16 Classic Rock Songs That Completely Define The Genre
Classic rock is perhaps the most influential subgenre in modern music history. There aren’t many genres of music that gained popularity after the 1960s and 70s that weren’t directly influenced by the rock music of that time, and some of the greatest musical talents in all music history were classic rock pioneers.
The way they mastered their instruments and put together an ensemble of sound unlike any music that had been released before, bands like The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and AC/DC, albeit for very different reasons, had teenagers and their parents all up in arms. With such a broad sound from a massively diverse group of artists, it’s hard to narrow the genre down to any number of songs that stick out as the greatest the genre has to offer, many of which are from classic rock’s greatest albums.
There could be a list of 100 songs that define the genre, and it would still be difficult to figure out which artists and songs to cut. That being said, any variation of 100 classic rock jams would be incomplete without these 16 songs, which aided in making the genre as well-known and well-loved as it is today.
1
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones
One of the greatest bands to ever do it, The Rolling Stones were one of the most important pioneers of classic rock. They had a whole slew of hits which contributed to the genre and definitely influenced the music of some of their peers, but “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is chief among them. The song was released as a single on the US version of their 1965 album, Out of Our Heads, where it spent four weeks as the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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Kicking off with one of the most iconic guitar riffs of Keith Richard’s career, followed by Mick Jagger’s soft and smooth vocals as the song continues to build up, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is a defining classic, not only for the Stones but for the genre as well. It is the most covered song in their discography, with notable covers that span decades, from Otis Redding to Devo and even Britney Spears.
2
Under Pressure
David Bowie & Queen
I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a collaboration as incredible as David Bowie and Queen’s track, “Under Pressure.” Reaching the top ten in the charts of ten different countries, this song exemplifies everything that makes both David Bowie great, and everything that makes Queen great. The combination of Bowie and Freddie Mercury’s vocals, particularly in the bridge where they trade off the lead; I get chills every time:
Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence, but it don’t work
Keep coming up with love, but it’s so slashed and torn
Why, why, why?
Love, love, love, love, love
Insanity laughs under pressure we’re breaking
What follows that bridge is a vocal plea from Mercury, incomplete without the compliment of Bowie’s harmonies – two of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century coming together in one beautiful song. Even beyond the vocals, John Deacon’s bass line intro for “Under Pressure” was famously sampled by Vanilla Ice for his single, “Ice Ice Baby.”
The sampling repopularized the song (not that it needed it; it never really stopped being a hit), bringing it back to the forefront of popular music discourse. Every part of this track is phenomenal; it’s the kind of song that played a huge role in the careers of everyone involved.
3
Baba O’Riley
The Who
One of the quintessential classic rock bands, The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” is not only one of their greatest songs, but one of the greatest rock songs ever written. Written by the band’s legendary guitarist, Pete Townshend, this song had everyone singing about “teenage wasteland.” Along with an electric organ, this song is driven primarily by Townshend’s guitar, both the simple chord progressions and the plucked riffs, as well as an insane solo.
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The song was released as a single for the band’s fifth studio album, Who’s Next, but only in a few European countries; it was not released as a single in either the UK or the US, just as a part of the album. Clearly, however, that was not a deterrent, as the anthem remains The Who’s most streamed song on Spotify, and continues to play on radio stations and in dive bars across the US. In sum, “Baba O’Riley” is the kind of classic that absolutely transcends time.
4
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Within the subgenre of classic rock, there is the subgenre of Americana, of which Bruce Springsteen is the king – and the boss. The title track and lead single from his 1975 album, “Born to Run” is a song in which every single instrument, including the vocals and eclectic additions like the glockenspiel, stands out. One of the most iconic aspects of this song is that the solo isn’t a guitar riff or a drum fill, but an absolutely earth-shattering saxophone solo by the legendary Clarence Clemons.
“Born to Run” is an integral part of pop culture in general, and it is the kind of song that just makes you feel. The lyrics, the soul and emotion in Springsteen’s voice, and the distinct chord progression of the intro are all pieces of a unique puzzle that surely played a part in dubbing Springsteen ‘The Boss.’ The song went double platinum in the US, and remains one of the greatest moments of Springsteen’s over half-century long career.
5
Stairway To Heaven
Led Zeppelin
If there is a guitar riff that every aspiring guitarist and fan of rock music longs to learn, it’s Jimmy Page’s hypnotic introduction to “Stairway to Heaven.” Even the name alone suggests that this song is one of legendary status. If ever there were a song that earned Page the title of one of the single most versatile and impressive guitarists since the instrument was invented, this is it. Not to mention Robert Plant’s equally broad vocal range, “Stairway to Heaven” is a classic for any number of reasons.
Even the name alone suggests that this song is one of legendary status.
The eight-minute track is almost like three songs in one, starting out as a soft melody featuring the recorder – yes, the very same recorder that you learned to play in second grade music class. The song starts to pick up then, slowly climbing into a sort of transition phase, before ending on a massive high, reminding the listener that this is, in fact, still Led Zeppelin: a hardcore rock band at their very core.
6
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
One of the integral bands to popularize psychedelic rock, Pink Floyd was arguably the most unconventional classic rock band to come out of the ’70s. “Wish You Were Here” is most definitely a large part of the reason why, with David Gilmour’s soothing vocals preceded by his iconic guitar riff in the song’s introduction, it’s hard not to love this song. Often thought of as a tribute to former bandmate and founding member of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, “Wish You Were Here” admittedly deviates a bit from their typical sound, but contributes heavily to their identity as a band nonetheless.
One of the integral bands to popularize psychedelic rock, Pink Floyd was arguably the most unconventional classic rock band to come out of the ’70s.
The title track of their much-anticipated 1975 album, after the massive success that was The Dark Side of the Moon, “Wish You Were Here” was certified double platinum in the UK. It is one of the most important songs in Pink Floyd’s discography, and one that incorporated the fundamental building blocks of classic rock in a more conventional way than much of their other work.
7
Runnin’ With The Devil
Van Halen
Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his band, Van Halen, were responsible for a number of guitar-driven hits. “Runnin’ with the Devil” is certainly at the top of that list. It was released as the second single from their smash-hit self-titled debut, and though it only peaked at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100, it had the impact of a top ten hit. It was among the songs that launched Van Halen into stardom, being that it was the most popular original single from the album that put them on the radar.
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Even in the strumming throughout the verses, we can hear Eddie Van Halen’s true talent as a guitarist, with a steady command of his instrument and some classic electric guitar sound. It’s the solo, however, that stops the listener dead in their tracks. There isn’t much of a smooth transition either in or out of the solo, but Van Halen is the kind of guitarist that makes it work anyway.
8
Sweet Emotion
Aerosmith
My favorite opening credits of any movie – and one of the greatest opening credit scenes from an objective standpoint as well – are Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, set to Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion.” The steady bass line and beat created from a number of nontraditional modes of percussion including a sugar packet, the introduction of “Sweet Emotion” is one that, with the help of Linklater, transports you to a summer day in 1975, even if you weren’t yet alive in 1975.
The lead single from Aerosmith’s Toys in the Attic, “Sweet Emotion” surprisingly peaked at just 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it had the cultural impact of a top ten hit. With the experimental percussion in the opening, featuring a vibraslap and a talk box at the forefront, followed by Steven Tyler’s gritty rock vocals, this song is one of the first that comes to mind for me when I think of the term ‘classic rock.’
9
Barracuda
Heart
Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson were the queens of classic rock, and “Barracuda” is a shining example of why. There aren’t many intro guitar riffs that go as hard as the first fifteen seconds of this song before the drums kick in, with the tremolo bar’s warped guitar sound putting the cherry on top at the end of each measure. By the time the lyrics kick in, it’s hard not to want to bang your head along to Ann Wilson’s broad vocal range singing:
So this ain’t the end, I saw you again, today
I had to turn my heart away
Smiled like the sun, kisses for everyone
And tales, it never fails
“Barracuda” peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, their second song to chart in the top 20. This song, along with a few others, proved that women can rock just as hard as their male counterparts; VH1 ranked “Barracuda” number 34 on their list of the 100 Best Hard Rock Songs Ever. A fast and powerful anthem, every element of this song just oozes hard rock, from the obvious lead guitar and vocals, but the drums, bass, and rhythm guitar as well.
10
Tom Sawyer
Rush
With yet another legendary guitar solo as well as a classic riff that shows up from time to time throughout the song, the highlight of “Tom Sawyer” by Canadian rockers Rush is actually the drums. Rush’s Neil Peart is known for some truly hardcore drum fills, making him one of the greatest drummers of all time, and earning him the nickname ‘The Professor.’ From the start of this song through to the very end, Peart’s steady beats and his insane solo fills alike are some of the greatest examples of percussionist talent in all of rock music.
Rush’s Neil Peart is known for some truly hardcore drum fills, making him one of the greatest drummers of all time.
On top of the drums and guitar, “Tom Sawyer” showcases Geddy Lee’s piercing vocals. He just wails during the verses, his almost impossibly high voice is enough to make one feel lost in the music, as it drops in and out at a moment’s notice between the guitar and drum spotlights. The opening track on Rush’s 1981 album, Moving Pictures, “Tom Sawyer” is another show of hard rock genius, with countless layers to discover every time you listen.
11
Get Back
The Beatles
I think it can be said with almost complete certainty that no band in the history of rock music has been as influential as The Beatles. As such, it’s a near-impossible feat to pick out just one song of theirs which contributed the most to the genre of classic rock, but I think “Get Back” is as great as any, with its bluesy rock elements and that it came towards the end of their career as a band, making it pretty representative of their refined identity as The Beatles.
“Get Back” is one of The Beatles’ grooviest songs; I can’t ever sit still when this song is playing, I simply must tap my foot or bob my head. John, Paul, George, and Ringo were definitely used to topping the charts, but that doesn’t make it any less of an achievement that “Get Back” peaked at number one on the charts in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and at least a dozen more. One of the early classic rock hits, this is a song that deserves every ounce of praise it’s received.
12
Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
It’s simply not possible to discuss classic rock in any capacity without mentioning pioneers, Fleetwood Mac. The shared lead vocals between Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks while the band was in their prime was unlike anything any band had done before, not to mention Christine McVie’s vocal credits as well. “Dreams” remains the band’s most-streamed song on Spotify, with over two billion streams, and it made Rolling Stone‘s 2021 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, coming in at an impressive number nine.
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One of the most widely known choruses of any song, the way Stevie Nicks sings the lyrics feels almost like a serenade:
Oh, thunder only happens when it’s rainin’
Players only love you when they’re playin’
Say women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know
You’ll know
In addition to the chorus, the way the song starts is just as hypnotic, with the line, “Now here you go again / You say you want your freedom.” There really is no other song quite like “Dreams,” with every single band member putting their heart on the line to completely earn the number nine spot on that Rolling Stone list.
13
Layla
Eric Clapton
With all the legendary guitarists present on this list to truly define the genre that is classic rock, it’s hard to pick a definitive greatest. Though my personal bias would advise me against it, from an objective standpoint, Eric Clapton is, at the very least, a very strong contender for number one. The guitar lick that drives Clapton’s band, Derek & The Dominos’, greatest hit, “Layla,” is one of the most famous of all time, and that’s not even taking into account the masterful solos that Clapton plays in between the guitar lick refrain.
After the lyrics cease and the song seems to end, the second phase of the song begins – a beautiful instrumental, consisting primarily of piano and guitar. “Layla” peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, and is often acclaimed as one of Clapton’s greatest hits. With Clapton regarded as one of, if not the single, greatest guitar players of all time, the math with regard to the cultural impact of “Layla” speaks for itself.
14
Back In Black
AC/DC
Australian rockers AC/DC are about as hardcore as they come, with the title track and second single from their 1980 album, “Back In Black” leading the charge. Needless to say, this song is an absolute classic, with over 1.8 billion streams on Spotify and a triple-platinum certification in the UK, and a seven-time platinum certification in the US. It also earned the number two spot on the aforementioned VH1 list of the 100 greatest hard rock songs.
“Back In Black” is a heavy track in each and every element, but it’s primarily known for the opening guitar riff, which is about as instantly recognizable as any sequence of notes played on the guitar. This song also came out in the early days of lead vocalist Brian Johnson, who replaced former vocalist Bon Scott after his death in 1980. Johnson’s vocals came in hot, especially on this track with his high-pitched wailing, solidifying his spot and impact in the band, and the band’s impact on the genre.
15
LA Woman
The Doors
One of my favorite classic rock groups of all time, The Doors have a hell of a story, and “L.A. Woman” acts as a kind of culmination to that story. It’s the title track of the band’s final album with infamous frontman, Jim Morrison, before his death just a few months after the album’s release. The lyrics are a sort of odic goodbye to Los Angeles before Morrison had planned to move out of the city, but they tragically became a goodbye to more than just the city.
The lyrics are a sort of odic goodbye to Los Angeles before Morrison had planned to move out of the city.
The nearly eight-minute track is an absolute roller coaster, speeding up and slowing down at times, sounding like a traditional rock song at points while sounding like a chaotic jumble of sounds at others. Morrison’s throaty, chaotic vocals are complimented perfectly by Robby Krieger’s famous guitar riffs, as well as Ray Manzarek’s steady key progressions and John Densmore’s equally steady drum beats. The Doors, especially with this track, are the blueprint for combining a traditional instrumental and vocal sound with a jumbled experiment of classic rock chaos.
16
Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix
When I started taking guitar lessons at just nine years old, “Purple Haze” was one of the first ‘complicated’ songs my instructor taught me how to play. I remember being overcome with excitement to learn how to play a song by the master, the original guy who could ‘make his guitar talk,’ and the one who, in my mind, beat out Eric Clapton for the title of greatest guitarist of all time. Jimi Hendrix was a virtuoso at worst. At best, I don’t think there’s a word in the English language to encompass his abilities on the six-stringed instrument.
The introduction to “Purple Haze,” though not so complicated that a nine-year-old couldn’t play it, is a beautiful start to a song in which Hendrix really does make his guitar talk, to the point where it almost feels like a duet between him and the instrument. The lyrics are mystical, too, bringing out a whole other layer to the greatness that is this song:
Purple haze all in my brain
Lately, things just don’t seem the same
Actin’ funny but I don’t know why
‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky
Another pioneer of psychedelic rock, Hendrix is one of the most integral artists of the classic rock genre, and he managed to accomplish such a feat in just 27 years, before his career and his life were tragically cut short.
