Welcome to the much-anticipated second part of the The Top 100 Songs of All Time, Where the Song Contains the Actual Number from its Position in the Chart list. This section includes all the songs from #75 to #51, finishing the top half of the list. Whilst many of these numbers have proved to have less available options than the first quarter of the list, do not fear “tricky second album” syndrome, because there are some absolute bangers in here. There are a few songs you know, a few songs you didn’t know you knew, and a few songs that you will not know, but will be glad to know better.
So, with that requisite ‘ado’ firmly out of the way, let’s get it on…
75. The Connells – ’74-’75
This song could obviously occupy two different spots on this countdown, but it is going into #75. In my mind it lives in the same head-space as The Crash Test Dummies’ Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm, probably something to do with the gentle, almost Gregorian harmonies. Many things I’ve found out about this track. It was big in Sweden and Norway, topping the charts, whilst falling completely flat in North America. It charted twice in the UK, at #14 in August 1995 and at #21 in March 1996. Following this song’s success, The Connells embarked upon a European tour with… wait for it… Def Leppard. Which makes perfect sense somehow. Still, a good, gentle, poignant track which never gets too annoying.
74. Leroy Hutson – The Ghetto ’74
Here’s some actual bona fide 70s soul for you. It’s as funky as funk. Primarily instrumental, the lyrics are the phrases “the ghetto” and “talking about the ghetto” which intersperse bass and saxophone, accentuated with keyboard. Indeed, it seems like the saxophone might be the one actively ‘talking’ about the aforementioned ghetto. Despite his voice not featuring heavily on this track, Leroy Hutson was once part of The Impressions, replacing Curtis Mayfield as the lead singer. A man of many talents, clearly.
73. The Drunken Arseholes – ’73 Caprice
There you are, listening to a classic soulful R&B sample which has been turned into a fabulous hook by DJ Moves, when in comes the vocalist, Cee!!!!!!!! Then the world gets much more interesting. Not only does he have impeccable lyrical flow but MAN he utilises the expressive power of a Canadian deep-country accent. ’73 Caprice comes from the aptly-monikered album Rural Pimps and is a montage of seemingly-disparate elements that Eisenstein would be proud off. It’s raw but without shorting the listener on lyrical skill. The long-burning half rhyme of ‘rivalries, specifically, momentarily, systematically, socially, category, legally, preferably’ is pure rap genius. Despite how good the beat is, Cee!!!!!!!! carves his own rhythm and it is undeniably awesome.
72. Shitdisco – 72 Virgins (Bloody Beetroots Remix)
Now here’s another opportunity for me to underwhelm in accurately describing an instance of electronic music. I’m going to say House, or maybe Dubstep. It’s definitely something. It’s actually a remix of a (cover your ears) Shitdisco track but is quite far from the original, which is ok but neither ‘comparable’ or ‘as good.’ I enjoy that the Bloody Beetroots is a musical project of Sir Bob Cornelius Rifo who is presumably not a real titled knight.
71. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Down ’71 (The Getaway)
This is a masterpiece. It’s like Cypress Hill took fused harmony with staccato flow, put it to a sinister unmistakably down-beat and interspersed it with machine-gun fire. It comes from the E 1999 Eternal album, which also featured the significantly less-gangsta Crossroads. If any song makes you want to drive around slowly at night in less-salubrious neighbourhoods with the windows open, then this is it.
70. GDaal – 70
Welcome to the Iranian hip-hop segment of the list. Honestly, there’s not a lot I can say about this track. I can’t tell you what it’s about other than that google translates one of the lines to “you are a canary lover.” However, it sounds great. I like the music-box sounding loop.
69. Bryan Adams – Summer of ’69 v. R.E.M. – Star 69 v. Birkin/Gainsbourg – Soixante Neuf Année Érotique
Lots of competition in this particular category. Starting at the French/blatant end of the spectrum, Soixante Neuf… is about as Serge Gainsbourg as a song gets. It was actually recorded in 1968, so presumably was somewhat optimistic. It’s iconic, but probably not the best of the offerings here.
What can you say about Bryan Adams’ Summer of ’69? It’s evocative. It makes you think of all those American High School movies you’ve ever seen about misunderstood youths (even really bad ones featuring Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estivez, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe and a fat Tom Cruise), despite the fact that it came straight outta Canada. It’s iconic, but probably not the best… Which means Star 69 is the best and, somewhat surprisingly, the second track by R.E.M. on this particular list. It’s mostly there because of the vocals which are massively echoed/repeated, creating an effect I can’t remember hearing on any other song. It’s kinda beautifully cacophonous. It’s also named after the buttons you would press in North America to phone the last number who called you, which is fun.
Winner: R.E.M. – Star 69
68. The Alarm – Sixty Eight Guns / 68 Guns
At first I thought Sixty Eight Guns (or 68 Guns, both versions of the title seem to be used interchangeably by the band) would appear in this list simply through lack of options on this particular number. However, this early 80’s Welsh-punk anthem is actually pretty catchy and, given the right conditions, grows on you like a voluminous head of blond hair. It’s slow to get going, the verses are pretty rubbish but the chorus is simple and very effective. It is also the highest UK-charting hit by The Alarm; a punk band from Rhyl who were still charting in the early 90’s and actually had a song in the top 50 in 2004, and one in the top 25 in 2006! Welsh punk. In 2006. Was a thing. Like full stops…
67. Driver 67 – Car 67
Now this was actually a bit of a toss-up between Car 67 (pronounced ‘six-seven’) and ’67 Cherry Red by Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties. Car 67 won out on this occasion for the following basic reasons:
The band also has the relevant number in it; Driver 67 were a one-hit wonder, peaking at #7 in the UK charts (which would have been higher if the record company had managed to press enough copies to satiate demand). Whilst ostensibly a ballad, it’s in the form of a dialogue between a taxi driver and his controller. The protagonists have definite, and always fun, West Midlands accents. It was re-released in 1980 when the Queen Mother stated that Car 67 was her favourite pop song. I think my logic is sound. It’s a fairly gentle pop song, with a slight Chas and Dave vibe, that is pretty difficult to dislike. That said, you may as well check out ’67 Cherry Red too.
66. Bobby Troup – (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
In terms of a numerical top 100, the sixties appear to be the hard yards and, whilst you’d think the number 66 lends itself perfectly to song-title immortalisation, once again there are a dearth of options. Fortunately, there is an absolutely iconic shoe-in for this position, in (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66. A rhythm and blues classic, it was rather confusingly composed by Bobby Troup, an American actor who starred in a TV medical drama called Emergency! and who does not look like he composed the rhythm and blues classic, Route 66.
There are loads of versions, some terrible (Depeche Mode), some different (Manhattan Transfer) and many very good. It’s hard to pick between Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones because, despite being the same song, they’re all subtly different (and great). As something of a spin-off series, I would also include Ruta 66 by Argentinian Blues guitarist Papp and (even though it contains a completely different number) A13, Trunk Road to the Sea by Billy Bragg which is GENIUS.
I feel like there may be an ideological schism between those people who get their aforementioned kicks on Route 66 and those who find their thrill on blueberry hill. I also hope that there is a sports-shoe store on Route 66 that is using this song title as their slogan.
65. Gopi Longia – 65-64 (A Truth) vs. Hillions – South on 65
Welcome to relative obscurity. I’ve set this one up as a contest between an Indian Punjabi Rapper and the Hillions, who I know even less about. There is actually no real contest. Whilst the Hillions’ song is very whimsical and extols the virtues of wearing socks with Crocs (hilarious but wrong), the Gopi Longia track is actually pretty banging. I don’t know what it’s about, but it has a really nice, classic hip-hop whistling motif and some bhangra power. I imagine that when this plays, It. Kicks. Off. Therefore, Gopi Longia’s punjabi rap is beating whatever the Hillions are hands down, and that, my friends, is a truth.
Winner: Gopi Longia – 65-64 (A Truth)
64. The Beatles & Easy-Star All-Stars – When I’m Sixty-Four vs. Mike Jones ft. Bun B & Snoop Dogg – My 64
I think the combined influences of A. a general scarcity of songs with 64 in the title, and B. conventional thinking about The Beatles, would make When I’m Sixty-Four the straightforward choice for this echelon of the Top 100 list. I’d even lined up the Easy-Star All-Stars version to make the choice a little more palatable. The main problem I have is that, personally, I think When I’m Sixty-Four is probably the worst of all The Beatles songs. I may be missing the point. I assume it is a sort of parodic reimagining of a certain pop style, but I don’t get it or like it. And I generally like The Beatles. Just not so much this.
In contrast, Mike Jones’ My 64 harnesses a wonderful sample from NWA’s Boyz in the Hood to excellent effect. Some classic G-Funk featuring Snoop Dogg for good measure and, in the video, Eazy-E’s son: Lil Eazy-E! It’s very eazy listening. The “64” being referenced repeatedly here is, of course, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala, which is a very popular “ride” for those who favour the hip-hops.
Winner: Mike Jones – My 64
63. Four Seasons – December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
Weirdly, this song is one of the quickest choices made for this increasingly unwieldy list. Harnessing the doo-wop, vaguely disco sounds of The Four Seasons, December 1963 is as universally known as it is inoffensive. Knowing surprisingly little about The Four Seasons, despite them having some of the most massive hits of the 60’s, I had a quick look and found my favourite fact of this list so far; whilst original band member Tommy DeVito is not related to Danny DeVito, he was very close friends with Joe Pesci who introduced him and Frankie Valli to Bob Gaudio (another of the original four).
62. Doves – M62 Song
The number 62 is another tricky one. Not a lot of notable tunes featuring this particular number. Fortunately, as often happens in these circumstances, a decent choice practically picks itself. So, musicality aside, the long-form reason for this choice is that M62 Song was recorded under a flyover in Northenden, Manchester which I lived a short distance from. The flyover was actually the M60, but Doves didn’t know/realise/respect that at the time of naming the track, so spuriously called it M62 Song.
The song itself is quite melodic and arguably melancholy, but there is definitely a sense of it being recorded somewhere different, like The XX’s eponymous first album. Also, I like being able to picture exactly where it comes from, which gives me somewhat unfamiliar, but pleasant, nostalgia for the obscure parts of Manchester I used to know and exist within.
61. Denise Chaila – 061
This starts with some gentle heraldic music, like knights and round tables and shit, which wouldn’t sound out of place in an original NES Legends of Zelda game. Then in comes our (now) favourite Irish-Zambian rapper, Denise Chaila. She’s coming straight out of Limerick. It is absolutely banging. D&D, 8-bit audio vibes with tight, often quite amusing, rapping and a catchy hook. Honestly one of the best things I’ve found on this quest.
60. Does It Offend You, Yeah? – Attack of the 60ft Lesbian Octopus
Going back to nostalgia. Losing my mind to the high-octane, high-energy beats of the wonderfully-named Does It Offend You, Yeah? in the small and subterranean Academy Club venue at Manchester Academy is a very abiding memory. This track is actually pretty difficult to separate from the rest of the You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into album. Wonderfully raw, punk-electronica in all its driving, heart-thumping glory. I kind of want to describe DIOYY as a more enjoyable, up-tempo and optimistic 3OH!3, but that probably doesn’t do them justice.
This makes the list in every possible reality. Not least because the title is one of the best in a classification dominated by numbers.
59. Simon & Garfunkel – The 59th Street Bridge Song
You would be easily forgiven for thinking this song was called “Feeling Groovy” but, thankfully for this list, its real name is The 59th Street Bridge Song (although “Feelin’ Groovy” was added in parentheses on the album listing). It might be the shortest song on the list. It’s absolutement iconic. “Hello lamppost, what you knowing? I come to watch your flowers growing.”
58. 2Seiten – 58Bars vs. Buruklyn Boyz – Location 58 vs. Main Concept – Der 58er vs. Lamomo – 58
Four-way rap battle! Two German rap artists (2Seiten and Main Concept), one French (Lamomo) and one Kenyan (Burukyn Boyz). All very different and really difficult to pick apart. Who know that #58 had such variety in international rap, because it turns up nowhere else!
Lamomo and 2Seiten have big energy, whereas Main Concept and Buruklyn are more chilled/downbeat in these tracks. Lamomo and Buruklyn are bit ‘trappier’ in terms of flow and more grim in terms of feel. There’s quite nice lyrical flow in all of them, although I obviously have very little idea what’s going on.
Overall, I think they’re all very worthwhile. Generally, where I want to download a song, it means I like it a good amount (and it may even go on this list). I want to download to all of these songs…
After multiple listenings, I’ve decided that 2Seiten’s 58Bars has to be the victor in this particular contest. It’s got a wicked backbeat and 2Seiten does not let up. Whilst his rap seems one-paced to start with, he drags you along and, later, starts to let rip. It puts me in mind of the legendary pairing of DJ Format and Abdominal, with classic, funky backbeats being put to the sword by intricate lyrical flairing. Painfully good. Shame I don’t understand a one word.
Winner: 2Seiten – 58Bars
57. Bruce Springsteen – 57 Channels (and Nothin’ On)
The Boss (which Springsteen apparently hates being called) probably deserves a spot on this list somewhere and 57 Channels… is quite a good song. It’s one of those songs you forget you know. It’s got a kind of low-key, Dire Straits, Jack Kerouac, Don DeLillo vibe going on. It’s making a point about media saturation. It’s good.
However, despite my deep embarrassment, I have to admit that it was pushed pretty hard by TJ Mack’s Five Seven. Probably because I am a sucker for a good novelty song. Straight out of the TikTok generation, it’s all about being short but not admitting exactly how short to the wife. If you haven’t listened to it, you really should. Just do not ask me how long is my forearm.
56. Ali Farka Touré – Cinquante Six
As soon as I heard this, I wondered why there isn’t more African fingerstyle blues/folk guitar on the list, or in my life generally. An absolutely resplendent piece, Cinquante Six is beautifully melodic, calming, lightly joyful and delicately woven. Known sometimes as “the African John Lee Hooker” this instrumental piece by Touré is probably folkier than it is bluesy and feels like it would fit in seamlessly with the impeccable soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou? It was also picked out by the Los Angeles Times as a particular highlight of his album The Source.
Effectively, when you’ve listened to it, you want to listen to it again, then again. Moments like this make musical trawling so rewarding. I will be finding more of Toure’s work very soon.
55. Charlotte Gainsbourg – 5:55
You might think that the number 55 is ripe for being in a song title. Ripe as a big ripe peach. So ripe that you’d be endlessly treading up and tripping over the fruit of the musical 55 tree. You would be wrong. So wrong. As a result I was tempted to introduce Chopin’s Nocturne in F minor, Op.55, No.1. After some consideration I decided that, even as a carefully-worded ‘exception’ that choice might open a can of classical music (ear)worms from which I would struggle to extricate myself.
In my near-endless search I also found a very amusing (and catchy) thing called Fünfhundertfünfundfünfzig but it was more of an amusing meme than a pop song. I liked it though. Ultimately we’re all going to have to accept that Charlotte Gainsbourg’s 5:55 is probably the best choice for this particular slot. It’s actually not a bad song, and has many Gainbourgian (by which I mean her father) elements: fairly repetitive, simple backbeat, breathy vocals, French and English language… you name it. It’s actually got something of Suzanne Vega to it as well, so it grows on you. Actually, the more I listen to it, the more I feel like my original build-up might be a bit harsh and that it deserves to be on the list. Take that my initial impressions!
54. Toots and the Maytals – 54-46 That’s My Number
Now here’s a song that should need no introduction or explanation. One of the greatest Reggae songs of all time, if not THE greatest reggae song of all time. It’s about Fred ‘Toots’ Hibbert’s time in prison after being arrested for possession (marijuana not spirit).
Toots and the Maytals released so many singles in the UK, but 54-46 did not chart, Monkey Man got to #47 and Pressure Drop did not chart. I would like to know why, with nothing ever charting in New Zealand, Beautiful Woman / Careless Ethiopians went to #1 in 1981. Never heard of them.
Anyway, I’ve got distracted because 54-46 is such an obvious choice. I’m even tempted to put it in twice… (I won’t).
53. Khruangbin – Fifteen Fifty-Three
Well this is lovely from the currently-very-popular American trio. ‘Khruangbin’ means airplane in Thai and I’m going to (probably completely unjustifiably) suggest that there is something of Jefferson Airplane in this slightly psychedelic, slightly desert-rock instrumental track. It’s from their most 2024 album A La Sala.
Whilst having a quick look I found that the previous album Ali was a collaboration with Vieux Farka Touré, the son of Ali Farka Touré (at #56 above) whose track was similarly perfectly relaxing. This is all good news.
I don’t have to, but I’m going to mention the Indonesian Tau Gamma Phi rap collective’s song Fifty Three which seems to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of a particular educational fraternity in the Philippines. Don’t really know how it all works, but the track is something of a lighthearted summertime bop. Just imagine that Will Smith was back in the 90’s, not a symbol of toxic masculinity, that he was from the Philippines, there were loads of him and he was carrying massive 4-Tay/Gang Starr vibes. A bit like that.
52. Richard Thompson – 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
This song was on the list before there even was a list. One of the strongest opening guitar intros of all time followed by an absolute masterclass in songwriting held together by barely-believable guitar work. Literally one of the greatest songs of all time. It is quite incredible the tempo and skill with which it is played and the story is just perfect. You will rarely hear something so beautiful, so beautifully played. Richard Thompson is a bona fide genius and this might just be exhibit #1. If you have never seen it live, you should probably regret your life choices.
51. Traditional – 51 Je t’aime
Originally I’d pencilled in The Strokes’ 12:51… no idea why, it’s not a stand-out by any means. I’ve actually settled upon 51 Je t’aime by no-one in particular. It’s a kind of traditional drinking song which would not sound out of place in a New Orleans second line. Great for drums, horns and marching bands. It’s also very approximate to lots of football chants you might know. I can only assume it has some link to Ricard Pastis 51. My favourite version so far (because of the New Orleans-yness of it) is the one by Beni Can Podi et Leurs Amis.
“51 je t’aime / J’en boirais des tonneaux / A me rouler par terre / Sur des noix de coco.”
….
Halfway through. Top 50 to go. I really hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do. It feels like a fairly worthwhile, if incredibly time-consuming, exercise. Links are now attached. Expect part three, at some point. Remain in a state of permanent readiness.
XIST 