Now celebrating their 60th anniversary, The Rolling Stones are both the world’s most quintessential rock outfit and an enduring cultural institution. To blaze a trail back to their origins is to revisit the earliest days of the British invasion. Drawing direct influence from blues, R&B, and early rock, they provided a hard-hitting counterpunch to The Beatles. With the chart-topping success of the 1965 single “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” came the first of many career-defining moments. (These are the most popular rock bands of all time.)
How does one even assess the numerous achievements of this seminal act? Consider their stretch of eight studio albums from 1971 to 1981, all of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200. Or their estimated overall record sales of 200 million. Combine that with timeless singles, top-grossing tours, major awards, popular concert documentaries, soundtrack appearances, signature branding, and more, and you get a tapestry that touches down on every aspect of popular culture, all while existing in a class of its own.
Personnel has changed over the years and so, too, have musical trends, but the band carried on – and still does. Led by the perennial duo of frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, they recently completed a European tour in the wake of drummer Charlie Watts’ death. Dubbed “Sixty,” it honored six decades of cultural relevance and downright classic output.
To determine the biggest pop hits by The Rolling Stones, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on song performances on the Billboard Hot 100 song chart. Songs were ranked based on an inverse score, where a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of Aug. 20, 2022. (These are artists with the most top 10 hits.)
From early hits such as “Get Off of My Cloud” through to 1980s’ smash singles like “Start Me Up” and beyond, the band’s most beloved songs will outlive us all. Well, maybe not Keith Richards. You did know he was a vampire, right?
Click here to see the 25 biggest hits by The Rolling Stones
Source: national_archives_of_norway / Flickr
25. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
> Entered Hot 100: November 9, 1974
> Peak position on Hot 100: #17 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
[in-text-ad]
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
24. She’s So Cold
> Entered Hot 100: September 27, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: #26 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
23. Mothers Little Helper
> Entered Hot 100: July 9, 1966
> Peak position on Hot 100: #8 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 9
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
22. Fool To Cry
> Entered Hot 100: April 24, 1976
> Peak position on Hot 100: #10 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 9
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Keystone Features / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
21. The Last Time
> Entered Hot 100: March 27, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #9 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
Source: Andrew Putler / Redferns via Getty Images
20. Rock And A Hard Place
> Entered Hot 100: November 4, 1989
> Peak position on Hot 100: #23 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
[in-text-ad]
Source: Joe Bangay / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
19. Tumbling Dice
> Entered Hot 100: April 29, 1972
> Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
18. Mixed Emotions
> Entered Hot 100: September 2, 1989
> Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
Source: David Cairns / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
17. Beast Of Burden
> Entered Hot 100: September 9, 1978
> Peak position on Hot 100: #8 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Keystone Features / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
16. 19th Nervous Breakdown
> Entered Hot 100: February 26, 1966
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10
Source: Davies / Getty Images
15. Time Is On My Side
> Entered Hot 100: October 17, 1964
> Peak position on Hot 100: #6 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
[in-text-ad]
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
14. Paint It, Black
> Entered Hot 100: May 14, 1966
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
13. Harlem Shuffle
> Entered Hot 100: March 15, 1986
> Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
12. Ruby Tuesday
> Entered Hot 100: January 21, 1967
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
11. Undercover Of The Night
> Entered Hot 100: November 12, 1983
> Peak position on Hot 100: #9 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
10. Waiting On A Friend
> Entered Hot 100: December 5, 1981
> Peak position on Hot 100: #13 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
[in-text-ad]
Source: Keystone Features / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
9. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
> Entered Hot 100: June 8, 1968
> Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
Source: Terry Disney / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
8. Get Off Of My Cloud
> Entered Hot 100: October 9, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
Source: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
7. Brown Sugar
> Entered Hot 100: May 1, 1971
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
6. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
> Entered Hot 100: June 12, 1965
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
5. Angie
> Entered Hot 100: September 8, 1973
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 16
[in-text-ad]
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
4. Honky Tonk Women
> Entered Hot 100: July 19, 1969
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Graham Wood / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
3. Emotional Rescue
> Entered Hot 100: July 5, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
Source: Central Press / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
2. Miss You
> Entered Hot 100: May 27, 1978
> Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
1. Start Me Up
> Entered Hot 100: August 22, 1981
> Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 24
Sponsored: Want to Retire Early? Here’s a Great First Step
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
