With The List, American Songwriter details the best, the brightest, the most enduring, the worst, the most hated, and the most surprising songs ever–among many other qualifiers. If you’re looking for our definitive rankings on music, you’ll find them below.
American soft rock duo Seals and Crofts performing live on stage circa 1972. They are Dash Crofts (left) and Jim Seals. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
Joni was met by Graham Nash a member of the American group, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. December 1969 Z12489-001 (Photo by WATFORD/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
LONDON, UK – 1975: British heavy metal band Black Sabbath L-R Bill Ward, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne pose for a portrait in 1975 in London, UK. (Photo by Roger Morton/Cleopatra Records/Getty Images)
Musician and lead vocalist Steve Walsh of the progressive rock band Kansas is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance on January 25, 1992, Connecticut. (Photo by John Atashian/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – 1964: Rock and roll band 'The Beatles' pose for a portrait wearing suits in circa 1964. (L-R) Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – MAY 09: Photo of Bob DYLAN; performing live onstage at the benefit for ousted Chileans: Felt Forum, New York (Photo by Steve Morley/Redferns)
RHODE ISLAND – JULY 27: Country singer/songwriter Johnny Cash performs onstage at the New Folk Festival on July 27, 1968 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Julie Snow/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
BERLIN – FEBRUARY 16: Singer George Michael poses at the "George Michael: A Different Story" Photocall during the 55th annual Berlinale International Film Festival on February 16, 2005 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono at a press conference. Two years before the Beatles disbanded, Lennon and Ono began public protests against the Vietnam War. They were married in Gibraltar on 20 March 1969, and spent their honeymoon at the Hilton Amsterdam, campaigning with a week-long Bed-In for Peace. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
British musician Christine McVie, of the group Fleetwood Mac, performs onstage at the Alpine Valley Music Theater, East Troy, Wisconsin, July 19, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Musicians Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush attending the BPI Awards after winning in their categories, London, February 10th 1987. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
