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Our Top 10 Neil Sedaka Songs list looks at highlights of the catalog of one of the most prolific songwriters and performers in pop music history. Like a handful of artists such as Neil Diamond, Carole King, Frankie Valli and a few others, Neil Sedaka enjoyed tremendous success in the late 1950s and early 1960s with a string of hits and then revitalized his career in the 1970’s with a series of huge adult contemporary albums that celebrated blockbuster status and number one records. Neil Sedaka has enjoyed a career in which he has celebrated success as both a songwriter for other artists and also as a solo recording and performing artist himself. On both fronts, Neil Sedaka has enjoyed the success of multiple number one singles. Most extraordinarily, Neil Sedaka has released new studio albums in seven straight decades starting with his first album released in 1959 titled Rock with Sedaka and his most recent in 2016 entitled I Do It for Applause.
# 10 – Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen
We open up our top 10 Neil Sedaka songs list with an early Neil Sedaka big-time hit entitled ‘Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.” The song was released in 1961. ‘Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. The song ‘Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.” hit number six on the the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Neil Sedaka’s trademark harmonies were all over this one.
# 9 – Oh Carol
We continue with our top 10 Neil Sedaka songs by going back to his 1950’s period presenting his classic song “Oh Carol.” This amazing song would become Neil Sedaka’s first top 10 hit. The song was released in 1959. “Oh Carol,” hit number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. What many people may not realize is that the Carol in the song “Oh Carol,” was in fact Carole King. Neil Sedaka had dated Carole King in high school in the 1950s when she went by the name of Carole Klein.
# 8 -The Hungry Years
Its always fun to jump a couple of decades in between songs to showcase the differences and similarities in writing styles and productions of the same artist over time. “The Hungry Years,” was the title track to his spectacular 1975 album The Hungry Years. This is a beautiful poignant ballad that stands as one of the most wonderful songs ever written by Neil Sedaka.
# 7 – Lonely Night (Angel Face)
The Neil Sedaka song Lonely Night (Angel Face) is the first of two songs on this Neil Sedaka songs list which became number one hits for the Captain & Tennille. The song hit number one on the US Cash Box Top 100 in 1976. It also hit number one on the Billboard Easy Listening list, number one in Canada, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The two versions of this song are dramatically different and we have included both of them below.
# 6 – Solitaire
The heartbreaking Neil Sedaka song “Solitaire,” was the title track to Neil Sedaka’s 1972 album Solitaire. It had been a while since Neil Sedaka had a hit as he had not fared well during the late 1960s. Interestingly, the three musicians and engineer who worked with Neil Sedaka on the album, Graham Gouldman, Lol Creme, Kevin Godley and Eric Stewart would form the band 10cc a year later. So in many ways, this great 1972 album was a Neil Sedaka and 10cc album.
“Solitaire,” would be covered by many artists. The Carpenters had a huge hit with the song in 1975. Clay Aiken brought the house down with his live version during the second season of American Idol. A version so stunning that Neil Sedaka said “Solitaire,” would always be Clay Aiken’s song from that point on.
# 5 – Calendar Girl
As we head into the second half of our top 10 Neil Sedaka songs list, we travel back to the 1960s again. One of Neil Sedaka’s biggest hits of the 1960s was his great song “Calendar Girl.” The song was released as a single in 1961.” Calendar Girl,” would become Neil Sedaka’s first top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song went to number one on the Canadian music charts. It also became a number one hit in Japan.
# 4 – Bad Blood
The next four Neil Sedaka songs were tough to put in order. They are four fabulous songs that all went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. There of them were for Neil Sedaka and the fourth was a number one for The Captain & Tennille. There are all also very different from each other clearly defining just how brilliant a songwriter Neil Sedaka was and still is.
The first of the four presented here is the great Neil Sedaka and Elton John recording entitled “Bad Blood.” I remember hearing this song for the first time and being completely blown away by it. It’s such a great song on all fronts. Millions agreed as it went straight to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed at number one for three weeks in a row. “Bad Blood,” was released on the album The Hungry Years in 1975.
# 3 – Love Will Keep Us Together
If you were alive in 1975 and listening to AM radio, you pretty much heard this song every fifteen minutes. “Love Will Keep Us Together,” as recorded by The Captain & Tennille was the biggest song of the year. The song stayed at number one for almost the entire month of July during the summer of 1975. It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year also in 1975. Neil Sedaka’s first version appeared in 1973 on a UK only release. Neil Sedaka never had a hit on his own with the song, but the Captain & Tennille sure made up for it.
# 2 – Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Both Versions)
We were trying to pick which Neil Sedaka version of the song “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” we should include on this top 10 Neil Sedaka’s songs list. In the end, we decided to present both. Neil Sedaka’s first version of the song will always be the more famous of the two.”Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” was released in 1962. “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” would become Neil Sedaka’s first number one hit in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1975, Neil Sedaka recorded a new slow ballad version of the song that was very compelling. It was released on the album The Hungry Years. It was the second time Neil Sedaka would score a top 10 hit with the song as it peaked at number eight on the Billboard 100 thirteen years after it had hit number in 1962. Wow!
# 1 – Laughter In The Rain
As we come to a close on our top 10 Neil Sedaka songs list we present our favorite Neil Sedaka song. “Laughter In The Rain,” is just one of those songs that just makes you feel good. It’s soaring feel good melody is so captivating you just never get tired of it. The song was released as a single in 1974. The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed their for two weeks. It also hit number one in Canada.
![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
