150. Sade – “Smooth Operator” (1984)
The UK band’s most iconic song remains their breakthrough hit in America about a man scheming his way through life.
149. Rufus & Chaka Khan – “Ain’t Nobody” (1983)
At the nexus point of Chaka Khan becoming a solo act apart from the band Rufus came this number one R&B hit written by the keyboardist Hawk Wolinski.
148. The Psychedelic Furs – “Love My Way” (1982)
Better known for their Pretty in Pink contribution, the Furs found initial success with this Todd Rundgren-produced dreamy synth-pop single in support of all forms of love.
147. Doug E. Fresh (ft. Slick Rick) – “La-Di-da-Di” (1985)
Doug E. Fresh brought human beatboxing to the forefront with this oft-referenced party hip-hop classic.
146. Prince – “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (1987)
The most adventurous song on Sign O the Times is this mid-tempo gender-dysmorphic single originally meant for Prince’s alter ego album Camille.
145. Blondie – “Call Me” (1980)
Many of Blondie’s greatest successes comes from fully embracing disco and hip-hop, like bringing in Giorgio Moroder to produce this hard rocker like it’s for a nightclub.
144. Whitney Houston – “How Will I Know” (1985)
Whitney came out the gate running with her debut staying at number one for 14 weeks, but it’s this danceable sax-solo single — originally offered to Janet Jackson — that has stood the test of time.
143. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two” (1988)
This surprise hit became a template for radio-ready hip-hop, with some ‘YEAH! WOO!’s, goofy lyrics and unrelenting energy.
142. Beat Happening – “Indian Summer” (1988)
Coming from Olympia, Washington, this indie band helped form the twee pop and lo-fi movements that are still resonating through rock music today.
141. Metallica – “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (1984)
No matter how inescapable “Enter Sandman” is, Metallica’s greatest achievement remains this Hemingway-inspired headbanger with three different iconic riffs.
140. Grace Jones – “Pull Up to the Bumper” (1981)
Starting as a model and disco performer, Jones evolved into the post-disco landscape with this synth funk breakthrough single that made her a dance club staple.
139. Queen & David Bowie – “Under Pressure” (1981)
These two British legends just happened to be both recording in Montreux, Switzerland when they collaborated for this worldwide number one hit featuring one of the most iconic bass lines.
138. Diana Ross – “Upside Down” (1980)
After being at the center of Motown for two decades, Ross was presumed to be on a downward slide until this massive number one hit where she collaborated with Chic.
137. Eric B. & Rakim – “I Ain’t No Joke” (1987)
The bar for hip-hop was significantly raised when this single released, featuring Eric B.’s tight horn samples and Rakim’s heady lyrical virtuosity.
136. Siouxsie & the Banshees – “Cities in Dust” (1985)
As the post-rock band found a bigger audience, their sound expanded into dance pop territory without sacrificing an ounce of integrity.
135. 808 State – “Pacific 202” (1989)
This seminal UK electronic hit found the perfect meeting place of blissful ambience, jazzy saxophone and frenetic acid house.
134. ESG – “Moody” (1981)
With Joy Division’s producer Martin Hannett, this South Bronx dance-punk band created a minimalist form of funk with just bass and drums.
133. Michael McDonald – “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” (1982)
When you have greatest blue-eyed soul singer of his era backed by the same session musicians from Thriller, magic is bound to occur — a magic that would be sampled to build out the West Coast hip-hop sound of the ’90s.
132. The Cure – “Pictures of You” (1989)
The beauty of Disintegration — as best displayed on this centerpiece — is that no matter how grandiose the sound gets, Robert Smith sings from the emotionally-tender relatable perspective of being in his bedroom wanting more out of life.
131. The Go-Go’s – “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
The Specials and the Go-Go’s toured together in ’80, and members from both bands came together to write this power pop classic that helped legitimize women in rock.
130. Nine Inch Nails – “Head Like a Hole” (1989)
Spiritually a ’90s song (the single was released in 1990), this breakthrough industrial dance hit brought a coarse electronic edge to the alternative scene that helped inspire the trip-hop and nu metal movements.
129. Patrice Rushen – “Forget Me Nots” (1982)
Rushen had to use her own life savings to promote this single and get radio airplay, and the payoff was having a top 40 hit, Grammy nomination and being prominently sampled in other hits.
128. Joy Division – “Atmosphere” (1980)
The last single in Joy Division’s name, this art rock single acts as an eerie sendoff for Ian Curtis, a vocalist who created a soundscape all his own — one that was lost forever with his passing.
127. Anita Baker – “Sweet Love” (1986)
The signature quiet storm ballad, this Grammy-winning single put Anita Baker on the map and made her as a household name as one of the greatest R&B singers of her time.
126. Beastie Boys – “Paul Revere” (1986)
The trio’s instrumental/production talents have always been underrated, and this Licensed to Ill standout started from Adam Yauch playing with an 808 and playing the beat backwards.
125. Talking Heads – “Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)” (1980)
Even Heads fans who heard their first three albums could not prepare for the art rock extravaganza of Remain in Light, and the album wastes no time on the paranoid Nigerian-funk inspired opener.
124. The Smiths – “This Charming Man” (1983)
Johnny Marr crafted an upbeat peppy guitar riff that contrasted with Morrissey’s haughty morbid phrasing to kick off one of the most successful runs in UK indie history.
123. The Clash – “The Magnificent Seven” (1980)
It cannot be understated that just a year after London Calling, the Clash cranked out a 144-minute album featuring this single which folded hip-hop into the UK punk underground umbrella.
122. Michael Jackson – “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” (1982)
After working with Quincy Jones on his solo album The Dude, James Ingram helped on the Thriller sessions and his biggest contribution was writing the demo for this single, arguably the most danceable on the whole album.
121. Galaxie 500 – “Tugboat” (1988)
To close out their debut album, Galaxie 500 wrote a tribute to the Velvet Underground’s Sterling Morrison, who never pursued a solo career but instead earned a PhD in medieval literature and became the captain of a Houston tugboat.
120. Carly Simon – “Why” (1982)
Soup for One is a movie absolutely lost to time except for its soundtrack from Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards which included this tropical disco UK top ten hit that is in stark contrast of Simon’s other work.
119. Wayne Smith – “Under Me Sleng Teng” (1985)
A major turning point in Jamaican music is the introduction of digital instrumentation, and this single with its beat coming from a Casio preset was a critical influence.
118. Art of Noise – “Moments in Love” (1983)
The avant-garde collective’s crowning achievement is this ambient pop masterpiece that conveys romance not in words but rather in the calming pleasures you can always depend on.
117. Sade – “Is It a Crime?” (1985)
The rise and fall of this Promise single displays both the serenity and tempestuousness that only Sade has pulled off so majestically.
116. Cocteau Twins – “Lorelei” (1984)
For Treasure, the Scottish dream pop band added multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde who helped build out their wall-of-sound ethereal ambitions best displayed on this lullaby-esque standout.
115. Black Flag – “Rise Above” (1981)
After years of changing lead vocalists and building a mythos out in California, Greg Ginn and co. found DC’s Henry Rollins who helped solidify the American Hardcore sound on their debut album.
114. Julee Cruise – “Falling” (1989)
Best known as the Twin Peaks theme song, this first appeared on the debut studio album from Julee Cruise, who was discovered by Angelo Badalamenti after he and Lynch could not get the rights for This Mortal Coil’s “Song to the Siren” on Blue Velvet.
113. Eazy-E – “Boyz-n-the-Hood” (1987)
N.W.A. doesn’t happen without Eric Wright (AKA Eazy-E) starting Ruthless Records, recruiting Dr. Dre and Ice Cube and then realizing that he should take up the mic on this local hit that got the ball rolling.
112. Mtume – “Juicy Fruit” (1983)
Percussionist James Mtume toured with Miles Davis in the ’70s, but his biggest claim to fame was his band’s number one R&B hit that was sampled for the Notorious B.I.G.’s greatest work.
111. The Replacements – “Alex Chilton” (1987)
Paul Westerberg and Alex Chilton were good friends but also spiritual twins, outsiders in a music landscape that whiffed on seeing their pop genius, and this Pleased to Meet Me single was Westerberg’s ode to him.
110. De La Soul – “Eye Know” (1989)
Using samples from the Mad Lads’, Otis Redding, Steely Dan, Lee Dorsey and Sly and the Family Stone, producer Prince Paul crafts a soulful funk blend that was never released as a single in the US.
109. The Joubert Singers – “Stand on the Word” (1982)
Move over “Amazing Grace” — the greatest Christian song is actually this danceable piano soul jubilee with a choir that could shatter the stained glass windows.
108. Prince – “1999” (1982)
This nuclear synth-funk epic is when Prince became a household name, when the sonic ambitions matched his musical expertise and distinct aura.
107. Cyndi Lauper – “Time After Time” (1983)
Few artists have hit as big as Lauper with her first few singles, and the biggest of all was this romantic ballad now a go-to to soundtrack any ’80s prom/slow dance moment.
106. Public Enemy – “Rebel Without a Pause” (1987)
The first song created for arguably the greatest rap album of all time was this high-BPM, sax-glissando-sampling political powerhouse that defined who Public Enemy was in music and culture.
105. Rick James – “Give It To Me Baby” (1981)
Much less kitschy than “Super Freak,” this number one R&B hit is the best display of James’ drug-infused vision of maximalist funk.
104. Guns n’ Roses – “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
Floating above the heap of shit that truly was mid-’80s American hard rock was this LA super group who broke through with this stuffed-to-the-brim classic that has become the go-to crowd-starter intro music.
103. Slayer – “Angel of Death” (1986)
Slayer’s mix of heavy metal and American hardcore was a sonic revolution, but Jeff Hanneman’s lyrics on Nazi scientist Josef Mengele alienated the mainstream and generated zero radio airplay.
102. Biz Markie – “Just a Friend” (1989)
“The Clown Prince of Hip Hop” gained national attention with this top ten hit where Markie sings the fuck out of an interpolated Freddie Scott chorus.
101. Phil Collins – “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
The ensuing twenty years of soft rock and Tarzan has clouded Collins’ critical legacy, but his first solo release was this moody ambient art piece with a revolutionary take on percussion and ‘against all odds’ became a worldwide hit.
Bitter Melodies 