The Greatest Songs of All Time: 700-651

#700: The Trammps - Disco Inferno

Man, this one wants to make me get up and dance just writing about it. The chorus is as hot as an inferno and the vocals are about as strong as any disco track I can remember. The song never hit its stride until being used in the film 'Saturday Night Fever', but ever since has become a classic of the genre.

#699: The Beatles - Please Please Me

The epitome of a youthful group ready to conquer their native country. Please Please Me is everything right with the early work of The Beatles. That hook gets me shouting along every single time, but underneath the powerful vocals there are some sophisticated guitars at work.

#698: Elton John - Your Song

Elton is right when he claims this song is quite simple. In truth that's all it needs to be. Elton perfectly compliments the simplistic piano, coming up with an emotion-filled performance. Its simplistic design does have the downside of making it liable to plagiarism, and unfortunately every single cover of this classic has been terrible.

#697: Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

I love the production of this modern hit. It's not too overblown, but there's enough layering for it to really stand out over the equally pleasing lyrics. Back in 2006 this was like a breath of fresh air and deserved every bit of success it got.

#696: Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf

Is describing your insatiable lust for someone in relation to a rabid wolf a bit creepy? Possibly. Does this metaphor translate into a good pop song? Most certainly. This song led to global exposure for the band, and even today this track is seen as a definitive 80s classic.

#695: My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the Black Parade

The national anthem for goths everywhere. Just a quick listen is enough to bring back vivid memories of my emo based mistakes of the past, and even now making me seriously considering falling in love with the colour black. The actual song is an anthemic punk trip through powerful choruses and great riffs, creating a modern classic that's incredibly well collated.

#694: The Beatles - If I Fell

Paul McCartney and John Lennon are one of the all-time greatest songwriting combinations and work just as well when combining vocal harmonies. It's a shame the song is never considered to be The Beatles at their best because the lyrics are excellent and the ballad has a unique structure that flows really nicely.

#693: The Special A.K.A. - Free Nelson Mandela

The best song imaginable for absolving convicted terrorists. The message, unlike in many protest songs, is pretty damn clear. It's a surprisingly cheerful number for the subject matter, and actually makes me want to dance rather than storm high-security prisons. If anything it's a pleasant reminder that good still happens in this often gloomy world.

#692: The Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum

I have absolutely no idea what a 'mardy bum' is, but I do know this is an excellent song. It's a very brilliant British take on relationship trouble, described in far better style than any other indie band could manage.

#691: The Beatles - I Feel Fine

A fun and well-produced track that highlights the solid guitar playing The Beatles could muster up. The chemistry between the band is evident and they appear to have fun with this simple upbeat pop track.

#690: The Jam - Going Underground

A classic British punk track providing an intriguing commentary on world affairs. It's angry without being too aggressive and inspiring without being too preachy, which is a hard mix to pull off. The guitar sounds great as well.

#689: Randy Newman - You've Got a Friend in Me

Toy Story may be an animated film aimed at children, but that doesn't mean the soundtrack was thrown together with little effort. Randy Newman produced one of the most heartwarming songs of all time, and one that the majority of children have stuck in their head all their lives.

#688: The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)

A surprisingly profound number from an often upbeat group. The stellar vocals take the listener through an interesting tale of fantasies and failed love interests. It's a classic 70s soul track that fits in best with the best love tracks of the 60s.

#687: The Strokes - Reptilia

Such a great guitar track. The lyrical content is kept purposely simple so you can get the most out of the erratic guitar riffs. Annoyingly the cover art for the single depicts an animated centipede, which isn't reptilian in any way. Love the song though.

#686: Nas - It Ain't Hard to Tell

Nas doesn't fuck around here, he spits some seriously deep bars. The flow is amazing, illustrating why the man is considered one the all-time hip hop greats. The track is the last hurrah on the groundbreaking album 'Illmatic', ending it on a big high with a very loud bang.

#685: Breaking Benjamin - The Diary of Jane

A personal favourite from my angst-filled teenage years. Today the song still stands on its own two feet, displaying a great amount of energy and ferocity that's often lacking with modern rock bands. Yes the lyrics are a bit sappy, and it's hardly very sophisticated, but this is still a song pleasing on the ears after years of exposure.

#684: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - The Wind Cries Mary

A chilled and calm rock ballad from an evident master of the guitar. The lyrics also star here, and we end up with an atmospheric ballad that perfectly compliments the mellow guitar. Hendrix proving that great rock records don't always have to be turned up to the max.

#683: New Order - True Faith

A real synth classic from the heart of Manchester. The upbeat nature is not matched by the lyrics which elegantly describe a drug dependency. The George Michael cover was nowhere close to matching the artistry on display here.

#682: Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road

A nicely paced ballad that paints a realistic love scenario with a surprising amount of emotion. Thunder Road is perhaps best witnessed live, as is a lot of Springsteen's material. The build is the real highlight of the song, ending with some powerful lines and memorable guitar work.

#681: Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul

Expertly mixed hip hop track with some of the finest lyricism the genre has ever seen. Rakim's flow is out of this world, spitting lines that would end up becoming iconic. The now famous 'pump up the volume line' is instantly quotable, and the soul samples would become popular in the genre thanks to their clever use here.

#680: Eagles - Tequila Sunrise

About as smooth and relaxing as country rock can get. The Glenn Frey led vocals mirror this styling, creating a soothing atmosphere that envisages scenes of the American desert. The song is almost as nice as the cocktail of the same name.

#679: Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You

This love song is so outdated it feels like it was released in another dimension. That's not to say it isn't an all-time classic. They may sound old fashioned but the string and choir accompaniment really compliment Ray's iconic voice. The song is a pleasant marriage of country and soul, and despite being recorded by over 700 artists is still the best when in the hands of Ray Charles.

#678: Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed

The piece that McCartney himself said he wants to be remembered for. Unfortunately for him that's never going to happen, but he is right that this is a fine love song. Paul's vocals in particular are so much more dramatic than when he was a Beatle, mainly due to the personal nature of the song.

#677: Prince - Purple Rain

A melodic ballad of epic proportions. Prince himself is arguably bigger than the song itself, putting in a mesmerising performance. However, what elevates this song to the next level is the incredible production which effortlessly fuses a million different genres into one modern rock anthem.

#676: Oasis - Wonderwall

Wonderwall may have been butchered by every pretentious guitar playing bellend that ever existed, but the Oasis original still stands as a solid rock track. It's a testament to the quality of the song that something so simple is still so adored by many.

#675: Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People

A wholesome soul track with a universal message of love and acceptance. The simple premise is that a strong groove and a positive message will carry a song, which is exactly what happens here. Everyday People straddles a fine line between corny and optimistic, but manages to stay charming throughout.

#674: Eagles - Take It to the Limit

A typical Eagles number. You get smooth harmonies dispersed with large choruses that worm their way into your head. It's so easy to get lost in a calm and atmospheric ballad like this one, even if the structure is about as basic as it gets.

#673: Blink-182 - All the Small Things

A defining single for the pop-punk genre. It's certainly a far cry from punk records of previous decades, but still has its own innocent charm and a bundle of energy. The music video is also a great little spoof of the garbage plaguing the pop charts in the late 90s with only a slight hint of irony that this song is part of that system.

#672: Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea

Nobody told Bobby Darin that swing was dead by the 50s. I don't know what idiot told him to record a song from a bygone 1945 in 1959, but I'm glad they did. Darin's crooning sounds great, not surprisingly standing out over the millions of other artists who have had a crack with this iconic song.

#671: The Beatles - All My Loving

A perfect example of the charm offensive that early Beatles records suffocated their fans with. The structure is standard Merseybeat, but there's a surprisingly rich guitar sound at the forefront. In fact, the whole composition is just fantastically done. Arguably the best love song The Beatles ever produced.

#670: Sam Cooke - Shake

The beat on this record is enough to make paraplegics shake it down on the dancefloor. I don't know how to shake it like a bowl of soup, but I damn well want to at least try. Shake was overshadowed by the drastically different B side, but still deserves credit as an absolute classic.

#669: Rainbow - Stargazer

The highlight of the album 'Rising'. In short, this song is insane. The drums and guitars are all over the place throughout its lengthy duration, the lyrics are some tale about a wizard enslaving mankind, and they drafted in a German philharmonic orchestra for the string section. I fucking love this level of madness. What a heavy metal anthem.

#668: Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak

I don't know what goes on in Ireland where a jailbreak in a town could potentially be in multiple locations, but the riffs in this song are as brutal and violent as the said event. Jailbreak never really saw the commercial success it deserves, but is still regarded as a classic of the genre in any case.

#667: Roy Orbison - In Dreams

In my opinion the greatest vocal performance in the career of this master of the microphone. In Dreams creates this unique dreamy atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else in 60s pop music, partly charming and partly sinister. The lyrics are crafted to perfection into a tale both captivating and poignant.

#666: Bee Gees - Massachusetts

1967 was many a year before these boys discovered disco. Here there's no absurdly high pitched vocals, and no ridiculous use of teeth whitening kits. This is simple pop music with an added whiff of hippies and marijuana, filled with the very same harmonies that would make this group cultural icons in the next decade.

#665: Don Henley - The Boys of Summer

What a summer anthem. This is what pop rock is all about. You get big riffs giving way to almighty hooks that just have to be sung along to. There are pleasant themes radiating all around this tune, although with this one there's a constant sense of nostalgia and regret under the surface. It's a long way off from Henley's days in the Eagles, but an epic way to reinvent yourself.

#664: The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man

The Allman Brothers once again proving that southern rock doesn't have to be simplistic and dated whilst still staying faithful to Southern America. As always with the band you get great guitar work building the foundations of the track with a surprisingly catchy chorus to certify this one a hit.

#663: Eminem - Lose Yourself

Eminem might not be a good actor, but back in the day he knew his way around a movie soundtrack. The beat on this one is perfect for his angst-filled lyrics, pumping you up for the crucial parts of the narrative. It's like the Rocky soundtrack with an extra set of teeth. Let's just all forget his recent forays into the world of movie soundtracks and remember this great track instead.

#662: Prince - Raspberry Beret

Jesus, that beat and guitar combination are the epitome of funk. What a perfect little world this song takes you to. Raspberry Beret describes a charming attraction between Prince and some innocently beautiful woman, contrasting the majority of his sexually explicit and ambiguous work. It's such a lovely story to get sucked into, and such a great song to groove along with.

#661: The Stone Roses - I Am the Resurrection

A brilliant summation of the Manchester music scene at the time. Not only do we have an emphasis on raw sounding guitar riffs, but also catchy hooks that are still iconic today. Interestingly the bassline is a reworked version of Taxman by The Beatles, giving the record a faint Merseybeat feel. Despite being over eight minutes in length it still feels like your average pop record, along with feeling incredibly Northern at every point.

#660: The Tymes - Ms Grace

An often forgotten Philadelphia soul classic. Everything from the dramatic intro to the well layered and smooth vocals is just stereotypical soul brilliance. Sadly the band only became commercially successful in the UK, and not Philadelphia as it turns out, but then us Brits have always been suckers for songs with included brass bands.

#659: Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife

Sadly a classic swing number that most Brits never got to hear thanks to the censor hungry BBC getting their knickers in a twist over a fucking knife. Imagine if they made the same fuss over actual knife crime. Political issues aside the song is a dark tale that graphically describes a shady and evil villain. The characterisation is better than most novels, and Darin sounds in his element as he croons his way through a series of murders.

#658: The Isley Brothers - Shout

Shout has more energy than an excited puppy. The cover artwork sums up the styling of the song perfectly. It's not sophisticated or pretentious, just three men shouting into the microphone in an often successful attempt to get you dancing. I imagine in 1959 this would have sent parties fucking crazy.

#657: The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

The sight of Richard Ashcroft being a bit of a dick to the orchestral sounds of The Rolling Stones has now become an iconic image in pop culture. The string section makes this song, allowing the record to be both calm and anthemic. One of the most famous Britpop releases of all time, and also one of the best.

#656: Wizzard - See My Baby Jive

Wizzard are now sadly mostly known for their Christmas songs, but back in the 70s they were glam rock legends. There's a lot going on in this one, as there is in most Wizzard hits, so thank the lord we have the strong vocals of Roy Wood to boom throughout all this glorious mess.

#655: The Dave Clark Five - Glad All Over

The catchiest Merseybeat song there is out there. If there's any song to illustrate why the sounds of Liverpool took over the pop world then this might be the one. I find it physically impossible not to join in after that simple drum beat. One of the best Liverpudlian tracks of all time, released by a band from North London.

#654: Tom Jones - Green, Green Grass of Home

Tom Jones is now more at home touching the grey concrete of Los Angeles rather than sheep shit filled grassy hills of Wales, but at one point he was a bigger icon in his native land than a bunch of daffodils. That's due in part to releases like this one that showcased his booming voice over an existing and mature country track.

#653: Wings - Goodnight Tonight

1979 was the year of disco, and so Paul McCartney decided it would be a good idea to add a bit of spice to the Wings catalogue. The strange combination of disco and rock actually works a treat, not coming across as a man past his prime cashing in on modern trends. The guitars sound funky, and the bass line in particular carries the record. John Lennon allegedly commented he didn't care for the song, but then you needed his music at that time like a bullet in the chest.

#652: Daft Punk - Around the World

Why is a song with the same lyric repeated over and over again so good? Well, firstly the bass line is phenomenal, and secondly, the robotic voice that repeats the hook easily gets stuck in your head. Daft Punk proving you just needed a bedroom rather than a whole recording studio to make infectious music.
 
#651: Bob Seger - Old Time Rock and Roll

The musical equivalent of every single comment section on YouTube. I don't know if Bob Seger wants a medal for daring to like older music, but he deserves praise for singing a damn catchy song. I don't care if its cliche filled and overplayed because at the end of the day it's just some good honest fun.