The Best No. 1 Singles in the World …Ever!

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1CD
2CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Nothing Compares 2 U
engineer:
Chris Birkett
producer:
Nellee Hooper and Sinéad O’Connor (Irish singer‐songwriter)
mixer:
Chris Birkett, Fachtna Ó Ceallaigh and Sinéad O’Connor (Irish singer‐songwriter)
vocals:
Sinéad O’Connor (Irish singer‐songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Chrysalis Records (don’t use as an imprint; please use “Chrysalis” instead) (in 1990) and Ensign Records Ltd. (company; do NOT use as release label) (in 1990)
music videos:
Nothing Compares 2 U (music video) by Sinéad O’Connor (Irish singer‐songwriter)
part of:
New York Post: 100 Greatest Covers (2007) (number: 4), AUX: 10 Cover Songs Better Than The Orignials, Paste: The 50 Greatest NON One-Hit Wonders of All Time (number: 38), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 87), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 162), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 184) and Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 413)
cover recording of:
Nothing Compares 2 U
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), NPG Publishing and Warner Chappell (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Sinéad O’Connor4.35:02
2A Little Time
engineer:
Rupert Coulson (sound engineer), Ben Kape and Lance Phillips
producer:
Mike Hedges (UK producer/recording engineer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Go! Discs Ltd. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1990)
music videos:
A Little Time by The Beautiful South
recording of:
A Little Time
lyricist:
Paul Heaton
composer:
Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray
publisher:
Island Music Ltd. and Universal/Island Music Ltd. (for music publishing use only, formerly Island Music Ltd.)
The Beautiful South32:59
3Love Is All Around
co-producer:
Graeme Duffin
conductor:
Fiachra Trench
strings arranger:
Fiachra Trench
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1994) and Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!) (in 1994)
music videos:
Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet
cover recording of:
Love Is All Around
lyricist and composer:
Reg Presley
publisher:
Dick James Music Ltd. (renamed Universal/Dick James Music Ltd. since 1999‐07‐30), Universal Music Publishing (use ONLY if no country‐specific information is available), Universal–Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. and Universal/Dick James Music Ltd. (fka Dick James Music Ltd.)
recording of:
Love Is All Around
lyricist and composer:
Reg Presley
publisher:
Dick James Music Ltd. (renamed Universal/Dick James Music Ltd. since 1999‐07‐30), Universal Music Publishing (use ONLY if no country‐specific information is available), Universal–Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. and Universal/Dick James Music Ltd. (fka Dick James Music Ltd.)
Wet Wet Wet3.63:54
4Tainted Love
engineer:
Paul Hardiman
producer:
Mike Thorne (UK producer & keyboardist)
mixer:
Harvey Goldberg
electronic instruments and other instruments:
Dave Ball (UK electronic musician, part of Soft Cell)
background vocals:
Vicious Pink
vocals:
Marc Almond (English pop singer and songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (London) (for copyrights use only) (in 1981)
recorded at:
Advision Studios in Fitzrovia, Camden (London Borough of Camden), Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
music videos:
Tainted Love by Soft Cell (1980s English synth‐pop duo)
part of:
VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 5), Paste: The 50 Greatest NON One-Hit Wonders of All Time (number: 8), New York Post: 100 Greatest Covers (2007) (number: 10), Pitchfork: The Story of Goth in 33 Songs, VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 33) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 46)
cover recording of:
Tainted Love
lyricist and composer:
Ed Cobb
publisher:
Burlington Music Co., Ltd. and Embassy Music Corporation
sub-publisher:
ミュージック・セールス (Music Sales, Japan, subsidiary of Shinko Music Entertainment)
Soft Cell3.92:40
5Rock DJ
drums (drum set) programming:
Andy Duncan (UK drummer and producer)
additional engineer:
Σάββας Ιωσηφίδης, Steve Price (UK recording engineer/producer/orchestrator/arranger) and Richard Woodcraft
producer:
Guy Chambers (English songwriter and record producer) and Steve Power
assistant mixer:
David Naughton (UK engineer/producer)
mixer:
Steve Power
editor:
Richard Flack (producer/engineer)
bass guitar:
Winston Blissett
brass:
Dave Bishop (saxophonist), Neil Sidwell and Steve Sidwell (English composer & wind instrumentalist)
electric guitar:
Neil Taylor (guitarist)
keyboard:
Guy Chambers (English songwriter and record producer)
vocoder:
Steve Power
background vocals:
Andy Caine, Derek Green, Katie Kissoon, Sylvia Mason‐James (British singer), Tessa Niles and Paul "Tubbs" Williams (UK bass player, producer, vocalist)
lead vocals:
Robbie Williams
orchestra:
The London Session Orchestra
conductor:
Gavyn Wright (UK violinist, conductor)
arranger:
Guy Chambers (English songwriter and record producer)
orchestrator:
Nick Ingman
samples:
It’s Ecstacy When You Lay Down Next to Me by Barry White and It’s Ecstacy When You Lay Down Next to Me by Barry White
recording of:
Rock DJ
writer:
Kelvin Andrews, Guy Chambers (English songwriter and record producer), Ekundayo Paris, Nelson Pigford and Robbie Williams
publisher:
Bella Figura Music Ltd., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Virgin Music Ltd. (do not use this as a release label!), Farrell Music Limited, Hit & Run Music (Publishing) Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (UK), Me-Benish Music LLC, Phoenix Music International Limited, Seven Songs, Virgin Music Ltd. and Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09)
Robbie Williams3.454:17
6Don’t You Want Me
assistant programming:
David M. Allen (UK producer/engineer/remixer, mainly new‐wave/synth‐pop/goth) (in 1981)
programming:
Martin Rushent (in 1981)
assistant engineer:
David M. Allen (UK producer/engineer/remixer, mainly new‐wave/synth‐pop/goth)
producer:
The Human League and Martin Rushent
synthesizer:
Ian Burden (in 1981), Jo Callis (in 1981) and Philip Oakey (in 1981)
background vocals:
Joanne Catherall (in 1981) and Susan Ann Sulley (in 1981)
lead vocals:
Philip Oakey (in 1981) and Susan Ann Sulley (in 1981)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Virgin Records Ltd. (not for release label use! for company relationships only)
recorded at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom (in 1981)
music videos:
Don’t You Want Me by The Human League
part of:
TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 1), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 79) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 82)
recording of:
Don’t You Want Me (Human League song) (in 1981)
lyricist:
Philip Oakey
composer:
Jo Callis, Philip Oakey and Philip Adrian Wright (Human League)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
The Human League3.853:58
7Can’t Get You Out of My Head
drum machine programming:
Rob Davis (songwriter/producer was in Mud)
engineer and mixer:
Tim Orford
producer:
Rob Davis (songwriter/producer was in Mud) and Cathy Dennis
electric guitar and keyboard:
Rob Davis (songwriter/producer was in Mud)
background vocals and lead vocals:
Kylie Minogue
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 2001) and KDB Pty Limited (in 2001)
produced for:
19 Productions
music videos:
Can’t Get You Out of My Head by Kylie Minogue
part of:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 2002 (number: 45) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 207)
recording of:
Can’t Get You Out of My Head
lyricist:
Cathy Dennis
composer:
Rob Davis (songwriter/producer was in Mud)
publisher:
Colgems-EMI Music Inc., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Toxic Songs Ltd., Universal Music (plain logo: “Universal Music”), Universal‐MCA Music Publishing (US), Universal/MCA Music Limited (not for release label use!), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division), イーエムアイ音楽出版 ソニー事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan Ltd., Sony Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Kylie Minogue3.853:51
8Two Tribes
produced in:
London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1984-03)
engineer:
Steve Lipson
producer:
Trevor Horn
vocals:
Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford (member of Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Zang Tuum Tumb (for copyrights use only; aka Zang Tuum Tumb or Zang Tumb Tuum prior to incorporation ca. 1988) (in 1984)
recording of:
Two Tribes (in 1983)
written in:
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom (from 1982 until 1983)
lyricist and composer:
Peter Gill (UK drummer for Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Holly Johnson and Mark O’Toole (former bassist of Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
publisher:
Perfect Songs Ltd. (UK publisher, affiliated with PRS)
Frankie Goes to Hollywood3.653:56
9Message in a Bottle
engineer:
Nigel Gray (UK producer)
producer:
Nigel Gray (UK producer) and The Police (British rock band)
drums (drum set):
Stewart Copeland
electric bass guitar:
Sting (singer, songwriter & member of The Police)
electric guitar:
Andy Summers
vocals:
Sting (singer, songwriter & member of The Police)
arranger:
The Police (British rock band)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records (in 1979), A&M Records, Ltd. (in 1979), Polydor Records (record company, please see the “A (x) release” / “A (x) recording” for the release label) (in 1979) and A&M Records, Inc. (in 1997)
recorded at:
Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Message in a Bottle
lyricist and composer:
Sting (singer, songwriter & member of The Police)
publisher:
EMI Blackwood Music Inc., GM Sumner and Virgin Music, Inc. (US arm of Virgin’s publishing company)
The Police3.94:44
10House of Fun
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
recording of:
House of Fun
lyricist:
Mark Bedford, Chris Foreman (UK musician, aka “Chrissy Boy”), Graham McPherson, Carl Smyth, Lee “Kix” Thompson (Madness) and Daniel Woodgate
composer:
Mike Barson, Mark Bedford, Chris Foreman (UK musician, aka “Chrissy Boy”), Graham McPherson, Carl Smyth and Daniel Woodgate
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated)
Madness3.652:44
11Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
producer:
Laurie Latham
drums (drum set):
Charley Charles (UK drummer) (in 1978)
electric bass guitar:
Norman Watt-Roy (in 1978)
guitar:
John Turnbull (in 1978)
Hammond organ:
Mick Gallagher (UK hammond organ player) (in 1978)
piano:
Chaz Jankel (English musician and songwriter) (in 1978)
saxophone:
Davey Payne (UK saxophonist) (in 1978)
lead vocals:
Ian Dury (in 1978)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Templemill Music Ltd (in 1979)
recorded at:
The Workhouse in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1978)
recording of:
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (in 1978)
lyricist:
Ian Dury
composer:
Chaz Jankel (English musician and songwriter)
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
Ian Dury & the Blockheads3.93:43
12Great Balls of Fire
recording of:
Great Balls of Fire
writer:
Otis Blackwell (American pianist, singer and songwriter) and Jack Hammer (Earl Burroughs, co-wrote Great Balls of Fire)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Hill & Range Songs, Inc. (publisher) and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
Jerry Lee Lewis31:51
13Reet PetiteJackie Wilson42:43
14Come On Eileen
producer:
Clive Langer, Kevin Rowland (UK singer and songwriter, in Dexy’s Midnight Runners) and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
creative direction:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1982) and Phonogram Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1982)
recording of:
Come On Eileen
writer:
Kevin Adams, James Mitchell Paterson and Kevin Rowland (UK singer and songwriter, in Dexy’s Midnight Runners)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), EMI Music Publishing Co. Ltd., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Kevin Adams Music Ltd.
Dexy's Midnight Runners4.154:04
15You Really Got Me
producer:
Shel Talmy (in 1964-07)
additional piano:
Perry Ford (English pop singer) (in 1964-07)
bass guitar:
Pete Quaife (Kinks' bass guitarist) (in 1964-07)
drums (drum set):
Bobby Graham (UK pop/rock session drummer and producer, 1940–2009) (in 1964-07)
guitar:
Harry Fryer (in 1964-07)
guitar [lead guitar]:
Dave Davies (lead guitarist, backing (and occasional lead) singer for The Kinks) (in 1964-07)
guitar [rhythm guitar], harmonica, keyboard and lead vocals:
Ray Davies (UK singer/songwriter, member of The Kinks) (in 1964-07)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. (not for release label use, for copyrights use only) (in 1964)
miscellaneous support:
PRT Records (PRT (Precision Records & Tapes) was formerly Pye Records) (task: Courtesy of / c/o Celebrity Licensing, Inc.)
recorded at:
IBC Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1964-07)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 13), NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 20), VH1: 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (2008-12-29) (number: 57), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 82), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 162) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 176)
recording of:
You Really Got Me (in 1964-07)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Davies (UK singer/songwriter, member of The Kinks)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd. and Jay Boy
The Kinks4.252:13
16Beautiful Day
miscellaneous support:
Cheryl Engels (task: audio post production manager and technical guru), Rab McAllister (task: studio tech) and Sam O’Sullivan (task: studio manager)
programming:
Brian Eno
additional engineer:
Stephen Harris (mixer/producer) and Tim Palmer (British producer/mixer)
assistant engineer:
Chris Heaney (engineer)
engineer:
Richard Rainey
additional producer:
Steve Lillywhite
producer:
Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois (Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter)
mixer:
Steve Lillywhite
bass guitar:
Adam Clayton
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Larry Mullen
guitar:
Bono (singer of U2) and The Edge (U2 guitarist David Evans)
keyboard [keyboards]:
The Edge (U2 guitarist David Evans) and Brian Eno
piano:
The Edge (U2 guitarist David Evans)
synthesizer:
Brian Eno
background vocals:
The Edge (U2 guitarist David Evans) and Daniel Lanois (Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter)
vocals:
Bono (singer of U2) and The Edge (U2 guitarist David Evans)
drums (drum set) technician:
Sam O’Sullivan
guitar technician:
Fraser McAlister
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Universal Music International BV (not for release label use, for ℗ & © rights holder use only) (in 2000)
recorded at:
HQ (U2’s recording studio in Dublin, Ireland.) in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland, Totally Wired in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland, Westland Studios in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland and Windmill Lane Studios (2nd/current location, since 1990) in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
music videos:
Beautiful Day (Èze version) by U2 (Irish rock band) and Beautiful Day (Chardles de Gaulle Aiport version) by U2 (Irish rock band)
part of:
My VH1 Music Awards - Damn I Wish I Wrote That! (song of the year) Nominees (2001)
recording of:
Beautiful Day
lyricist:
Bono (singer of U2)
composer:
Bono (singer of U2), Adam Clayton, The Edge (U2 guitarist David Evans) and Larry Mullen, Jr.
publisher:
Blue Mountain Music Ltd., Mother Music, PolyGram International Music Publishing B.V., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020), Universal Music Publishing BV (Benelux subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal Music Publishing International BV (Global Licensing & Royalty Review division, Universal Music Publishing Group) and Universal Music Publishing International Ltd.
revision of:
Always
U23.754:07
17Some Might Say
recording engineer:
Owen Morris
producer:
Noel Gallagher and Owen Morris
bass guitar:
Paul McGuigan (Oasis)
drums (drum set):
Tony McCarroll
electric guitar [lead guitar] and background vocals:
Noel Gallagher
electric guitar [rhythm guitar]:
Paul Arthurs ("Bonehead", Oasis)
lead vocals:
Liam Gallagher (English musician, lead singer of Oasis)
recorded at:
Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom
music videos:
Some Might Say by Oasis (Noel & Liam Gallagher)
recording of:
Some Might Say
lyricist and composer:
Noel Gallagher
Oasis3.355:29
18The Joker
assistant engineer and assistant mixer:
Gene Hicks
engineer and mixer:
Jay Ranellucci
producer:
Steve Miller (leader of Steve Miller Band)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sailor Music (in 1973)
recording of:
The Joker
writer:
Eddie Curtis (songwriter), Ahmet Ertegun (US American Songwriter, producer) and Steve Miller (leader of Steve Miller Band)
publisher:
Cotillion Music Inc. (BMI), Jim Rooster Music, Sailor Music, Unichappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group) and Warner Chappell Music, Inc. (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)
The Steve Miller Band4.153:36
19Red Red Wine
producer:
Ray “Pablo” Falconer and UB40
arranger:
UB40
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Virgin Records Ltd. (not for release label use! for company relationships only) (in 1982, in 1983) and DEP International (UB40) (in 1983)
cover recording of:
Red Red Wine
lyricist and composer:
Neil Diamond (in 1967)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd., Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Bang Records (Bert Berns label) (in 1968)
UB403.82:59
20West End Girls
engineer:
David Jacob
producer:
Stephen Hague
additional vocals:
Helena Springs
background vocals, lead vocals and spoken vocals:
Neil Tennant
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1985, in 1991)
music videos:
West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys
recording of:
West End Girls (in 1985)
writer:
Chris Lowe (1/2 of Pet Shop Boys) and Neil Tennant
publisher:
10 Music Ltd., Edition Meridian, Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label), ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM)), Cage Music Ltd. (from 1984 to present) and CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (from 1984 to present)
Pet Shop Boys3.83:51
21You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
producer:
John Franz
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 491)
recording of:
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
lyricist:
Simon Napier-Bell, Vito Pallavicini (Lyricist) and Vicki Wickham
composer:
Pino Donaggio (Italian singer‐songwriter and score composer)
publisher:
Accordo Ediccione, B. Feldman & Co. Ltd. (publisher est. 1946), EMI Miller Catalog, Inc., EMI United Partnership Ltd. and Miller Music Corp.
translated version of:
Io che non vivo (senza te)
Dusty Springfield3.72:50
22Imagine
producer:
John Lennon (The Beatles), Yoko Ono (Japanese‐American musician and artist) and Phil Spector
bass:
Klaus Voormann
drums (drum set):
Alan White (Yes drummer)
piano:
John Lennon (The Beatles)
performer:
Flux Fiddlers (New York Philharmonic) and Plastic Ono Band
publisher:
Chappell Music (UK) (in 1971)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1971)
music videos:
Imagine by John Lennon (The Beatles) and The Plastic Ono Band (with the Flux Fiddlers (New York Philharmonic))
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 3) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 19)
recording of:
Imagine
lyricist:
John Lennon (The Beatles) and Yoko Ono (Japanese‐American musician and artist)
composer:
John Lennon (The Beatles)
publisher:
Downtown DMP Songs, EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty. Limited (not for release label use!) and Lenono Music
sub-publisher:
フジパシフィックミュージック 第2事業部 (Fujipacific Music, Inc. Division 2)
John Lennon4.23:06