Year By Year Rock Hits
A snapshot selection of each year in rock history! 

YEAR BY YEAR HIT SELECTIONS

ROOTS OF ROCK

1948
Good Rockin' Tonight - Wynonie Harris

1949
Saturday Night Fish Fry - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
The Huckabuck - Paul Williams

1950
The Fat Man - Fats Domino

1951
Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston and His Delta Kings
Sixty-Minute Man - Dominoes
Cry - Johnny Ray
It's All In the Game (original version) - Tommy Edwards
The Glory Of Love - Five Keys

1952
Hound Dog - Big Mama Thornton
Night Train - Jimmy Forrest
Wimoweh - Weavers
Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price
Jambalaya (On The Bayou) - Hank Williams
Midnight Special - Weavers

1953 
Crazy Man Crazy - Bill Haley & His Comets
Your Cheatin' Heart - Hank Williams
Please Don't Leave Me - Fats Domino
Crying In The Chapel - Orioles
The Clock - Johnny Ace with the Beale Streeters
Shake A Hand - Faye Adams
Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean) - Ruth Brown
Good Lovin' - Clovers

1954 
Sh-Boom - Crew-Cuts
Mr. Sandman - Chordettes
Three Coins In The Fountain - Four Aces
That's All Right - Elvis Presley
Work With Me Annie - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Shake Rattle And Roll - Joe Turner
Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight - Spaniels
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters
The Things That I Used To Do - Guitar Slim
Hearts Of Stone - Jewels

ROCK AND ROLL EXPLOSION

1955 
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and His Comets
Earth Angel - Penguins
Maybelline - Chuck Berry
Only You (And You Alone) - Platters
Ain't That A Shame - Fats Domino
Ain't That A Shame - Pat Boone
I Got A Woman - Ray Charles
Tweedlee Dee - LaVern Baker
Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
Flip Flop Fly - Joe Turner

1956 
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
In The Still Of The Night - Five Satins
Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
Why Do Fools Fall In Love - The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
See You Later Alligator - Bill Haley and His Comets
The Great Pretender - Platters
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry

1957 
That'll Be The Day - Crickets
Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
You Send Me - Sam Cooke
Rock And Roll Music - Chuck Berry
Lucille - Littel Richard
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
Searchin' - Coasters
Little Darlin' - Diamonds
Come Go With Me - Dell-Vikings

1958 
Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay - Danny & the Juniors
Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry
Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
Come On Let's Go - Ritchie Valens
Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day
Tequila - Champs
Chantilly Lace - Big Bopper
I Wonder Why - Dion & the Belmonts
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran

1959 
Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
A Teenager In Love - Dion & the Belmonts
Kansas City - Wilbur Harrison
What'd I Say - Ray Charles
Love Potion Number Nine - Clovers
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
Poison Ivy - Coasters
Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny
Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
Venus - Frankie Avalon

1960 
Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison
Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
Save The Last Dance For Me - Drifters
Stay - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
Walk, Don't Run - Ventures
Red Rubber Ball - Bobby Vee
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland
Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers
Good Timin' - Jimmy Jones
You Talk Too Much - Joe Jones
Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley

1961 
Runaround Sue - Dion
Tossin' & Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
Runaway - Del Shannon
Blue Moon - Marcels
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
Please Mr. Postman - Marvellettes
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tokens
Quarter To Three - Gary "U.S." Bonds
Shop Around - Miracles
Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
The Wanderer - Dion

1962 
Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee & the Starlighters
The Twist - Chubby Checker
Soldier Boy - Shirelles
Hey Baby - Bruce Channel
The Locomotion - Little Eva
Sherry - Four Seasons
He's A Rebel - Crystals
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka
Any Day Now - Chuck Jackson
Duke Of Earl - Gene Chandler
Telstar - Tornadoes
Johnny Angel - Shelly Fabares

1963 
He's So Fine - Chiffons
Surf City - Jan & Dean
It's My Party - Leslie Gore
Be My Baby - Ronettes
Wipe Out - Surfaris
If I Had A Hammer - Trini Lopez
Da Doo Ron Ron - Crystals
Walk Like A Man - Four Seasons
Heat Wave - Martha & the Vandellas
Up On The Roof - Drifters
I Can't Stay Mad At You - Skeeter Davis
Only In America - Jay & the Americans

ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD

1964 
Fun Fun Fun - Beach Boys
She Loves You - Beatles
I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles
Baby Love - Supremes
Dawn - Four Seasons
I Get Around - Beach Boys
A Hard Day's Night - Beatles
Under The Boardwalk - Drifters
You Really Got Me - Kinks
House Of The Rising Sun - Animals
She's Not There - Zombies
Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Dancin' In The Street - Martha & the Vandellas

1965 
I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
Help! - Beatles
Help Me Rhonda - Beach Boys
Let's Hang On - Four Seasons
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
Turn Turn Turn - Byrds
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Stop! In the Name Of Love - Supremes
Mr. Tambourine Man - Byrds
I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
Hang On Sloopy - McCoys
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

1966 
The Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
We Can Work It Out - Beatles
You Keep Me Hanging On - Supremes
Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
Gloria - Shadows Of Knight
Reach Out And I'll Be There - Four Tops
Wild Thing - Troggs
Summer In The City - Lovin' Spoonful
Last Train To Clarksville - Monkees
Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
Monday Monday - Mama & Papas
Kicks - Paul Revere & the Raiders
This Ole Heart Of Mine - Isley Brothers

1967 
Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin
Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder
The Letter - Boxtops
Happy Together - Turtles
Daydream Believer - Monkees
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Light My Fire - Doors
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & the Pips
Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane

1968 
Mony Mony - Tommy James & the Shondells
Dance To The Music - Sly & The Family Stone
Hey Jude - Beatles
Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel
All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
(Sittin' On The) Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Hello, I Love You - Doors

1969 
Pinball Wizard - The Who
Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
Get Back - Beatles
Someday We'll Be Together - Diana Ross & the Supremes
Touch Me - Doors
Cloud Nine - Temptations
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Get Together - Youngbloods
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In - Fifth Dimension
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder

1970 
Let It Be - Beatles
I Want You Back - Jackson Five
ABC - Jackson Five
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Ohio - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
Evil Ways - Santana
War - Edwin Starr
Lola - Kinks
Fire And Rain - James Taylor
Signed Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
All Right Now - Free

THE ROCK GENERATION

1971 
Joy to The World - Three Dog Night
Maggie May - Rod Stewart
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Imagine - John Lennon
Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
It's Too Late - Carole King
It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr
Never Can Say Goodbye - Jackson Five
Signs - Five Man Electrical Band
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner
Peace Train - Cat Stevens

1972 
American Pie - Don McLean
Rocket Man - Elton John
Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne
Go All The Way - Raspberries
Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress - Hollies
Listen To The Music - Doobie Brothers
Layla - Derek & the Dominoes
Back Stabbers - O'Jays
Day After Day - Badfinger
A Horse With No Name - America
Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
Saturday In The Park - Chicago

1973 
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Do It Again - Steely Dan
You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Photograph - Ringo Starr
Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting - Elton John
Live And Let Die - Wings
Kodachrome - Paul Simon
Ramblin' Man - Allman Brothers Band
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder

1974 
Waterloo - Abba
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
Beach Baby - First Class
The Joker - Steve Miller Band
Living For The City - Stevie Wonder
Band On The Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton
Whatever Gets You Through The Night - John Lennon
Sweet Hone Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

1975 
That's The Way (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band
The Hustle - Van McCoy
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
You're The First, The Last, My Everything - Barry White
Lyin' Eyes - Eagles
Who Loves You - Four Seasons
Bad Time - Grand Funk
Why Can't We Be Friends - War
Bungle In The Jungle - Jethro Tull
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

1976 
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
Still The One - Orleans
You Should Be Dancing - Bee-Gees
Rock N' Me - Steve Miller Band
More Than A Feeling - Boston
Taking It To The Streets - Doobie Brothers
Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac
It's Over - Boz Scaggs
Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton
Welcome Back - John Sebastian

1977 
Hotel California - Eagles
Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Band
We Are The Champions - Queen
Feels Like The First Time - Foreigner
Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold
Cold As Ice - Foreigner
Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas
We Just Disagree - Dave Mason
Heard It In A Love Song - Marshall Tucker
Save It For A Rainy Day - Stephen Bishop

1978 
Night Fever - Bee-Gees
Grease - Frankie Valli
Last Dance - Donna Summer
Movin' Out - Billy Joel
Straight On - Heart
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad
A Little More Love - Olivia Newton-John
Still The Same - Bob Seger
Stayin' Alive - Bee-Gees
Running On Empty - Jackson Browne

1979 
Big Shot - Billy Joel
Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
Roxanne - Police
Old Time Rock And Roll - Bob Seger
What A Fool Believes - Doobie Brohters
My Sharona - The Knack
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Heartache Tonight - Eagles
Heart Of Glass - Blondie
Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe
Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp

THE MODERN ROCK AGE

1980 
Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
You May Be Right - Billy Joel
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen
Train In Vain - Clash
Call Me - Blondie
It's Still Rock And Roll To Me - Billy Joel
(Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
Drivin' My Life Away - Eddie Rabbit
I'm Alright - Kenny Loggins
We Don't Talk Anymore - Cliff Richard

1981 
Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
You Better, You Bet - The Who
Under Pressure - David Bowie & Queen
Better Things - Kinks
Celebration - Kool & The Gang
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - Police
Jesse's Girl - Rick Springfield
Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
Super Freak (Part 1) - Rick James
The Waiting - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

1982 
Rock The Casbah - Clash
Jack And Diane - John Cougar
Maneater - Hall & Oates
Heartbreaker - Dionne Warwick
Vacation - Go-Go's
Heat Of The Moment - Asia
Don't You Want Me - Human League
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Pressure - Billy Joel
Valley Girl - Frank Zappa

1983 
Every Breathe You Take - Police
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
Maniac - Michael Sembello
1999 - Prince
Hungry Like The Wold - Duran Duran
Let's Dance - David Bowie
Africa - Toto
Don't Let It End - Styx
Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara

1984 
Heart Of Rock And Roll - Huey Lewis & the News
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
You Might Think - Cars
Missing You - John Waite
I'm So Excited - Pointer Sisters
Jump - Van Halen
Jump (For My Love) - Pointer Sisters
Cover Me - Bruce Springsteen
On The Dark Side - John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
No More Lonely Nights - Paul McCartney
Ghostbusters - Ray Parker, Jr.

1985 
Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears
Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
The Boys Of Summer - Don Henley
We Built This City - Starship
Money For Nothing - Dire Straights
We Are The World - USA For Africa
Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore - REO Speedwagon
Somebody - Bryan Adams
Private Dancer - Tina Turner

1986 
Manic Monday - Bangles
You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi
Love Walks In - Van Halen
Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
Invisible Touch - Genesis
All I Need Is A Miracle - Mike + the Mechanics
Chain Reaction - Diana Ross
Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
Living In America - James Brown
Papa Don't Preach - Madonna
Dancing On The Ceiling - Lionel Richie
Life In A Northern Town - Dream Academy

1987 
With Or Without You - U2
Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
I Heard A Rumor - Bananarama
Luka - Suzanne Vega
Touch Of Grey - Grateful Dead
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle
Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
Tonight, Tonight, Tonight - Genesis
You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

1988 
Roll With It - Steve Winwood
Kokomo - Beach Boys
Kiss Me Deadly - Lita Ford
Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison
Love Bites - Def Leppard
Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
1-2-3 - Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Forever Young - Rod Stewart

1989 
Mixed Emotions - Rolling Stones
Veronica - Elvis Costello
Love Shack - B-52's
Eternal Flame - Bangles
We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel
You Got It - Roy Orbison
Straight Up - Paula Abdul
She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
Love In An Elevator - Aerosmith

CONTEMPORARY ROCK

1990 
Downtown Train - Rod Stewart
No Myth - Michael Penn
Something Happened On The Way To Heaven - Phil Collins
I Go To Extremes - Billy Joel
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul
Janie's Got A Gun - Aerosmith
U Can't Touch This - M.C. Hammer
Suicide Blonde - INXS
(Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection - Nelson

1991 
Something To Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
Hard To Handle - Black Crowes
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
Black Or White - Michael Jackson
Live For Loving You - Gloria Estefan
Every Heartbeat - Amy Grant
Losing My Religion - R.E.M.
Love Is A Wonderful Thing - Michael Bolton
Live And Let Die - Guns N' Roses
Love Of A Lifetime - Firehouse

1992 
Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
Layla - Eric Clapton
To Be With You - Mr. Big
Mysterious Ways - U2
End Of The Road - Boyz II Men
One - U2
How Do You Talk to An Angel - The Heights
Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough - Patty Smyth with Don Henley
Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

1993 
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) Proclaimers
Deeper And Deeper - Madonna
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Sting
Man On The Moon - R.E.M.
Cryin' - Aerosmith
Passionate Kisses - Mary Chapin-Carpenter
I Don't Wanna Fight - Tina Turner
Because The Night - 10,000 Maniacs
I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) - Meatloaf

1994 
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Loser - Beck
Found Out About You - Gin Blossoms
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow
Wild Night - John Mellencamp with MeShell NdegeOcello
Always - Bon Jovi
Without You - Mariah Carey
All For Love - Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting
Until I Fall Away - Gin Blossoms

1995 
I'll Be There For You - Rembrandts
One Of Us - Joan Osborne
Carnival - Natalie Merchant
Time - Hootie & the Blowfish
Only Wanna Be With You - Hootie & the Blowfish
Hook - Blues Traveler
Hand In My Pocket - Alanis Morissette
Roll To Me - Del Amitri
Breakfast At Tiffanies - Deep Blue Something
Misery - Soul Asylum
Run-Around - Blues Traveler

1996 
Ironic - Alanis Morissette
Free As A Bird - Beatles
Wonderwall - Oasis
6th Avenue Heartache - Wallflowers
If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
Change The World - Eric Clapton
Aeroplane - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Cumbersome - Seven Mary Three
Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman
Macarena - Los Del Rio
Closer To Free - Bodeans
I Want To Come Over - Melissa Etheridge

1997 
The Difference - Wallflowers
A Long December - Counting Crows
Don't Speak - No Doubt
You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
All By Myself - Celine Dion
I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans
MmmBop - Hanson
Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
I Want You - Savage Garden
Lovefool - Cardigans
Wannabe - Spice Girls

1998 
Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
I Don't Want To Wait - Paula Cole
Time of Your Life (Good Riddance) - Green Day
Ray Of Light - Madonna
My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
The Way - Fastball
You're Still The One - Shania Twain
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia

1999 
Believe - Cher
Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas
Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...) - Lou Bega
Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
All Star - Smash Mouth
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
That Don't Impress Me Much - Shania Twain
...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
I Need To Know - Mark Anthony