Photo: Carlos Varela from São Paulo, Brazil [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
I spent many years performing in nightclub bands and wedding bands. Choosing the right material throughout the performance is a science. Once you get a crowd going, you don’t want them to stop. One song will never be enough. A band needs at least ten great classic rock party songs to play in a row until people start passing out on the floor. Once you get that happening, you know you have done your job. So, our list below is not just a list of the top 10 Classic Rock Party songs; it’s also in the order you should play them. That is key to keeping your party rocking hard without losing a single set of feet. We hope this helps you out. If there is anyone who knows how to pick out a set of classic rock party songs, it’s a classic rock party band musician who can set you straight.
This top 10 list sticks to Classic Rock Party songs. Other songs light up parties like “Happy” by Pharrell, “Good Times” by Chic, or “Let’s Get This Party Started” by Pink, for example. However, those songs are not typically classified as Classic Rock songs. This list sticks to the classic rock stuff because in the end, Classic Rock will always be the greatest way to get everyone on board.
# 10 – We’re Having A Party
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes‘ anthem, “We’re Having A Party,” is the perfect song to get the party started. The song’s opening bass line is such an invitation to get out of your seat, while the song’s opening vocal line will seal the deal. The song was first released on the band’s compilation album Havin’ a Party With Southside Johnny. The album was released in 1979.
# 9 – Louie Louie
The Kingsmens’s “Louie Louie” is the perfect song to segue into from Southsides Johnny’s song. The groove to “Louie Louie” is so classic that people will start screaming the second they hear the band begin to play it. “Louie Louie” holds the title for being the most covered rock song in history, with estimates suggesting that it has been recorded over 1,600 to 2,000 times, and the numbers continue to grow as new versions are constantly being released and performed.
Its versatility is evident in the range of genres it spans, having been adapted by artists across the spectrum from reggae to hard rock, and jazz to hip hop. The rendition by The Kingsmen is particularly noteworthy, often heralded as the foundational piece of garage rock.
The pronunciation of “Louie Louie” has seen a fascinating evolution, from Berry’s initial “Lou-ee Lou-ee” to various adaptations like the Kingsmen’s “Lou-eye Lou-eye” in 1963, and further creative interpretations by other artists over the years. Louie Louie was in many ways also the first punk song as it was bathed in simplicity that often caused chaos among people wanting to party hard.
# 8 – Runaround Sue
If you want to get people singing along while they dance out of control, that opening line, “Hey Hey, hey whoa oh whoa oh,” will do the trick. This great song was released by Dion in 1961. The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was big! A lot of people have compared Gary U.S. Bonds’ “Quarter to Three” song to Runaround Sue. That had good reason, too, because Dion has said in interviews that it was Bonds’ song that inspired him to write “Runaround Sue.”
# 7 – Love Shack
While most of these classic rock party songs come out of the 1950s, ’60s, and 70’s, the B-52’s “Love Shack” was released in 1989. It is probably the last great Classic Rock Party song ever released. The inspiration for “Love Shack” can be traced back to a unique venue near Athens, Georgia, known as the Hawaiian Ha-Le, as recounted by B-52’s frontman Fred Schneider. This African-American club, reminiscent of a rustic shack, was known for its vibrant atmosphere and lively performances.
# 6 – Sweet Child of Mine
The sound of that opening guitar lick will always send your audience into a frenzy. There was not a night we spent in the 80s playing clubs without hearing someone yell out, “Play some Guns N’ Roses.” It even came close to the Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird” chants that never disappeared.
# 5 – Brown Eyed Girl
The Van Morrison classic “Brown Eyed Girl” song never fails to keep them dancing. The song was released in 1967 and remains one of the most popular classic rock songs of all time.
# 4 – 1999
Prince has written many classic songs, but this one has always been his biggest party number. The song was written and released many years before 1999, but it became the party anthem at the turn of the century over twenty years ago.
# 3 – Twist and Shout
This great Isley Brothers signature song has become a party staple for the past 50 years. The Beatles version retained the same party vibe that fueled The Isley Brothers original. “Twist And Shout” was originally penned by Phil Medley and Bert Berns in 1961. Initially recorded by the Top Notes without much success, the song found fame through the Isley Brothers’ rendition in 1962 and was later covered by numerous artists.
The first recording by the Top Notes took place at Atlantic Studios on February 23, 1961, with production by Phil Spector and arrangements by Teddy Randazzo. Despite featuring notable musicians like saxophonist King Curtis and drummer Panama Francis, this version didn’t make an impact on the charts.
The song’s fortunes changed with the Isley Brothers’ version in 1962, produced by Berns himself. This rendition introduced a more soulful arrangement with a memorable bridge, leading it to become a top 20 hit in the U.S.
The Beatles’ cover, recorded in a single take, became one of the most iconic versions, praised for its raw energy and John Lennon’s vocal performance. Released as a single in the U.S. in 1964, it nearly topped the Billboard chart, blocked only by another Beatles’ hit, “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
# 2 – Money Money
Some of the best Classic Rock Party songs have had at least two great versions of the song recorded by different artists. “Twist and Shout” was defined by both The Beatles and The Isley Brothers. Tommy James and the Shondells had recorded what was thought of as the definite version. However, in the 1980s, Billy Idol delivered a version of “Mony Mony” that was just as exciting. It doesn’t matter which version you choose; they are both spectacular.
# 1 – Shout
“Shout” should always be the last song of the night. It is the most powerful party song ever written. If done right, it should induce a party fever that gets so out of control that it becomes legendary. It’s perfect. If you have any doubts, check out the version of “Shout” in Animal House. It will inspire you and change your life forever.
Top 10 Classic Rock Party Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
