Thousands of you helped us select the ultimate Top Ten music years in the run up the show with Simon Mayo on 2nd Jaunary 2006. Once again you'll be able to vote for your choice via the Radio 2 website or by texting your ultimate year to 88291. For now, find out more about your Top Ten choices before we re-open the vote on the big day!
1957
Lonnie Donegan brings Skiffle to a wider audience, Elvis gets his first #1 hit with All Shook Up, Paul Anka hits the top with his ode to Diana, Guy Mitchell and Tommy Steele both get to #1 with Singing The Blues.
The Beach Boys release Pet Sounds and the Beatles reply with their ground-breaking Revolver LP, Dusty gets her first (and only) #1, psychedelia reaches the charts with the Byrd's Eight Miles High, John Lennon asserts that The Beatles are bigger than Jesus and they burn Beatles records in the USA.
Leave your comment now:1960s Find out more: 1960s Voted 4/50
1967
The Beatles unleash Sgt Pepper, perfectly timed to coincide with the Summer of Love. Procol Harum turn the charts A Whiter Shade Of Pale, The Pink Floyd release their debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Radio 1 is launched, the first large scale open air rock festival takes place in Monterey, California and Otis Redding dies in a plane crash.
Leave your comment now:1960s Find out more: 1960s Voted 1/50
1969
Led Zeppelin's first album sets a new benchmark for hard rock, and introduces frontman Robert Plant to the world, David Bowie releases Space Oddity, the Rolling Stones play a concert at Altamont but regret recruiting Hell's Angels as security and Woodstock festival becomes the high water mark of the peace and love generation.
Pink Floyd release Dark Side Of The Moon - which becomes one of the most enduring albums of all time, Mike Oldfield launches Virgin Records with Tubular Bells, Island Records releases Catch A Fire, Bob Marley's debut for the label - Reggae crosses over into the mainstream, Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody becomes a seasonal classic, McCartney releases what many regard as his finest solo album, Band On The Run.
Leave your comment now:1970s Find out more: 1970s Voted 3/50
1976
Punk launches with a vengeance - The Pistols Anarchy In The UK tour features The Clash, The Damned and the Heartbreakers, Peter Frampton's double-set Frampton comes Alive! Becomes the most-successful live album in rock history, selling 25 million copies, Abba enjoy three No.1s in the UK , culminating in Dancing Queen.
Leave your comment now:1970s Find out more: 1970s Voted 7/50
1979
The Police get their first #1, The Jam keep the Mods happy with a string of hits, Blondie release the classic album Parallel Lines, Sid Vicious finally manages to kill himself in February, The Special AKA are at the forefront of the Ska revival explosion and Quadrophenia revives the Mod image in the movies, Rap arrives with the release of Rapper's Delight by the Sugarhill Gang.
Radio 1 bans Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax following a one-man campaign by DJ Mike Read, U2's Unforgettable Fire album debuts at the UK no.1 slot and 36 artists gather to record Do They Know It's Christmas? for Bob Geldof, Bananarama brought a bit of girly fun to the charts.
Oasis release their seminal album Definitely Maybe, Kurt Cobain commits suicide, Wet Wet Wet's Love Is All Around stays at the top for 15 weeks, the Beatles Live At The BBC is released.
Ex-soldier James Blunt storms the chart with You're Beautiful, Live 8 reunites Pink Floyd, Kate Bush releases her first album in 12 years. Madonna also returned to the charts wearing nothing but her knickers, have first Hung Up the rest of her clothes.
