 1, 1968 Genre: Roots rock Songwriter: Bob Dylan Rolling Stones magazine lists "I Shall Be Released" as number 6 of the 100 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs. Dylan wrote it in 1967, and the Band released it on their 1968 debut album, Music from Big Pink . Near the end of their 1976 farewell concert, The Last Waltz , all the evening's musicians except Muddy Waters—plus Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood—performed the song on the same stage.
The Monkees: Two of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll
l-r: Peter Tork, Davy Jones Mickey Dolenz, Mike Nesmith The Monkees Origin: Los Angeles, California Genres: Pop, folk-pop, rock, psychedelic rock Members: Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith NBC created The Monkees for a television show. The idea was for a fictional music group inspired by the 1964 Beatles ' movie A Hard Day's Night . Four hundred and thirty-seven struggling musicians and actors auditioned for the roles. Steven Stills and John Sebastian were in that group but weren't accepted. Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork made the final cut. Nesmith was the most accomplished musician in the group. He wrote " Different Drum ," recorded by The Stone Ponies with Linda Ronstadt . The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did his " Propinquity " and " Some Of Shelley's Blues ."
One Hit Wonder: Mungo Jerry (1970)
In the Summertime Single: Mungo Jerry B-side: Mighty Man Album: Electronically Tested Released: May 22, 1970 (UK) Genre: Skiffle Songwriter: Ray Dorset "In the Summertime" by the British rock band Mungo Jerry was the first maxi-single in the world. A 7-inch record played at 33 1/3 RPM instead of 45, it had room for two other songs: " Mighty Man " and " Dust Pneumonia Blues ." It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 13 and the following week went to number 1 for seven weeks; the off-beat tune made number 1 in 26 countries and sold around 30 million copies. Mungo Jerry's second UK maxi-single, " Baby Jump ," topped the UK charts but flopped in the US, where they remain a One Hit Wonder .
