1. QUEEN | BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY | Listen

According to Brian May, Freddie had the whole 'mini opera' in his head when the band came to write it, from the elaborate guitar riffs to the Scaramouch. Hear the Brian May interview from the Album Chart Show.

2. PROCOL HARUM | WHITER SHADE OF PALE | Listen

'Sixth member' Keith Reid came up with the idea for the 1967 debut hit. He overheard someone say 'You've gone a whiter shade of pale' and the phrase stuck.

3. JOHN LENNON | IMAGINE | Listen

"It was Ascot, England, early-summer, and we invited some friends and had breakfast, and then we'd just go right into the studio. That's how Imagine was made."

4. CLIFFORD T WARD | HOME THOUGHTS FROM ABROAD | Listen

Terry Wogan's favourite, he says, "He was a fine British songwriter and singer and much underrated." The song is based on a poem by Robert Browning.

5. LED ZEPPELIN | STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN | Listen

Fusing folk and metal, Stairway has launched a thousand bedroom guitarists, is one of the most played songs, yet was never released as a single.

6. BEATLES | YESTERDAY | Listen

Yesterday only reached number 8 in the UK singles chart but stole the top spot in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Hongkong and much of Europe.

7. BEATLES | HEY JUDE | Listen

Hey Jude was one of the first rock singles to smash the standard running time of about 3 minutes, lasting over 7. Read the George Harrison documentary.

8. CLIFF RICHARD | WE DON'T TALK ANY MORE | Listen

"There's a certain sound about a pop rock record, it's hard to say what, but it makes you like it instantly." Read more on BBC News' Cliff Richard interview.

9. DUSTY SPRINGFIELD | YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME | Listen

"This song is as familiar today as it was when Dusty was stunning the world with her encrusted mascara, bisexuality and beehive hairdo." More about Dusty.

10. THE HOLLIES | HE AIN'T HEAVY | Listen

"It was great when He Ain't Heavy was a number 1 hit everywhere. It even managed it twice, when we re-released it in the 1980s." Tony Hicks, 2001