not personal favorites, and the songs that defined the year: popularity, influence, iconic status, etc.

if you have not a complete list, but only a few years, always welcome.

my list
1954: Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley
1955: Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
1956: Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
1957: Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
1958: Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
1959: Dream Lover - Bobby Darin
1960: The Twist - Chubby Checker
1961: Runaround Sue - Dion
1962: Bring It On Home To Me - Sam Cooke
1963: She Loves You - Beatles
1964: My Girl - Temptations
1965: Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
1966: Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
1967: Respect - Aretha Franklin
1968: Hey Jude - Beatles
1969: I Want You Back - Jackson 5
1970: Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
1971: Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin/ Imagine - John Lennon
1972: Superstition - Stevie Wonder
1973: Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
1974: No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley and the Wailers
1975: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

1976: Hotel California - Eagles
1977: Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees
1978: I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
1979: Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 - Pink Floyd
1980: Back In Black - AC/DC
1981: I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
1982: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
1983: Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
1984: When Doves Cry - Prince
1985: How Soon Is Now - The Smiths
1986: West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys

1987: Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
1988: Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
1989: Like a Prayer - Madonna
1990: Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O' Connor
1991; Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
1992: Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
1993: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
1994: The Sign - Ace Of Base
1995: Wonderwall - Oasis
1996: Killing Me Softly - The Fugees
1997: Paranoid Andriod - Radiohead
1998: Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
1999: ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
2000: Smooth - Santana feat. Rob Thomas
2001: Stan - Eminem
2002: Dilemma - Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland
2003: Hey Ya! - Outkast
2004: Yeah! - Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris
2005: We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
2006: You're Beautiful - James Blunt
2007: Umbrella - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
2008: Viva La Vida - Coldplay
2009: I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
2010: Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
2011: Rolling In The Deep - Adele
2012: Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye feat. Kimbra

[Edited 1/12/13 2:19am]

SuperSoulFighter said:

I'm not gonna do all of 'em, that's too much but here's a few: 1962: Blowing in the Wind 1963: The Times They Are a-Changing 1965: Respect 1968:Street Fighting Man 1969: Star Spangled Banner by Jimi 1971: What's going on After that I don't really know how much music really was a Sing o' the Times as opposed to just entertainment. Bruce Springsteen keeps the flame burning though.

you think that the version of Otis Redding is more important?

after 1991, it was difficult.

I'll do some

1972: Let's Stay Together - Al Green/American Pie - Don McLean

1973: Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Night & The Pips

1974: Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston

1975: Bohemian Rapsody - Queen

1976: Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry

1977: Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees

1978: Le Freak - Chic

1979: Bad Girls - Donna Summer

1980: Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

1981: Physical - Olivia Newton-John

1982: Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics

1983: Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

1984: Purple Rain - Prince

1985: Careless Whisper - George Michael

1986: Greatest Love Of All - Whitney Houston

1987: Bad - Michael Jackson

1988: Faith - George Michael

1989: Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx

1990: Vogue - Madonna

My choices in bold (some same as OP): Those in plain text not mine but left because I couldn't think of anything else or it was a great choice.

1954: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning -- Frank Sinatra
1955: Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
1956: Dimunendo & Crescendo In Blue (Live at Newport) -- Duke Ellington
1957: Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
1958: (Night Time Is) The Right Time -- Ray Charles
1959: Take Five -- Dave Brubeck Quartet | All Blues -- Miles Davis (Tie)

1960: The Twist - Chubby Checker
1961: Stand By Me -- Ben E. King
1962: Green Onions -- Booker T. & The MGs
1963: She Loves You - Beatles
1964: My Girl - Temptations (Acknowledgement (Pt. 1) -- John Coltrane is a close 2d)
1965: The Tracks Of My Tears -- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
1966: Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
1967: Respect - Aretha Franklin
1968: Revolution - Beatles (for THIS year, few songs qualify for this title)
1969: The Star Spangled Banner (Woodstock) - Jimi Hendrix

1970: Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
1971: What's Going On -- Marvin Gaye (again, few come close)
1972: Superstition - Stevie Wonder
1973: Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
1974: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised -- Gil Scott-Heron
1975: The Hustle -- Van McCoy

1976: As -- Stevie Wonder
1977: Dreams -- Fleetwood Mac | Deacon Blues -- Steely Dan (tie)
1978: Last Dance -- Donna Summer
1979: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough -- Michael Jackson

1980: Celebration -- Kool & The Gang
1981: B-Movie -- Gil Scott-Heron | Every Little Thing . . . -- The Police (tie)
1982: The Message -- Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
1983: Thriller - Michael Jackson
1984: When Doves Cry - Prince & The Revolution
1985: Everybody Wants To Rule The World -- Tears For Fears

1986: Kiss -- Prince & The Revolution

1987: Just Like Heaven -- The Cure | Paid In Full -- Eric B. & Rakim (tie)
1988: Rebel Without A Pause -- Public Enemy
1989: Straight Outta Compton -- N.W.A.

1990: Bonita Applebum -- A Tribe Called Quest
1991; Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
1992: End Of The Road -- Boyz II Men
1993: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
1994: Juicy -- The Notorious B.I.G.
1995: Shook Ones, Pt. II -- Mobb Deep | 1979 -- The Smashing Pumpkins (tie)
1996: Killing Me Softly - The Fugees
1997: Paranoid Andriod - Radiohead
1998: Doo Wop (That Thing) -- Lauryn Hill
1999: Umi Says -- Mos Def

2000: Smooth - Santana feat. Rob Thomas
2001: Stan - Eminem
2002: L.O.V.E. and You & I -- Jazzanova
2003: Hey Ya! - OutKast
2004: All Caps -- Madvillain
2005: E-Pro -- Beck
2006: Crazy -- Gnarls Barkley
2007: Umbrella - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
2008: Viva La Vida - Coldplay
2009: 1901 -- Phoenix

2010: Month of May -- Arcade Fire
2011: Rolling In The Deep - Adele
2012: Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye feat. Kimbra

[Edited 1/12/13 11:27am]

namepeace said:

My choices in bold (some same as OP): Those in plain text not mine but left because I couldn't think of anything else or it was a great choice.

1954: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning -- Frank Sinatra

wow! you shifted Bill Haley!
i"Rock Around the Clocк" had a decisive impact on the popularization of the genre of rock and roll.
that's why we started with 1954!! it is generally the official beginning of the era of rock 'n' roll.
you're a revolutionary.

LiLi1992 said:

namepeace said:

My choices in bold (some same as OP): Those in plain text not mine but left because I couldn't think of anything else or it was a great choice.

1954: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning -- Frank Sinatra

wow! you shifted Bill Haley!
i"Rock Around the Clocк" had a decisive impact on the popularization of the genre of rock and roll.
that's why we started with 1954!! it is generally the official beginning of the era of rock 'n' roll.
you're a revolutionary.

Deep in a dream is my favourite

LiLi1992 said:

namepeace said:

My choices in bold (some same as OP): Those in plain text not mine but left because I couldn't think of anything else or it was a great choice.

1954: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning -- Frank Sinatra

wow! you shifted Bill Haley!
i"Rock Around the Clocк" had a decisive impact on the popularization of the genre of rock and roll.
that's why we started with 1954!! it is generally the official beginning of the era of rock 'n' roll.
you're a revolutionary.

I had to be a little different.

I picked it because it was "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" for pop's status quo.

The flip side of the Haley pick.

I know that Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll and made women swoon with his wiggling hips, and the early Beatles made teen girls' panties wet, and Motown was "the sound of young America", but I'll limit my selections from the point I became a sentinent being onward to the present.

(Note: Bolded items I agree with but I may offer alternate entries anyway.)

1968: Hey Jude - Beatles

(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Sunshine of Your Love - Cream

1969: I Want You Back - Jackson 5

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In - The 5th Dimension

Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival

1970: Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel

Let It Be - The Beatles

1971: Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin/ Imagine - John Lennon

Baba O' Riley - The Who

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
1972: Superstition - Stevie Wonder

American Pie - Don McLean

Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
1973: Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
1974: No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley and the Wailers

Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
1975: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees

Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band

1976: Hotel California - Eagles

Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band

Anarchy In the UK - Sex Pistols

1977: Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees

You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone

Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band

1978: I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb

We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions - Queen
1979: Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 - Pink Floyd

My Sharona - The Knack

Hot Stuff/Bad Girls - Donna Summer

Le Freak - Chic

1980: Back In Black - AC/DC

Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 - Pink Floyd

Sailing - Christopher Cross

Rapper's Delight - Sugar Hill Gang
1981: I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes

Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

Physical - Olivia Newton-John
1982: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics

Centerfold - J. Geils Band

Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
1983: Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran

Every Breath You Take - The Police

Cum On Feel the Noize - Quiet Riot

1984: When Doves Cry - Prince

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner

Born In the USA - Bruce Springsteen
1985: How Soon Is Now - The Smiths

Like A Virgin - Madonna

Careless Whisper - Wham!

(Don't You) Forget About Me - Simple Minds
1986: West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys

How Will I Know - Whitney Houston

Walk This Way - Run DMC & Aerosmith

1987: Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi

With Or Without You - U2

Faith - George Michael

I've Had The Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Hennifer Warnes
1988: Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses

Need You Tonite - INXS

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
1989: Like a Prayer - Madonna

Love Shack - The B-52's

Fight the Power - Public Enemy

1990: Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O' Connor

U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer

Vogue - Madonna
1991; Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

Enter Sandman - Metallica
1992: Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton

One - U2

Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Even Flow - Pearl Jam

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot

End of the Road - Boyz II Men

1993: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Whoomp! There It Is - Tag Team

Nuttin' But a G Thang - Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg

1994: The Sign - Ace Of Base

I'll Make Love To You - Boyz II Men

Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

Gin and Juice - Snoop Doggy Dogg

What's the Frequency Kenneth - R.E.M.
1995: Wonderwall - Oasis

Creep - TLC

Waterfalls - TLC

You Oughtta Know - Alanis Morisette

Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio feat. LV

1996: Killing Me Softly - The Fugees

California Love - 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre

Macarena - Los Del Rio

1997: Paranoid Andriod - Radiohead

Mo' Money Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G. feat P. Diddy and Mase

One Headlight - The Wallflowers

You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
1998: Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

Too Close - Next
1999: ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears

I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys

Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

2000: Smooth - Santana feat. Rob Thomas

Oops...I Did It Again - Britney Spears

The Real Slim Shady - Eminem
2001: Stan - Eminem

Fallin' - Alicia Keys
2002: Dilemma - Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland

Hot In Herre - Nelly

Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
2003: Hey Ya! - Outkast

Crazy In Love - Beyonce

2004: Yeah! - Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris

American Idiot - Green Day
2005: We Belong Together - Mariah Carey

Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Gold Digger - Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
2006: You're Beautiful - James Blunt

Sexy Back - Justin Timbertlake

Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Be Without You - Mary J. Blige
2007: Umbrella - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
2008: Viva La Vida - Coldplay

Lollipop - Lil' Wayne

I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

Love Song - Sara Bareilles
2009: I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

Love Story - Taylor Swift

Poker Face - Lady GaGa

Use Somebody - Kings of Leon

Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

2010: Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

Tik Tok - Ke$ha

California Gurlz - Katy Perry

Hey Soul Sister - Train

2011: Rolling In The Deep - Adele

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

F*** You - Cee-Lo Green
2012: Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye feat. Kimbra

Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen

We Are Young - fun.

[Edited 1/12/13 21:04pm]

^Oh, you've done a lot of work.
thanks .. it was entertaining.

Early songs, first few not sure if they defined the year but they are the earliest surviving recordings I have.

Part One to 1975

1910: Way down Colon two step - Iffs London Orchestra (HMV recorded February 1910)

1919: Irene - Edith Day

1927: My Blue Heaven - Various remakes (One I have is by the Bachelor 5)

1928: I scream you scream, we all scream for ice cream - Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians

1931: Hidey Hidey Ho - Cab Calloway (Thank God for my best Cab Calloway and Louis Jordan CD's)

1932: Minnie the Moocher - Cab Calloway

1935: Nagasaki - Cab Calloway

1937: Hoy Hoy - Cab Calloway

1938: A Tisket a tasket - Ella Fitzgerald

1939: Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday

1940: Jumpin Jive - Cab Calloway

1941: A chicken ain't nothin but a bird - Cab Calloway

1942: In the Fuherers Face - Spike Jones

1943: Straighten up and Fly Right - Lionel Hampton

1944: Cow Cow Boogie - Mills Brothers and Ella Fitzgerald

1945: Stone cold dead in de market - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan

1946: Beans n Cornbread - Louis Jordan

1947: Every body eats when they come to my house - Cab Calloway

1948: Quicksilver - Bing Crosby and Andrews Sisters

1949: Ain't no one in here but us chickens - Louis Jordan

1950: A Fine Romance - Lena Horne

1951: Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenson (Really Ike Turner combo?)

1953: Mess Around - Ray Charles

1954: I got a woman - Ray Charles

1955: Tutti Frutti - Lilttle Richard

1956: Lucille - Little Richard

1957: Yes Tonight Josephine - Johnny Ray

1958: Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry

1959: Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin and What I'd say - Ray Charles

1960: Georgia on my mind - Ray Charles

1961: Hit the road jack - Ray Charles and the Raelettes

1962: Do you love me now that I can dance - The Contours

1963: Jamie - Eddie Holland

1964 -1990 (Theres a lot so just one for each year)

1964: Where did our love go - Supremes

1965: My Girl - The Temptations

1966: Reach out baby I'll be there - The Four Tops

1967: Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

1968: Have you ever been (Electric Ladyland) - Jimi Hendrix experience again, although Jumpin Jack Flash comes close

1969: Something - The Beatles

1970: I'll be there - The Jackson 5

1971: Smiling faces sometimes - The Undisputed Truth, Shaft comes close

1972: Superstition - Stevie Wonder, Papa was a rolling stone comes close

1973: Sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder/Wonderlove

1974: Dreamer - Supertramp

[Edited 1/21/13 17:39pm]

Part 2 1975 to now (Drops off after 1998), also some songs may be a year older officially, but in being in NZ they took a while to come out here.

2 sections one with Non Prince and 1 with Prince

1975: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen and Love 2 Love u baby by Donna Summer

1976: Love Machine - The Miracles (Sans Smokey)

1977: Staying Alive - Beegees, make me feel like dancing - Leo Sayer

1978: Macarthur Park suite - Donna Summer

1979: Dim all the lights - Donna Summer

1980: Woman in Love - Barbra Streisand

1981: The other guy - Little River Band

1982: Do you really want to hurt me - Culture Club

1983: Too shy - Kajagoogoo

1984: Hold me now - Thompson Twins

1985: Chain Reaction - Diana Ross

1986: King for a day - Thompson Twins

1987: Wishing well - Terence Trent D'Arby

1988: One Moment in Time - Whitney Houston

1989: Pump up the Jam - Technotronic

1990: Show me your soul - Red Hot Chili Peppers

1991: Innuendo - Queen

1992: These are the days of our lives - Queen

1993: Cantaloup - Us3

1994: Daughter - Pearl Jam

1995: Zombie - Cranberries

1996: Children - Robert Miles

1997: Place your hands on - Reef

1998: Ray of Light - Madonna

1999: The Other side - Red Hot Chili Peppers

2000: Two Times by Ann????

2001: Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm

2004: Dont Phunk with my heart - Black Eyed peas

2005: Gold Digger - Kanye West and Jamie Foxx

2009: I got a feeling - Black eyed peas

2012: Some one that I used to know - Goyte feat Kimbra

Part 2 Songs by PRINCE (Bootleg unreleased/Released track) to 1988 only and 1995 and 2000

1976: Instrumental No 1/-

1977: Soft and Wet/-

1978: Wouldn't u love 2 love me/In Love

1979: -/Sexy Dancer

1980: Lisa/Uptown

1981: Tick Tick Bang (Original summer 81 demo)/Do Me Baby

1982: Moonbeam Levels/1999

1983: Electric Intercourse/-

1984: Screams of Passion (Rehersal)/Beautiful Ones

1985: 100MPH/Around the world in a day

1986: Big Tall wall/Mountains

1987: -/ Adore

1988: The Line/Annastesia

1989: Scandalous sex suite

1990: Still would stand all time

1991: Cream

1992: Seven and Sexy MF

1993: Peach

1994: Dark

1995: Days of Wild/Endorphinmachine

1996: The Holy River

1998: Come On

1999: Every day is a winding road

2000: My Medallion/ Beautiful Strange (From Rave in2, but I heard that song is actually from 1998)

2001: The Last December

2002: Adore (One night alone)

2003: North

2004: Illusion Coma Pimp and Circumstance

2005: SST

2006: 3121 and Love

2007: The one u wanna c and Lion of Judah

2008: Alphabet street - Live 21 Nights

2009: No more candy 4 U

2010: Future Soul Song

2011: ?????

2012: Screwdriver

[Edited 1/21/13 18:02pm]