# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: All-Time, 1956-2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453 "2015-05-20T23:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/1 "2015-05-20T23:11:23Z")
The time has come to finally wrap up this series. (Apologies for this one being a few days late - the power supply on my PC burned out a few days ago and I’ve only just now gotten the new one installed.) Anyway, these are the voters’ selections for best not-quite-number-one of each decade, the winner of which will go on to face the winner of the best #1 single poll series to determine the Official SDMB-Approved Greatest Top 40 Jam Of All Time. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746498) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746735) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746932) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747152) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747345) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747517) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747737) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747976) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748145) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748360) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748527) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748653) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748866) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749060) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749217) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749398) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749610) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749795) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749949) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750154) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750299) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750488) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750641) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750845) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751015) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751202) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751368) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751517) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751667) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751834) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751992) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752188) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752421) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752566) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752753) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752944) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753086) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753228) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753557) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753728) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753884) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754223) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754360) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754524) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754714) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754987) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=755280) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=755568) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=755895) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756023) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756189) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756357) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756514) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756653) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756857) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=757023) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/2 "2015-05-21T04:18:18Z")
Tough one. I like Bohemian Rhapsody best be Nirvana was such a game-changer when they released their album. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/3 "2015-05-21T09:02:02Z")
I looked at the list and asked myself “Of these, which one most surprises me that it was not a No. 1”. I went with _Girls Just…_ ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/4 "2015-05-21T13:05:35Z")
1. Dylan, 2. Nirvana, 3. Jerry Lee I like Queen, and appreciate Bohemian Rhapsody for what it is, but I don’t care if I never hear it again, and would never vote for it as a “best of” anything. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/5 "2015-05-21T13:20:23Z")
I’ve thought that **Queen** was going to be the overall “Best of the Rest” since it won the 70s poll and so far my prediction looks correct. As a result, I feel free to vote for another song. My ranking is: **Cyndi Lauper** - _Girls Just Want To Have Fun_. Because it’s an über-catchy song that still sounds fresh and fun. Plus, childhood memories. **Queen** - _Bohemian Rhapsody_. The most ambitious of the lot so bonus points for that. It’s a bit… too much, though and while I really like it, I can’t quite say that I _love_ it. **Nirvana** - _Smells Like Teen Spirit_. Because it’s era-defining and it came out while I was in my last year at secondary school. Good memories but not as sweet as the ones from the 80s. Plus, I was sort of moving away from guitar-oriented music by the time (or more accurately, discovering genres that I had neglected until then). \*\*Jerry Lee Lewis \*\*- _Great Balls of Fire_. Legendary and all that but merely OK as far as I’m concerned. **Bob Dylan** - _Like A Rolling Stone_. Can I confess that I don’t care **Dylan** ’s music at all? A very bland song in my book. **Gnarls Barkley** - _Crazy_. OK but forgettable. **Lady Gaga** - _Bad Romance_. HTF did it beat both **Ellie Goulding** ’s _Lights_ and **Sia** ’s _Chandelier_? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/6 "2015-05-21T13:34:26Z")
I’m voting for “Great Balls of Fire” for the third time now. It’s not necessarily one of my favorite songs, but I like it more than the others. None of these other songs got my vote even once. A fun little fact (at least for me) about “Bad Romance:” This song held the #2 spot in the Billboard Hot 100 for seven whole weeks, yet never reached #1. The #1 song for the majority of that time was Kesha’s “TiK ToK.” In dead-ass last place for the third time :mad: is Cindy Lauper’s abomination. Thanks again to **Smapti** for putting these polls together, and thanks again to **Kesha** for being so fucking awesome! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/7 "2015-05-21T14:08:56Z")
I could vote for any of these, but I ended up going with “Great Balls of Fire” simply because that’s such an iconic rock & roll song and it boggles my mind that it never reached number one. I suppose the same can be said for some other songs on the list, but that is just such a seminal early rock tune, that needs to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/8 "2015-05-21T19:48:12Z")
I voted for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, my second time after the 1976 poll. For the 70’s All Time Poll I opted for “Nights In White Satin”. But from this list it is the best one, though like many I have heard so many times. Another tiresome one is “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. The other songs I am indifferent to. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/9 "2015-05-21T20:08:05Z")
Incredibly easy choice: His Bobness all the way. The last four on that list just leave me shaking my head and going _“Really???”_ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/10 "2015-05-21T20:59:10Z")
Dylan. The rest are also-rans for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/11 "2015-05-21T23:20:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Dylan. The rest are also-rans for a reason. This. It’s always rewarding when I find out **silenus** and **Biffy** agree wth me! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/12 "2015-05-22T00:10:57Z")
This was hard. Oddly, I went with “Great balls of fire” because I think it’s the most fun, despite being from way before my time. Thanks, **Smapti** , for doing these, I’ve enjoyed them. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/13 "2015-05-22T02:27:11Z")
I surprised myself by voting for “Great Balls of Fire” - perhaps I’ve heard many of the others just too many times and didn’t feel it for the last two songs. Thank you, **Smapti** - I’m going to miss this series of threads. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/14 "2015-05-22T02:35:17Z")
This is getting tighter than spandex on a 350-pound woman. Earlier today, it looked like Queen was running away with it, but Bob Dylan is making a big comeback. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/15 "2015-05-22T02:37:29Z")
Dylan. _And that’s all I have to say about that._ ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/16 "2015-05-22T11:00:03Z")
Both are good, and both are some of the oldest… I wonder how this would look 30-40 years from now, when some of the newer entries could either be forgotten (and replaced with another song), or have become after all a “classic”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/17 "2015-05-22T14:41:34Z")
I also went with Queen since it’s in my teen-age memories - it was very different seeing Wolfman Jack introducing it on _The Midnight Special_ around 1976, before SNL and MTV. Let me add my thanks to Smapti for the entire series of polls - it looks like it was a lot of work. I really enjoyed revisiting lots of the songs that I had forgotten about and see others’ comment. Now what’s next - worst #1 songs (or has that already been done?) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-all-time-1956-2014/720453/18 "2015-05-22T14:57:29Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Let me add my thanks to Smapti for the entire series of polls - it looks like it was a lot of work. I really enjoyed revisiting lots of the songs that I had forgotten about and see others’ comment. Now what’s next - worst #1 songs (or has that already been done?) Thanks. This one was more complicated to put together than the #1s series, simply because of the process of double-checking every song to make sure it didn’t reach #1 (and I made a few mistakes, but too few to mention.) 🙂 Once either Dylan or Queen pulls ahead by a significant margin (and I may run a tiebreaker in a day or two if that doesn’t happen on its own), there’ll be one more poll pitting it against the winner of the #1s poll. After that - I’ll probably wait a few months to run another music poll series so it doesn’t feel like we’re repeating ourselves too soon (I’m thinking either best #1s off the British charts, or the best of the Beatles discography since they didn’t make it to the finals of either of these series), but I may run something non-music related in the meantime. (Best of some long-running TV series, season by season, maybe?)