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58 Responses to “Top 50 Classic Rock Songs of All Time!”

1. Evert says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 2:49 am

   Um…

   Where’s Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35″?

   and the Doors’ “Break on Through” couldn’t even break into the top 50?

   what’s the deal?

   “Good Vibrations”???

2. UCoNN says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 4:07 am

   How is freebird all the way at 23… that song belongs at number 1 or maybe 2. I can understand stairway… but that list is nothing but a soup sandwich. whats it good for? not a freakin thing… blahhh… horrible

3. Army says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 5:45 am

   It`s just a proposal. So feel free to post your opinion.

4. peacequietand... says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 7:10 am

   here are some directions and further continuations:

   http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11028260/the_rs_500_greatest_songs_of_all_time

   http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time

   http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5937559/the_100_greatest_guitarists_of_all_time

   http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/inductee-list/

5. Metallica Fan says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 am

   Metallica rockz

6. Daniel says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 2:34 pm

   What about Santana? Black Magic Woman? Should at least be in the Top 10!
   Dan

7. mark w says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 pm

   I have to agree with “Stairway to Heaven” I was never a big Zep fan when I
   was young(I have since changed my ways) but whenever that song came on the radio i just locked on to it and savored every note. Absolutely the most righteous
   guiter solo ever!!!!

8. Nick says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 4:23 pm

   I always thought rock began in the early 50’s – so where are
   Bill Haley, Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison,
   Gene Vincent, hell even Pat Boone or Ricky Nelson?

   Or is it possible you never heared of them?

   Some good songs in the list – but without the above rerpesented it basically sucks.

9. Jon says:
   May 22nd, 2007 at 5:06 pm

   How can Artetha Franklin be on a classic rock countdown?

10. John says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 5:40 pm

    The Stones are duly represented. What about Zappa, or Allman Brothers? There is too much stuff for a top 50. This is cool though, a good conversation starter. Boston sucked.

11. Ed says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 5:41 pm

    Absolutely agree with Nick. Artists of the 50’s were the pioneers of R&R. It’s there that the all time classics truly exist!! You need to dig your well a bit deeper.

12. John says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm

    I couldn’t get the top 10 of all time off this list.

13. Lord says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 6:04 pm

    It`s a good list, but you need to improve it. people, let`s make a Top 10 proposal and after that we will see what will be the final result.

14. Charley says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 6:36 pm

    Even Keith Richards would tell you that Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode should be on the list.

15. William Wilgus says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 6:41 pm

    There’s NO WAY that the Rolling Stone’s version of The House of the Rising Sun can be considered Rock ‘n Roll. It’s pure Blues—and always will be.

16. Ross says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 6:43 pm

    Nights in White satin is from 1967, not 1972.

    Since orchestral rock was still quite rare then, this is an important difference.

17. Beatles Fan says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 6:55 pm

    Where’s Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love”/1968? I’d at least replace Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” with it.

18. Marcus Ronaldi says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 6:56 pm

    Most of these songs are way over played and in constant rotation on any classic rock radio station.

19. Robert says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 7:46 pm

    KISS?

20. ray says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    Fleetwood Mac recorded atune called “Oh Well”; apparently someone forgot to include it in the top 50 all time rock greats. Someone please fix that.

    Thanks,

    Ray

21. LINDA says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm

    What about the Righteous Bros “Unchained Melody” or Bob Seger’s Night Moves. You need to rethink your list.

22. LINDA says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 8:41 pm

    There were lots of singers before and after the Beatles. Give older singers a little thought when making a list.

23. Kip says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 pm

    How about “Secret Agent Man,” “Smoke on the Water,” “Montana,” “Ohio,” “L.A. Woman,” “La Bamba,” “Peggy Sue,” “Locomotive Breath,” “I’m Eighteen,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Rock Lobster,” etc. etc., etc.

    These things are so subjective it’s hard to come up with a Top 50.

24. Eric says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 10:04 pm

    Where the hell is sabbath,acdc,foreigner, and some g ‘n’ r

25. Kath says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 pm

    How about anything from The Joshua Tree?

    The Rolling Stones and The Beatles are way overrepresented in this list and why is Boston even on there? And there’s nothing from CSN?

26. Army says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 10:20 pm

    Ok people let`s make things easier. Please make your proposals like this: Artist (band) / Song / Year

    Thanks a lot
    Army

27. Gary M. Farral says:
    May 22nd, 2007 at 10:59 pm

    What were the voting criteria and who voted? What years do you consider to be Rock & Roll, Rock, New Age, etc I think Rock stopped in 1980 Rock & Roll stopped around 1963

28. bman says:
    May 24th, 2007 at 3:39 am

    Everyone’s comments are right on the mark. Led Zeppelin Number 1 not likely–Lyrics –Bob Dylan hands down, Guitar–Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Drums–help me with this—most influential group–perhaps the Beatles—my personal favorite from Britain–Eric Burdon and the Animals.
    This is a subject for debate with your favorite beverages and will likely never ever be resolved.

    bman

29. Mark Stevens says:
    May 24th, 2007 at 6:27 pm

    The Monkees was the greatest group ever…four albums in one year made it to number one.
    That comment has as much merit as that 50 greatest hits list. The author missed out on a lot of real good music.The list shows that he has heard very little.

30. Mark Stevens says:
    May 24th, 2007 at 6:35 pm

    By reading the comments rock is dead. Stones… House of the Rising Sun… was the Animals which was then even a cover?? Santana…Black Magic Woman that was a cover of a Fleetwood Mac song, Stairway, the intro was “borrowed” from Spirit, Ike Turner in 1953 wrote Rocket 88, how many readers have any idea why I mentioned that!!!

31. Ricky says:
    June 6th, 2007 at 5:36 am

    what happened to: Black Sabbath/Iron Man

32. Tom Riggs says:
    June 6th, 2007 at 5:43 am

    Any list of the top 50 of anything is bound to cause consternation for anyone who sees it because there will always be things left out. Using a conservative number there have been well over 1500 charted songs and who knows how many that were not charted. Look through the list of number one songs over the years and you see there could never be a consensus, nor should there be. I agree with the Stairway, but the real question was brought up before What was the criteria. As also mentioned earlier r&r was essentially over by the mid sixties. Rock pretty much died in the mid eighties. So what are the boundaries. Also are we talking about rock and rol, rock R&B, or a combination of all as the best songs os the last 50 years or so. Just saying it is a top 50 classic rock songs to means mostly the seventies and eighties with few sixties thrown in. Personally I usually do a list like this by calling the best 50 songs of the last fifty years. Most of the time people can even agree on what is rock, what is rock and roll. They grew up listening to all of these music types everyday, and all the various types were played right after one another. It is simpler to talk about the best song no matter the category. That would change the list siignifcantly.

    One last thing – I find it hard to take someone seriously about the best of any kind music when they do bir even know what artist did what song – Rolling Stones – House of the Rising Sun. As much as I like Mick, not on his best day couple come close to the sound and quality of Eric Burdon as far as this particular song goes.

33. Kevin says:
    June 7th, 2007 at 12:08 am

    On the Top 50 Classic Rock songs of all time number 32. The Who / Won’t Get Fooled Again / 1971…the title is actually “Teenage Wasteland”…I’m pretty sure of it.

34. Anne C. says:
    June 7th, 2007 at 8:59 am

    Sorry Kevin. Won’t Get Fooled Again IS the name of a song by The Who, and not one you are thinking of:

    ‘ll tip my hat to the new constitution
    Take a bow for the new revolution
    Smile and grin at the change all around
    Pick up my guitar and play
    Just like yesterday
    Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
    We don’t get fooled again

    The song you refer to as “Teenage Wasteland” is actually properly titled “Baba O’Riley”:

    Out here in the fields
    I farm for my meals
    I get my back into my living.
    I don’t need to fight
    To prove I’m right
    I don’t need to be forgiven.
    Don’t cry
    Don’t raise your eye
    It’s only teenage wasteland

35. Anne C. says:
    June 7th, 2007 at 9:05 am

    Also depends on what your definition of “Top” is. Most influential? Most well-known? Best-selling?

36. Army says:
    June 7th, 2007 at 1:07 pm

    Thanks for the tips!

37. Connor says:
    June 30th, 2007 at 2:45 am

    Pink Floyd’s “Money” is definitely not their best song. I can’t believe that they barely made it on the list. This list is not very good

38. hawk says:
    July 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 am

    hotel california is classic rock??????
    how dumb of u guys!!!!!!

39. May says:
    January 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am

    How about something by Cream!?
    And as for #1..Kashmir & Moby Dick are better songs.

    Pink Floyd has better tunes as well.

40. Cosmoslove says:
    January 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    Army,
    If you are even checking this blog at this time – I came across your list Bcuz I am putting together some CDs for all 7 of my boys of “greatest” rock songs of all time by each year of their (and me and my hubster’s) birth.

    I just wanted to say that I applaud your effort for this daunting task, and admire the calm, positive way you handle much negativity! Kudos to you, bra’! Music seems to B like politics and religion – a very TOUCHY subject, and one that is highly subjective. Me, when I consider rock of ALL time (up until now that is), I would have to sit back and contemplate those songs that have A) I have learned life lessons from by the lyrics, B) have made me move my butt to the groove, C) Have opened my mind to new ideas/opinions, D) have stopped me in my tracks of whatever I was doing when the song comes/came on the radio because the listening is sweeter than anything I could B doing at the time – unless having totally sublime sex ocurred while it played…
    I think Led Zeppelin still reserves the right to B #1 with Stairway…for me. Musically, I challenge any musician to give it a go & top their talent. Those who can, should B making their own albums. Lyrically, for me – a total Renaissance Freak – this is the biggest pull I feel toward this band. Cos’ the majority of their songs discuss/are set in that historical timeframe. The fantasy link to life as it is (or was in the 70’s) is just this side of genius (in my humble opinion).
    As for others, will have to stew on it for a while.
    Thanks, Army – I appreciate your efforts.
    C.

41. Dad says:
    February 11th, 2008 at 5:15 am

    Bet I could name 50 more.

42. camran says:
    June 1st, 2008 at 11:34 pm

    what about old time rock ‘n’ roll by bob seger

43. Kid Spoons says:
    July 7th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    no ‘alright now’ by free…??? who ‘my generation’…??? blue oyster cult’s ‘dont fear the reaper’…??? hhhhmmm….no ’smells like teen spirit’…???? ouch…!!! and er…’roxanne’ is a ‘rock’ tune…??? hhhmmm…

44. Kid Spoons says:
    July 7th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    oops…’my generation’s in there…!!! apologies…!!!

45. Mike says:
    August 6th, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    How could Elvis not be on this list, he was rock. Without him none of these “classic rock” artists wouldn’t have excisted

46. michael says:
    September 3rd, 2008 at 4:13 am

    i definintly agree stairway to heaven should be number 1. i dis agree about free bird. it is marked way way to low. in my eyes it should be 2. where is smoke on the water? how about doobie brothers? chicago? kansas, carry on wayward son? journey? phil collins “in the air tonight”?

47. Bobbyc says:
    December 3rd, 2008 at 5:43 am

    how in the world did john lennon even make the top 50 with imagine he shouldn’t even be in the top 200

48. KT says:
    December 30th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    Where the hell is RUSH??? Supertramp???

49. Nathan says:
    March 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    leave boston alno, there a good band. they just had the wrong song in there. it should have been Piece of Mind. And where is all the southern rock.

50. Adam says:
    March 12th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    hey come on now bohimien rhapsody should defo be no.1 i mean how could u write a song like that its class and sang by the best voice anyone has ever heard FREDDIE MERCURY

51. Rich Dansereau says:
    April 19th, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    I think this is a great list but as has been pointed out there are some obvious omissions. For my part I wonder about the absence of Jefferson Airplane (White Rabbit), The Clash (London Calling), Lou Reed (Walk On The Wild Side), and much of the Grateful Dead songbook?

52. waylon says:
    July 15th, 2009 at 7:39 am

    aerosmith is a goon band and i can’t disagree but i think that u need to add ac/dc back in black to the top 50 songs.

53. ledhead says:
    November 18th, 2009 at 5:07 am

    you did good with zep at number one but i would definately add elvis, george thorogood, allman bros, doobie bros, steely dan, sabbath, and how about even ted nugent

54. nate says:
    February 2nd, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    heaps missing.cream-whiteroom. Bowie-ziggy stardust. Small faces-tin soldier. The band-the weight. Chuck berry-Johnny b goode. Easybeats-friday on my mind. Pink floyd-intersteller overdrive. acdc-long way to the top. the list goes on and on. this list is a collection of what you hear on the golden oldies radio station. not the greatest songs. and how can you put the Police in there not once but twice. sting doesnt deserve to be said in the same sentence as clapton or queen or floyd or dylan or the stones. the police should go in the category of the knack or europe or bros.

55. Jordan says:
    February 3rd, 2010 at 6:05 am

    How is Kick Out The Jams by MC5 not on this list?

56. Bill Atwood says:
    February 4th, 2010 at 5:48 am

    Arnie I know you are trying to do a good job and a lot of these songs were great. Some of them suck. You do not have any of the 50’s songs on the list, & how about Credence clearwater revival. You only have songs on here you like not songs that are actually loved by the mass. You can do better.

57. Neillan says:
    February 5th, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    I think Free Bird should be in at least the top fifteen

58. Anonimo says:
    February 19th, 2010 at 6:58 am

    Agree just a little, the n1 was fine but where are pink floyd, the clash songs.

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