I hope the songs from this list brings back some good memories.

Favorites in Bold

In 1977, I began my annual countdown, of the top hits of the year. My New Year’s Eve Party was to place to be if you had a love of music, and were anxious to hear Don Swan’s pick for the #1 song of the year.

The countdown had a thirteen-year run through 1990. Some of the greatest Rock hits I played:  Tonight’s The Night (Gonna’ Be Alright)-Rod Stewart;  Hotel California-Eagles;  Things We Do For Love-CC;  Three Times A Lady-Commodores;  It’s A Heartache-Bonnie Tyler;  Lifes Been Good-Joe Walsh;  Dust In The Wind–Kansas;  Too Much Heaven & Tragedy-Bee Gees;  We Are Family-Sister Sledge. (Favorites in all caps )

MORE OF MY GREATEST POP/ROCK SONGS In Random Order:

You Look Wonderful Tonight (1977)–Eric Clapton.

Baby Hold On (1977)-Eddie Money;

Bohemian Rhapsody;  We Will Rock, (1977)  We Are The Champions–Queen;

Gold–John Stewart (1979);  

Telephone Line (1977)–Electric Light Orchestra;  

The Way We Were-Barbra Streisand;

I Love LA, Short People–Randy Newman;

I Am . . . I Said, Love On The Rocks, Sweet Caroline,  Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon, Cracklin’ Rose–Neil Diamond;

Free Fallin’,  It’s Good To Be King,  Learning To Fly,  Into The Great Wide Open–Tom Petty;

Me And You And A Dog Named Boo,  I Want You To Want Me–Lobo;

Night Moves,  Still The Same (1978)–Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band;

Cheeseburger In Paradise,  Volcano,  Margaretville,  He Went To Paris–Jimmy Buffett;

Urgent,  Hot Blooded,  I Want To Know What Love Is, Waiting For A Girl Like You–Foreigner; 

Feeling Stronger Every Day,  If You Leave Me Now,  Hard To Say I’m Sorry–Chicago;

The Tide Is High,  Rapture–Blondie;

Rhiannon,  Gold Dust Woman,  The Chain,  Tusk–Fleetwood Mac;

Jack & Diane,  Little Pink Houses–John J. Mellencamp;

Sultans Of Swing,  Money For Nothing–Dire Straights; 

Californication,  Otherwise–Red Hot Chili Peppers;

Kodachrome–Graceland,  You Can Call Me Al- Paul Simon

Material Girl (1984)–Madonna;  We’re All Alone-Boz Skaggs

You Don’t Send Me Flowers Anymore–Barbara Streisand & Neil Diamond;

Killing Me Softly With His Song–Roberta Flack;  Touch Of Grey–Jerry Garcia;

Every Breath You Take–The Police;

What’s Love Got To Do With It–Tina Turner;

She Drives Me Crazy–Fine Young Cannabis;

Uneasy Rider-Charlie Daniels Band;

The Boxer–Simon & Garfunkel;

Boys of Summer,  Dirty Laundry–Don Henley;   

Angry Like The Wolf–Duran Duran; Maneater-Hall & Oates

I Love The Nightlife (1978)–Alica Bridges;

Losing My Religion–R.E.M.;  Drive–The Cars:

She Believes In Me–Kenny Rogers (1979);  Imaginary Lover–Atlanta Rhythm Section (1978);

Driver’s Seat–Sniff N’ The Tears;  Dreams–Van Halen;

Right Down The Line–Gerry Rafferty;  Tainted Love–Soft Cell;

I Go Crazy-Paul Davis (1977); Another Brick In the Wall (1979)-Pink Floyd

Land Of The Dragon–Wilson Pickett;  Do You Know What I Mean–Leon Michaels;

Hush–Deep Purple;  Sometimes When We Touch–Dan Hill & Gloria Gaynor;

I Can See For Miles,  I’m Free,  Pinball Wizard–The Who;      

Feel Like Making Love–Bad Company;  Unbreak My Heart–Toni Braxton;

One Sweet Day–Marvin Gaye & Boyz To Men;  You And Me–Alice Cooper;

Imagine,  Watching The Wheels–John Lennon;

You’ve Got A Friend–James Taylor;

Born To Run,  Badlands,  Dancing In The Dark,  Hungry Heart–Bruce Springsteen;

Nobody But Me–Human Bienz;  I Touch Myself–Divinyls;

Couldn’t Get It Right–Climax;  Morning Train–Sheena Easton;

I Like Dreaming–Kenny Nolan; Drift Away–Dobie Gray;  

Cool Changes–Little River Band;  Bette Davis Eyes–Kim Carnes;

I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll–Joan Jet & The Black Hearts;

Private Eyes–Daryl Hall & John Oates;  Funky Cold Medina–Tone Loc;

Every Time You Go Away–Paul Young;  

Steal Away–Robert Dupree; Monkey–George Michael;

Werewolves Of London–Warren Zevon;  I Will Survive–Gloria Gaynor;

We Don’t Talk Anymore–Cliff Richard (1979);   

I’m Not In Love–Will To Power;  Don’t Stop Believin’ (1981)–Journey;

You Spin Me’Round (Like A Record) (1985)–Dead Or Alive;

Addicted To Love–Robert Palmer (1985);  The Safety Dance-Men Without Hats;

Everybody Wants To Rule The World (1985)–Tears For Fears;

Thriller–Michael Jackson (1982);  Jessie’s Girl–Rick Springfield (1981);

Take My Breath Away–Berlin;  With  A Little Luck–Wings (1978);

It’s A Heartache–Bonnie Tyler (1978);  On My Own-Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald;

We Don’t Talk Anymore–Cliff Richard (1979);  Higher Love–Steve Winwood;

I Just Fall In Love Again–Anne Murray (1979);   Rock Me Amadeus–Falco;

What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted (1983)–David Ruffin; 

Is She Really Going Out With Him–Joe Jackson (1979)

True Colors–Cyndi Lauper (1986):  Footloose–Kenny Loggins;

You Give Love A Bad Name–Bon Jovi (1986); Yesterday, When I was Young– Glenn Campell:

From A Distance–Bette Midler (1990);  Draggin’ The Line–Tommy James (1991);

 TOP ROCK: 

Favorites in Bold

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction—   Start Me Up– Oh,Pretty Woman—  Rockin’ In The Free World-Whole Lotta’ Love–  Me And Bobbie McGee–  Rocket Man–  Smoke On The Water–   Sultans Of Swing–  Life’s Been Good To Me (So Far)–  

Won’t Get Fooled Again–   Born To Run–   Long Cool Woman In a Black Dress–  Free Fallin’—  Great Balls Of Fire–   Whole Lotta’ Shaking–  You Really Got Me–  Eve Of Destruction–  For Your Love–  Go Now– Seventh Son–

Memphis—  Love Portion Number Nine–  Tell Her No–  She’s About A Mover–  All Of The Day and All Of the Night, Lola–Kinks;    Celebrate–-Three Dog Night;  

 A Whiter Shade Of Pale–-Procol Harmen;    Hello I Love You–The Doors;    Show Me The Way–-Peter Framptom;    Born To Be Wild–-Steppenwolf;    Here Comes The Night–-Them;  You Shook Me All Night Long–-AC/DC.

TOP POP–LITE:

Heart  of Gold—  Dueling Banjos–  Little Green Apples–  Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon–American Pie–  Imagine–  Photograph—  Something–  Little Darlin–  Wake Up Little Susie–  Teddy Bear–  By By Love–  You Send Me–  Bits And Pieces–  The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)–  The Little Old Lady–  

The Girl From Ipenama–  Leader Of The Pack–  Chug-A-Lug–  Hey Little Cobra–  My Boy Lollipop–  Um, Um, Um ,Um, Um, Um–  I Got You Babe–  Baby Don’t Go–   Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte–  I Know A Place–  The Name Game–  The Game Of Love–  

What’s New Pussycat–  Mr. Tambourine Man–  Down In The Boondocks–  I Like It Like That–  It’s Not Unusual–  She’s About A Mover–  Ferry Cross The Mersey–  California Girls–  Goldfinger–  Baby The Rain Must Fall–  Everybody Loves Somebody–  People–  

A Summer Song–  Navy Blue—  Where Did Our Love Go–  It Hurts To Be In Love–  Come A Little Bit Closer–  A World Without Love–  Baby Love–  Glad All Over–  Under The Boardwalk–  Don’t Let The Rain Come Down–  Dead Man’s Curve–  Little G.T.O.

TOP POP–LOVE:

Fools Rush In–  Young Love–  Love Letters In The Sand–  Love Letters Straight From Your Heart–  Take My Breath Away–  

It’s Now Or Never–  Can’t Help Falling In Love–  Let’s Stay Together–  Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love–  Endless Love & Young Love–  

Do You Want To Know A Secret–  Please Please Me—   She Loves You–  Because–   Anyone Who Had A Heart–  See The Funny Little Clown–  Yes I’m Ready–  Back In My Arms Again–  Baby I’m Yours–  Red Roses For A Blue Lady–  I’m Telling You Now–  Little Things–  I Go To Pieces–  

What The World Needs Now Is Love–  Save Your Heart For Me–  My Guy–  Last Kiss–  Walk On By–  Little Children–  Rag Doll–  Dawn— Love Me With All Your Heart–  Let It Be Me–  Baby Love–  I Honestly Love You.

                TOP POP–ROMANTIC:

We’ve Got Tonight—  I Will Always Love You—  You Light Up My Life—  Hawaii Wedding Song–  Are You Lonesome Tonight—  If—  Have I Told You Lately That I Love You–  Unchained Melody–  It’s Now Or Never– And I Love You So 

Endless Love–  I Can’t Stop Loving You–  I Just Called To Say I Love You—  Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying–  The Door Is Still Open To My Heart–  All By Myself.

              TOP SOUL–R&B:

I’m Walking–  Let’s Get It On–  When Doves Cry–  Superstition—  Soul Man–  All Night Long–  Respect–  On Blueberry Hill–  I Can’t Help Myself–  Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag–  The “In” Crowd–  Shotgun–  Stop! In The Name Of Love–

Tracks Of My Tears–  Nowhere To Run–  Rubberband Man– Johnny B Goode–  Dancin’ In The Street—  Why Can’t We Be Friends—  Louie Louie–  Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love–  Caribbean Queen.

TOP COUNTRY–BLUEGRASS:

Friends In Low Places–  Take It Easy–  I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry—  Wichita Lineman–   

I Walk The Line–  Ring Of Fire–Raggedy Old Flag-Sunday Morning Coming Down–  Coal Miners Daughter–  The Gambler–  I Fall To pieces–  Stand By Your Man–  

Crazy Arms–  Jolene–  Blues Eyes Crying In The Rain–   Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,  Always On My Mind–  Cold Cold Heart–  Hello Walls–Country Bumpkin—

Take It Easy–  I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry—  On The Other Hand–  He Stopped Loving Her Today—  500 Miles Away From Home–  Sixteen Tons– 

Blue Moon Of Kentucky–  Rolling  In My Sweet Baby’s Arms–  John Henry–  Wabash Cannonball–  A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)–Marty Robbins;   Storms Of Life–  

      TOP GOSPEL:

How Great Thou Art–  I’ll Fly Away–  This Old House–  Amazing Grace–  Just A Little Talk With Jesus–  Peace In The Valley– Rock-A-My Soul– Daddy Sang Bass– 

Power In The Blood–  The Great Speckled Bird–  Turn Your Radio On–  Wings Of A Dove–  Put Your Hand In The Hand–  Precious Memories– Why Me Lord.

                                    DISCO:

I Love The Nightlife–  Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Disco Beat)–  Disco Inferno–  Night Fever–  Dancing Queen–  Disco Lady–  Hot Stuff.

RAP:

Gangsters Paradise— Collio

WORST SONGS:

Pineapple Princess–  Yum Yum Yummy—  The Clapping Song–  Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)–  Dandelion–  Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go–  Achy Breaky Heart–  Sussudio–  Tuttifrutti–  Kung Fu Fighting–  Karma Chameleon–  Cherry Pie.

A few songs I liked after 1992 when I began enjoying pop music less:   My Heart Will Go On–Celine Dion,  I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing–Aerosmith and You’ll Be In My Heart–Phil Collins.

Then came Adele:  

Someone Like You, one of the best voices full of conviction and soul to come in decades.  Talking To The Moon–Bruno Mars;  All Of Me–John Legend;  Waiting For The World to Change-John Meyer;  I’ll Stand By You-The Pretenders; One Headlight–The Wallflowers; A Thousand Years–Christina Perri. OK, maybe post-1992 pop music isn’t so bad.

~

      My Bakers's Dozen list of my All-Time Favorites:                                                            

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing– Aerosmith (10 Million views on YouTube) 3rd Honorable Mention X

Please Don’t Stop Loving Me– Elvis Presley (5.9 Million views on YouTube) 2nd Honorable Mention

Still the One– Shania Twain (300 Million views on YouTube) 1st Honorable Mention

13. Talking to the Moon– Burno Mars (194 Million hits on YouTube)

12. I’ll Stand by You-The Pretenders (14 Million hits on YouTube)

11. I’ll will Aways Love You-Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton version good too (1.6 Billion hits on YouTube)

10. Please Please Me-Beatles (30 Million hits on YouTube)

9. Are You Lonesome Tonight-Elvis Presley (15 Million hits on YouTube)

8. All of Me -John Legend (2.4 Billion hits on YouTube)

7. I Just Called to Say I Love You -Stevie Wonder (80 Million hits on YouTube)

6. You Lite Up My Life– Debbie Boone (5.6 Million hits on YouTube)

5. Unchained Melody-Righteous Bros. (75 Million hits on YouTube)

4. Honey -Bobby Goldsboro (10.9 Million hits on YouTube)

3. Someone Like You-Adel (2.3 Billion hits on YouTube)

2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction-Rolling Stones (172 Million hits on Youtube)

Wait for it . . .

1. Oh, Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison
Listen on Black and White Nights DVD
(291 Million hits on YouTube)

X the number of views may be skewed due to the date of Youtube debut or DATE of its RELEASE

To quote an early Bart Simpson,” Don’t have a Cow” if you disagree with some if not many of my choices.  These are my favorites from my era as a professional DJ and music lover. I am glad to have readers of all ages and most are younger than me. 

Make your own list and send it my way. You may be featured on this site if I choose your Baker’s Dozen favorites. I accept bribes when choosing lists and the prominence I give them on the site.  donaldswan@msn.com

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If you enjoyed my book, appreciated my efforts, would like to see more of my work, and wish to donate or have a comment, contact me at donaldswan@msn.com

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