Do you know how many songs from 1890-2010 have made it to #1 on the record charts in the United States? Do you know which artist has the most records on the survey of the top 250 songs of all-time? This is where the Top 250 Songs of All Time can help. I was intrigued with how each of the 122 years would fair in the ranking of the top 250 songs across this entire time frame. I will share with you my findings.
There were 1,965 songs that reached the #1 position on the popular charts from 1890-2010 this spans a total of 122 years of charted music. Because of so many songs, I decided to increase the chart size from the normal 100 positions to 250. This should provide all the years from 1890-2010 having an equal chance to rank a song in the top 250 listing.
However, this is not the case because in order for a song to qualify for this chart, it must have been at the #1 position for seven (7) weeks. Which means that every song on the chart was very popular and not all the years from 1890-2010 had a song to stay at the #1 position for seven weeks. This happens to be the case for 31 years of the 122 which do not have a representative song on the chart.
This makes the songs to last almost two full months being very popular at the top of the chart in which other songs are competing for the top spot. So, this listing of all the top 250 songs on this chart have been extremely popular with the public who had to purchase the record on 78 or 45, album or sheet music over the years.
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Chart Sizes
The chart size varied from decade to decade. Below is a summary of the chart size used for ranking songs between 1890-2010:
- 1-3 Positions 1890-1899
- 5-10 Positions 1900-1909
- 10 Positions 1910-1919
- 10-15 Positions 1920-1926
- 20 Positions 1927-1940
- 30 Positions 1940-1954
- 100 Positions 1955-2010
Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting facts about the top 250 songs of all time:
- The oldest song with the highest ranking is “The Stars And Stripes Forever” by Sousa’s Band at #37 released in 1897.
- The newest song with the highest ranking is “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey at #7 released in 2005.
- The oldest song on the chart is with the highest ranking is “The Laughing Song” by George Washington Johnson at #91, released in 1891.
- The highest ranking 2010 song is “Tik Tok” by Ke$ha at #94.
- Not all of the years between 1890-2010 had a song to make the chart due to a lack of having any #1 song that was at the #1 position for 7 weeks or more.
- For a song title to reach the top ten, it had to be number 1 for 14 weeks or more.
- For a song title to reach the top forty, it had to be #1 for 11 weeks or more.
- The highest ranking Beatles song is Hey Jude at #108.
- The year with the most charted singles on this chart is 1950, with 8.
- The highest ranking Elvis Presley song is “Don’t Be Cruel”/ “Hound Dog” at #36, and is the only double sided hit to make the chart.
The following artists are tied with seven (7) singles making the top 250 chart:
- George J. Gaskin
- Glenn Miller
- Henry Burr
The Top 250 Songs Of All Time From 1890-2010
The list will contain the rank, title, artist, weeks at #1 () year at #1. Songs were ranked by most weeks at #1, then by most weeks in top 10, most weeks in top 40, and most weeks on chart. An [I] after the song title indicates an instrumental.
Please Note: *This indicates that the song technically did not meet the rules for charting on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. These songs are included in the rankings on this chart. In order for a song to qualify for chart position on Billboard, it must have a commercial single released at the time of issue. These two songs did not. Billboard does not include them in their top all-time surveys because of this rule. The song “Don’t Speak” did have a single released after it’s 16 weeks at the #1 position, later the song peaked at the #9 position.
Rank Title/Artist/Peak Weeks (), Year at #1
1. *Iris / Goo Goo Dolls (18) 1998
2. Near You / Roger Craig (17) 1947
3. *Don’t Speak / No Doubt (16) 1996
4. One Sweet Day / Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16) 1995
5. White Christmas / Bing Crosby (14) 1942
6. Macarena / Los Del Rio (14) 1996
7. We Belong Together / Mariah Carey (14) 2005
8. I Gotta Feeling / The Black Eyed Peas (14) 2009
9. I’ll Make Love To You / Boyz II Men (14) 1994
10. Candle In The Wind 1997 / Elton John (14) 1997
11. I Will Always Love You / Whitney Houston (14) 1992
12. Frenesi [I] / Artie Shaw (13) 1940
13. My Blue Heaven / Gene Austin (13) 1927
14. End Of The Road / Boyz II Men (13) 1992
15. The Boy Is Mine / Brandy & Monica (13) 1998
16. The Tennessee Waltz / Patti Page (13) 1950
17. I’ve Heard That Song Before / Harry James & His Orchestra (13) 1943
18. Goodnight Irene / The Weavers (13) 1950
19. Dardanilla / Ben Selvin & His Orchestra (13) 1920
20. The Gypsy / Ink Spots (13) 1946
21. Heartaches / Ted Weems & His Orchestra (13) 1947
22. Smooth / Santana Featuring Rob Thomas (12) 1999
23. Paper Doll / Mills Brothers (12) 1943
24. Yeah! / Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris (12) 2004
25. The Prisoner’s Song / Vernon Dalhart (12) 1926
26. In The Mood [I] / Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (12) 1940
27. Boom Boom Pow / The Black Eyed Peas (12) 2009
28. You Belong To Me / Jo Stafford (12) 1952
29. Loose Yourself / Eminem (12) 2002
30. Riders In The Sky / Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra (12) 1949
31. I’ll Never Smile Again / Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (12) 1940
32. Sonny Boy / Al Jolson (12) 1928
33. Torn / Natalie Imbruglia (11) 1998
34. Un-Break My Heart / Toni Braxton (11) 1996
35. Vaya Con Dios / Les Paul & Mary Ford (11) 1953
36. Don’t Be Cruel-Hound Dog / Elvis Presley (11) 1956
37. The Stars And Stripes Forever [I] / Sousa’s Band (11) 1897 & 1901
38. I Swear / All-4-One (11) 1994
39. I’ll Be Missing You / Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (11) 1997
40. Independent Women Part 1 / Destiny’s Child (11) 2000
41. The Third Man Theme [I] / Anton Karas (11) 1950
42. The Third Man Theme [I] / Guy Lombardo & His Orchestra (11) 1950
43. Cry / Johnnie Ray (11) 1950
44. Oh! What It Seemed To Be / Frankie Carle & His Orchestra (11) 1946
45. Whispering [I] / Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra (11) 1920
46. Cheek To Cheek / Fred Astaire (11) 1935
47. Casey Jones / Billy Murray & The American Quartet (11) 1910
48. Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet / Haydn Quartet (11) 1909
49. April Showers / Al Jolson (11) 1922
50. Falencia / Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra (11) 1926
51. School Days / Byron G. Harlan (11) 1907
52. Just A Baby’s Prayer At Twlight / Henry Burr (11) 1918
53. The Preacher And The Bear / Arthur Collins (11) 1905
54. Arkansaw Traveler / Len Spencer (11) 1902
55. Low / Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain (10) 2008
56. Because Of You / Tony Bennett (10) 1951
57. Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White [I] / Perez Pardo (10) 1955
58. Gold Digger / Kayne West Featuring Jamie Foxx (10) 2005
59. Dilemma / Nelly Featuring Kelly Rowland (10) 2002
60. Maria Maria / Santana Featuring The Product G&B (10) 2000
61. Sincerely / The McGuire Sisters (10) 1955
62. Foolish / Ashanti (10) 2002
63. Singing The Blues / Guy Mitchell (10) 1956
64. Irreplaceable / Beyonce (10) 2006
65. Sweet Leilani / Bing Crosby (10) 1937
66. Physical / Olivia Newton-John (10 1981
67. Buttons And Bows / Dinah Shore (10) 1948
68. You Light Up My Life / Debbie Boone (10) 1977
69. Wheel Of Fortune / Kay Starr (10) 1952
70. Song From “Moulin Rouge” / Percy Faith & His Orchestra (10) 1953
71. In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town / Ted Lewis & His Band (10) 1932
72. Ballerina / Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra (10) 1947
73. I Went To Your Wedding / Patti Page (10) 1952
74. Stein Song / Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees (10) 1930
75. Rum And Coca-Cola / Andrews Sisters (10) 1945
76. Till The End Of Time / Perry Como (10) 1945
77. A-Tisket, A-Tasket / Ela Fitzgerald w/Chick Webb (10) 1938
78. Tip Toe Through The Tulips / Nick Lucas (10) 1929
79. Moonlight Cocktail [I] / Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (10) 1942
80. Night And Day / Fred Astaire (10) 1932
81. Alexander’s Ragtime Band / Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan (10) 1911
82. Amapola / Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra (10) 1941
83. Sweet Adeline / Haydn Quartet (10) 1904
84. If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d Baked A Cake / Eileen Barton (10) 1950
85. Pennies From Heaven / Bing Crosby (10) 1936
86. The Grand Old Flag / Billy Murray (10) 1906
87. My Old New Hampshire Home / George J. Gaskin (10) 1898
88. My Gal Sal / Byron G. Harlan (10) 1907
89. On The Banks Of The Wabash / George J. Gaskin (10) 1897
90. After The Ball / George J. Gaskin (10) 1893
91. The Laughing Song / George Washington Johnson (10) 1891
92. The Band Played On / Dan Quinn (10) 1895
93. Let Me Love You / Mario (9) 2005
94. Tik Tok / Ke$ha (9) 2010
95. Sentimental Journey / Les Brown & His Orchestra w/Doris Day (9) 1945
96. Hey Ya! / OutKast (9) 2003
97. Swinging On A Star / Bing Crosby (9) 1944
98. In Da Club / 50 Cent (9) 2003
99. Mack The Knife / Bobby Darin (9) 1959
100. Little Things Mean A Lot / Kitty Kallen (9) 1954
101. Baby Boy / Beyonce Featuring Sean Paul (9) 2003
102. Chattanooga Choo Choo / Glenn Miller (9) 1941
103. How High The Moon / Les Paul & Mary Ford (9) 1951
104. All Shook Up / Elvis Presley (9) 1957
105. The Last Round-Up / George Olsen & His Orchestra (9) 1933
106. Betty Davis Eyes / Kim Carnes (9) 1981
107. Candy Shop / 50 Cent Featuring Olivia (9) 2005
108. Hey Jude / The Beatles (9) 1968
109. Shoo-Shoo Baby / Andrews Sisters (9) 1944
110. Endless Love / Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9) 1981
111. Manana / Peggy Lee (9) 1948
112. The Theme From A Summer Place [I] / Percy Faith (9) 1960
113. Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart / Vera Lynn (9) 1952
114. Only Forever / Bing Crosby (9) 1940
115. Sh-Boom / The Crewcuts (9) 1954
116. Tuxedo Junction [I] / Glenn Miller (9) 1940
117. Swanee / Al Jolson (9) 1920
118. Over There / American Quartet (9) 1917
119. Rumors Are Flying / Frankie Carle & His Orchestra (9) 1946
120. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon / Billy Murray & The Haydn Quartet (9) 1910
121. Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie / Bryon G. Harlan (9) 1906
122. Till We Meet Again / Henry Burr & Albert Campbell (9) 1919
123. Nobody / Bert Williams (9) 1906
124. Harrigan / Billy Murray (9) 1907
125. Meet Me In Saint Louis, Louis / Billy Murray (9) 1904
126. Shine On Harvest Moon / Harry MacDonough (9) 1909
127. Beautiful Ohio / Henry Burr (9) 1919
128. Deep Purple / Larry Clinton & His Orchestra (9) 1939
129. Daisy Bell / Dan Quinn (9) 1893
130. The Sidewalks Of New York / Dan Quinn (9) 1895
131. Pistol Packin’ Mama / Al Dexter & His Troopers (8) 1943
132. Twelfth Street Rag / Pee Wee Hunt (8) 1948
133. You You You / Ames Brothers (8) 1953
134. Rock Around The Clock / Bill Haley & His Comets (8) 1955
135. Mona Lisa / Nat “King” Cole (8) 1950
136. Burn / Usher (8) 2004
137. Peg O’ My Heart [I] / Harmonicats (8) 1947
138. Crazy In Love / Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z (8) 2003
139. Fantasy / Mariah Carey (8) 1995
140. The Wayward Wind / Gogi Grant (8) 1956
141. Rags To Riches / Tony Bennett (8) 1953
142. Piano Concerto In B Flat / Freddy Martin & His Orchestra (8) 1941
143. Sixteen Tons / “Tennessee” Ernie Ford (8) 1955
144. Heartbreak Hotel / Elvis Presley (8) 1956
145. Dreamlover / Mariah Carey (8) 1993
146. If / Perry Como (8) 1951
147. To Each His Own / Eddy Howard & His Orchestra (8) 1946
148. Sin / Eddy Howard & His Orchestra (8) 1951
149. That’s The Way Love Goes / Janet Jackson (8) 1993
150. Every Breath You Take / The Police (8) 1983
151. Wanted / Perry Como (8) 1954
152. Jump / Kris Cross (8) 1992
153. Night Fever / Bee Gees (8) 1978
154. That Lucky Old Sun / Frankie Laine (8) 1949
155. Don’t Fence Me In / Bing Crosby & Andrews Sisters (8) 1944
156. The Gypsy / Dinah Shore (8) 1946
157. Tha Crossroads / Bone-thugs-n-Harmony (8) 1996
158. The Doggie In The Window / Patti Page (8) 1953
159. (I’ve Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo / Glenn Miller (8) 1942
160. Tonight’s The Night / Rod Stewart (8) 1975
161. Three O’ Clock In The Morning [I] / Paul Whiteman (8) 1922
162. My Reverie / Larry Clinton (8) 1938
163. Come On-A My House / Rosemary Clooney (8) 1951
164. On The Atchison, Topeka, And The Santa Fe / Johnny Mercer (8) 1945
165. Stormy Weather / Leo Reisman (8) 1933
166. Oh! My Papa / Eddie Fisher (8) 1954
167. Moonlight Bay / American Quartet (8) 1912
168. Sweet Rosie O’ Grady / George J. Gaskin (8) 1897
169. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody / Al Jolson (8) 1918
170. It’s A Long, Long Way To Tipperary / John McCormack (8) 1915
171. Daddy / Sammy Kaye (8) 1941
172. Oh! What It Seemed To Be / Frank Sinatra (8) 1946
173. Romona / Gene Austin (8) 1928
174. Nature Boy / Nat “King” Cole (8) 1948
175. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy / Red Foley (8) 1950
176. Scatter-Brain / Frankie Masters (8) 1939
177. In A Little Spanish Town / Paul Whiteman (8) 1927
178. Yankee Doodle Boy / Billy Murray (8) 1905
179. Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home / Arthur Collins (8) 1902
180. I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now / Henry Burr (8) 1909
181. Jingle, Jangle, Jingle / Kay Kyser (8) 1942
182. When You Were Sweet Sixteen / George J. Gaskin (8) 1900
183. O Promise Me / George J. Gaskin (8) 1893
184. Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom Der E / Len Spencer (8) 1892
185. The Fatel Wedding / George J. Gaskin (8) 1893
186. Whatever You Like / T.I. (7) 2008
187. Crank That / Soulja Boy Tell’em (7) 2007
188. Waterfalls / TLC (7) 1995
189. The Peanut Vendor / Don Azpiazu (7) 1931
190. Hot In Herre / Nelly (7) 2002
191. Down By The Old Mill Stream / Harry MacDonough (7) 1912
192. Goodies / Ciara Featuring Petey Peblo (7) 2004
193. I’m Walking Behind You / Eddie Fisher (7) 1953
194. Love Letters In The Sand / Pat Boone (7) 1957
195. Let Me Call You Sweetheart / Peerless Quartet (7) 1911
196. Love The Way You Lie / Eminem Featuring Rihanna (7) 2010
197. Make Love To Me! / Jo Stafford (7) 1954
198. Till I Waltz Again With You / Teresa Brewer (7) 1953
199. Crusing Down The River / Russ Morgan (7) 1949
200. A Little Bird Told Me / Evelyn Knight (7) 1949
201. Take Me Out To The Ball Game / Billy Murray & Haydn Quartet (7) 1908
202. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling / Chauncey Olcott (7) 1913
203. Take A Bow / Madonna (7) 1995
204. Can’t Help Falling In Love / UB40 (7) 1993
205. Besame Mucho / Jimmy Dorsey (7) 1944
206. Jailhouse Rock / Elvis Presley (7) 1957
207. When I Lost You / Henry Burr (7) 1913
208. This Is How We Do it / Montell Jordan (7) 1995
209. Umbrella / Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z (7) 2007
210. I Kissed A Girl / Katy Perry (7) 2008
211. All For You / Janet Jackson (7) 2001
212. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Elvis Presley (7) 1957
213. When My Baby Smiles At Me / Ted Lewis (7) 1920
214. Peg O’ My Heart / Charles Harrison (7) 1913
215. The Song That Stole My Heart Away / Henry Burr (7) 1914
216. Crusing Down The River / Blue Barron (7) 1949
217. Mr. Sandman / Chordettes (7) 1954
218. Kiss Of Fire / Georgia Gibbs (7) 1952
219. Informer / Snow (7) 1993
220. Yes Sir! That’s My Baby / Gene Austin (7) 1925
221. The Woodpecker Song / Glenn Miller (7) 1940
222. The Old Lamp-Lighter / Sammy Kaye (7) 1946
223. You Made Me Love You / Al Jolson (7) 1913
224. It’s A Long, Long Way To Tipperary / American Quartet (7) 1914
225. I’m Falling In Love With Someone / John McCormack (7) 1911
226. It’s A Long, Long Way To Tipperary / John McCormack (7) 1915
227. SexyBack / Justin Timberlake Featuring Timbaland (7) 2006
228. Shadow Dancing / Andy Gibb (7) 1978
229. Sunday, Monday, And Always / Bing Crosby (7) 1943
230. At The Hop / Danny & The Juniors (7) 1958
231. You’ll Never Know / Dick Haymes (7) 1943
232. Tossin’ And Turnin’ / Bobby Lewis (7) 1961
233. I Love Rock N Roll / Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (7) 1982
234. I’ll See You In My Dreams / Isham Jones (7) 1925
235. My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time / Les Brown (7) 1945
236. Isle Of Capri / Ray Noble (7) 1935
237. Ebony And Ivory / Paul McCartney w/Stevie Wonder (7) 1982
238. I Want To Hold Your Hand / The Beatles (7) 1964
239. I’m A Believer / The Monkees (7) 1966
240. They Didn’t Believe Me / Harry MacDonough & Olive Kline (7) 1915
241. In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree / Henry Burr (7) 1905
242. In The Good Old Summer Time / J.W. Myers (7) 1902
243. Billie Jean / Michael Jackson (7) 1983
244. Over The Rainbow / Glenn Miller (7) 1939
245. Charmaine! / Guy Lombardo (7) 1927
246. Good Night, Sweetheart / Wayne King (7) 1931
247. I Heard It Through The Grapevine / Marvin Gaye (7) 1968
248. Tell Me, Pretty Maiden / Harry MacDonough & Grace Spencer (7) 1901
249. Bedilia / Harry MacDonough & Haydn Quartet (7) 1904
250. Love Me And The World Is Mine / Henry Burr (7) 1906
The resources that were used to compile the top 250 songs are:
- “Top Pop Singles 1955-2010” 13th Edition by Joel Whitburn 13th Edition
- “Pop Annual 1955-2011” 8th Edition by Joel Whitburn
- “Pop Memories 1890-1954” 1st Edition by Joel Whitburn
Go back to the top 100 songs of all time home page.