The Greatest Hits of All Time: Song Facts

The Foundations

'Build Me Up Buttercup' by The Foundations: The making of the Brit soul classic

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen: The making of the Boss's breakthrough hit

David Bowie - "Heroes"

"Heroes" by David Bowie: The making of the soaring Berlin masterpiece

David Bowie

Louie Louie

'Louie Louie': Why was the classic rock song investigated by the FBI?

Music

The Beatles - Hey Jude

'Hey Jude' by The Beatles: The making of Paul McCartney's soaring epic

The Beatles

Lulu at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969

'Boom Bang-a-Bang' by Lulu: The making of the quirky Eurovision joint-winner

Brotherhood of Man in 1976

'Save Your Kisses For Me' by Brotherhood of Man: The making of the Eurovision winner

Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel: The making of the glam hit

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

'Baker Street' by Gerry Rafferty: The making of the rock classic and truth behind that saxophone riff

David Bowie and Queen - Under Pressure

'Under Pressure' by Queen & David Bowie: The making of the ultimate rock duet

Queen

'Hotel California' is undoubtedly the Eagles' signature song. Here's all you need to know about it. (Photo by RB/Redferns)

Hotel California: How the Eagles made a haunting country rock classic

Eagles

Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run

'Band on the Run': The making of Wings' sprawling masterpiece

Paul McCartney

Freddie Mercury at Live Aid

'We Are The Champions' by Queen: The making of the ultimate stadium anthem

Queen

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg

'Je t'aime... moi non plus': The making of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin's naughty hit

A Teenage Opera

The incredible story of ‘Grocer Jack’ and A Teenage Opera: What happened to the lost musical?

Music

The Stranglers - 'Golden Brown'

'Golden Brown' by The Stranglers: The making of the strange punk waltz

Music

Fairytale of New York - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl

'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl: The making of the timeless Christmas masterpiece

Music

Song Lists

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Bill Withers in 1971. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Bill Withers’ 10 greatest songs, ranked

Song Lists

Leonard Cohen through the years

Leonard Cohen's 15 greatest songs, ranked

Song Lists

The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5's 15 greatest songs, ranked

Song Lists

Bass legend Herbie Flowers (1938-2024)

'Walk on the Wide Side' bassist Herbie Flowers dies, aged 86: His greatest moments and songs

Music

Thin Lizzy in 1974

Thin Lizzy's 10 greatest songs, ranked

Song Lists

More Features

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Karen Carpenter drumming

Watch Karen Carpenter prove she was one of the most underrated drummers ever when she was just 18

Music

After six years away from the stage, Paul McCartney's return to performance at Live Aid in 1985 was very nearly a complete disaster. (Photo by Steve Rapport/Getty Images)

How Paul McCartney's 1985 return to the stage at Live Aid was nearly a disaster

Paul McCartney

Years after Phil Collins thought he was "fired by a Beatle", George Harrison played a hilarious prank on him.

George Harrison’s calculated prank on Phil Collins has to be one of the funniest in rock music history

The Beatles

Just months before their acrimonious split, The Beatles entered the recording studio for the very last time to record one particular song.

The final song The Beatles recorded together before their acrimonious split

The Beatles

ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus in conversatioon with Gold

ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus explains Eurovision no-show and shares "personal" meaning of classic song

ABBA