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This 1976 roots reggae classic has been remixed and sampled many times
The singer’s hit came at a time of pollution disasters and rising anguish about the planet
The band’s song from The Breakfast Club went on to spawn a multitude of cover versions
Written when the singer was just 19, this plaintive song has been covered extensively
The Platters’ 1955 song has cheap touches but real power, too — as Freddie Mercury showed in his 1987 version
Bacharach and David’s song has been covered many times, but few have matched Scott Walker’s visceral sadness
The 1969 song became a rallying cry against the Vietnam war and entrenched privilege
This bleak Nine Inch Nails track became the country singer’s swan song
Like the cuckoo call in the lyrics, this 13th-century song has continued to echo down the years
Released a few days before the Moon landing, Bowie’s song brought a downbeat mood to space travel
Legal wrangling meant that frontman Richard Ashcroft received only £1,000 for the track
Civil rights and dub reggae were among the strands in the track’s DNA
The song was a rare upbeat moment in the band’s repertoire of gothic dread
With its distinctive repeated phrase, the song has inspired covers from Brazilian pop to reggae
A young session singer brought energy and high drama to this foreboding track
Written by Jimmy Webb, the song has been covered by acts ranging from Kool & the Gang to Guns N’ Roses
The singer’s 1988 song threw everything into the mix — but her sponsors were displeased
The song went on to be covered by artists such as Damon Albarn — and Kinks frontman Ray Davies
The artist and musician’s 1981 song explored territory that was unfamiliar for a pop single
Cilla Black was not the first choice to sing the title song of the 1966 movie
Jason Crest’s 1968 flop had an unexpected afterlife when French singer Joe Dassin helped make it a standard
The track became one of The Beatles’ finest moments — thanks to Eric Clapton’s uncredited guitar playing
Audrey Hepburn’s original has been praised as the finest performance, though she had to fight to keep it in the film
A song that reflected a time of fear and anxiety has enjoyed enduring popularity
