Top 50 Favourite Songs: Tom Lane

Rolling Stone’s latest list was an update on their 500 Greatest Songs Ever (last published in 2004). As I did with their 2020 all-time albums update, I’ve decided to list my own favorite songs. While I wasn’t a voter, those who did all received a ballot with instructions to rank their favorite songs from 1-50. Unlike that ballot, I’ve left mine unranked. Thirty-two of my picks made the Top 500.
Just as I found out when doing my albums list, narrowing a lifetime of listening to just 50 songs proved to be an impossible task. See here for more songs that just missed my Top 50. I’ve kept this list to one song per artist

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Adele – “Rolling In The Deep” (2010)
Aretha Franklin – “Respect” (1967)
Beach Boys – “Don’t Worry Baby” (1964)
Beatles – “She Loves You” (1964)
Bee Gees – “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
Bob Dylan – “Like A Rolling Stone” (1965)
Carole King – “It’s Too Late” (1971)
Clash – “London Calling” (1979)
Daryl Hall & John Oates – “Sara Smile” (1976)
Dionne Warwick – “Walk On By” (1965)
Donna Summer – “I Feel Love” (1977)
Earth, Wind & Fire – “That’s The Way Of The World” (1975)

Elton John – “Philadelphia Freedom” (1975)
Elvis Presley – “Jailhouse Rock” (1957)
Flamingos – “I Only Have Eyes For You” (1958)
Fleetwood Mac – “Go Your Own Way” (1977)
Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (1985)
Four Tops – “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (1966)
George Jones – “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (1980)
Gladys Knight & The Pips – “Midnight Train To Georgia” (1973)
Glen Campbell – “Wichita Lineman” (1968)

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – “The Message” (1982)
Hank Williams – “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (1949)
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – “The Love I Lost” (1973)
Jackie Wilson – “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” (1967)
Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” (1969)
James Taylor – “Fire and Rain” (1970)
Janet Jackson – “When I Think Of You” (1986)
Jerry Lee Lewis – “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (1958)
Joni Mitchell – “Help Me” (1974)
Judy Collins – “Both Sides Now” (1967)
Loretta Lynn – “Fist City” (1968)

Manhattans – “Kiss and Say Goodbye” (1976)
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1967)
Merle Haggard – “Mama Tried” (1968)
Monkees – “Daydream Believer” (1967)
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
Patsy Cline – “Crazy” (1961)
Pet Shop Boys – “West End Girls” (1986)
Prince – “When Doves Cry” (1984)
Righteous Brothers – “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” (1964)
Rod Stewart – “Maggie May” (1971)
Rolling Stones – “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (1968)
Sam Cooke – “Bring It On Home To Me” (1962)

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – “Tears Of A Clown” (1970)
Spinners – “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” (1972)
Stylistics – “You Make Me Feel Brand New” (1974)
Supremes – “Stop! In The Name of Love” (1965)
Temptations – “My Girl” (1964)
Wilson Pickett – “In The Midnight Hour” (1965)