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.
THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL — Episode 4 — Pictured: The Doobie Brothers perform on February 16, 1973 — (Photo by: Frank Carroll/NBC via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – NOVERMBER 1963: Rock and roll group "The Beach Boys" pose with Corvette in their first photo session since Al Jardine returned to the band in Novermber 1963. (L-R) Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
American singer-songwriters Tom Petty (left) and Bob Dylan with the band 'Traveling Wilburys', performing on stage in 1987. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Beatles at the press launch for their new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', held at Brian Epstein's house at 24 Chapel Street, London, 19th May 1967. Left to right: George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 – 1980) and Paul McCartney. (Photo by John Downing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
American rock group The Doors L-R John Densmore, Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger pose for an Electra Records publicity still circa 1969. (Photo by Electra Records/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – OCTOBER 14: Toby Keith performs at Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 14, 1993 in Mountain View California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)