Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs

Max Steiner composed the score for the 1959 film "A Summer Place," and Toronto-born Faith covered the main theme, giving him the most successful instrumental of the rock era.

Writer/producer Babyface says the song was to him, "imagining what would…follow 'End of the Road' but not be exactly the same, but familiar enough where you could touch some of the same ingredients, so they don't make a total left turn from where they left off."

Michael Kamen composed the music for "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and wanted Kate Bush or Annie Lennox to sing the title song. Then Lisa Stansfield was in the running, along with a pairing of Peter Cetera and Julia Fordham. Ultimately, Bryan Adams was asked to co-write and record the film's main vocal song and it became his biggest hit. Adams is the highest-ranking Canadian artist on the all-time Hot 100.

"You Were Meant for Me" peaked at No. 2 and was moving down the Hot 100 and would have fallen off the chart, except the B-side was "Foolish Games," which was included in the "Batman & Robin" soundtrack. It became the A-side, as well as a radio hit of its own, and the single went back to No. 7 and remained on the Hot 100 for 65 weeks.

Stewart tried to record his album "A Night on the Town" in Los Angeles but couldn't hit a correct note, which he blamed on the smog. Then he went to Caribou Studios in Colorado, but couldn't sing at 9,000 feet above sea level. So the vocals for this No. 1 hit were successfully recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami.

During its chart run, the song became the most successful Motown single of all time, the most successful hit from a soundtrack, and the most successful duet, all thanks to its nine-week run at No. 1.

Bette Davis was so flattered by the song, she wrote letters to songwriters Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss thanking them for making her "a part of modern times." When the song won a Grammy, Davis sent the composers roses.

The fourth of his nine No. 1s. He's ruled the Hot 100 for a total of 47 weeks; 12 of those weeks were racked up by this song. It was immediately followed at No. 1 by another Usher single, "Burn," which was on top for eight weeks, which in turn was succeeded by his "Confessions Part II."

The demo of Diane Warren's song was recorded in a low key and producer David Foster was going to have Braxton sing in a higher key until LaFace owner Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds protested. "That's almost a man's key," Foster replied. Babyface insisted: "It'll be really sexy."

Her 16th No. 1 (of 18 to date) proved to be the biggest hit of her career. It held pole position for 14 weeks, two weeks shy of the record-setting "One Sweet Day," but it was on the chart for 43 weeks, by far her longest Hot 100 run.

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