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Song · Dire Straits

“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits

From the album Dire Straits (1978)

“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits appears on 67 radio countdowns from 12 stations between 1978 and 2026. It was first released in 1978 on the album Dire Straits. Its best result is #6 on the Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #75 alternative song of all time.

67countdowns
12stations
#6best position
0#1 finishes
11top 10 finishes
1978–2026years charted

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

All Rock Formats

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1978 28 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's All-Time Festive Fifty (1978) 50
1987 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1987) 100
1988 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1988) 100
1990 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1990) 100
1991 496 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition) 1002
1991 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1991) 100
1991 224 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1991) 500
1992 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1992) 100
1993 24 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1993) 100
1994 21 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1994) 100
1995 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1995) 100
1996 19 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1996 81 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 26 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1998 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1998) 100
1999 32 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
2000 25 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2001 38 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 103 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2002 42 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2002) 100
2003 50 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2004 81 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2004 70 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2004 45 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2005 297 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 62 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Songs of All-Time (May 2005) 100
2005 33 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2005) 100
2006 124 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 24 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2007 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2008 30 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 91 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 24 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2010 417 WXPN WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010) 885
2011 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2012 18 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 64 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 19 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2014 100 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 12 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2015 14 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2016 13 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2017 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2018 400 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2019 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2020 67 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2020) 100
2021 41 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 236 WCSX WCSX Rock & Roll 500 (2021) 499
2021 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2021) 100
2022 282 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 85 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 157 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 12 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2022) 100
2023 12 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2023) 100
2023 81 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 76 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2024 149 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 12 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2024) 100
2024 414 KQRS KQRS KQ 500 (2024) 499
2024 72 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2025 42 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2025 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025) 100
2025 63 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2026 45 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500

Also listed as: Sultans Of Swing.