This 1981 single was stuck at No. 2 on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks - with nine of those parked behind Olivia Newton-John's "Physical." It is thus tied with Missy Elliott's "Work It" for most weeks at No. 2 without ever reaching the top.

This Dr. Dre-produced track was Mary J. Blige's first Hot 100 No. 1, spending six weeks on top at the end of 2001. Just as significant are Blige's use of words like "crunk," "dancery" and "hateration," which were new to most listeners' ears at the time. "Family" later soundtracked a Propel Fitness Water commercial.

Initially a No. 42 pop hit for John Michael Montgomery, "I Swear" was later recorded by this R&B; quartet with producer David Foster. The song, written by Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers, promptly hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 on May 21, 1994 and remained there for 11 consecutive weeks.

Penned by Prince and supported with a star-making video, "Nothing Compares 2 U" spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 in 1990. Sinead O'Connor used the popularity she gained with the track to express her political views during an incendiary performance on "Saturday Night Live" in 1992, during which she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II.

This future wedding reception staple was at the time Lionel Richie's third No. 1 in a span of two years. But fans were puzzled over the Jamaican chant in the middle, about which Richie told Record Mirror, "They don't really mean anything, but you know what they mean-you know what I'm saying?" Whatever he was saying, the 1983 song spent four weeks atop the chart.

Long before the Plain White T's said "Hey There" to Delilah, the Knack penned this hit about a teenage crush. Lead singer Doug Fieger never managed to hook up with Sharona, but she did inspire him to write the No. 1 song of 1979, which stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. Since it topped the Hot 100, the song has appeared in a number of movies, including "Reality Bites," and has been covered by everyone from Nirvana to Italian metal band Eldritch. In 2006, the band even filed suit against Run-D.M.C. for sampling the song in the rap act's 1986 single "It's Tricky." The band never replicated the success it had with "Sharona"; follow-up single "Good Girls Don't" peaked at No. 11.

Going solo after penning a hit for Kenny Rogers ("Lady") and the title song for the film "Endless Love" (a crossover No. 1 duet with Diana Ross), Richie wrote and performed three more No. 1 crossovers, including 1985's "Say You, Say Me." The song spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.

In the mid-'70s, with the rhythm of disco still dominating the airwaves, this Ohio rock band was often asked to play some "funky music" during live gigs. In 1976, the group took the advice to heart, switched up its sound and recorded a dancefloor smash that spent three weeks at No. 1 and gave the hecklers exactly what they asked for.

One of the biggest enigmas in popular music, this track also carries one of the most famous refrains: "You're so vain/I bet you think this song is about you." Simon has never publicly admitted who the song is about. Regardless, it was a huge hit, spending three weeks at No. 1 in January 1973.

The first of two No. 1s (and second of seven top 10s) from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album, "Billie Jean" has all the elements of Jackson in his prime, particularly a compelling storyline ("the kid is not my son") and an insanely catchy melody atop an insistent beat. His "Moonwalk"-featuring performance of the song on the Motown 25 TV special forever cemented his superstardom.