The list below shows the first and last US Billboard Top 40 song by more than 100 of the artists in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Although many great artists are still not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a large portion of the most essential artists in pop/rock music history are already inducted. A few points about the lists below:
- Not every artist in the Hall of Fame is included in this list. For instance, some of the greatest artists of all time did not have success in the Top 40 such as Neil Young, The Grateful Dead and Talking Heads. In many cases, they only had one or two singles in the Top 40 and therefore did not make sense to include them for this list.
- The list does the best possible job of selecting songs that were driven by the artist. Examples include –
- Songs where an artist was included on another artists’ album does not count.
- In addition, a collaboration for a re-mix of a previously released song.
- A re-release of a previous hit. For example, a song that was a hit in 1975 and was then re-released for a movie or a greatest hits collection where the sing re-entered the Top 40.
- Finally, an obvious but necessary note on the format –
- “Song Title” (Year of Release) #Peak Chart Position and Title of Album Song was released on.
ABBA
First Top 40 Hit: “Waterloo” (1974) #6 from Waterloo
Last Top 40 Hit: “When All Is Said and Done” (1981) #27 from The Visitors
Aerosmith
First Top 40 Hit: “Sweet Emotion” (1975) #36 from Toys in the Attic
Last Top 40 Hit: “Jaded” (2001) #7 from Just Push Play
Alice Cooper
First Top 40 Hit: “I’m Eighteen” (1970) #21 from Love it to Death
Last Top 40 Hit: “Poison” (1989) #7 from Trash
The Beach Boys
First Top 40 Hit: “Surfin’ Safari” (1962) #14 from Surfin’ Safari
Last Top 40 Hit: “Kokomo” (1988) #1 from Still Cruisin’
First Top 40 Hit: “New York Mining Disaster 1941” (1967) #14 from Bee Gees’ 1st
Last Top 40 Hit: “Alone” (1997) #28 from Still Waters
Bon Jovi
First Top 40 Hit: “Runaway” (1984) #39 from Bon Jovi
Last Top 40 Hit: “(You Want To) Make A Memory” (2007) #27 from Lost Highway
First Top 40 Hit: “Space Oddity” (1973) #15 from David Bowie
Last Top 40 Hit: “Lazarus” (2015) #40 from Blackstar
Jackson Browne
First Top 40 Hit: “Doctor, My Eyes” (1972) #8 from Jackson Browne
Last Top 40 Hit: “For America” (1986) #30 from Lives in the Balance
The Cars
First Top 40 Hit: “Just What I Needed” (1978) #27 from The Cars
Last Top 40 Hit: “You Are the Girl” (1987) #17 from Door to Door
Cheap Trick
First Top 40 Hit: “I Want You to Want Me” (live) (1979) #7 from Cheap Trick At Budokan
Last Top 40 Hit: “Can’t Stop Fallin’ into Love” (1990) #12 from Busted
Chicago
First Top 40 Hit: “Make Me Smile” (1970) #9 from Chicago
Last Top 40 Hit: “Chasin’ the Wind” (1991) #39 from Twenty 1
Eric Clapton
First Top 40 Hit: “After Midnight” (1970) #18 from Eric Clapton
Last Top 40 Hit: “My Father’s Eyes” (1998) #16 from Pilgrim
Creedence Clearwater Revival
First Top 40 Hit: “Suzie Q” (1968) #11 from Creedence Clearwater Revival
Last Top 40 Hit: “Someday Never Comes” (1972) #25 from Mardi Gras
Crosby, Stills & Nash
First Top 40 Hit: “Marrakesh Express” (1969) #28 from Crosby, Stills & Nash
Last Top 40 Hit: “Southern Cross” (1982) #18 from Daylight Again
Def Leppard
First Top 40 Hit: “Photograph” (1983) #12 from Pyromania
Last Top 40 Hit: “Miss You in a Heartbeat” (1993) #39 from Retro Active
Doobie Brothers
First Top 40 Hit: “Listen to the Music” (1972) #11 from Toulouse Street
Last Top 40 Hit: “The Doctor” (1989) #9 from Cycles
The Doors
First Top 40 Hit: “Light My Fire” (1967) #1 from The Doors
Last Top 40 Hit: “Riders on the Storm” (1971) #14 from L.A. Woman
Eagles
First Top 40 Hit: “Take it Easy'” (1972) #12 from Eagles
Last Top 40 Hit: “Get Over It” (1994) #31 from Hell Freezes Over
Earth, Wind & Fire
First Top 40 Hit: “Mighty Mighty” (1974) #29 from Open Your Eyes
Last Top 40 Hit: “Fall in Love with Me” (1983) #17 from Powerlight
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
First Top 40 Hit: “Can’t Get it Out of My Head” (1974) #9 from Eldorado
Last Top 40 Hit: “Calling America” (1986) #18 from Balance of Power
The Everly Brothers
First Top 40 Hit: “Bye Bye Love” (1957) #2 from The Everly Brothers
Last Top 40 Hit: “Bowling Green” (1967) #40 from The Everly Brothers Sing
Fleetwood Mac
First Top 40 Hit: “Over My Head” (1975) #20 from Fleetwood Mac
Last Top 40 Hit: “Save Me” (1990) #33 from Behind the Mask
The Four Tops
First Top 40 Hit: “Baby I Need Your Loving” (1964) #29 from Four Tops
Last Top 40 Hit: “When She Was My Girl” (1981) #11 from Tonight!
Aretha Franklin
First Top 40 Hit: “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody” (1961) #37 from The Electrifying Aretha Franklin
Last Top 40 Hit: “A Rose Is Still a Rose” (1998) #26 from A Rose Is Still a Rose
Marvin Gaye
First Top 40 Hit: “Hitch Hike” (1962) #30 from That Stubborn Kinda Fellow
Last Top 40 Hit: “Sexual Healing” (1982) #3 from Midnight Love
Genesis
First Top 40 Hit: “Follow You Follow Me” (1978) #23 from …And Then There Were Three…
Last Top 40 Hit: “Never a Time” (1992) #21 from We Can’t Dance
Al Green
First Top 40 Hit: “Tired of Being Alone” (1971) #1 from Al Green Gets Next to You
Last Top 40 Hit: “Keep Me Cryin'” (1976) #37 from Have a Good Time
Guns N’ Roses
First Top 40 Hit: “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987) #7 from Appetite for Destruction
Last Top 40 Hit: “Chinese Democracy” (2008) #34 from Chinese Democracy
Hall and Oates
First Top 40 Hit: “Sara Smile” (1976) #4 from Daryl Hall & John Oates
Last Top 40 Hit: “So Close” (1990) #11 from Change of Season
George Harrison
First Top 40 Hit: “My Sweet Lord / Isn’t It a Pity” (double A-Side) (1974) #1 from All Things Must Pass
Last Top 40 Hit: “Any Road” (2003) #37 from Brainwashed
Isaac Hayes
First Top 40 Hit: “Walk On By” (1969) #30 from Hot Buttered Soul
Last Top 40 Hit: “Don’t Let Go” (1979) #18 from Don’t Let Go
Heart
First Top 40 Hit: “Magic Man” (1975) #9 from Dreamboat Annie
Last Top 40 Hit: “Will You Be There (In the Morning)” (1993) #39 from Desire Walks On
The Hollies
First Top 40 Hit: “Look Through Any Window” (1965) #32 from Hear! Here!
Last Top 40 Hit: “Stop in the Name of Love” (1983) #29 from What Goes Around…
Whitney Houston
First Top 40 Hit: “You Give Good Love” (1985) #3 from Whitney Houston
Last Top 40 Hit: “I Learned From the Best” (1999) #27 from My Love is Your Love
The Isley Brothers
First Top 40 Hit: “Twist and Shout” (1962) #17 from Twist & Shout
Last Top 40 Hit: “Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time for Love)” – Parts 1 & 2 (1980) #39 from Go All the Way
Janet Jackson
First Top 40 Hit: “What Have You Done for Me Lately” (1986) #4 from Control
Last Top 40 Hit: “Feedback” (2007) #19 from Discipline
Michael Jackson
First Top 40 Hit: “Got to Be There” (1971) #4 from Got to Be There
Last Top 40 Hit: “Butterflies” (2001) #14 from Invincible
The Jackson 5
First Top 40 Hit: “I Want You Back” (1969) #1 from Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5
Last Top 40 Hit: “Torture” (1984) #17 from Victory (The Jacksons)
Joan Jett
First Top 40 Hit: “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” (1982) #1 from I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
Last Top 40 Hit: “Dirty Deeds” (1990) #36 from The Hit List
Billy Joel
First Top 40 Hit: “Piano Man” (1973) #25 from Piano Man
Last Top 40 Hit: “All About Soul” (1993) #29 from River of Dreams
First Top 40 Hit: “Your Song” (1970) #8 from Elton John
Last Top 40 Hit: “The Bridge” (2006) #19 from The Captain & the Kid
Journey
First Top 40 Hit: “Lovin’, Touchin’ Squeezin'” (1979) #16 from Evolution
Last Top 40 Hit: “When You Love a Woman” (1996) #12 from Trial by Fire
The Kinks
First Top 40 Hit: “You Really Got Me” (1964) #7 from Kinks
Last Top 40 Hit: “Don’t Forget to Dance” (1983) #29 from State of Confusion
KISS
First Top 40 Hit: “Rock and Roll All Nite” (live) (1975) #12 from Alive!
Last Top 40 Hit: “Forever” (1990) #8 from Hot in the Shade
Led Zeppelin
First Top 40 Hit: “Whole Lotta Love” (1969) #4 from Led Zeppelin II
Last Top 40 Hit: “Fool in the Rain” (1979) #21 from In Through the Out Door
John Lennon
First Top 40 Hit: “Give Peace a Chance” (1969) #14 from Non-album single
Last Top 40 Hit: “Nobody Told Me” (1984) #5 from Milk and Honey
Madonna
First Top 40 Hit: “Holiday” (1983) #16 from Madonna
Last Top 40 Hit: “Give Me All Your Luvin'” (2012) #10 from MDNA
The Mamas and The Papas
First Top 40 Hit: “California Dreamin'” (1965) #4 from If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
Last Top 40 Hit: “Dream A Little Dream of Me” (2007) #19 from Discipline
Martha and The Vandellas
First Top 40 Hit: “Come and Get These Memories” (1963) #29 from Come and Get These Memories
Last Top 40 Hit: “Honey Chile” (1967) #11 from Ridin’ High
Paul McCartney
First Top 40 Hit: “Another Day” (1971) #5 from Non-album single
Last Top 40 Hit: “My Brave Face” (1989) #25 from Flowers in the Dirt
John Mellencamp
First Top 40 Hit: “I Need a Lover” (1979) #28 from John Cougar
Last Top 40 Hit: “Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)” (1997) #14 from Mr. Happy Go Lucky
Metallica
First Top 40 Hit: “Master of Puppets” (1986) #35 from Master of Puppets
Last Top 40 Hit: “The Day That Never Comes” (2008) #31 from Death Magnetic
First Top 40 Hit: “The Joker” (1973) #1 from The Joker
Last Top 40 Hit: “Abracadabra” (1982) #1 from Abracadabra
The Moody Blues
First Top 40 Hit: “Go Now” (1964) #10 from The Magnificent Moodies (UK) / Go Now – The Moody Blues #1 (US)
Last Top 40 Hit: “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” (1988) #30 from Sur la Mer
Van Morrison
First Top 40 Hit: “Brown Eyed Girl” (1967) #10 from Blowin’ Your Mind
Last Top 40 Hit: “Wild Night” (1971) #28 from Tupelo Honey
Stevie Nicks
First Top 40 Hit: “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” w/ Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (1981) #4 from Bella Donna
Last Top 40 Hit: “Rooms on Fire” (1989) #16 from The Other Side of the Mirror
The O’Jays
First Top 40 Hit: “Back Stabbers” (1972) #3 from Back Stabbers
Last Top 40 Hit: “Forever Mine” (1979) #28 from Identify Yourself
Wilson Pickett
First Top 40 Hit: “In the Midnight Hour” (1965) #21 from In the Midnight Hour
Last Top 40 Hit: “Fire and Water” (1971) #24 from Don’t Knock My Love
The Police
First Top 40 Hit: “Roxanne” (1979) #32 from Outlandos d’Amour
Last Top 40 Hit: “King of Pain” (1983) #3 from Synchronicity
The Pretenders
First Top 40 Hit: “Brass in Pocket” (1979) #14 from Pretenders
Last Top 40 Hit: “I’ll Stand by You” (1994) #16 from Last of the Independents
Prince
First Top 40 Hit: “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (1979) #11 from Prince
Last Top 40 Hit: “I Hate U” (1995) #12 from The Gold Experience
Queen
First Top 40 Hit: “Killer Queen” (1974) #12 from Sheer Heart Attack
Last Top 40 Hit: “Radio Ga Ga” (1984) #16 from The Works
First Top 40 Hit: “The One I Love” (1987) #9 from Document
Last Top 40 Hit: “Bang and Blame” (1994) #19 from Monster
First Top 40 Hit: “Under the Bridge” (1991) #2 from Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Last Top 40 Hit: “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” (2011) #38 from I’m With You
Otis Redding
First Top 40 Hit: “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (1964) #21 from Otis Blue: Otis Reddin Sings Soul
Last Top 40 Hit: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (live) (1968) #21 from In Person at the Whiskey a Go Go
The Righteous Brothers
First Top 40 Hit: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” (1964) #1 from You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Last Top 40 Hit: “Dream On” (1974) #32 from Give It to the People
Smokey Robinson
First Top 40 Hit: “Baby That’s Backatcha” (1975) #26 from A Quiet Storm
Last Top 40 Hit: “One Heartbeat” (1987) #10 from One Heartbeat
The Rolling Stones
First Top 40 Hit: “Tell Me” (1964) #24 from The Rolling Stones (UK) /The Rolling Stones (England’s Newest Hit Makers) (US)
Last Top 40 Hit: “Rock and a Hard Place” (1989) #23 from Steel Wheels
Linda Ronstadt
First Top 40 Hit: “Long, Long Time” (1970) #25 from Silk Purse
Last Top 40 Hit: “All My Life” with Aaron Neville (1989) #11 from Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind
Santana
First Top 40 Hit: “Evil Ways” (1969) #9 from Santana
Last Top 40 Hit: “Into the Night” with Chad Kroeger (2007) #26 from Ultimate Santana
Bob Seger
First Top 40 Hit: “Ramblin’ Gamblin Man” (1968) #17 from Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
Last Top 40 Hit: “The Real Love” (1991) #24 from The Fire Inside
Del Shannon
First Top 40 Hit: “Runaway” (1961) #1 from Runaway
Last Top 40 Hit: “Sea of Love” (1981) #33 from Drop Down and Get Me
The Shirelles
First Top 40 Hit: “Tonight’s the Night” (1960) #39 from Tonight’s the Night
Last Top 40 Hit: “Don’t Say Goodnight and Mean Goodbye” (1963) #26 from Foolish Little Girl
Paul Simon
First Top 40 Hit: “Mother and Child Reunion” (1972) #4 from Paul Simon
Last Top 40 Hit: “You Can Call Me Al” (1986) #23 from Graceland
Simon & Garfunkel
First Top 40 Hit: “The Sound of Silence” (1965) #1 from Sounds of Silence
Last Top 40 Hit: “Wake Up Little Susie” (1982) #27 from The Concert in Central Park
Percy Sledge
First Top 40 Hit: “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1966) #1 from When a Man Loves a Woman
Last Top 40 Hit: “Take Time to Know Her” (1968) #11 from Take Time to Know Her
Sly and The Family Stone
First Top 40 Hit: “Dance to the Music” (1967) #8 from Dance to the Music
Last Top 40 Hit: “Time for Livin'” (1974) #32 from Small Talk
Linda Ronstadt
First Top 40 Hit: “Long, Long Time” (1970) #25 from Silk Purse
Last Top 40 Hit: “All My Life” with Aaron Neville (1989) #11 from Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind
Dusty Springfield
First Top 40 Hit: “I Only Want to Be with You” (1963) #12 from Stay Awhile/I Only Want to Be with You
Last Top 40 Hit: “Brand New Me” (1969) #24 from A Brand New Me
Bruce Springsteen
First Top 40 Hit: “Born to Run” (1975) #23 from Born to Run
Last Top 40 Hit: “Secret Garden” (1997) #19 from Jerry Maguire Soundtrack
The Staple Singers
First Top 40 Hit: “Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)” (1971) #27 from The Staple Swingers
Last Top 40 Hit: “Let’s Do it Again” (1975) #1 from Let’s Do it Again
Ringo Starr
First Top 40 Hit: “It Don’t Come Easy” (1971) #4 from Non-album Single
Last Top 40 Hit: “Wrack My Brain” (1981) #38 from Stop and Smell the Roses
Steely Dan
First Top 40 Hit: “Do It Again” (1972) #6 from Can’t Buy a Thrill
Last Top 40 Hit: “Time Out of Mind” (1981) #22 from Gaucho
Cat Stevens
First Top 40 Hit: “Wild World” (1971) #11 from Tea for the Tillerman
Last Top 40 Hit: “(Remember the Days of the) Old School Yard” (1977) #33 from Izitso
Rod Stewart
First Top 40 Hit: “Reason to Believe / Maggie May” (1971) #1 from Every Picture Tells a Story
Last Top 40 Hit: “Faith of the Heart” (1999) #3 from Patch Adams Soundtrack
Donna Summer
First Top 40 Hit: “Love to Love You Baby” (1975) #2 from Love to Love You Baby
Last Top 40 Hit: “This Time I Know It’s for Real” (1989) #7 from Another Place and Time
The Supremes
First Top 40 Hit: “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” (1963) #23 from Where Did Our Love Go
Last Top 40 Hit: “I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking” (1976) #40 from High Energy
James Taylor
First Top 40 Hit: “Fire and Rain” (1970) #3 from Sweet Baby James
Last Top 40 Hit: “Her Town Too” with J.D. Souther (1981) #11 from Dad Loves His Work
The Temptations
First Top 40 Hit: “The Way You Do the Things You Do” (1964) #11 from Meet the Temptations
Last Top 40 Hit: “Glasshouse” with Aaron Neville (1975) #37 from A Song for You
The Go-Go’s
First Top 40 Hit: “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981) #20 from Beauty and the Beat
Last Top 40 Hit: “Turn to You” (1984) #32 from Talk Show
Tina Turner
First Top 40 Hit: “Let’s Stay Together” (1983) #26 from Private Dancer
Last Top 40 Hit: “I Don’t Wanna Fight” (1993) #9 from What’s Love Got to Do with It
Todd Rundgren
First Top 40 Hit: “We Got to Get You a Woman” (1970) #20 from Runt
Last Top 40 Hit: “Can We Still Be Friends” (1978) #29 from Hermit of Mink Hollow
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
First Top 40 Hit: “Breakdown” (1977) #40 from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Last Top 40 Hit: “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (1993) #14 from Greatest Hits
First Top 40 Hit: “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) #33 from The Unforgettable Fire
Last Top 40 Hit: “Get On Your Boots” (2009) #37 from No Line on the Horizon
Van Halen
First Top 40 Hit: “You Really Got Me” (1978) #36 from Van Halen
Last Top 40 Hit: “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” (1995) #30 from Balance
The Ventures
First Top 40 Hit: “Walk, Don’t Run” (1960) #2 from Walk, Don’t Run
Last Top 40 Hit: “Hawaii Five-O” (1968) #4 from Hawaii Five-O
The Who
First Top 40 Hit: “Happy Jack” (1966) #24 from Happy Jack
Last Top 40 Hit: “Athena” (1982) #28 from It’s Hard
Jackie Wilson
First Top 40 Hit: “To Be Loved” (1958) #22 from He’s So Fine
Last Top 40 Hit: “I Get the Sweetest Feeling” (1968) #34 from I Get the Sweetest Feeling
Bill Withers
First Top 40 Hit: “Ain’t No Sunshine” (1971) #3 from Just as I Am
Last Top 40 Hit: “Lovely Day” (1977) #30 from Menagerie
Stevie Wonder
First Top 40 Hit: “Fingertips – Part 2” (1963) #25 from The 12 Year Old Genius – Recorded Live
Last Top 40 Hit: “Skeletons” (1987) #19 from Characters
The Yardbirds
First Top 40 Hit: “For Your Love” (1965) #6 from For Your Love
Last Top 40 Hit: “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” (1989) #11 from Non-album single
Yes
First Top 40 Hit: “Your Move” (1971) #40 from The Yes Album
Last Top 40 Hit: “Rhythm of Love” (1987) #40 from Big Generator
The (Young) Rascals
First Top 40 Hit: “Good Lovin'” (1966) #1 from The Young Rascals
Last Top 40 Hit: “Carry Me Back” (1969) #26 from See
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