For those fans of the old SportsHistory blog who have been disappointed with the dearth of rankings on the new blog, this one's for you. It was actually a fun little trip through rock and roll history. It also serves as a demonstration of my inability to follow my own directions, as I had intended to highlight just one song per year but failed miserably in some cases. It ended up being ridiculous to pick just one favorite for certain years, so in the case of a tie, I listed two or more songs.
1957: Everyday (Buddy Holly)
1958: Oh Boy! (Buddy Holly)
1959: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (The Platters)
1960: Walk Don't Run (The Ventures)
1961: Mack the Knife (Bobby Darin)
1962: Telstar (The Tornadoes)
1963: She Loves You (The Beatles)
1964: It Ain't Me Babe (Bob Dylan)
A Summer Song (Chad & Jeremy)
1965: Eve of Destruction (Barry McGuire)
Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)
We Can Work It Out (The Beatles)
1966: Paperback Writer (The Beatles)
Eight Miles High (The Byrds)
1967: New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Bee Gees)
On a Carousel (The Hollies)
1968: Hey Bulldog (The Beatles)
1969: Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)
Sally Simpson (The Who)
1970: Apple Scruffs (George Harrison)
1971: I've Seen All Good People/Your Move (Yes)
1972: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (Paul Simon)
1973: Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (George Harrison)
1974: Nothing from Nothing (Billy Preston)
1975: Why Can't We Be Friends? (War)
1976: Livin' Thing (Electric Light Orchestra)
1977: Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra)
1978: Right Down the Line (Gerry Rafferty)
1979: On the Run (Electric Light Orchestra)
1980: Video Killed the Radio Star (The Buggles)
1981: Tempted (Squeeze)
1982: Steppin' Out (Joe Jackson)
1983: Everyday I Write the Book (Elvis Costello & The Attractions)
1984: So. Central Rain (R.E.M.)
1985: Take on Me (a-ha)
1986: She's an Angel (They Might Be Giants)
1987: It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (R.E.M.)
1988: Heading for the Light (Traveling Wilburys)
1989: Veronica (Elvis Costello)
1990: Birdhouse in Your Soul (They Might Be Giants)
1991: The Other Side of Summer (Elvis Costello)
1992: Allison Road (Gin Blossoms)
Dinner Bell (They Might Be Giants)
1993: Afternoons and Coffeespoons (Crash Test Dummies)
1994: Down with Disease (Phish)
Destination Moon (They Might Be Giants)
1995: Underground (Ben Folds Five)
Blue (The Jayhawks)
1996: Unsupervised, I Hit My Head (Mono Puff)
So Fast, So Numb (R.E.M.)
1997: Seems So (Apples in Stereo)
1998: Out of My Head (Fastball)
1999: Maine (John Linnell)
2000: Churches off the Intestate (Laura Cantrell)
2001: August (Rilo Kiley)
2002: July, July! (The Decemberists)
The Future That Was (Josh Joplin Group)
2003: Go On (The Elected)
Saint Simon (The Shins)
2004: Living Life (Ben Kweller)
Broke in Two (They Might Be Giants)
2005: First Day of My Life (Bright Eyes)
Sixteen Military Wives (The Decemberists)
My Lost Soprano (Modern Skirts)
Story (The Rocket Summer)
Come On! Feel the Illinoise! (Sufjan Stevens)
2006: One Crowded Hour (Augie March)
Imaginary Girl (The Bees)
Fireflies in a Steel Mill (The Elected)
Astair (Matt Costa)
2007: A Million Fireflies (The Midway State)
Australia (The Shins)
