About This List: This list focuses on the modern era of electronic music as well the culture and aesthetic associated with this genre of music, which begins with krautrock, particularly Kraftwerk. Some important avant-garde and experimental classical works from the pre- and post-Kraftwerk eras are also included. Disco and funk for the most part were organic musical styles and mostly do not fit in with the definition of electronic music. Hip hop, on the other hand, shares some similar roots and stylings of electronic music, though it has its own distinctive culture and aesthetic.
Criteria: These Electronic/Dance songs are meant to be taken as a basic starting point for a greatest songs discussion. All these electronic/dance songs are crucial to know for full appreciation of the history of electronic/dance music. The songs chosen and listed are based on popularity, influence, and acclaim.
*(LP treated like a single)
(List is in alphabetical order by artist name)
1. !!! Me and Giuliani Down By the School Yard (A True Story)2. 2 Bad Mice Bombscare3. 2 Live Crew Throw the D.4. 2 Unlimited Get Ready for This5. 4Hero Mr. Kirk's Nightmare6. 69 Boyz Tootsee Roll7. 808 State Pacific State8. A Guy Called Gerald Voodoo Ray9. A Number of Names Sharevari10. A Split Second Flesh11. Acen Trip II the Moon12. Adam Beyer Drum Code I13. Adam F. Circles14. Adamski Killer15. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force Planet Rock16. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force Looking for the Perfect Beat17. Afro-Rican Give It All You Got18. Age of Love Age of Love19. Air Sexy Boy20. Alex Reece Pulp Fiction21. Alexander Robotnick Problemes D'Amour22. Alice DeeJay Better Off Alone23. Altern-8 Activ-824. Aly-Us Follow Me25. Amber This is Your Night26. Amber Sexual (Thunderpuss 2000 remix)27. Amnesia Ibiza (Loco Acid remix)28. Amon Duul II Archangels Thunderbird29. Amon Tobin Four Ton Mantis30. Annie Heartbeat31. Aphex Twin Digeridoo32. Aphex Twin Windowlicker33. Aphex Twin Come To Daddy34. Aqua Barbie Girl35. Armand Van Helden U Don't Know Me36. Armand Van Helden The Funk Phenomena37. Art of Noise Close (To the Edit)38. Art of Noise Moments in Love39. Art of Trance Madagascar40. Artful Dodger Re-Rewind41. Ash Ra Tempel Light and Darkness: Light - Look at Your Sun42. Astral Projection Mahadeva43. ATB 9 PM44. Autechre Bike45. Autechre Dael46. Autechre Cavity Job47. Aztec Mystic Jaguar48. Azzido Da Bass Doom's Night49. Baby D. Let Me Be Your Fantasy50. Baltimora Tarzan Boy51. Basement Jaxx Red Alert52. Basement Jaxx Romeo53. Basement Jaxx Where's Your Head At?54. Basic Channel Phylyps Trak II55. BBC Radiophonic Workshop/Ron Grainer & Delia Derbyshire Doctor Who theme56. Beloved The Sun Rising57. Billie Ray Martin Your Loving Arms58. Bizarre Inc. I'm Gonna Get You59. Björk Human Behaviour60. Björk Venus As a Boy61. Black Box Ride on Time62. Black Box Strike It Up63. Black Box Everybody Everybody64. Black Dog Productions/Plaid Object Orient65. Boards of Canada Telephasic Workshop66. Bob Marley vs Funk Star Deluxe Sun is Shining (ATB remix)67. Bomb the Bass Beat Dis68. Bobby O She Has a Way 69. Brand New Heavies Dream on Dreamer70. Brian Eno Discreet Music71. Brian Eno America is Waiting72. Brian Eno 1/173. Bronski Beat Smalltown Boy74. Bruce Haack Party Machine75. BT Flaming June (BT & PVD remix)76. Bucketheads The Bomb77. Buggles Video Killed the Radio Star78. C + C Music Factory Gonna Make You Sweat79. Cabaret Voltaire Nag Nag Nag80. Cajmere Coffee Pot/Percolator81. Cameo Word Up82. Can Mushroom83. Can Spoon84. Can Oh Yeah85. Carl Craig At Les86. Cascada Everytime We Touch87. Cathy Dennis Touch Me88. Ce Ce Peniston Finally89. Cerrone Love in "C" Minor90. Charles Wuorinen Times Encomium91. Chemical Brothers Block Rockin' Beats92. Chemical Brothers Setting Sun93. Cher Believe94. Chicane Offshore95. Chicory Tip Son of My Father96. Chip E. It's House97. CJ Bolland Sugar Is Sweeter (Armand Van Helden remix)98. Cluster Rote Riki99. Coil The Anal Staircase100. Coldcut Say Kids, What Time Is It?
101. Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield People Hold On102. Colonel Abrams Trapped103. Confetti's The Sound of C 104. Corina Temptation105. Corona Rhythm of the Night 106. Crush Jellyhead (Motiv8 remix)107. Crystal Method Busy Child108. Crystal Waters Gypsy Woman109. Crystal Waters 100% Pure Love110. Culture Beat Mr. Vain 111. Cybersonik Technarchy 112. Cybotron Clear113. Cybotron Alleys of Your Mind114. D-Train You're the One for Me (Francois Kevorkian)
(Hubert Evans III remix)115. D.A.F. Der Mussolini 116. Daft Punk Da Funk117. Daft Punk Around the World118. Daft Punk One More Time119. Dance 2 Trance We Came In Peace 120. DaRude Sandstorm121. Dave Clarke Wisdom to the Wise 122. David Bowie Sound and Vision123. David Morales & The Bad Yard Club In De Ghetto124. Dead or Alive You Spin Me 'Round (Like a Record)125. Death in Vegas Aisha126. Debbie Deb When I Hear Music127. Deborah Cox Nobody's Supposed To Be Here (Hex Hector remix) 128. Deee-Lite Groove is in the Heart 129. Deep Dish The Future of the Future130. Deep Forest Sweet Lullaby 131. Delerium Silence (DJ Tiesto remix) 132. Dem 2 Destiny133. Depeche Mode Enjoy the Silence134. Depeche Mode Just Can't Get Enough135. Devo Whip It136. Dieselboy Invid 137. Dirty Vegas Days Go By 138. DJ Casper/Mr. C the Slide Man Cha Cha Slide139. DJ Hype Weird Energy140. DJ Miko What's Up?141. DJ Misjah & DJ Tim Access142. DJ Seduction Hardcore Heaven143. DJ Shadow What Does Your Soul Look Like? Part IV144. DJ Shadow In/Flux 145. DJ Trace Mutant Revisited146. DJ Zinc Super Sharp Shooter147. DNA feat. Suzanne Vega Tom's Diner148. Donna Summer I Feel Love149. Double 99 RIP Groove 150. Double Dee & Steinski The Payoff Mix151. Dust Brothers Chemical Beats152. Dynamix II Just Give the DJ a Break153. Ed Rush Bludclot Artattack 154. Eddie "Flashin'" Fowlkes Goodbye Kiss155. Edgar Froese Epsilon in Malaysian Pale156. Eiffel 65 Blue 157. Einsturzende Neubauten Yu-Gung (Futter Mein Ego)158. Electronic Getting Away With It159. EMF Unbelievable160. Energy 52 Cafe Del Mar (Three N One remix)161. Enigma Sadeness Part I162. Enya Orinoco Flow163. Erasure Chains of Love164. Eric B. & Rakim Paid In Full (Coldcut remix)165. Eric Prydz Call on Me166. Euromasters Where the Fuck is Amsterdam?167. Eurythmics Sweet Dreams 168. Evelyn "Champagne" King Love Come Down169. Evelyn Thomas High Energy170. Everything But the Girl Missing (Todd Terry remix)171. Faithless Insomnia 172. Farley "Jackmaster" Funk Love Can't Turn Around173. Fatboy Slim The Rockafeller Skank174. Fatboy Slim Praise You175. Fatboy Slim Everybody Needs a 303176. Felix Don't You Want Me?177. Felix Da Housecat Silver Screen Shower Scene178. Fennesz Endless Summer179. Fingers Inc. Can You Feel It?180. Fischerspooner Emerge181. Fragma Toca's Miracle182. Frankie Goes to Hollywood Relax 183. Frankie Knuckles Your Love184. Frankie Knuckles Tears185. Freeez I.O.U.186. Freestyle Don't Stop the Rock 187. Front 242 Headhunter 188. Future Sound of London Papua New Guinea189. Gary Numan Cars190. George Winston Sea191. Gigi D'Agostino I'll Fly With You 192. Gina G. Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit193. Global Communication 14:31194. Giorgio Moroder The Chase195. Giorgio Moroder From Here to Eternity196. Goldfrapp Ooh La La197. Goldie Inner City Life 198. Goodmen Give It Up 199. Gorillaz Clint Eastwood200. Grandmaster Flash The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel
201. Green Velvet La La Land 202. Groove Armada I See You Baby203. Hashim Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)204. Haddaway What is Love? 205. Hallucinogen LSD206. Happy Mondays Step On207. Happy Mondays Kinky Afro208. Hardfloor Hardfloor Acperience 209. Hazell Dean Searchin'210. Herbert Around the House 211. Herbie Hancock Rockit212. Hot Butter Popcorn213. Human League Don't You Want Me? 214. Human Resource Dominator215. Humanoid Stakker Humanoid216. Humate Love Stimulation (Paul Van Dyk remix) 217. I-F Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass (Alden Tyrell remix) 218. iiO Rapture 219. Immortals Techno-Syndrome (Theme from "Mortal Kombat")220. Information Society What's on Your Mind? 221. Inner City Big Fun222. Inner City Good Life 223. Innerzone Orchestra Bug in the Bassbin224. Irene Cara Flashdance...What a Feeling225. Jam & Spoon Stella226. James White aka James Black Contort Yourself227. Jamiroquai Space Cowboy228. Jaydee Plastic Dreams229. Jean-Michel Jarre Oxygene Part IV230. Jeff Mills The Bells231. Jesse Saunders On and On 232. J.J. Fad Supersonic233. Joe Smooth Promised Land234. Joey Beltram Energy Flash 235. Johnny Jungle Johnny Jungle236. Jonny L Piper 237. Josh Wink Higher State of Consciousness238. Jungle Brothers I'll House You239. Junior Senior Move Your Feet240. Justin Timberlake SexyBack241. Justice D.A.N.C.E.242. Karlheinz Stockhausen Gesang der Junglinge243. Karlheinz Stockhausen Elektronische Studie II244. Kitaro Shimmering Light245. Klaus Schulze Satz Ebene246. Klein & M.B.O. Dirty Talk247. KLF America: What Time is Love? 248. KLF Justified and Ancient249. KLF 3 a.m. Eternal250. Kraftwerk Numbers251. Kraftwerk Autobahn252. Kraftwerk Trans-Europe Express253. Kraftwerk The Model254. Kraftwerk Home Computer255. Kraftwerk Elecktrisches Roulette256. Kraftwerk Von Himmel Hoch257. Kraftwerk Klingklang258. Kylie Minogue Can't Get You Out of My Head259. L.A. Style James Brown is Dead260. La Bionda One For Me, One For You261. La Bouche Be My Lover262. Lady Gaga Poker Face263. Lasgo Something264. Laura Branigan Gloria265. LCD Soundsystem Losing My Edge 266. LCD Soundsystem Daft Punk is Playing At My House267. Leftfield Song of Life268. Leftfield Not Forgotten269. Leftfield Open Up270. Lennie De Ice We Are I.E.271. LFO LFO272. Lil' Louis French Kiss273. Lil' Suzy Take Me in Your Arms274. Lime Babe, We're Gonna Love Tonight275. Lime On the Grid276. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam I Wonder If I Take You Home277. Lisette Melendez Together Forever 278. Livin' Joy Dreamer279. Londonbeat I've Been Thinking about You280. Lords of Acid I Sit on Acid281. Los Del Rio Macarena (Bayside Boys remix)282. Louis & Bebe Barron Forbidden Planet theme283. LTJ Bukem Demon's Theme284. LTJ Bukem Music285. L'Trimm Cars with the Boom 286. M Pop Muzik287. M People Movin' On Up288. M-Beat feat. General Levy Incredible289. Madonna Into the Groove290. Madonna Holiday291. Madonna Ray of Light292. Madonna Vogue293. Madonna Hung Up294. Man Parrish Hip Hop, Be Bop295. Mainx 88 to Piano 296. Mantronix Needle to the Groove 297. Manuel Gottsching E2-E4*298. Marcia Griffiths Electric Boogie '89299. Marky Mark Good Vibrations 300. Marmion Schoneberg
301. M/A/R/R/S Pump Up the Volume302. Marshall Jefferson Move Your Body303. Massive Attack Unfinished Sympathy304. Massive Attack Protection305. Massive Attack Teardrop306. Masters @ Work To Be In Love307. MC A.D.E. Bass Rock Express308. Meat Beat Manifesto Strap Down Part II309. Mescalinum United We Have Arrived 310. Metalheadz Terminator311. M.I.A. Galang312. Michael Jackson Billie Jean313. Mighty Dub Katz Magic Carpet Ride314. Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells315. Ministry Jesus Built My Hotrod316. Miquel Brown So Many Men, So Little Time317. Miss Kittin & The Hacker Frank Sinatra318. Moby Go319. Moby Thousand320. Model 500 No UFO's 321. Modjo Lady322. Moloko Sing It Back323. Morton Subotnick Silver Apples of the Moon Parts A and B324. Mory Kante Ye Ke Ye Ke325. Mouse on Mars Twift Shoeblade326. Mousse T. vs Hot N Juicy Horny327. Mr. Fingers Mystery of Love328. Mr. Fingers Washing Machine329. Mr. Oizo Flat Beat330. Nalin & Kane Beachball 331. Natural Born Chillers Rock the Funky Beat 332. Nayobe Please Don't Go333. Neu! Negativland334. New Horizon Find the Path335. New Order Blue Monday336. New Order Confusion337. New Order Bizarre Love Triangle338. Newcleus Jam On It339. Nightcrawlers Push the Feeling On340. Nightmares on Wax Aftermath341. Nicki French Total Eclipse of the Heart 342. Nine Inch Nails Closer343. Nine Inch Nails Head Like a Hole344. No Mercy Where Do You Go?345. Normal Warm Leatherette346. Ofra Haza I'm Nin'Alu347. Olive You're Not Alone348. Omni Trio Renegade Snares349. Orb A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld350. Orb Little Fluffy Clouds351. Orbital Chime352. Orbital Halcyon + On + On353. Origin Unknown Valley of the Shadows354. Outhere Brothers Boom Boom Boom355. Oval Do While356. O-Zone Dragostea Din Tei357. Paperclip People Throw358. Patrick Cowley Megatron Man359. Paul Hardcastle 19360. Paul Oakenfold Southern Sun361. Paul Van Dyk For An Angel362. Peech Boys Don't Make Me Wait363. Pet Shop Boys It's a Sin364. Pet Shop Boys West End Girls365. Pete Heller Big Love366. Phuture Acid Tracks367. Pigbag Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag368. Planet Soul Set U Free369. Plastikman Spastik370. Portishead Sour Times371. Portishead Glory Box372. Praga Khan Injected With a Poison373. Primal Scream Rocks374. Primal Scream Higher Than the Sun 375. Primal Scream Loaded376. Prince 1999377. Prodigy Charly378. Prodigy Firestarter 379. Prodigy Breathe380. Propellerheads History Repeating381. Pump Panel Confusion (Pump Panel Reconstruction remix)382. Quad City DJ's C'mon 'N Ride It383. Rapture House of Jealous Lovers 384. Raze Break 4 Luv385. Real McCoy Another Night386. Real McCoy Run Away387. Reel 2 Real I Like To Move It388. Renegade Terrorist389. Rhythim is Rhythim Strings of Life390. Rhythim is Rhythim Nude Photo391. Rick Wakeman Catherine of Aragon392. Right Said Fred I'm Too Sexy393. Robert Armani Circus Bells394. Robert Hood Minus395. Robert Miles Children396. Robin S. Show Me Love397. Ron Trent Altered States398. Roni Size & Reprazent Brown Paper Bag399. Rotterdam Termination Source Poing 400. Royal House Can You Party?
401. Royksopp Poor Leno402. Rozalla Everybody's Free403. Run-D.M.C. vs Jason Nevins It's Like That404. Rune Calabria405. Ryuichi Sakamoto Riot in Lagos406. Sabres of Paradise Smokebelch II 407. Saint Etienne Only Love Can Break Your Heart408. Sasha Xpander 409. Second Phase Mentasm410. S'Express Theme from S'Express411. Shamen Move Any Mountain412. Shamen Ebeneezer Goode413. Shannon Let the Music Play414. Sharkey & Hixxy Toy Town415. Shut Up & Dance Raving I'm Raving416. Shy FX Shake Ur Body417. Silver Apples Oscillations418. Skinny Puppy Assimilate419. SL2 On a Ragga Tip 420. Slam Positive Education 421. Sleezy D I've Lost Control422. Smart E's Sesame's Treet423. SNAP! The Power424. SNAP! Rhythm is a Dancer425. Sneaker Pimps Spin Spin Sugar (Armand Van Helden Remix)426. Soft Cell Tainted Love427. Sonique It Feels So Good428. Soul II Soul Back to Life429. Soul II Soul Keep on Movin'430. Source You Got the Love431. Space Magic Fly432. Sparks The Number One Song in Heaven433. Speedy J Pull Over434. Spiller Groovejet 435. Squarepusher My Red Hot Car436. St. Germain Alabama Blues (Revisited)437. Stacey Q Two of Hearts438. Stardust Music Sounds Better With You439. Stereo MC's Connected440. Steve Halpern Spectrum Suite441. Steve "Silk" Hurley Jack Your Body442. Stone Roses Fools Gold443. Strafe Set it Off444. Suicide Frankie Teardrop445. Suicide Dream Baby Dream446. Sven Vath L'Esperanza447. Sylvester (You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real448. T La Rock & Jazzy J It's Yours449. T. Power vs MK-Ultra Mutant Jazz450. T-99 Anasthasia 451. Tag Team Whoomp! There It Is452. Talvin Singh Light453. Tangerine Dream Alpha Centauri454. Tangerine Dream Rubycon Part I455. Tangerine Dream Atem456. Tangerine Dream Phaedra457. Technohead I Wanna Be a Hippy458. Technotronic Pump Up the Jam459. Telepopmusik Breathe460. Telex Moskow Diskow461. Terrorist The Chopper462. Terry Riley A Rainbow in Curved Air463. Throbbing Gristle 20 Jazz Funk Greats464. Throbbing Gristle Zyklon B Zombie465. Time Zone World Destruction466. Tina Moore Never Gonna Let You Go '97 (Kelly G remix)467. Todd Terry Weekend468. Tomita Snowflakes Are Dancing469. Tori Amos Professional Widow (Armand Van Helden remix)470. Tramaine Fall Down (Spirit of Love)471. Trans X Living on Video472. Transglobal Underground Shimmer473. Tricky Black Steel 474. Tricky Aftermath Version I475. Tubeway Army Are Friends Electric?476. Ultra Nate Free (Mood II Swing remix)477. Ultravox Hiroshima Mon Amour478. Ultravox Slow Motion479. Underground Resistance The Final Frontier480. Underworld Born Slippy .NUXX481. Underworld Rez482. Underworld Cowgirl483. UNKLE Rabbit in Your Headlights484. Utah Saints Something Good485. Vangelis Theme from "Chariots of Fire" 486. Vengaboys We Like to Party487. Visage Frequency 7488. Walter Carlos Two-Part Invention in D Minor489. Walter Carlos Two-Part Invention in F Major490. Wendy Carlos Spring491. Whitney Houston I'm Every Woman492. Whigfield Saturday Night493. Yanni Keys to Imagination494. Yello Oh Yeah495. Yellow Magic Orchestra Computer Game496. Yellow Magic Orchestra Rydeen497. Yellow Magic Orchestra Kimi Ni Mune Kyun498. Yellow Magic Orchestra Behind the Mask499. Young Disciples Apparently Nothin'500. Zombie Nation Kernkraft 400
Honorable Mentions
Influential recordings on Electronic/Dance music, though not all are electronic.
Augustus Pablo King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown
BBC/University of Manchester, Autumn 1951 Baa Baa Black Sheep and In the Mood on Ferranti Mark I computer, a commercial version of the Baby machine.
Beach Boys Good Vibrations
Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows
Double Exposure Ten Percent
Emerson, Lake & Palmer Lucky Man
Goodman & Buchanan The Flying Saucer
Incredible Bongo Band Apache
James Brown Funky Drummer
John Oswald Plunderphonics (1988 EP and 1989 album)
Joy Division Love Will Tear Us Apart
Laurie Anderson O Superman (For Massenet)
Leon Kirschner String Quartet No. 3
Manu DiBango Soul Makossa
Stevie Wonder Superstition
The Who Baba O'Riley
Winstons Amen, Brother
