My choices will go between very soft music to a little bit 'hard rock'. But by necessity, especially to represent diversity of genres (that I like), I will have to leave out a lot of songs. Note: I reference the piece of music usually by who made it popular, though other times by who wrote it. Second note: To the best of my research, I have listed the music by progressive year, but within a given year, I made no effort to organize according to the exact publication date.
Most of the music I list is generally popular music played over the radio (at least in its day), though some of it comes from movies and still others from TV shows. Therefore, the year I have attached to the song or tune may not be the years it was created or first publically released. It will be soon clear upon viewing my list of music that I do not have many choices from non-standard genres of music, such as heavy metal or even jazz.
Speaking specifically to jazz lovers, I know that modern pop music owes a great deal to early-American jazz, but that is not the point of my personal list of pop favorites, though I do have a couple jazz numbers in the list. The very thing that jazz lovers claim to love most about jazz is what I have little care for -- improvisation. Still, some songs that are OK can be made much better by 'jazzing' them up. For examples, the themes from 'Bewitched' and 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis' are made even better by jazzing them up, but that doesn't include much, if any, improv. Apparently, there's more to jazz than improvisation, and the lovers of 'soft jazz' (like me) know this.
If your most-favored musical genres have not been adequately represented on this list, I apologize, but I can't change what I like and dislike.
The big question is this: As the decades have moved on since 1989, has the music stayed as good as it got at its best in the period of 1964-1989 (my Golden Age of Pop Music)? My answer is No. I have read or listened to many experts explain why and how this happened. All I know is that pop music has been in a sad state for at least a quarter century. If you tolerate pablum, that's all you can expect to get.
Markups: Three asterisks by the name of the song or theme is a high praise from me, though I have not bothered to rate all the items in my list. An 'HM' from me means an 'Honorable Mention'.
Final note: I grew up listening to pop and rock music of the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s. To me, the greatest of all bands was, and still is, the Beatles. But before them, I loved 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', the theme from 'The Magnificent Seven', 'Johnny Angel' (by Shelley Fabares), 'Tammy's in Love', 'Moon River', and let's not forget the 'Theme from A Summer Place' by Percy Faith and His Orchestra.
For the most part, the generation before me had a real hard time with the new music I listened to. They saw that many of its leading musicians were rebellious, and I have to agree with that assessment. Therefore, it tainted them against the music itself. It also didn't help that some of its main proponents made such asinine claims that rock music was intrinsically rebellious. I take great offence at such bombastic and erroneous claims. One might as well claim that swing music, like 'Opus One' by Tommy Dorsey, is intrinsically rebellious. (By the way, the first time I remember hearing 'Opus One' was in 1973.) We all have to draw our own lines of acceptability for music and its lyrics, and the behavior of the band or musician making or playing it. There are some Beatles songs I won't ever recommend, but, over all, I still love most of their music. And to be sure, the Beatles songs I have included in the list are not the only ones I like.
P.S. I haven't included much Christmas music in this list, though it deserves to be included. Perhaps I'll get around to that later.
P.P.S. At the bottom of this list I have included some hit songs from before 1950.
**** 1950s **** 1950s **** 1950s **** 1950s **** 1950s **** 1950s ****
Ross Bagdasarian
Almost Good (1950s)
Ella Fitzgerald
Someone to Watch Over Me (1951)
They Can't Take That Away from Me (1956)
These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You) (1957)
Skylark (1964)
Bernard Herrmann
The Day the Earth Stood Still Soundtrack Suite (1951)
Gene Kelly
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Nat King Cole
Unforgettable (1952)
When I Fall in Love (1957)
The Very Thought of You** (1958)
Andre Rieu (2020 cover)
Strangers in Paradise** (1953)
Theme from Shane (1953)
Percy Faith
The Song from Moulin Rouge (1953)
The Little Lost Dog (1959)
A Summer Place*** (1959)
Dean Martin
That's Amore (1953)
Volare (1958)
Science Fiction Theater Theme Music (1955)
Cheyenne TV theme (1955)
The Everly Brothers
Let It Be Me (1955)
Cover by Reina del Cid (2020)
Victor Young
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Oklahoma (1956)
Oklahoma
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning
The Surrey with a Fringe on Top
-The King and I (1956)
Getting to Know You
I Whistle a Happy Tune
Shall We Dance
Hello Young Lovers
-South Pacific (1958)
Some Enchanted Evening
Younger than Springtime
Johnny Mathis
The Twelfth of Never (1956)
Chances Are (1957)
Misty (1959)
Charles Albertine
Bandstand Boogie (American Bandstand) (1957)
Maverick TV theme (1957)
Sugarfoot TV theme (1957)
Perry Mason TV theme (1957)
Debbie Reynolds
Tammy's in Love*** (1957)
Fred Steiner
The theme from Perry Mason (1957)
Herschel Burke Gilbert (c1958)
Theme to The Rifleman
Mark's Theme
Yancy Derringer TV Show (1958)
The Blob Theme Song (1958)
Attack of the Puppet People Movie
My Livin' Doll (1958)
Four Preps
26 Miles (1958)
Paul Anka
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (1958)
South Pacific (film 1958)
Some Enchanted Evening
Younger than Springtime
This Nearly Was Mine***
Mickie Grant
Pink Shoe Laces (1959)
Nelson Riddle
The theme from The Untouchables (1959)
Mcguire Sisters
Sincerely** (1959)
The Fleetwoods
Come Softly to Me (1959)
Frankie Avalon
Why** (1959)
Twilight Zone theme music (1959)
Jan and Dean
Linda (1959)
Dave Brubeck
Take Five (1959)
The Platters
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1959)
Marty Robbins
El Paso (1959)
(I include this song as a cautionary tale: "You either get control of your lusts
and feelings of entitlement, or they will get control of you." -- Ilfinor
Ilfinor and the Fearmongers.)
**** 1960s **** 1960s **** 1960s **** 1960s **** 1960s **** 1960s ****
Rod Lauren
If I Had a Girl (1960)
The Ventures
Walk Don't Run (1960)
Elmer Bernstein
The Magnificent Seven Main Theme*** (1960)
Bobby Darin
Beyond the Sea (1960)
Connie Francis
Where the Boys Are (1961)
Mr. Acker Bilk
Stranger on the Shore (1961)
The Tornados
Telstar (1961)
Skeeter Davis
The End of the World (1962)
Monty Norman
James Bond theme (1962)
Audry Hepburn
Moon River*** (1962)
Gene Pitney
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962)
Peter, Paul and Mary
500 miles (1962)
If I Had a Hammer (1962)
Blowin' in the Wind (1962)
Where Have All the Flowers Gone (1962)
Puff, the Magic Dragon (1963)
Bobby Vee
Night has a thousand Eyes** (1962)
Take Good Care of My Babe** (1962)
Theme from TV series Combat! (1962)
Brian Hyland
Sealed with a Kiss** (1962)
Kingston Trio
Where Have All the Flowers Gone (1962)
Frankie Valli
Big Girls Don't Cry (1962)
Sherry Babe (1962)
Can't Take My Eyes off of You (1967)
Dominic Frontiere (Outer Limits) (1962-3)
Yvette's Theme (Architects of Fear)
Noelle's Theme (The Man Who Was Never Born)
Debbie Reynolds
A Home in the Meadow (1962)
Venturers
Pipeline (1962)
Shelley Fabares
Johnny Angel*** (1962)
Riz Ortolani
More (Theme from Mondo Cane) (1962)
The Cascades
Rhythm of the Falling Rain (1962)
The Fugitive TV show Theme (1963)
Steve Lawrence
Go Away Little Girl*** (1963)
Four Seasons
Connie O (1963)
Carole King
Up on the Roof (1963)
The Drifters
On Broadway (song) (1963)
Bobby Hebb
Sunny (1963/1966)
The Patty Duke Show Theme Song (1963-1966) HM
John Barry
From Russia with Love (1963)
Kyu Sakamoto
Sukiyaki (1963)
Beach Boys
Don't Worry Baby (1964)
I Get Around (1964)
Warmth of the Sun** (1964)
Gale Garnett
We'll Sing in the Sunshine** (1964)
Louis Armstrong
Hello, Dolly (1964)
What a Wonderful World (1968)
Dean Martin
Everybody Loves Somebody (Sometimes) (1964)
Jeff Alexander
Come Wander with Me (The Twilight Zone, 1964)
Jerry Goldsmith
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Theme) (1964)
The Animals
House of the Rising Sun (1964)
The Zombies
She's Not There (1964)
Tell Her No (1965)
Time of the Season (1968)
Beatles
Till There Was You (1962)
All My Loving (1963)
This Boy** (1963)
I'll Get You (1963)
It Won't Be Long (1963)
Don't Bother Me (1963)
Do You Want to Know a Secret (1963)
Thank You Girl (1963)
Till There Was You (1964)
Tell Me Why*** (1964)
Eight Days a Week (1964)
And I Love Her*** (1964)
I Should Have Known Better (1964)
If I Fell*** (1964)
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You (1964)
I'm A Loser (1964)
I'll Be Back (1964)
I'll Follow the Sun (1964)
No Reply (1964)
What You're Doing (1964)
Eight Days a Week (1964)
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Can't Buy Me Love (1964)
I’ll Cry Instead (1964)
She Loves You*** (1964)
Help (1965)
I've Just Seen A Face (1965)
The Night Before (1965)
Yesterday (1965)
Yes It Is** (1965)
You Won't See Me (1965)
You're Going to Lose That Girl** (1965)
In My Life (1965)
You Won't See Me (1965)
Another Girl (1965)
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (1965)
Ticket to Ride** (1965)
The Night Before (1965)
Girl (1965)
Michelle (1965)
I Need You (1965)
Nowhere Man*** (1965)
I'm Only Sleeping (1966)
If I Needed Someone (1966)
Here, There, and Everywhere*** (1966)
It's Only Love (1965)
Wait (1965)
And Your Bird Can Sing (1966)
Hello, Goodbye (1967)
Fixing a hole (1967)
Fool on the Hill (1967)
Your Mother Should Know (1967)
Lovely Rita (1967)
Penny Lane** (1967)
I Will** (1968)
Lady Madonna (1968)
Julia (1968)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps*** (1968)
Martha, My Dear** (1968)
Something (1969)
Because (1969)
Two of Us** (1969)
Don't Let Me Down (1969)
Golden Slumbers (1969)
Here Comes the Sun** (1969)
Linda Ronstadt (1996)
Good Night (Beatles) (1968)
Peter & Gordon
A World Without Love (1964)
Marianne Faithfull
As Tears Go By (1964)
Shirley Bassey
Goldfinger (1964)
My Fair Lady
On the Street Where You Live (1964)
Lesley Gore
It's My Party (1964)
Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows (1965)
Petula Clark
Down Town (1964)
My Love (1966)
Sign of the Times** (1966)
This Is My Song** (1967) [written by Charlie Chaplin in 1966]
Don't Sleep in the Subway (1967)
Look to the Rainbow (1968)
How Are Things in Glocca Morra?*** (1968)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Feed the Birds**
Let's Go Fly a Kite***
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Rollin' Stones
As Tears Go By (1964)
Lost in Space Opening and Closing Themes (1965 -- 1968)
Mantovani
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever** (1965)
Doctor Zhivago
Lara's Theme (1965)
Knickerbockers
Lies (1965)
Tom Jones
It's Not Unusual (1965)
Jackie DeShannon
What the World Needs Now Is Love** (1965)
Put a Little Love in Your Heart** (1969)
Gary Lewis & the Playboys
This Diamond Ring (1965)
Lou Christie
Lightning Striking Again (1965)
Donovan
Catch the Wind (1965)
Sound of Music (1965)
Edelweiss**
Climb Every Mountain**
Sound of Music**
Do-Re-Me
Vince Guaraldi Trio
Christmas Time Is Here (1965, Instrumental)
Barbra Streisand
On a Clear Day (1965)
The Brothers Four
Try to Remember (1965)
Sonny and Cher
All I Really Want to Do (1965)
I Got You, Babe (1965)
Mamas and the Papas
California Dreamin' (1965)
Monday, Monday (1966)
The Byrds
Turn, Turn, Turn** (1965)
Edwin Astley Orchestra
Danger Man Theme (1965)
The Wild, Wild West TV Theme (1965)
Burt Bacarack
What the World Needs Now (Jackie DeShannon, 1965)
Alfie (Dion Warick) (1966)
The Look of Love (Dianna Krall) (1967?)
Herb Alpert
The Shadow of Your Smile (1966)
What Now My Love*** (1966)
This Guy's in Love with You (1968)
Theme from Star Trek (1966)
Gerald Fried
Ruth (The Original Star Trek) (1966)
The Monkees
I'm a Believer (1966)
Day Dream Believer (1967)
When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)** (1967)
The Sandals
Endless Summer (1966)
Hollies
Bus Stop (1966)
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (1969)
Lalo Schifrin
The theme from Mission Impossible (1966)
The Sandals
The Endless Summer (1966)
The Outsiders
Time Won't Let Me (1966)
Walker Brothers
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More (1966)
Bob Lind
Elusive Butterfly (1966)
Fifth Dimension
Wedding Bell Blues (1966)
Johnny Rivers
Secret Agent Man** (1966)
Nancy Sinatra
Call Me (1966)
Mindbenders
Groovy Kind of Love** (1966)
John Barry
Born Free** (1966)
The Lovin' Spoonful
Summer in the City (1966)
Robert Colbert Orchestra
At the Blue Whale** (1966)
Josette's Theme (1966)
Quentin's Theme (1966)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme music (1966)
Simon and Garfunkel
Scarborough Fair (1966)
59th Street Bridge (1966)
The Sounds of Silence** (1966)
The Boxer (1969)
The Sandpipers
Guantanamera (1966)
Come Saturday Morning** (1969)
Walter Cronkite's "The 21st Century" (1967)
The End theme music
Dusty Springfield
The Look of Love (1967)
Vicci Carr
It Must Be Him (1967)
Coronet Blue (TV series) - Opening Theme (1967)
Theme from the Prisoner (1967)
Jefferson Airplane
Today** (1967)
Comin' Back to Me** (1967)
Someone to Love (1967)
My Best Friend (1967)
Doors
People Are Strange (1967)
Break on Through (1967)
Dione Warwick
Alfie (1967)
The 5th Dimension
Up, Up and Away (1967)
One Less Bell to Answer (1969)
Juice Newton
Angel of the Morning (1967)
The Association
Windy** (1967)
Never My Love (1967)
Youngbloods
Get Together (1967)
The Rascals
Groovin' (on a Sunday Afternoon) (1967)
It's a Beautiful Morning (1968)
The Seekers
Georgy Girl** (1967)
The Poneys
Different Drum (1967)
Spanky and Our Gang
Lazy Day** (1967)
Sunday WIll Never Be the Same (1967)
Like to Get to Know You (1968)
Paul Mauriat
Love Is Blue (1967)
Brenton Wood
Gimme Little Sign (1967)
Young Rascals
How Can I Be Sure (1967)
Herman's Hermits
There's a Kind of Hush (1967)
Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968)
Scott McKenzie
San Francisco (1967)
The Turtles
Happy Together (1967)
Strawberry Alarm Clock
Incense and Peppermints (1967)
Glen Campbell
Gentle on My Mind (1967)
There's No Place Like Home** (1968)
Wichita Lineman (1968)
Eel Devo
If Ever I Would Leave You (1967)
Camelot
Camelot, Camelot (Richard Harris, 1967)
Dion
Abraham, Martin and John (1968)
Bobby Goldsboro (listen at your own risk)
Honey (1968)
Once Upon A Time in The West Theme (Ennio Morricone, 1968)
Main Theme***
Jill's Theme
Farewell to Cheyenne
Sprach Zarathustra 2001 Space Odyssey (1968)
Spirit
Girl in Your Eye (1968)
Taurus (1968)
Morton Stevens
Theme from Hawaii Five-O (1968)
Judy Collins
Both Sides Now (1968)
Tommy James and Shondells
Crystal Blue Persuasion** (1968)
Finnian's Rainbow (1968)
Look to the Rainbow
How Are Things in Glocca Morra**
Dusty Springfield
The Windmills of Your Mind (1968)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (1968)
The Classics IV
Stormy (1968)
Traces of Love (1968)
The Guess Who
These Eyes (1968)
No Time (1969)
Todd Rundgren
Hello, It's Me (1968)
Love Is The Answer (1977)
Henri Mancini
Exodus
Love Theme from Romeo And Juliet (1969)
Oliver
Good Morning Starshine** (1969)
Jean (1969)
The We Five
You Were on My Mind (1969)
Jerome Moross
Theme from The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
Vince Guaraldi
Mr. Lucky (?)
Zager & Evans
In the Year 2525 (1969)
Eddie Holman
Hey There Lonely Girl** (1969)
John Denver
Leaving on A Jet Plane (1969)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Movie
Not Goin' Home Anymore (1969)
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Judy Blue Eyes (1969)
Neil Diamond
Sweet Caroline (1969)
Blood, Sweat and Tears HM
You've Made Me So Very Happy (1969)
It’s a Beautiful Day
White Bird (1969)
Harry Nilsson
Everybody's Talking** (1969)
Yellow Submarine (George Martin)
Pepperland** (1969)
Mary Hopkin
Those Were the Days (1969)
Spiral Staircase
I Love You More Today Than Yesterday (1969)
**** 1970s *** **1970s *** *****1970s *** **1970s *** *******1970s *** 1970s *****
Mama Cass
Dream A Little Dream Of Me (1970)
Ennio Morricone
Theme from Hornets' Nest (1970)
B.J. Thomas
Raindrop Keep Fallin on My Head (1970)
Don McLean
Castles in the Air (1970)
Edison Lighthouse
Love Grows (1970)
The Byrds
Eight Miles High (1970)
Mary Tyler Moore Theme Song (1970)
Anne Murray
Snowbird (1970)
Simon and Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water** (1970)
Elton John
Your Song (1970)
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (1976)
Beatles
Let It Be (1970)
Long and Winding Road** (1970)
Fifth Dimension
One Less Bell to Answer (1970)
Carpenters
We've Only Just Begun (1970)
Superstar (1971)
Rainy Days and Mondays (1971)
Sing (1973)
I Won't Last a Day Without You (1974)
James Taylor
Fire and Rain (1970)
Sweat Baby James (1970)
Your Smilin' Face (1977)
Cat Stevens
Moonshadow*** (1971)
Morning Has Broken (1972)
John Denver
Take Me Home, Country Roads (1971)
Sunshine on My Shoulders (1971)
Rocky Mountain High (1972)
Today (?)
Jennifer on My Mind (Movie)
Where the Good Songs Go** (1971)
Stampeders
Sweet City Woman*** (1971)
Billy Jack
One Tin Soldier (1971)
Bread
If (1971)
Everything I Own (1972)
I Want to Make It with You (1970)
Guitar Man (1972)
Carly Simon
Anticipation** (1971)
You're So Vain (1972)
Moonlight Serenade (?)
Rod Stewart
Maggie May (1971)
I Don't Want to Talk About It (1975)
Chilites
Have You Seen Her (1971)
Oh Girl (1972)
Marvin Gaye
What's Going On (1971)
Mercy, Mercy Me (1971)
Carole King
So Far Away (1971)
It's Too Late (1971)
Tapestry (1971)
You've Got a Friend (1971)
Beautiful (1971)
Jazzman (1974)
Danny O'keefe
Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues (1971)
Bill Withers
Ain't No Sunshine (1971)
Bee Gees
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (1971)
How Deep Is Your Love (1977)
Emotion (1978)
Too Much Heaven (1979)
Lynn Anderson
Try a Little kindness (1971)
Nilsson
Without You (1971)
David Cassidy
Cherish (1972)
Robert John
Sad Eyes (1972)
Steely Dan
Reelin' in the Years (1972)
Do It Again (1972)
Todd Rundgren
I Saw the Light** (1972)
Love Is the Answer (1977)
Johnny Mathis
Life Is What You Make It** (1972)
Mac Davis
Babe, Don't Get Hooked on Me** (1972)
Jackson 5
Ben (1972)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
From the Beginning (1972)
The Poseidon Adventure
The Morning After (1972)
America
A Horse with No Name*** (1972)
Sister Golden Hair (1975)
Ventura Highway (1972)
Looking Glass
Brandy** (1972)
The Theme from Kung Fu (1972)
Harry Nilsson
Without You (I Can't Live) (1972)
The Main Ingredient
Everybody Plays the Fool (1972)
Peter O'Toole
Impossible Dream** (1972)
Seals and Crofts
Summer Breeze** (1972)
Get Closer (1972)
We May Never Pass This Way Again (1973)
Diamond Girl** (1973)
Hummingbird (1973)
Climax
Precious and Few (1972)
Jackson Browne
Doctor, My Eyes (1972)
The Doobie Brothers
Listen to the Music (1972)
Long Train Runnin' (1973)
Black Water (1974)
What a Fool Believes (1979)
Eagles
Peaceful Easy Feeling (1972)
Best of My Love** (1974)
Lying Eyes** (1975)
New Kid in Town** (1976)
Johnny Mash
I Can See Clearly Now (1972)
Roberta Flack
Killing Me Softly with His Song (1973)
Barry White
Loves Theme (1973)
Jim Croce
I've Got a Name (1973)
I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song (1974)
Vicki Lawrence
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1973)
Skylark
Wildflower (1973)
Ringo
Photograph (1973)
The Isley Brothers
Who's That lady (1973)
The O'Jays
Love Train (1973)
The Spinners
Could It Be I'm Falling in Love (1973)
Judy Collins
Send in the Clowns (1973)
Godspell
Day by Day (1973)
Albert Hammond
It Never Rains in Southern California** (1973)
Stevie Wonder
You Are the Sunshine of My Life (1973)
Isn't She Lovely (1976)
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Blinded by the Light*** (1973)
Redbone
Come and Get Your Love*** (1974)
Frankie Valli
My Eyes Adored You (1974)
Stylistics
You Make Me Feel Brand New (1974)
Barbra Streisand
The Way We Were (1974)
Barry Manilow
Mandy** (1974)
I Write the Songs (1975)
Can't Smile Without You (1977)
Copacabana (1978)
Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Jackie Blue (1974)
Neil Sedaka
Laughter in the Rain (1974)
Orleans
Dance with Me*** (1974)
The Stylistics
You Make Me Feel Brand New (1974)
Terry Jacks
Seasons in the Sun (1974)
Fleetwood Mac
Rhianon (1975)
Landslide (1975)
Go Your Own Way (1976)
Sentimental Lady** (Bob Welch) (1977)
10cc
I'm Not in Love (1975)
Ace
How Long (Has this Been Going On) (1975)
Michael Martin Murphey & the Rio Grande Band
Wildfire*** (1975)
Glen Campbell
Rhinestone Cowboy (1975)
Southern Nights (1977)
Eric Carmen
All by Myself (1975)
Never Gonna Fall in Love Again (1975)
England Dan & John Ford Coley
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight (1976)
Love Is the Answer (1977)
What's Forever For? (1979)
The Roger Whittaker Christmas Album
Mighty Like A Rose (1976)
Gordon Lightfoot
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1976)
George Benson
Breezin' (1976)
John Sebastian
Welcome Back, Kotter Theme** (1976)
Firefall
You Are the Woman*** (1976)
Abba
Dancing Queen** (1976)
Take a Chance on Me (1978)
Bellamy Brothers
Let Your Love Flow (1976)
Love Boat
Theme from Love Boat (1977)
Chuck Mangione
Feels So Good (1977)
Paul McCartney
Maybe I'm Amazed (1977)
Leo Sayer
When I Need You (1977)
Kansas
Dust in the Wind (1977)
Kenny Nolan
I Like Dreamin' (1977)
Player
Baby Come Back (1977)
Debbie Boone
You Light Up My Life (1977)
Ennio Morricone
Orca (1977)
Crystal Gayle
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (1977)
Grease
You're the One that I Want (1978)
Theme from Battle Star Galactica (1978)
Chris Rea
Fool If You Think It's Over (1978)
Van Halen
Dance the Night Away (1979)
**** 1980s **** 1980s **** 1980s **** 1980s **** 1980s **** 1980s **** 1980s ****
John Lennon
Woman*** (1980)
To Serve Them All My Days TV show
End music (1980)
Christopher Cross
Sailing (1980)
Ride Like the Wind (1980)
Arthur's Theme (1981)
All Right (1983)
Leo Sayer
More than I Can Say** (1980)
Mike Post
Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) (1981)
Dan Fogelberg
Missing You (1981)
Leader of the Band (1981)
Air Supply
The One That You Love (1981)
Even the Nights Are Better (1982)
Diana Ross
It's My Turn (1981)
Alabama
Fantasy (1981)
Johnny Williams
Raider's March (1981)
Smokey Robinson
Being with You (1981)
Foreigner
Waiting for A Girl Like You (1981)
I Want to Know What Love Is (1984)
Don't Want to Live Without You (1987)
Vangelis
Hymne (1981)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Journey
Open Arms (1981)
Who's Crying Now (1981)
Sheena Easton
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
James Taylor
Her Town, Too** (1981)
Todo
Africa*** (1982)
Marcia Griffiths
Electric Slide (1982)
Michael Murphey
What's Forever For (1982)
Alan Parsons Project
Eye in the Sky (1982)
Michael McDonald
I Keep Forgettin' (1982)
Chicago
Hard to Say I'm Sorry (1982)
Steve Winwood
Valerie*** (1982, 1987)
Back in the High Life Again (1986)
The Finer Things (1987)
Gordon Lightfoot
Sundown (1982)
Glenn Frey
The One You Love (1982)
You Belong to the City (1985)
Dave Grusin
Theme to St. Elsewhere (1982)
Whitesnake
Here I Go Again (1982)
Is This Love (1987)
Hall & Oats
Maneater (1982)
Neil Diamond
Heart Light (1982)
Jay Unger
Ashokan Farewell (1982)
Jam
A Town Called Malice** (1982)
Toto
Africa*** (1982)
Sergio Mendes
Never Gonna Let You Go (1983)
Rick Beato's choice for The Most COMPLEX Pop Song (chording) of All Time
Culture Club
Karma Chameleon (1983)
Spandau Ballet
True (1983)
Silvia
Bobby's in Vicksburg (1983)
Eurythmics
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (1983)
Matthew Wilder
Break My Stride (1983)
The Romantics
Talkin' in Your Sleep (1983)
Sade
Smooth Operator (1984)
Jan Hammer
Crockett's Theme (1984)
Dan Hartman
I Can Dream About You (1984)
Rod Stewart
Some Guys Have All the Luck** (1984)
Forever Young** (1988)
Have I Told You Lately** (1989 Van Morrison)
Phil Collins
Against All Odds (1984 film)
Bananarama
Cruel Summer (1984)
I Heard a Rumor** (1987)
Lamahl
Neverending Story (1984)
A-Ha
Take on Me*** (1984)
Stevie Wonder
I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984)
George Michael (Wham!)
Last Christmas (1984)
The Cars
Drive (1984)
Mr. Mister
Kyrie (1985)
Bangles
Walk Like an Egyptian (1985)
Manic Monday (1986)
Eternal Flame (1988)
Linda Ronstadt
When You Wish Upon A Star (1986)
Barbra Streisand
Somewhere (There's a Place for Us) (1985)
Katrina and the Waves
Walking on Sunshine*** (1985)
John Parr
St. Elmo's Fire Love Theme (1985)
Tears for Fears
Everybody Wants to Rule the World*** (1985)
Legend (movie)
Loved by the Sun (1985)
Heart
These Dreams (1985)
George Michael
Careless Whisper (1985)
Glass Tiger
Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) (1986)
The Human League
Human (1986)
Crowded House
Don't Dream It's Over** (1986)
Something So Strong (1986)
Madonna
Live to Tell** (1986)
Cherish (1989)
Theme from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Gregory Abbot
Shake You Down (1986)
Linda Ronstadt
Somewhere Out There (1986)
Swing Out Sister
Break Out (1986)
Real Life
Send Me an Angel** (1986)
Catch Me I'm Falling (1987)
Cutting Crew
(I Just) Died in Your Arms (1986)
I've Been in Love Before*** (1986)
[One of the best rock songs ever written.]
Peter Cetera
Glory of Love (1986)
Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
Somewhere Out There (1986)
StarShip
Sara (1986)
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (1987)
U2
With or Without You (1987)
Rick Ashley
Never Gonna Give You Up** (1987)
Fleetwood Mac
Little Lies (1987)
Everywhere (1987)
ABC
When Smokey Sings (1987)
Kenny G
Songbird (1987)
Danny Wilson
Mary's Prayer (1987)
Johnny Hates Jazz
Shattered Dreams*** (1987)
Turn Back the Clock** (1988)
Donald Fraser
This Christmastide (Jessye's Carol)** (late 1980s ?)
Johnny Hates Jazz
Shattered Dreams*** (1987)
Turn Back the Clock** (1988)
Patrick Swazye
She's Like the Wind (1987)
Steve and David Gordon
Secret Fountain (1987)
Belinda Carlisle
Circle in the Sand (1987)
Leave a Light on for Me*** (1989)
Mark Isham
My Wife With Shampagne Shoulders (1988) [soft music]
Moody Blues
I Know You're Out There Somewhere*** (1988)
Taylor Dayne
Tell It to My Heart (1988)
The Las
There She Goes*** (1988)
Enya
Orinoco Flow (1988)
Breathe
Hands to Heaven (1988)
How Can I Fall (1988)
Pet Shop Boys
It's A Sin (1987) [Galatians 5:16]
Domino Dancing (1988)
Boy Meets Girl
Waiting for a Star to Fall** (1988)
Benda Russel
Get Here (1988)
Chris Rea
Driving Home for Christmas** (1988)
Bette Midler
Wind Beneath My Wings (1989)
Criss Issak
Wicked Game (1989)
Simply Red
You've Got It*** (1989)
Roxette
Listen to Your Heart (1989)
Cher
If I could Turn Back Time (1989)
Richard Marx
Right Here Waiting (1989)
Elton John
Sacrifice*** (1989)
**** 1990s ***** 1990s ***** 1990s ***** 1990s ***** 1990s ***** 1990s *****
Wilson Phillips
Hold On (1990)
Rod Stewart
Downtown Train (1990)
This Old Heart of Mine (with Ronald Isley) (1990)
The Motown Song (with The Temptations)** (1991)
Rhythm of My Heart (1991)
Angelo Badalamenti
Theme from Twin Peaks (1990)
Danny Elfman
Ettiquette Lesson (1990)
Susy Boggus
Out Bound Plane (1991)
Amy Grant
Every Heartbeat (1991)
Enya
Caribbean Blue (1991)
Vanessa Williams
Save the Best for Last (1992)
Swing Out Sister
Am I the Same Girl** (1992)
Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
Beauty and the Beast (1992)
Sawyer Brown
The Walk** (1992)
Elton John
The One (1992)
Can You Feel the Love Tonight (1994)
Something About the Way You Look Tonight (1997)
Carole King
Now and Forever** (1992)
Whitney Houston
I Will Always Love You (1993)
The X-Files
The X-Files Theme (1993)
Counting Crows
Big Yellow Taxi (1993, Joni Mitchell 1970)
Swing Out Sister
Am I the Same Girl? (1993)
Sting
Fields of Gold** (1993)
Kenny Loggins
Return to Pooh Corner** (1994)
Madonna
Take a Bow (1994)
Glen Campbell
Shenandoah (1995)
Secret Garden
Nocturne (1995)
Secret Garden
Adagio (1995)
Cherish The Ladies
Green Grow The Rushes Oh (1996)
Cherish the Ladies & Don Stiffe
The Christmas Letter (?)
Sixpence None the Richer
Kiss Me*** (1997)
(This is perhaps my favorite song from the 1990s. The lyrics and
melody have a purity to them, and the
style is of the forgotten folk-rock genre.)
Shawn Colvin
Sunny Came Home (1997)
(This song's melody reminds me of 'Christmas Bride', song by the Ray Conniff Singers (1959).
Apparently, the less one knows about the lyrics to this Colvin song, the better. What goes around,
comes around. Negativity begets negativity. Positivity begets positivity.)
Shania Twain
You're Still the One (1998)
James Horner
Theme to the movie Deep Impact (1998)
Rippingtons (Topaz, 1999)
Stories of the Painted Desert
Taos
Under a Spanish Moon
Sugar Ray
Someday** (1999)
***** 2000s **** 2000s **** 2000s **** 2000s **** 2000s **** 2000s **** 2000s ****
Enya
Only Time (2000)
Dominic Halpin (Cover) (2000?)
Fireball Xl5 Music Video, [Gerry Andersons (1962)]
Russell Watson (Theme to Star Trek: Enterprise) (Cover)
Where My Heart Will Take Me*** (2001)
Shania Twain
Forever and For Always** (2002)
Secret Garden (duo)
You Raise Me Up** (2002)
Dixie Chicks (Cover)
Landslide** (2003)
Rod Stewart (Cover) (originally, 1935, Jimmy McHugh, with the lyrics by Dorothy Fields)
I'm in the Mood for Love (2003)
Hall & Oats
Man on a Mission (2003)
Youth Group (Cover)
Forever Young (2006) [AlphaVille]
Enya (Cover)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel** (2008, Translated 1861)
And there you have it. If one subtracts off the song covers, there's
not much left to show for a whole decade of the 2000s, in my opinion.
Even worse, I have found nothing so far to mention from 2004 to now (2021).
That's seventeen years of virually nothing remarkable in pop music.
So I have to ask: What has happened to stifle brand new good pop music?
***** 2010s **** 2010s **** 2010s **** 2010s **** 2010s **** 2010s **** 2010s ****
Les Paul
Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky (2014)
There is a tendency of those who cover Swan Lake with guitar to play it
too fast and to hard rock. Please, just trust Tchaikovsky! I first heard
a guitar version of this theme on the radio about 1969. I don't know who did it,
but it was great.
Adele
Million Years Ago (2015)
Mahmoud Magdy
Swan Lake Theme by Tchaikovsky (2017)
The Jeff Steinberg Jazz Ensemble
Theme From "Dobie Gillis" cover (2018)
Naked City Theme cover (2018)
I Love Lucy Theme cover (2018)
I Dream Of Jeannie cover (2018)
Theme From "Mr. Lucky" cover (2018)
Melancholy Serenade - Theme To The Jackie Gleason Show cover (2018)
Denis Solee
Theme From "Perry Mason" cover (2021)
-
Alex Sampson
If You Were My Girl (2024)
Great stuff. Add in an electric guitar, playing a soft secondary melody.
How? Listen to 1950s slow pop songs.
Pretty Baby (2024)
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**** Music before 1950 **** Music before 1950 **** Music before 1950 **** Music before 1950 **** Music before 1950 ****
Edward Elgar
Pomp and Circumstance Military March (the 'Graduation Theme')
Written in the early 1900s
Bing Crosby
Did You Ever See A Dream Walking (1933)
George Gershwin
Summertime (1934)
Herman Hupfel (1931), covered by Dooley Wilson
As Time Goes By*** (1942)
Andre Rieu (recent cover)
Waltzing Matilda (1903)
Bing Crosby
Just an Echo in the Valley (1933)
Ray Noble
The Very Thought of You (1934)
Sung by Nat King Cole (1958)
Rodgers & Hart (1934)
Blue Moon (Rod Stewart, 2004)
Fred Astaire
Cheek to Cheek (1935)
Fields & Kern
The Way You Look Tonight (Fred Astaire, 1936)
Warren & Dubin
September in the Rain (1937)
Judy Garland
Somewhere Over the Rainbow*** (1939)
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
In the Mood (1941)
Casablanca
La Marseillaise** (1942)
Irvine Berlin: Sung by Bing Crosby
White Christmas** (1942)
Tommy Dorsey
Opus One*** (1943)
Nat King Cole (1955)
Autumn Leaves (1945)
They Were Expendable (Movie)
Marcheta (1945)
Herbert Stothart
Sentries of the Navy
Living in a Big Way (Movie)
It Had to Be You (1947)
Theme from The Third Man (1949) HM
Finally, I want to give a special thanks to Rod Stewart for keeping many of these old songs alive!