Music: Which Band/Artist Has The Best 10 Greatest Hits?

[frisco]

Of the ones you listed, here are the 9 I'm familiar with:

Heartbreak Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes
Don't Be Cruel
Hound Dog
Love Me Tender
All Shook Up
Jailhouse Rock
Can't Help Falling In Love (you wrote Can't Stop Falling In Love)
Burning Love

As impressive as that list is, I struggle to see why that list of legendary 2 and a half minute pop-rock-love-songs should be elevated above the list of legendary 2 and a half minute pop-rock-love-songs that the early Beatles and Beach Boys can put together...

And from a technical standpoint, they're clearly a step down from some of the superior pieces you'll find on the top 10 lists of bands like Queen, Floyd, and Zeppelin...

Not to mention, Elvis didn't write his own music or lyrics, so the 10 songs on his list may very well have been written by 10 different songwriters...

Presley didn't write most of his songs. That being said, he chose them, arranged and produced most of his work. I don't think who wrote the songs are within the parameter of the OP. But point made. I would argue that the rawness and originality in the Presley material set the template and changed or even defined rock and roll forever.

My Best-Carey

 

[frisco]

A band without huge output but if you skim the top they are very impressive.

Journey

Don't Stop Believin'
Whose Crying Now
Faithfully
When You Love A Woman
Wheel In The Sky
Anyway You Want It
Be Good To Yourself
Separate Ways
Open Arms
Only The Young

My Best-Carey

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

A band without huge output but if you skim the top they are very impressive.

Journey

Don't Stop Believin'
Whose Crying Now
Faithfully
When You Love A Woman
Wheel In The Sky
Anyway You Want It
Be Good To Yourself
Separate Ways
Open Arms
Only The Young

My Best-Carey

Problem is IMO they are bested by another in their genre, Boston:

More Than a Feeling
Foreplay/Longtime
Peace of Mind
Rock and Roll Band
Smokin
Something About You
Dont Look Back
Feelin Satisfied
Hitch A Ride
Amanda

 

[TheAngryHank]

The answer is the Beastie Boys.
Pick any 10

 

[Hippasus]

Beastie Boys:

Fight For your Right
Intergalactic
So What'Cha Want
No Sleep till Brooklyn
Sabotage
Sure Shot
High Plains Drifter
Gratitude
The Sounds of Science
Car Thief

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds:

Muddy Water
Red Right Hand
Lay Me Low
Idiot Prayer
Into My Arms
Avalanche
The Ship Song
People Ain't No Good
Sad Waters
By the Time I Get to Phoenix

 

[WetcoastOrca]

The Band:

The Weight
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Up on Cripple Creek
Stage Fright
Chest Fever
The Shape I’m In
I Shall Be Released
Life Is a Carnival
Don’t Do It
It Makes No Difference

 

[Bahama Mama]

Presley didn't write most of his songs. That being said, he chose them, arranged and produced most of his work. I don't think who wrote the songs are within the parameter of the OP. But point made. I would argue that the rawness and originality in the Presley material set the template and changed or even defined rock and roll forever.

My Best-Carey

Most? he didn't write any.

Did Elvis Presley ever attempt to write his own songs? Elvis would have told you candidly, “I never wrote a song in my life.” But he did get a few undeserved songwriting credits anyway.

 

[frisco]

I'm going to do a few more artists trying to keep these lists chronological and focusing on biggest singles vs. best songs:

Neil Diamond

Solitary Man
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
Kentucky Woman
Sweet Caroline
Cracklin' Rosie
I Am...I Said
Song Sung Blue
You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Love On The Rocks
America


Abba

Waterloo
SOS
Mamma Mia
Fernando
Dancing Queen
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Take A Chance On Me
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme
The Winner Takes It All
Super Trouper


John Denver

Leaving On A Jet Plane
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Rocky Mountain High
Sunshine On My Shoulders
Annie's Song
Back Home Again
Thank God I'm A Country Boy
I'm Sorry
Calypso
Shanghai Breezes


Bee Gees

To Love Somebody
I've Got To Get A Message To You
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Jive Talkin'
You Should Be Dancing
How Deep Is Your Love
Stayin' Alive
Night Fever
Tragedy
Too Much Heaven


Eagles

Take It Easy
Tequila Sunrise
Best Of My Love
One Of These Nights
Lyin' Eyes
Take It To The Limit
New Kid In Town
Hotel California
Life In The Fast Lane
Heartache Tonight


Foreigner

Feels Like The First Time
Cold As Ice
Hot Blooded
Double Vision
Head Games
Urgent
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Juke Box Hero
I Want To Know What Love Is
Say You Will


The Doors

Light My Fire
People Are Strange
Love Me Two Times
Hello, I Love You
Touch Me
Roadhouse Blues
Love Her Madly
The End
Riders On The Storm
L.A. Woman


My Best-Carey

 

[frisco]

Most? he didn't write any.

Did Elvis Presley ever attempt to write his own songs? Elvis would have told you candidly, “I never wrote a song in my life.” But he did get a few undeserved songwriting credits anyway.

He did arrange the songs, change the occasional lyric, make additions, change the tempo and instrumentation. He made the songs his own more than any artist ever.

My Best-Carey

 

[I am not exposed]

I'm going to do a few more artists trying to keep these lists chronological and focusing on biggest singles vs. best songs:

Neil Diamond

Solitary Man
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
Kentucky Woman
Sweet Caroline
Cracklin' Rosie
I Am...I Said
Song Sung Blue
You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Love On The Rocks
America


Abba

Waterloo
SOS
Mamma Mia
Fernando
Dancing Queen
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Take A Chance On Me
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme
The Winner Takes It All
Super Trouper


John Denver

Leaving On A Jet Plane
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Rocky Mountain High
Sunshine On My Shoulders
Annie's Song
Back Home Again
Thank God I'm A Country Boy
I'm Sorry
Calypso
Shanghai Breezes


Bee Gees

To Love Somebody
I've Got To Get A Message To You
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Jive Talkin'
You Should Be Dancing
How Deep Is Your Love
Stayin' Alive
Night Fever
Tragedy
Too Much Heaven


Eagles

Take It Easy
Tequila Sunrise
Best Of My Love
One Of These Nights
Lyin' Eyes
Take It To The Limit
New Kid In Town
Hotel California
Life In The Fast Lane
Heartache Tonight


Foreigner

Feels Like The First Time
Cold As Ice
Hot Blooded
Double Vision
Head Games
Urgent
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Juke Box Hero
I Want To Know What Love Is
Say You Will


The Doors

Light My Fire
People Are Strange
Love Me Two Times
Hello, I Love You
Touch Me
Roadhouse Blues
Love Her Madly
Roadhouse Blues
Riders On The Storm
L.A. Woman


My Best-Carey

Sweet Caroline is one of the most annoying songs of all time. Awful. Where is the throwing up emoji?

 

[Winger98]

eh, the whole technical difficulty argument falls flat for me. Presley is in the discussion because he cranked out hits. Might not be your cup of tea, but they were massive hits and his influence on society was huge.

speaking of not being my cup of tea, I'd wonder what Madonna and Michael Jackson top10 lists would look like. Prince should probably get a mention. JayZ? Eminem?

 

[Neutrinos]

Presley didn't write most of his songs. That being said, he chose them, arranged and produced most of his work. I don't think who wrote the songs are within the parameter of the OP. But point made. I would argue that the rawness and originality in the Presley material set the template and changed or even defined rock and roll forever.

My Best-Carey

Certainly once his career got going, but I wouldn't have thought a 19-year old Presley was dictating much of anything to RCA about the content on that debut album that launched him into superstardom

 

[Hippasus]

Nick Drake:

Free Ride
'Cello Song
Parasite
Road
Time Has Told Me
River Man
Saturday Song
Fly
Which Will
Place to Be

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds:

Muddy Water
Red Right Hand
Lay Me Low
Idiot Prayer
Into My Arms
Avalanche
The Ship Song
People Ain't No Good
Sad Waters
By the Time I Get to Phoenix

Are these hand picked? (pretty cool list)

 

[Hippasus]

Are these hand picked? (pretty cool list)

Indeed, my man. It's hard to describe. Nature of Australia.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Don't worry OP, I don't think it's the best top-10 ever (if that's not the Beatles one, I'd probably go with John Zorn, but it's just so deep you could never end up with a definite list), but I've been wanting to post something about the best Alice Cooper songs for a while:

Beautiful Flyaway
Generation Landslide
No Longer Umpire
Blue Turk
Dead Babies
Caught In a Dream
Mary Ann
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Luney Tune
Inmates (We’re All Crazy)

Oh and I can't help but add 10 more, just fun songs I recommend you check out if you don't know them:

Public Animal #9
Some Folks
You Drive Me Nervous
Serious
Raped and Freezin'
Teenage Lament '74
I'm Eighteen - ok, everybody knows that one
Alma Mater
Clones - the Smashing Pumpkins version is better, but this one is fun
He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask) - ok, this one is just for me, he also has a song for Carpenter's Prince of Darkness

 

[archangel2]

While I think the Beatles would be the betting favorites in a top 30, or even a top 20, the top 10 is a little more interesting...

Zeppelin, for example, could put together a very strong top 10 that might look something like this...

Stairway To Heaven
Whole Lotta Love
Immigrant Song
No Quarter
Rock and Roll
Ramble On
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Black Dog
Dazed And Confused
Kashmir

Pink Floyd's would be formidable as well...

Hey You
Time
Another Brick In The Wall
Wish You Were Here
Comfortably Numb
The Great Gig In The Sky
Any Colour You Like
What Do You Want From Me?
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Money


The Beach Boys, Radiohead, Tool, maybe Elton John, and, of course, The Beatles would all be contenders as well, IMO, but like in competitive diving, I think degree of difficulty should matter when scoring such lists...

Yesterday, for example, is flawless, but as a musical piece, it's not close to being on the same level as Stairway To Heaven, or Comfortably Numb, or Paranoid Android, or Schism, just to name a few

Depends on who you like. You ask an acdc fan they would ask from the Scott or Johnson eras. While some would say they had only 2 good songs

 

[VMBM]

Nick Drake:

Free Ride
'Cello Song
Parasite
Road
Time Has Told Me
River Man
Saturday Song
Fly
Which Will
Place to Be

No "At the Chime of a City Clock"?!!! Cor friggin' blimey.

 

[Neutrinos]

No "At the Chime of a City Clock"?!!! Cor friggin' blimey.

I was wondering where From The Morning was, but then again, that's the only Nick Drake song I know

I heard it on a commercial many years ago, and liked it enough to search it out so I could add it to my playlist

 

[WetcoastOrca]

No "At the Chime of a City Clock"?!!! Cor friggin' blimey.

And Hazey Jane 2 from the same album.

 

[Neutrinos]

Depends on who you like. You ask an acdc fan they would ask from the Scott or Johnson eras. While some would say they had only 2 good songs

AC/DC is an interesting band to rank... they're a little too heavy metal for a general audience, but for what they were, they were incredibly talented, and produced some of the most memorable classics in their genre

I've never really identified as an AC/DC fan, but objectively speaking, this is an impressively strong list of recognizable hits...

Thunderstruck
Back In Black
You Shook Me All Night Long
Shoot To Thrill
Money Talks
Hells Bells
Highway To Hell
T.N.T.
It's A Long Way To The Top
Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap

Even if you don't know them by name, you've almost certainly heard most of those songs in some film or show...

Iron Man opens with Back In Black
Iron Man 2 opens with Thunderstruck, and ends on Shoot To Thrill
Deadpool 2 has X-Force jump out of the plane to Thunderstruck
School Of Rock ends on It's A Long Way To The Top

 

[Mescaleroman]

Anyone wanna take a stab at Jelly Roll's top 10 ???

 

[VMBM]

Steely Dan (my own totally subjective top 10):

Kid Charlemagne
Do It Again
King of the World
The Royal Scam
The Boston Rag
Glamour Profession
Barrytown
Haitian Divorce
Turn That Heartbeat Over Again
Aja

A more objective top 10 (mind you, I haven't checked any Spotify/YT statistics or chartings, just going by the feeling):

Do It Again
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Peg
Reelin' in the Years
Hey Nineteen
Deacon Blues
Kid Charlemagne
Josie
Haitian Divorce
Black Friday

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

ladies edition.

madonna:
into the groove
borderline
material girl
like a virgin
la isla bonita
true blue
express yourself
papa don't preach
vogue
holiday

pat benatar:
hit me with your best shot
precious time
promises in the dark
shadows of the night
invincible
all fired up
heartbreaker
fire and ice
love is a battlefield
hell is for children

 

[Ceremony]

ladies edition.

madonna:
into the groove
borderline
material girl
like a virgin
la isla bonita
true blue
express yourself
papa don't preach
vogue
holiday

Did you forget Like a Prayer?