Best pop songs in the world ever!

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I Want to Break Free
additional recording engineer:
Mike Beiriger (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
assistant recording engineer:
Eddie DeLena (engineer) (from 1983-08 until 1984-01) and Stephan Wissnet (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
recording engineer and programming:
Reinhold Mack (German rock producer/engineer Reinhold Mack) (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
additional engineer:
Mike Beiriger
engineer:
Mack (German rock producer/engineer Reinhold Mack)
producer:
Mack (German rock producer/engineer Reinhold Mack) and Queen (UK rock group)
acoustic guitar, bass guitar and synthesizer:
John Deacon (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
electric guitar:
John Deacon (from 1983-08 until 1984-01) and Brian May (Queen guitarist) (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
electronic drum set:
Roger Taylor (Queen drummer) (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
guest solo synthesizer:
Fred Mandel (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
lead vocals:
Freddie Mercury (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Queen Productions Ltd. (company and copyright holder, do not use as an imprint or release label) (in 1984, in 2011) and Raincloud Productions Ltd. (in 1984, in 2011)
recorded at:
Musicland Studios (Munich) in München (Munich), Bayern (Bavaria), Germany (from 1983-08 until 1984-01) and The Record Plant (aka “Record Plant” Los Angeles) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
music videos:
I Want to Break Free (music video) by Queen (UK rock group)
recording of:
I Want to Break Free (from 1983-08 until 1984-01)
lyricist and composer:
John Deacon
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Queen Music Ltd.
included in:
We Will Rock You (Queen musical)
included in:
We Will Rock You (German version of the Queen musical)
Queen4.25?:??
2Listen to the Music
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) and Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1972)
edit of:
Listen to the Music by The Doobie Brothers
recording of:
Listen to the Music
lyricist and composer:
Tom Johnston (guitarist and vocalist with “The Doobie Brothers”)
publisher:
Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
The Doobie Brothers4?:??
3Take On Me
bass programming:
Magne Furuholmen
producer:
Alan Tarney
mixer:
a-ha (Norwegian synth‐pop band) and John Ratcliff
drum machine and guitar:
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitarist, songwriter and singer)
keyboard:
Magne Furuholmen
background vocals:
Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitarist, songwriter and singer)
lead vocals:
Morten Harket
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Rhino Entertainment Company (not for release label use!) (in 1985), Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1985) and WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1985, in 2004)
music videos:
Take On Me (2019 4K remaster of 1985 mix with diegetic audio) by a‐ha (Norwegian synth‐pop band) and Take On Me (official music video, 1985 version) by a‐ha (Norwegian synth‐pop band)
part of:
VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 3), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 24), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 26), The Downloader’s Music Source Book (number: 284) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Take On Me
writer:
Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitarist, songwriter and singer)
publisher:
ATV Music Ltd. and EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
version of:
Miss Eerie
a‐ha4.5?:??
4Self Control
executive producer:
Jack White (German producer Horst Nußbaum)
producer:
Robbie Buchanan (Canadian producer) and Jack White (German producer Horst Nußbaum)
arranger:
Robbie Buchanan (Canadian producer) and Harold Faltermeier
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Atlantic Recording Corporation (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor within the US) (in 1984) and WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1984)
music videos:
Self Control by Laura Branigan
cover recording of:
Self Control (in 1984)
lyricist:
Steve Piccolo
additional writer:
Harro Steffen
composer:
Giancarlo Bigazzi and Raffaele Riefoli (Italian pop singer)
publisher:
Careers Music, Inc., Edition Sunrise Publishing Inc., Sugar Musik Verlags GmbH (publisher) and Sugarmusic Spa (publisher, do NOT use as label)
version of:
Self Control
Laura Branigan4.55?:??
5When Doves Cry
recording engineer:
David Leonard (US producer and engineer) (on 1984-03-01) and Peggy Mac (on 1984-03-01)
producer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
drum machine [Linn LM-1], electric guitar, synthesizer [Oberheim OB-Xa], synthesizer [Yamaha DX7], background vocals and lead vocals:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) (on 1984-03-01)
arranger:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1984) and NPG Records, Inc. (in 2017)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1984-03-01)
edit of:
When Doves Cry by Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”) and The Revolution (founded by Prince)
recording of:
When Doves Cry (on 1984-03-01)
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Because Éditions and Controversy Music
Prince4.5?:??
6The Power of Love
recording engineer:
Jim Gaines and Robert Missbach
additional engineer:
Michael Christopher (engineer), Phil Kaffel and Malcolm Pollack
assistant engineer:
Rob Beaton, Alex Haas (Trance remixer/producer. Member of Cypher 7), Tom Size (US audio engineer) and Jim “Watts” Vereecke
producer:
Bob Clearmountain, Jellybean (US producer John Benitez) and Huey Lewis and the News (American pop rock band)
mixer:
Robert Missbach
bass guitar:
Mario Cipollina
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Bill Gibson (US drummer for Huey Lews & the News)
guitar:
Johnny Colla (US sax & guitarist for Huey Lewis & the News) and Chris Hayes (US rock guitarist & singer (Huey Lewis & The News))
harmonica:
Huey Lewis
keyboard:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News)
saxophone:
Johnny Colla (US sax & guitarist for Huey Lewis & the News)
vocals:
Johnny Colla (US sax & guitarist for Huey Lewis & the News), Bill Gibson (US drummer for Huey Lews & the News), Chris Hayes (US rock guitarist & singer (Huey Lewis & The News)), Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) and Huey Lewis
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Chrysalis Records, Inc. (not for release label use!) (in 1984, in 1985, in 1986) and Chrysalis (in 1985)
recorded at:
Fantasy Studios (Berkeley) in Berkeley, California, United States, Studio D Recording in Sausalito, California, United States and The Plant Studios (1981–2008) in Sausalito, California, United States
mixed at:
Power Station Studios (Power Station at BerkleeNYC, fka Power Station 1977–1996, then Avatar Studios 1996–2017) in Hell's Kitchen, New York, New York, United States
music videos:
The Power of Love (full length) by Huey Lewis and the News (American pop rock band)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 108)
recording of:
The Power of Love (Back to the Future)
writer:
Johnny Colla (US sax & guitarist for Huey Lewis & the News), Chris Hayes (US rock guitarist & singer (Huey Lewis & The News)) and Huey Lewis
publisher:
Cause and Effect Music, Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Huey Lewis Music, Hulex Music (publisher), Kinda Blue Music, Mushroom Music (Mushroom label’s publishing company) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
sub-publisher:
Warner/Chappell Music Japan, Synch division (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division) and Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (holding company – do not use as release label)
part of:
The 58th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
part of:
Back to the Future: the Musical
Huey Lewis and the News4?:??
7Fastlove
engineer:
Paul Gomersall and Ren Swan
producer:
Jon Douglas and George Michael
keyboard:
Dave Clews, Jon Douglas and George Michael
saxophone:
Andrew Kevin Hamilton (British saxophonist, composer and producer)
arranger:
George Michael
samples:
Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen
recording of:
Fastlove
lyricist and composer:
George Michael
George Michael4.25?:??
8What’s Love Got to Do With It
engineer and mixer:
John Hudson (producer, recording and mixing engineer)
producer:
Terry Britten
drums (drum set):
Graham Jarvis (UK session drummer)
guitar:
Terry Britten
keyboard:
Nick Glennie‐Smith and Billy Livsey
percussion:
Simon Morton
background vocals:
Terry Britten and Tessa Niles
lead vocals:
Tina Turner
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1984), Parlophone Records Ltd. (not for release label use! a Warner Music Group company) (in 1984, in 1997) and EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 2004)
recorded at:
Mayfair Studios (England) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 134), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 160) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 309)
recording of:
What’s Love Got to Do With It
writer:
Graham Lyle and Terence Ernest Britten
publisher:
Hornall Brothers Music Ltd. (limited company), Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc., Mushroom Music Pty. Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Goodsingle Limited (publisher) (in 1984), Irving Music, Inc. (in 1984), Rondor Music (London) Ltd. (in 1984), WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (from 1984 until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Tina Turner4.05?:??
9Close to You
recording of:
Close to You
writer:
Gary Benson (UK singer‐songwriter), Max Alfred Elliott (British reggae vocalist of Jamaican descent) and Winston Sela
Maxi Priest3.35?:??
10Sleeping Child
Michael Learns to Rock?:??
11Come Undone
recording of:
Come Undone
lyricist and composer:
Warren Cuccurullo, Simon Le Bon (singer for Duran Duran), Nick Rhodes and John Taylor (UK bassist for Duran Duran)
Duran Duran?:??
12Joyride
programming:
Anders Herrlin (in 1990-07) and Clarence Öfwerman (in 1990-07)
engineer:
Anders Herrlin and Alar Suurna
producer:
Clarence Öfwerman
mixer:
Per Gessle (Swedish singer and guitarist), Clarence Öfwerman and Alar Suurna
bass guitar:
Anders Herrlin (in 1990-07)
electric guitar and guitar:
Jonas Isacsson (in 1990-07)
keyboard:
Clarence Öfwerman (in 1990-07)
whistle:
Per Gessle (Swedish singer and guitarist) (in 1990-07)
vocals:
Marie Fredriksson (in 1990-07) and Per Gessle (Swedish singer and guitarist) (in 1990-07)
remixer:
Brian Malouf
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Roxette Recordings and EMI Svenska AB (not for release label use!) (in 1991)
recorded at:
EMI Studios in Stockholm, Stockholms län (Stockholm county), Sweden (in 1990-07)
mixed at:
EMI Studios in Stockholm, Stockholms län (Stockholm county), Sweden
recording of:
Joyride (in 1990-07)
lyricist and composer:
Per Gessle (Swedish singer and guitarist)
publisher:
Jimmy Fun Music
Roxette3.35?:??
13You Sexy Thing
recording of:
You Sexy Thing
writer:
Errol Brown (British‐Jamaican singer and songwriter, in Hot Chocolate) and Tony Wilson (bassist/songwriter, member of Hot Chocolate)
publisher:
Chocolate, EMI Music Publishing (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), Finchley Music Corp. and RAK Publishing Ltd
Hot Chocolate?:??
14Tarzan Boy
producer:
Maurizio Bassi
arranger:
Maurizio Bassi
recording of:
Tarzan Boy
lyricist:
Naimy Hackett
composer:
Maurizio Bassi
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!) and Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI)
Baltimora4?:??
15Walking on Sunshine
recorded in:
England, United Kingdom
assistant engineer:
Jon Goldberger (engineer)
engineer and mixer:
Scott Litt (producer and engineer)
additional producer:
Scott Litt (producer and engineer)
producer:
Pat Collier and Katrina and the Waves (British‐American rock band)
bass guitar:
Vince de la Cruz
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Alex Cooper (drummer, member of “Katrina and the Waves”)
guest brass [Rumour Brass Section]:
Ray Beavis, Dick Hanson and John "Irish" Earl
guest organ:
Nick Glennie‐Smith
guitar [lead guitar]:
Kimberley Rew
guitar [rhythm guitar] and lead vocals:
Katrina Leskanich
background vocals:
Alex Cooper (drummer, member of “Katrina and the Waves”), Vince de la Cruz and Kimberley Rew
brass arranger:
Eamon Fitzpatrick
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1985) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 2020)
recorded at:
Alaska Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom and Greenhouse Studio (London) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Power Station (Power Station at BerkleeNYC, fka Power Station 1977–1996, then Avatar Studios 1996–2017) in Hell's Kitchen, New York, New York, United States (from 1984-12 until 1985-03)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 91) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 378)
recording of:
Walking on Sunshine
lyricist:
Kimberley Rew (in 1983)
composer:
Kimberley Rew
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), Kyboside Music, Megasongs Limited, Pondwater Music and Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI)
Katrina and the Waves3.95?:??
16Mony Mony
engineer:
Brian Reeves
producer:
Keith Forsey (drummer, producer and songwriter)
lead vocals:
Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter) (in 1981-07)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1981), Chrysalis Records (don’t use as an imprint; please use “Chrysalis” instead) (in 1981), Chrysalis Records Ltd. (not for release label use! company behind the Chrysalis imprint) (in 1981) and Chrysalis Records, Inc. (not for release label use!) (in 1981)
music videos:
Mony, Mony (live) by Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter)
cover recording of:
Mony Mony (in 1981-07)
writer:
Bobby Bloom (US singer-songwriter), Ritchie Cordell, Bo Gentry and Tommy James (American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer)
publisher:
Big Seven Music Corp., EMI Blackwood Music (Canada) Ltd., EMI Music Publishing (WP) Ltd., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia AB and Planetary Nom (London) Ltd.
Billy Idol3.25?:??
17(I Just) Died in Your Arms
engineer:
Terry Brown (producer)
producer:
Terry Brown (producer), Cutting Crew and John Jansen (US recording engineer and producer)
mixer:
Tim Palmer (British producer/mixer)
acoustic guitar, electric guitar and synthesizer [E-mu Emulator]:
Kevin MacMichael
bass:
Colin Farley
drums (drum set), percussion and tambourine:
Martin Beedle
piano:
Peter-John Vettese (British keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer)
background vocals:
Peter Birch
lead vocals:
Nick Van Eede
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Virgin Records Ltd. (not for release label use! for company relationships only) and Siren Records Ltd. (company and copyrights holder. File NO releases) (in 1986)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Oxford Street, London. 1970–1991 recordings only) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Utopia Studios (London) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
part of:
VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 26)
recording of:
(I Just) Died in Your Arms
lyricist and composer:
Nick Van Eede
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Virgin Songs, Inc. and Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd.
Cutting Crew4.1?:??
18Karma Chameleon
engineer:
Simon Humphrey, Gordon Milne (engineer) and Mike Ross‐Trevor (engineer)
producer:
Steve Levine (producer)
mixer:
Steve Levine (producer) and Jon Moss
bass guitar:
Mikey Craig (Culture Club bassist) (in 1983)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Jon Moss (in 1983)
electric sitar, guitar, keyboard, piano and sitar:
Roy Hay (Member of Culture Club and composer for film and television) (in 1983)
guest keyboard:
Phil Pickett (songwriter, producer, keyboard player) (in 1983)
harmonica:
Judd Lander (in 1983)
background vocals:
Helen Terry (UK singer) (in 1983)
lead vocals:
Boy George (in 1983)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Virgin Records Ltd. (not for release label use! for company relationships only) (in 1983, in 2003)
recorded at:
CBS Studios (London, 1972–1989) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1983) and Red Bus Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1983)
music videos:
Karma Chameleon by Culture Club (English pop group)
recording of:
Karma Chameleon (in 1983)
writer:
Mikey Craig (Culture Club bassist), George O’Dowd, Roy Hay (Member of Culture Club and composer for film and television), Jon Moss and Phil Pickett (songwriter, producer, keyboard player)
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Virgin Music Ltd. (do not use this as a release label!), EMI Virgin Music Publishing Australia P/L, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Pendulum Music Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd., Warner Bros. Music Ltd. (UK subsidiary, so named between 1970/01/23–1971/04/26 and 1972/04/25–1988/08/23) and BMG VM Music Ltd. (from 2013-05 to present)
Culture Club3.75?:??
19Return to Innocence
assistant recording engineer:
E-Magic (Italian Italodance project also known as "E-Magic") and Euphonix
additional vocals:
Angel (German vocalist Andy Jonas)
recorded at:
A.R.T. Studios (Enigma) in Ibiza, Illes Balears (Balearic Islands), Spain
samples:
When the Levee Breaks (original studio mix) by Led Zeppelin
recording of:
Return to Innocence
lyricist and composer:
Michael Cretu (Romanian-born German musician, composer and record producer)
Enigma4.4?:??