1967

Johann Sebastian Bach's Air on a G String inspired the organ part. This was their debut single

1975

Spent 14 weeks on and off at number 1 - 3rd best selling single of all time - only single to top the charts at two separate Christmases

1966

Originally only the B Side to 'Wouldn't it be Nice' in the US!

1970

Watching how rapturous the crowds were when the song was performed, Paul Simon now wishes he'd sung lead vocals :)

1967

Terry and Julie were thought to be Terence Stamp and Julie Christie, but writer Ray Davies later denied they were his inspiration. Closed the 2012 London Olympics

1975

Written mostly by Eric Stewart as a riposte to his wife's declaration that he did not tell her often enough that he loved her

1966

At the time, the most expensive single ever recorded in terms of studio time used

1968

The first single on Apple Records, written by Paul about John's son Julian

1967

1965

John's first truly autobiographical composition

1967

Strawberry Fields was a Salvation Army home in Liverpool which John Lennon used to visit

1976

1976

The guitar solo to this song by Joe Walsh has been voted best ever by readers of Guitarist magazine

1971

When asked why the song was so popular, Robert Plant said "Depending on what day it is, I still interpret the song a different way - and I wrote the lyrics."

1964

1969

One of four instrumentals in the chart

1978

The Raf Ravenscroft Sax solo led to a resurgence in saxophone sales

1967

1968

Written by Jimmy Webb about his break-up with his then girlfriend. Richard Harris had just filmed Camelot and wanted to make a hit single

1965

1977

1969

Originally a French song, new lyrics were created in English by Paul Anka. This song spent 75 weeks on the UK charts

1967

1970

Originally a big hit for Gladys Knight and was a big hit, this version has become an acclaimed soul classic

1966

1966

1976

Produced by Alan Parsons

1971

1971

One of two singles to have both A and B side in the charts

1968

1975

The title track of one of the most critically acclaimed rock albums of all time. Bruce said he wanted it to sound like "Roy Orbison singing Bob Dylan, produced by Spector"

1971

1967

Drug references meant this was originally banned by the BBC, but it's now regarded as one of their finest works

1973

The Worcestershire singer-songwriter whose work was much played on radio by specific presenters - and enjoyed hugely - yet failed to achieve the chart successes he deserved

1970

Performed as part of the group's rooftop performance in Savile Row

1968

1968

A classic song covered numerous times - and one of only two songs to chart in the UK in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s for different acts

1969

1971

Featuring Rick Wakeman on piano, and with famously cut up and jumbled lyrics

1960

1970

1974

Originally written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood

1970

The first Number 1 single for an ex-Beatle, and famously also the subject of a lawsuit for infringing He's So Fine by the Chiffons

1978

1968

Written by this act's brother, and influenced by Richard Harris's MacArthur Park. Jimmy Page, later of Led Zeppelin, and Glen Campbell both played on the recording

1967

1978

Written by Jeff Wayne for his theatrical masterpiece War of The Worlds

1968

1961

His real name was Charles Weedon Westover. He worked as a carpet salesman before turning to pop music

1969

1964

Indelibly linked with the pirate station of the same name.

1967

1968

One of a number of Bacharach / David compositions in the chart - written for Dionne Warwick as a woman's concern for her man serving in the Vietnam War

1976

1971

First played live at the infamous Altamont Speedway concert in 1969

1968

1971

Originally written by Badfinger, this version is one of two international best-selling versions of the song

1963

1967

The song that launched Boom Radio

1962

One of four instrumentals in the chart

1966

1970

One of two songs written for Patti Boyd in the chart

1971

1971

Written about the Artist Van Gogh, and the songwriter's belief his suicide was driven by illness not madness

1969

1960

This is Elvis's best selling single ever

1967

1971

1965

1963

The theme tune to the second best performing film of 1963 in Britain (behind From Russia With Love).

1963

1966

1980

Clearly written about the marriage break-up at the heart of the group, although subsequently denied by Bjorn

1971

1960

1965

In part, inspired by verses from the Bible, which Paul was reading at the time

1963

1967

Only became a hit in the United States ten years after its initial release aftre being featured in the movie Good Morning Vietnam

1964

1969

1965

A song originally only played on pirate radio in the UK because its lyrics were considered too sexually suggestive

1965

1971

Written by Carole King, apparently inspired by an earlier lyric in James Taylor's Fire and Rain about not being able to find a friend

1965

Highest Northern Soul single in the chart

1968

1974

1972

Inspired by a 1940s Bing Crosby film which refers to the song's title but never plays it. One of the first power ballads to include a fuzz guitar

1969

1970

1962

One of four instrumentals in the chart

1965

1961

Recorded for the film Blue Hawaii, this song became the King's finale in his 60s/70s live performances

1967

1972

Produced by David Bowie, this song references many of the characters who surrounded Andy Warhol

1970

1970

1978

At one point, the Bee Gees had four of the top five positions in the Billboard chart in the US - and this was Number 1

1961

1967

There never was a full opera from which to take this as an excerpt! John Peel played it whilst a pirate which helped it to chart

1962

1965

One of the songs that created the folk-rock sound in 1965

1981

1972

Johnny had previously worked with Bob Marley, and it clearly shows in this song

1964

1966

Written by Jerry Goffin and Carole King. King was going to record it herself - but then decided to offer it to Dusty instead.

1971

1969

Originally an Italian song, it was first offered in translation to the Tremeloes - who turned it down. Dave Clark 5 did record it - and so did the band who had the No 1 hit with it

1966

1964

1965

Jimmy Page played guitar - and Van Morrison was the singer - and this was his biggest ever chart hit

1967

1970

1978

Longest track in the chart

1974

1973

Originally written by Jim Weatherly after a conversation with Farah Fawcett about a "midnight plane to Houston"

1977

1968

Originally a blues song from the 1930s

1977

1974

Written for his then wife, and composed in 10 minutes flat in a ski lift in Aspen,Colorado

1966

1974

The only Australian on the chart

1965

1975

Written as a riposte to his former band mates by Steve Harley

1976

1965

1972

Written by Bowie and given to the band after they'd rejected Suffragette City!

1965

1963

1961

The only person to equal the Beatles record of 24 hits in the 1960s in the UK

1970

1970

1969

Originally written for the soundtrack to the film Midnight Cowboy - it wasn't finished in time though! Dylan later claimed it had been written for Barbra Streisand

1972

1973

The first song jointly written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey

1970

1980

1969

Born and raised in India, he was the younger brother of '60s pop star Eden Kane

1970

1978

1972

Recorded in 1972, his performance of this song on Top of the Pops is widely credited with making Bowie a major star

1969

1964

1964

Inspired by his wife Claudette, this song marked the high point of Roy's recording success

1957

1964

1958

Cliff's first single, originally the B side, but was flipped and became one of the first authentic Rock'n'Roll records produced outside the US

1963

1981

1966

One of two singles to have both A & B side in the charts

1966

1977

Labeled one of the most influential songs ever recorded, laying the foundations for electronic disco music

1963

1966

1963

The quintessential 'Wall of Sound' recording

1965

1969

The first of two songs written for Patti Boyd in the chart

1984

1958

Recorded in just two takes in Nashville in 1958

1964

1975

1967

1956

The oldest track in the chart

1970

1961

Written by Willie Nelson

1965

1960

One of four instrumentals in the Boom chart

1969

1960

Written by Roy - and turned down by both Elvis and the Everly Brothers

1965

1966

A Bahamian folk song, at least 100 years old, converted into a pop hit by the Beach Boys

1966

1969

Originally written for John F Kennedy's daughter in 1969, it has now become a favourite in sports stadia the World over

1967

1966

1967

The band's first big success, and the first release by Elektra records to sell 1 million copies

1968

1964

1977

The only sister act in the charts - Lillian and Louise Lopez - along with their son Stephen Collazo

1975

1962

1966

One of two bona-fide Northern Soul classics on the chart. Written by Motown's Holland-Dozier-Holland

1973

1967

1977

One of the biggest acts ever to emerge from Southend-On-Sea

1974

1958

Shortest track in the chart

1964

1972

1979

Despite the name, they are both from Texas!

1968

1971

One of two singles to have both A & B side in the charts

1970

One of two acts from the Republic of Ireland on the chart

1982

1968

Paul Weller from the Jam has repeatedly referred to this as one of his all time favourite singles

1980

1963

1966

One of two part-Canadian acts on the chart - this song is often used in movies to set the scene for unrest and protest

1972

1963

1958

First UK posthumous No. 1