In celebration of 25 years of my "Music Library" I have recently completed a ranking of my personal favorite 500 tracks. This also happens to be my 500th entry of my Music Library that began on September 24, 1982. In that time I have amassed 8,934 tracks among 1,099 different artists. In 2002, I created the "20 series" which featured my favorite 200 tracks from the previous two decades, however several older tracks prior to 1980 appeared. On '500', with a few exceptions, all tracks were released between 1981 and 2007.

Rankings are based purely on personal taste, how the track stands up through time and with repeat listening. This list is the outcome of over four months work selecting from over 1,000 possible songs to come up with this listing.

On the far left column is the ranking of my "20 series" from 2002. This is followed by the current '500' position. The artist is listed first, followed by the track title, year of release and (on the far right) the year the track appeared on my Music Library.

There will be no "points" given to any artist for appearing on '500'. My other "best of" series ("Decade".."Year-End".."Best Of" and "20") all had artists accumulating points for each track placed. This is not the case this time. My Top 200 Artist rankings are not affected by '500'.

Assuming that I am still adding to my Music Library in the coming years, I plan to update '500' every two years, thus the next update will be September 24, 2009.

I have removed the link to the "20 series" from my main page, but if you want to refer to it you may find it here..

Below the '500' listing you will find how many tracks an artist placed on the list if there are three or more. The most popular years for track inclusion and other items of interest pertaining to this listing.

'20'
'500'

Artist

Track Title

Year Of Release
Year On ML
--
1

Ulrich Schnauss

Goodbye

2007
2007
11
2

This Mortal Coil

Acid, Bitter And Sad

1987
1987
1
3

Tangerine Dream

A Matter Of Time

1987
1991
--
4

Finley Quaye

Dice

2003
2003
--
5

Coldplay

Speed Of Sound

2005
2005
--
6

De/Vision

No Tomorrow

2006
2006
8
7

Enya

Caribbean Blue

1991
1991
4
8

In The Nursery

Poema

1998
1998
--
9

Air

Run

2004
2004
--
10

Blank & Jones

Counting Clouds

2003
2004
40
11

Patrick O'Hearn

So Flows The Current

2001
2001
2
12

Dead Can Dance

In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated

1984
1990
17
13

Talk Talk

I Believe In You

1988
1998
--
14

William Orbit

Sea Green

2006
2006
--
15

Blank & Jones

The Hardest Heart (Ambient Mix)

2003
2004
--
16

Madonna

Forbidden Love

2005
2006
3
17

Tangerine Dream

Exit

1981
--
--
18

Hybrid

True To Form

2003
2003
12
19

Roxy Music

Avalon

1982
1983
7
20

Patrick O'Hearn

Liberty

1995
1995
15
21

Roxy Music

More Than This

1982
1983
--
22

Sia

Breathe Me

2004
2005
6
23

Tangerine Dream

Vanishing Blue

1996
1997
13
24

Depeche Mode

Enjoy The Silence

1990
1990
18
25

The Chameleons

Miracles And Wonders

2001
2001
9
26

Madonna

Frozen

1998
1998
81
27

The Beloved

Sweet Harmony

1993
1993
56
28

Tangerine Dream

Footbridge To Heaven

1984
1985
--
29

Brian Eno

Under

2005
2005
43
30

Delerium

Silence

1997
1997
---
31

Moby

When It's Cold I'd Like To Die

1995
2000
22
32

Patrick O'Hearn

Two Continents

1995
1995
--
33

Coldplay

Talk

2005
2005
36
34

Roxy Music

The Main Thing

1982
1986
33
35

Depeche Mode

I Feel You

1993
1993
21
36

Tangerine Dream

Church Theme

1983
1984
45
37

Craig Armstrong

This Love

1997
1998
19
38

Chris Isaak

Wicked Game

1989
1990
63
39

Recoil

Black Box (Complete)

2000
2000
--
40

Kate Bush

King Of The Mountain

2005
2005
41
41

Yello

Rubberbandman

1991
1991
59
42

The Smiths

How Soon Is Now?

1984
1985
72
43

William Orbit (Strange Cargo)

Million Town

1995
1996
29
44

Talk Talk

It's My Life

1984
1984
129
45

Tears For Fears

Sowing The Seeds Of Love

1989
1989
10
46

Mike + The Mechanics

Par Avion

1985
1985
23
47

Tangerine Dream

Kiew Mission

1981
1982
155
48

Rain Tree Crow

Blackwater

1991
1991
48
49

Talk Talk

It's Getting Late In The Evening

1986
1986
55
50

Clannad

Na Laethe Bhi

1993
1993
30
51

Peter Gabriel

Mercy Street

1986
1986
--
52

Camouflage

Perfect

2003
2003
73
53

David Sylvian

Orpheus

1987
1987
28
54

Peter Murphy

A Strange Kind Of Love

1989
1990
171
55

Massive Attack

Teardrop

1998
1998
94
56

Mike Oldfield

Only Time Will Tell

1995
1995
121
57

Peter Gabriel & Deep Forest

While The Earth Sleeps

1995
1995
52
58

New Order

True Faith

1987
1987
46
59

Talk Talk

The Rainbow/Eden/Desire

1988
1988
--
60

Tangerine Dream

Beach Scene

1981
1982
--
61

Tangerine Dream

Heartbreakers

1984
1985
14
62

Enya

Exile

1988
1989
--
63

Lisa Gerrard

Sanvean: I Am Your Shadow

1995
--
39
64

In The Nursery

Woman

1996
1996
80
65

Jon Anderson

Loved By The Sun

1985
1986
124
66

Enya

May It Be

2002
2002
177
67

Moya Brennan

Rinne Tu

1999
1999
140
68

Enya

Evening Falls...

1988
1989
74
69

Depeche Mode

Never Let Me Down Again

1987
1987
--
70

Howard Shore

Evenstar (feat. Isabel Bayrakdarian)

2002
2003
42
71

Electric Light Orchestra

Here Is The News

1981
1982
34
72

Electric Light Orchestra

Yours Truly, 2095

1981
1982
60
73

Mike Oldfield

Incantations (Excerpt)

1978
1984
25
74

Lori Carson & Graeme Revell

Fall In The Light

1995
1996
--
75

Rush

Nobody's Hero

1993
1994
--
76

R.E.M.

The Great Beyond

1999
2000
24
77

Depeche Mode

Stripped

1986
1986
51
78

Yes

Leave It

1983
1984
95
79

Brian Eno

Prophecy Theme

1984
1985
26
80

Roxy Music

Take A Chance With Me

1982
1983
37
81

Clannad

In A Lifetime

1985
1985
108
82

William Orbit

Piece In The Old Style 3

2000
2000
27
83

Tangerine Dream

White Eagle

1982
1982
184
84

Enigma

Sadeness Part 1

1990
1991
138
85

Yes

Owner Of A Lonely Heart

1983
1983
119
86

Ultravox

Lament

1984
1984
5
87

Pink Floyd

High Hopes

1994
1995
75
88

Frankie Goes To Hollywood

The Power Of Love

1984
1984
128
89

The House Of Love

Feel

1992
1992
65
90

Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke

Sacrifice

1998
1998
97
91

Rush

Mystic Rhythms

1985
1985
31
92

A-ha

Take On Me

1985
1985
61
93

Dead Can Dance

The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove

1993
1993
84
94

Camouflage

The Great Commandment

1988
1988
--
95

Shawn McDonald

Gravity

2004
2004
148
96

Sarah McLachlan

Into The Fire

1991
1992
32
97

Depeche Mode

Strangelove

1987
1987
126
98

Morrissey

Late Night, Maudlin Street

1988
1988
--
99

Kate Bush

An Architect's Dream

2005
2005
143
100

Ultravox

Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

1984
1984
20
101

Shriekback

This Big Hush

1985
1985
89
102

Deep Forest

Sweet Lullaby (Ambient)

1993
1994
--
103

Angelo Badalamenti

Mulholland Drive

2001
2002
192
104

Sarah McLachlan

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

1994
1994
88
105

Talk Talk

The Party's Over

1982
1982
--
106

Mike Oldfield

Let There Be Light

1995
1995
66
107

Tangerine Dream

Mothers Of Rain

1988
1988
--
108

Madonna

Drowned World/Substitute For Love

1998
1998
77
109

Rush

Manhattan Project

1985
1985
71
110

Jean Michel Jarre

Zoolook

1984
1992
--
111

Depeche Mode

Precious

2005
2005
69
112

U2

The Unforgettable Fire

1984
1984
157
113

Tears For Fears

Woman In Chains

1989
1989
--
114

Talk Talk

Have You Heard The News?

1982
1982
78
115

The Edge w/ Michael Brook

Heroine (Theme From 'Captive')

1986
1988
--
116

Psychedelic Furs

The Ghost In You

1984
1984
168
117

Johannes Schmoelling

Matjora Is Still Alive

1987
1987
--
118

Mojave 3

Bluebird Of Happiness (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)

2003
2006
53
119

Talk Talk

April 5th

1986
1986
--
120

William Orbit (Strange Cargo)

Montok Point

1995
1996
147
121

Dead Can Dance

Rakim

1994
1994
159
122

A-ha

Minor Earth Major Sky

2000
2000
--
123

Paul Simon

Another Galaxy

2006
2006
38
124

Clannad

Caislean Oir

1985
1985
154
125

Pet Shop Boys

Miserablism (Electro Mix)

1991
1992
79
126

Patrick O'Hearn

87 Dreams Of A Lifetime

1986
1987
--
127

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Flame Of Hope/Goddess Of Love

1986
1986
--
128

Michael Brook

Breakdown

1992
1992
--
129

Peter Gabriel

In Your Eyes

1986
1986
70
130

New Order

Vanishing Point

1989
1989
--
131

Air

Biological

2004
2004
160
132

Lightning Seeds

Sense

1992
1992
62
133

New Order

Fine Time

1989
1989
--
134

A-ha

The Sun Always Shines On T.V.

1985
1985
151
135

Pet Shop Boys

Opportunities

1986
1986
57
136

Moby

Harbour

2002
2002
67
137

A-ha

There's Never A Forever Thing

1988
1988
--
138

Patrick O'Hearn

Down Hill Racer

1992
1993
39
139

New Order

Player In The League

2002
2002
144
140

A-ha

I've Been Losing You

1986
1986
--
141

Dead Can Dance

Don't Fade Away

1994
1994
112
142

Single Gun Theory

Motherland

1994
1996
--
143

Sarah McLachlan

Vox

1988
1989
54
144

Madonna

Has To Be

1998
1998
--
145

Bryan Ferry

The 39 Steps

1994
1994
107
146

Yanni

Looking Glass

1986
1987
--
147

China Crisis

Wishful Thinking

1982
1984
104
148

Jean Michel Jarre

Oxygene 13

1997
1997
--
149

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Time Zones

1983
1983
145
150

Peter Gabriel

Don't Give Up

1986
1986
103
151

Depeche Mode

Blasphemous Rumours

1984
1985
--
152

New Order

Vicious Streak

2001
2001
--
153

Bel Canto

Mornixuur

1992
1993
--
154

Genesis

Home By The Sea/Second Home By The Sea

1983
1983
--
155

Tangerine Dream

Valley Of The Sun

1996
1997
--
156

Peter Gabriel

I Have The Touch

1982
1983
--
157

Electronic

Make It Happen

1999
1999
--
158

Camouflage

Close

1993
1995
125
159

Enya

Athair Ar Neamh

1995
1995
--
160

Delerium

Apparition

2006
2006
--
161

China Crisis

Jean Walks In Fresh Fields

1982
1985
115
162

Tangerine Dream

Cottage

1985
1986
68
163

Depeche Mode

Policy Of Truth

1990
1990
--
164

Duran Duran

Save A Prayer

1982
1984
--
165

Clan Of Xymox

One More Time

2003
2003
--
166

Electronic

Getting Away With It

1989
1990
149
167

Lightning Seeds

Perfect

1994
1994
91
168

Moya Brennan

Peacemaker

1999
1999
--
169

Patrick O'Hearn

Subtle Persuasion

1988
1988
--
170

Patrick O'Hearn

Faith And Endurance

1996
1996
--
171

Peter Gabriel

San Jacinto (Live)

1983
1983
--
172

William Orbit

Surfin'

2006
2006
47
173

Clannad

Now Is Here

1984
1984
--
174

Conjure One

Pilgrimage

2005
2005
96
175

Dead Can Dance

How Fortunate The Man With None

1993
1993
--
176

New Order

Jetstream

2005
2005
--
177

Yello

Desire

1985
1985
--
178

Yello

Tiger Dust

2003
2004
--
179

Electric Light Orchestra

Prologue/Twilight

1981
--
127
180

Camouflage

That Smiling Face

1988
1988
137
181

U2

Mysterious Ways

1991
1991
--
182

Tears For Fears

Head Over Heels

1984
1985
--
183

A-ha

Scoundrel Days

1986
1986
--
184

Tangerine Dream

The Spirit Of The Czar

2001
2001
--
185

Rush

Distant Early Warning

1984
1984
--
186

Depeche Mode

Walking In My Shoes

1993
1993
134
187

Patrick O'Hearn

Coba

1991
1991
--
188

Roxy Music

While My Heart Is Still Beating

1982
1982
--
189

Brian Eno

And Then So Clear

2005
2005
135
190

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Crush

1985
1985
--
191

Lightning Seeds

The Life Of Riley

1992
1992
--
192

Madonna

The Power Of Goodbye

1998
1998
--
193

The Cure

The Loudest Sound

2000
2000
--
194

Blank & Jones

Perfect Silence

2004
2004
165
195

Cocteau Twins

Cherry-Coloured Funk

1990
1991
--
196

David Sylvian

Cover Me With Flowers

2000
2001
--
197

Conjure One

Sleep

2002
2002
158
198

Delerium

Myth

2001
2001
76
199

Dire Straits

Brothers In Arms

1985
1985
--
200

Clan Of Xymox

Medusa

1986
1987
110
201

Electric Light Orchestra

Secret Messages

1983
1983
99
202

Electric Light Orchestra

Another Heart Breaks

1981
--
--
203

Delerium

Inner Sanctum

2000
2001
--
204

Eurythmics

Missionary Man

1986
1986
64
205

William Orbit (Strange Cargo)

The Name Of The Wave

1995
1996
44
206

Robert Plant

Little By Little

1985
1985
142
207

Yello

Lost Again

1983
1984
35
208

Crash Test Dummies

Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm

1993
1994
--
209

Tangerine Dream

Tangram - Set 2

1980
--
--
210

Ulrich Schnauss

Monday-Paracetamol

2004
2006
--
211

Depeche Mode

Personal Jesus

1990
1990
86
212

Depeche Mode

Shake The Disease

1985
1985
58
213

Genesis

Domino

1986
1986
--
214

U2

With Or Without You

1987
1987
183
215

Freur

Doot-Doot

1983
1983
113
216

Pet Shop Boys

West End Girls

1986
1986
120
217

Hans Zimmer

Gortoz A Ran-J'Attends

2001
2002
--
218

Jean Michel Jarre

Love Love Love

2000
2000
--
219

Tangerine Dream

Diamond Diary

1981
--
--
220

Patrick O'Hearn

Forever The Optimist

1986
1987
--
221

Thomas Dolby

She Blinded Me With Science

1983
1983
87
222

Rush

Subdivisions

1982
1982
--
223

U2

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

1984
1985
109
224

Jon & Vangelis

The Friends Of Mr. Cairo

1981
1984
--
225

Vangelis

Ask The Mountains

1995
1996
--
226

Amethystium

Tinuviel

2001
2004
--
227

Jean Michel Jarre

Aerozone

2003
2004
123
228

In The Nursery

The Living Tongue

1998
1999
--
229

Ulrich Schnauss

Passing By

2001
2005
--
230

China Crisis

Christian

1982
1985
85