Top 500 Classic Rock Songs Of All Time

ClassicRockHistory proudly presents this Top 500 Classic Rock Songs Of All Time article which has been a long time in the making. All the writers here have put together their own lists many times in a battle to publish this article. After many years of arguing, we have decided to finally publish our thoughts on the 500 greatest classic rock songs of all time. Of course the question of when does classic rock begin and end has been debated by fans and journalists for years.

Our point of view is that everything is connected so why give it a starting or ending time? Why not just pick the best rock songs ever released that have become classics no matter what years they hit the airwaves? The point is to simply present the best, and I think we accomplished that with this list. This list is in random order as there is no way to match 500 songs against each other. It’s also a mixture of many well-known artists and not so many well-known artists. It’s all about the songs here my friends.  An away we go…………

Top 500 Classic Rock Songs Of All Time

# 500 – Wheel In The Sky – Journey

We open up our top 500 classic rock songs of all time with a song from one of our favorite bands of all time. Journey just seems like the perfect band to start out this list with. The song “Wheel In The Sky,” appeared on the Journey album called Infinity. The album was released in 1978. This was an important album in the history of Journey as it was the first Journey album to feature their new vocalist Steve Perry.

# 499 – I Drink Alone – George Thorogood

And off we go with this classic song by George Thorogood and the Destroyers called I Drink Alone. The song was released on George Thorogood’s album entitled Maverick. The album was released in 1985.

# 498 – Rebel – John Miles

The late John Miles never became as big in the United States as he was in Europe. Still, he is one of our favorite artists. This was the album that almost broke him in the US.

# 497 – The Long Run – The Eagles

The title track to the last great Eagles album was released in 1979.

# 496 – Elderberry Wine – Elton John

You know Elton John’s going to appear on this list quite a few times. This is one of those very much underrated Elton John songs that appeared on his classic 1973 album entitled Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player.

# 495 – Stone Blue – Foghat

If you grew up in the 1970s, you loved this band. Sadly a lot of their music is not known to young music fans in the 21st century with the exception of “Slow Ride.” We’re trying to change that here at classic rock history.

# 494 – Love On The Telephone –  Suzanne Fellini

Suzanne Fellini defined the concept of the true one-hit wonder with this amazing punk new wave gem that came out in the early 1980s.

# 493 – We Got A Bigger Problem Now – Dead Kennedys

While we’re on the topic of punk rock here’s a great track from the Dead Kennedys.

# 492 – 30 Days In The Hole – Humble Pie

Bands like Humble Pie defined the classic rock sound of the 1970s

# 491 – Wild In The Streets  – Garland Jeffreys

Garland Jeffries has always been one of the most underrated rock artists of all time. This classic track was released on his Ghost Writer album in 1976.

# 490 – Eat To The Beat – Blondie

The title track to Blondie’s follow-up album to Parallel Lines. Eat To The Beat was released in the fall of 1979

# 489 – Allison – Elvis Costello

This classic ballad was released on Elvis Costello’s debut album My Aim Is True in 1977.

# 488 – Second Time Around – Blue Cheer

A Killer cut by the Psychedelic band Blue Cheer.

# 487 – Wanted Dead Or Alive  – Bon Jovi

This great song would become a fan favorite.

# 486 – Spirit In The Night – Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s “Spirit in the Night,” was released on his first album entitled Greetings from Asbury Park New Jersey. It would soon become a huge concert favorite, especially on the 1978 Darkness on the Edge of Town tour.

# 485 – Subdivisions – Rush

The song “Subdivisions” was released on The Rush album Signals which was issued in 1982.

# 484 – Out of Exile  – Audioslave

The merger of Soundgarden’s  Chris Cornell with basically the entire Rage Against the Machine band produced two amazing rock records.

# 483 – Hurts So Good – John Mellencamp

How many times did you see this video on MTV in the early 1980s?

# 482 – Crimson And Clover – Tommy James And The Shondells

This legendary song was released in December of 1968.

# 481 – Godzilla – Blue Oyster Cult

You have to love this killer guitar riff by Blue Oyster Cult. This one has always been one of our favorite Blue Oyster Cult songs.

# 480 – Gloria  – U2 

U2 sounds so powerful on this early recording that the band released on their second album entitled October.

# 479 – The Final Countdown” – Europe

Easily one of the most classic metal songs released in the 1980s.

# 478 – You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest

The song was released in 1982 on the Screaming for Vengeance album.

# 477 – Sugar Magnolia – The Grateful Dead

This classic Grateful Dead song was released in 1970 on the album entitled American Beauty.

# 476 – A Certain Girl – Warren Zevon

The song “A Certain Girl” was released on the album Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School in 1982. We miss Warren Zevon.

# 475 – Kitty’s Back – Bruce Springsteen

The classic song that blended Springsteen’s mixture of rock and jazz was truly inspired by Van Morrison. The song was released on Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album The Wild, Innocent and E Street Shuffle.

# 474 – Vienna  – Billy Joel

This great Billy Joel deep cut became a fan favorite over the years. The song was released on his breakthrough album The Stranger in 1977.

# 473 – Ah! Leah! – Donnie Iris

If you grew up in the seventies you will remember this one at the end of the decade. the song was released on the album Back on the Streets in 1980.

# 472 – Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer

The video that went along with this one was almost as good as the song.

# 471 – I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) – The Electric Prunes

The sound of psychedelic Rock was released in 1966.

# 470 – Even It Up – Heart

From the band’s 1980 album Bebe La Strange.

# 469 – Peace Frog  –  The Doors 

The song was released on the album Morrison Hotel In 1970. One of those deep album tracks that have always been a favorite among Doors fans.

# 468 – Beautiful Loser – Bob Seger

A classic Bob Seger song from the album of the same name.

# 467 – Land Of A Thousand Guitars – Willie Nile 

This is a different song from the Bruce Springsteen song. Willie Niles came first. A truly great rock and roll tune by a guitar master and a very cool dude.

# 466 – Long Distant Runaround – Yes

The legendary B-Side to “Roundabout” was released in 1972.

# 465 – I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones

Easily one of the most popular songs the Ramones ever released.

# 464 – We’re Not Going To Take It – Twisted Sister

In the same style as Kiss, the nad put on some makeup,  turned the attitude up to 11, and finally made the big time after years of playing the Long Island Club Scene

# 463 – What I Like About You – The Romantics

Fun party music with a bit of a new wave vibe.

# 462 – Take A Pebble – Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Emerson Lake and Palmer were huge in the 1970s. One of the greatest progressive rock trios of all time.

# 461 – Against The Wind – Bob Seger

There are so many great Bob Seger songs. This was one of the best, a nice mid-tempo rocker meets ballad.

# 460 – Limelight – Rush

We could have filled this entire list with Rush songs.

# 459 – Middle of the Road – The Pretenders

We had to include this cranking Pretenders song fueled by such a legendary chordal riff and an amazing vocal performance.

# 458 – Juniors Farm – Paul McCartney & Wings

Released as a stand-alone single in 1974

# 457 – Movin’ On – Bad Company

Released on the band’s debut album entitled Bad Company in 1974

# 456 – Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group

One of the greatest rock and roll instrumentals ever released. This song was issued on the They Only Come Out At Night album.

# 455 – Songs From The Wood – Jethro Tull

The title track to Jethro Tull’s brilliant 1977 album.

# 454 -Kid Charlemagne – Steely Dan

This was a turning point in the band’s career when they turned the jazz fusion influences all the way up and started making perfect records.

# 453 – Hot And Nasty –  Black Oak Arkansas

You got to love these guys for their pure unfiltered rock and roll spirit.

# 452 – Vasoline – Stone Temple Pilots

Stone Temple Pilots stand as easily one of the greatest rock bands to come out of the 1990s.

# 451 – Yours Is No Disgrace – Yes

The band Yes came out as number one on our all-time progressive rock band list.

# 450 – The Wild Heart – Stevie Nicks

The title track from our favorite Stevie Nicks album. Never get tired of listening to his haunting and beautiful song.

# 449 – Lunatic Fringe – Red Rider

This is such a killer song. It got a lot of airplay on MTV in the early 1980s.

# 448 – She’s Gone – Hall & Oates

This is one of the first big hit singles released in the early 1970s by Hall & Oates. The sound of blue-eyed soul that would fuel so many more hits over the next two decades.

# 447 – Different Drum – The Stone Ponys

This early vocal by Linda Ronstadt turned many heads in the music business to the amazing talent that was about to be unleashed upon the world.

# 446 – Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell has written so many classic songs and released a career full of deep wonderful legendary albums. This was just one of those songs that became a huge pop hit.

# 445 – Double Vision – Foreigner

The former Spooky Tooth member Mick Jones formed his own band in 1977 that would become one of the all-time great classic rock bands in history. This was from their second album and stood as the title track.

# 444 – Round And Round – Ratt

Ratts’ mixture of glam and heavy metal broke out big time with this perfect mid80s monster Glam hit.

# 443 – I Want You To Want Me – Cheap Trick

This was one of those classic rock songs in the 1970s in which the live version actually became the big hit single.

# 442 – Big Shot – Billy Joel

Billy Joe’s rocking hit single off to 56th Street album was supposedly inspired by observing a certain rolling rockstar’s wife just take it too far.

# 441 – Point Of No Return – Kansas

Kansas found the perfect blend of progressive rock and commercial hit singles with the title track to the Point Of No Return album released in 1978.

# 440 – Strange Way – Firefall

This one might not have been a huge hit, but it stands as one of the band’s best songs if not best.

# 439 – Appaloosa – Gino Vannelli

We would have loved to put more Gino Vannelli on this list. His Rock stuff is so underrated. This was a great track from the Brother to Brother album.

# 438 – I May Not Be Your Kind – Garland Jeffreys

Garland Jeffries is another underrated rocker. I May Not Be Yout kind was released on the Ghost Writer album in 1977.

# 437 – Dry You Eyes – Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond’s Dry Your Eyes was the closing track on the Beautiful Noise album. This is one of Neil Diamond’s most stunning tracks.

# 436 – More Than This – Roxy Music

Every top 500 rock songs list has to have a little Roxy Music on it.

# 435 – Liar – Henry Rollins

What was initially supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek song became a huge rock and roll hit. Don’t miss the video for this awesome rocker.

# 434 – Because The Night – Patti Smith/ Bruce Springsteen

Patty Smith took a Bruce Springsteen song and had a huge hit with it. Bruce Springsteen played this in concert throughout most of his career. This song belonged to both of them.

# 433 – Blood and Roses – The Smithereens

The Smithereens stand as one of the most genuine rock and roll bands in classic rock history.

# 432 – Who’s Behind The Door – Zebra

I grew up watching this band in the bars on Long Island. It felt great when they scored their record contract with Atlantic Records. This one has long been a fan favorite.

# 431 – Like The Way I Do –  Melissa Etheridge

Do you remember the first time you saw Melissa Etheridge perform this song on MTV? You said to yourself who’s this? wow!

# 430 – A Million Miles Away –Rory Gallagher

The legendary Rory Gallagher has always stood as one of the greatest guitar players in classic rock history.

# 429 – Lola – The Kinks

The Kinks had a lot of hits throughout their career but there was something very special about this song. Everyone loved Lola ……lo, lo, lo,lo Lola

# 428 – Spinning Wheel – Blood Sweat & Tears

Remember hearing this song on the radio every 10 minutes. Blood Sweat and Tears fused Jazz and Rock together as well as anybody has ever done.

# 427 – Evil Woman – Electric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne son of The Beatles as my friend always says, scored a big-time hit with his band with this song.

# 426 – Beth – KISS

Peter Criss became a legend with this song.

# 425 – Nights In White Satin – The Moody Blues

The Moody Blues have a very deep catalog filled with spectacular songs. This one just happened to be a really big hit.

# 424 – Avenging Annie – Andy Pratt

If you have never heard of Andy Pratt we advise you to buy one of his albums. One of the most underrated artists on this top 500 rock songs list.

# 423 -The Fever – Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes

This classic Bruce Springsteen song would become Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes signature hit along with “I don’t Want To Go Home.”

# 422 -Stuck in the Middle with You – Steelers Wheel

I love this song in the 1970s, but every time I hear it now I can’t stop thinking about Quentin Tarantino’s movie Reservoir Dogs.

# 421 – Bang A Gong – T Rex

Legend, just pure legend.

# 420 – Annalle – Ellis Paul 

Another name on this list you may not have ever heard of, trust me, you need to check out Alice Paul’s catalog of music. This is a brilliant song released on the album The Day After Everything Changed.

# 419 – Love Her Madly – The Doors 

Released on the album L.A. Woman in 1971.

# 418 – Old Time Rock And Roll  – Bob Seger

Released on the album Stranger in Town in 1978. One of the all-time classic rock party songs.

# 417 – Telephone Line –  Electric Light Orchestra

Released on the album A New World Record in 1976.

# 416 – Personality Crisis – New York Dolls

Released on their self-titled debut album in 1973.

# 415 – Raise a Little Hell – Trooper

This band was huge in Canada in the 1970s. Released on the album Thick as Thieves in 1978.

# 414 – Please Go All The Way – The Raspberries

Who didn’t love the Raspberries? Hard to believe they got away with this title. It wouldn’t play to well now.

# 413 – No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper

Another sleeper artist on this top 500 classic rock songs list. You can find this song on the soundtrack to Rocky III. This great New Jersey artist released a really good song here in this track.

# 412 – Sweet Dreams – Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush

Released on the album Juggernaut in 1982.

# 411 – We Just Disagree – Dave Mason 

Dave Mason has released a lot of great songs in his career some real classics, but there was just something always really special about this one.

# 410 – Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg

This is a pretty painful song to listen to. It’s the ultimate One That Got Away song with a Twist. On this song, he runs into the one that got away, and sadly she gets away again. Ouch that really hurts.

# 409 – Cloudbusting – Kate Bush

Just because this song became a monster hit again after having been placed in an episode of Stranger Things doesn’t mean it’s on this list for just that reason. It’s on this list because it’s one of Kate Bush’s greatest songs. It’s cool that a whole new generation found out about her.

# 408 – Kick Out the Jams – MC5

A van that does not get enough credit for inspiring the whole Glam Metal scene. This is what rock and roll is all about baby.

# 407 – In the City – The Jam

Released on their debut album also titled In The City in 1978.

# 406 – Flirtin’ With Disaster – Molly Hatchet

Southern rock at its darkest and dirtiest.

# 405 – Season of The Witch – Donovan

Released on the album Sunshine Superman.

# 404 – Jackie Blue – Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Released on the album  It’ll Shine When It Shines in 1974.

# 403 – Tears Dry On Their Own – Amy Winehouse

Released on the album Back to Black in 2006. It’s hard to listen to this album because it’s just so good and so sad that this brilliant artist left us way too young.

# 402 –  Don’t Misunderstand Me – Rossington Collins Band

Released on the album  Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere in 1980.

# 401 – One Of The Boys – Mott The Hoople

Released on the album All The Way From Stockholm To Philadelphia in 1970.

# 400 – Fire And Ice – Pat Benatar

Released on the album Precious Time in 1981.

# 399 – Amie – Pure Prairie League

The sound of wonderful early ’70s folk rock.

# 398 – Deacon Blues – Steely Dan

I have never heard chord changes written harmonically like this before in my life. Steely Dan took composing music to a whole new level on the Aja album.

# 397 – Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor

Prince may have written it but Sinead O’Connor turned this song into something bigger than life.

# 396 – You Keep Me Hangin’ On – Supremes/ Vanilla Fudge

Two completely different versions of the same song define why a great song is a great song no matter what.

# 395 –  Rock ‘n’ Roll High School – Ramones

The title track to one of our favorite rock and roll movies of all time. Put away common sense grab a bucket of popcorn and have a great rock and roll time.

# 394 – Eight Miles High – The Byrds

We wish we could have put more Byrds songs on this list but we just tried to cover a lot of artists.

# 393 – You’re Gonna Miss Me – 13th Floor Elevators

Such a cool band and so inspirational.

# 392 – Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers

The perfect Fusion of Rock and Soul.

# 391 – Caught Up In You – 38 Special

These guys knew how to take a Southern rock sound and blend it with perfect pop sensibilities to make big-time hit records.

# 390 – We Got the Beat – The Go-Go’s

We couldn’t stop listening to them while also not being able to take our eyes off of them what a band. Beautiful, cool and very inspiring.

# 389 – I’ll Cry Instead  – The Beatles

Of the all-time classic Beatles songs that’s probably way too underrated.

# 388 – Fame – David Bowie

Once again we probably could have done it top 500 classic rock songs listed with all Bowie songs. The ultimate rock and roll chameleon.

# 387 – Hot Blooded  – Foreigner

I just love the band Foreigner. This was the lead single off their second album.

# 386 – I’m Just A Singer In A Rock And Roll Band – The Moody Blues

One of the coolest song openings in rock and roll.

# 385 – Caldonia – Robin Trower

To rock fans in the 1970s, Robin Trower was a god, a rock guitar God!

# 384 – I Wanna Be Your Dog – The Stooges

Iggy Pop and the Stooges were really the first genuine punk band.

# 383 – Star Star –  The Rolling Stones

A very underrated Rolling Stones song.

# 382 – Permanent Vacation – Aerosmith

The start of the great Aerosmith Come Back in the 1980s.

# 381 – Ready For Action –  Gamma

Released on the album Gamma One in 1979.

# 380 – Los Angeles – X

Released on the album Los Angeles in 1980. This was the band’s debut album

# 379 – The Ballad of El Goodoo  –  Big Star

Released on the album 1 Record in 1972.

# 378 – On The Turning Away –  Pink Floyd

Released on the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987.

# 377 – I Stole Your Love –KISS

Released on the album Love Gun in 1977.

# 376 – Roulette – Bruce Springsteen

It’s hard to believe that this song was not released on any Bruce Springsteen album until the Tracks box set. One of the all-time great Bruce Springsteen b-sides.

# 375 – Goodbye To You – Scandal

The great song by Scandal introduced us to the magical voice of Patty Smyth.

# 374 – Touch Me – The Doors 

Released on the album The Soft Parade in 1969.

# 373 – I’ve Seen All Good People – Yes

Released on the album The Yes Album in 1971.

# 372 – Bella Donna – Stevie Nicks

And just like that the solo career of Stevie Nicks had begun with her Bella Donna album and this beautiful title track song.

# 371 – Cleveland Rocks – Ian Hunter

Ladies and gentlemen Mr. Rock and Roll himself,  the extraordinary Ian Hunter.

# 370 – Let’s Go Crazy – Prince

# 369 – Venus – The Shocking Blue

# 368 – Green-Eyed Lady – Sugarloaf

# 367 – Thank You For Being A Friend – Andrew Gold

# 366 – I’ve Got The Music In Me – The Kiki Dee Band

# 365 – Radar Love – Golden Earring

# 364 – Mr. Bojangles – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

# 363 – Do You Know What I Mean – Lee Michaels

# 362 – Hold Your Head Up – Argent

# 361 – Wait Till I Get Home – Lone Justice

# 360 – Brother Louie – Stories

# 359 – Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer

# 358 – Ride Captain Ride – Blues Image

# 357 – Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen

# 356 – Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Elvin Bishop

# 355 – Dear Mr. Fantasy – Traffic

# 354 -Piece Of My Heart – Janis Joplin

# 353 – Smoking – Boston

# 352 – Dream Weaver – Gary Wright

# 351 – Smash it Up – The Damned

# 350 – Wheels Of Fortune – The Doobie Brothers

# 349 – Stoney End – Laura Nyro

# 348 – Vehicle – The Ides Of March

# 347 – Love Hurts – Nazareth

# 346 – Rocket Man – Elton John

# 345 – Sunshine – Jonathan Edwards

# 344 – Start Me Up  – The Rolling Stones

# 343 – Midnight Rider- The Allman Brothers Band

# 342 – Sonic Reducer – Dead Boys

# 341 – When Will I Be Loved – Linda Ronstadt

# 340 – See No Evil – Television

# 339 – Dixie Chicken – Little Feat

# 338 – Rip It Out –  Ace Frehley

# 337 – Burnin’ Alive –  AC/DC

# 336 – Turn To Stone –  Joe Walsh

# 335 – Beast Of Burden – The Rolling Stones

# 334 – Fire On The Mountain – Marshall Tucker Band

# 333 – Respect – Aretha Franklin

# 332 – How Can I Be Sure  – The Rascals

# 331 – She’s Not There – The Zombies

# 330 – Free Ride – The Edgar Winter Group

# 329 – Cat Scratch Fever – Ted Nugent

# 328 – The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy

# 327 – Let It Ride – Bachman-Turner Overdrive

# 326 – You Made Me So Very Happy – Blood Sweat & Tears

# 325 – It’s Too Late – Carole King

# 324 – I Know I’m Losing You – Rod Stewart

# 323 – Cold As Ice  – Foreigner

# 322 – Tom Sawyer – Rush

# 321 – The Logical Song – Supertramp

# 320 – Run To You – Bryan Adams

# 319 – I’ll Wait – Van Halen

# 318 – Two Tickets To Paradise – Eddie Money

# 317 – Sister Christian – Night Ranger

# 316 –  The Rising – Bruce Springsteen

# 315 – Back In The U.S.A – Linda Ronstadt

# 314 – Photograph – Ringo Starr

# 313 – Moving Out – Billy Joel

# 312 – Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd

# 311 – Fool On The Hill – The Beatles

# 310 – Across The Universe  – The Beatles

# 309 – Left of the Dial – The Replacements

# 308 – Slipping Away  – Black Sabbath

# 307 – It’s Only Love –  Bryan Adams

# 306 – Black Diamond  –  KISS

# 305 – Eli’s Coming – Three Dog Night

# 304 – Lose Again – Linda Ronstadt

# 303 – Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen

# 302 – Avalon – Roxy Music

# 301 – Black Betty – Ram Jam

# 300 – Doctor Wu – Steely Dan

# 299 – How I Wish –  Keith Richards

# 298 – Rebel Rebel – David Bowie

# 297 – I Will Follow – U2

# 296 – Psycho Killer – Talking Heads

# 295 – Wedding Bell Blues – Laura Nyro

# 294 – Rihannon – Fleetwood Mac

# 293 – Backstreets – Bruce Springsteen

# 292 – Mr. Blue Sky –  Electric Light Orchestra

# 291 – Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh

# 290 – Oh Darling – The Beatles

# 289 – Surrender – Cheap Trick

# 288 – Girls Girls Girls – Motley Crue

# 287 – You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

# 286 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

# 285 –  Smoking In The Boy’s Room – Brownsville Station

# 284 – Dreams – Van Halen

# 283 – Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

# 282 – Bad Love – Eric Clapton

# 281 – Lines On My Face -Peter Frampton

# 280 – You Really Got Me  –The Kinks / Van Halen

# 279 – Tuesday’s Gone – Lynyrd Skynyrd

# 278 – Your No Good – Linda Ronstadt

# 277 – A Farewell to Kings –Rush

# 276 – Shine On You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd

# 275 – Do It Again – Steely Dan

# 274 – Spoonman – Soundgarden

# 273 – Detroit Rock City – KISS

# 272 – Rock And Roll Hootchie Koo – Rock Derringer

# 271 – Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

# 270 – Burnin For You – Blue Oyster Cult

# 269 – Legs – ZZ Top

# 268 –  Whatever Gets You Through The Night – John Lennon

# 267 – Time –Pink Floyd

# 266 – The End Of The Innocence – Don Henly

# 265 – Centerfold – J.Geils Band

# 264 – Renegade – Styx

# 263 – My Sweet Lord – George Harrison

# 262 – Separate Ways – Journey

# 261 – Joy To The World – Three Dog Night

# 260 – Black Napkins – Frank Zappa

# 259 – Southern Man – Neil Young

# 258 – Even Flow – Pearl Jam

# 257 – No One Like You – Scorpions

# 256 – Your Breaking My Heart – Harry Nilsson

# 255 – Photograph – Def Leppard

# 254 – Scenes From An Italian Restaurant – Billy Joel

# 253 – For What It Worth – Buffalo Springfield

# 252 – Living On A Prayer – Bon Jovi

# 251 – Rock An Roll All Night –KISS

# 250 – In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins

# 249 – Woodstock – Joni Mitchell

# 248 – Little Queen – Heart

# 247 – Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy – Elton John

# 246 – Dirty Work – Steely Dan

# 245 – Pick Up The Pieces – Average White Band

# 244 – Trampled Under Foot – Led Zeppelin

# 243 – Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett

# 242 – Come And Get It – Badfinger

# 241 – Sister Golden Hair – America

# 240 – Night Flight – Led Zeppelin

# 239 – Aqaulong – Jethro Tull

# 238 – Refugee – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

# 237 – I’m Not In Love – 10cc

# 236 – Long Train Running – The Doobie Brothers

# 235 – Inca Roads – Frank Zappa

# 234 – Young Americans – David Bowie

# 233 – Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden

# 232 – Love The One You’re With – Stephen Stills

# 231 – AJA – Steely Dan

# 230 – Honky Cat – Elton John

# 229 – The Stroke – Billy Squire

# 228 – Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder/ Red Hot Chili Peppers

# 227 –  In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed – The Allman Brothers Band

# 226 – Creep – Stone Temple Pilots

# 225 – Stay With Me – Faces

# 224 – Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young

# 223 – Taking It To The Streets – The Doobie Brothers

# 222 – Reeling In The Years – Steely Dan

# 221 – Pride And Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan

# 220 – Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar

# 219 – Lucky Man – Emerson, Lake & Palmer

# 218 – Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting – Elton John

# 217 – Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass

# 216 – Just What I Needed – The Cars

# 215 – Rock You Like A Hurricane – Scorpions

# 214 – Why Can’t This Be Love –Van Halen

# 213 – Peaches En Regalia – Frank Zappa

# 212 – We’re An American Band – Grand Funk

# 211 – Hello I Love You – The Doors 

# 210 – I Need A Lover – John Mellencamp

# 209 – Message In A Bottle – The Police

# 208 – Come Sail Away – Styx

# 207 – Peace Of Mind – Boston

Boston’s 1-2 punch of More Than A Feeling and Peace of Mind made fOR of the best one-two punches in classic rock album history.

# 206 – The Joker – Steve Miller Band

# 205 – Oh! You Pretty Things – David Bowie

# 204 – London Calling – The Clash

The Clash blew everybody’s minds in the rock and roll world when they released the album London Calling.

# 203 – All Right Now – Free

# 202 – Paradise By The Dashboard Light – Meat Loaf

One of the most original, fun, and exciting rock and roll pieces of music ever released. Holy Cow!

# 201 – Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughan

One of the greatest guitarists who has ever lived and one of the most passionate players in music history.

# 200 – Good Lovin’ Gone Bad – Bad Company

Released on the album Straight Shooter in 1975

# 199 – Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith

# 198 – Locomotive Breath – Jethro Tull

# 197 – Iron Man – Black Sabbath

# 196 – White Room – Cream

# 195 – Life In The Fast Lane – The Eagles

# 194 – Carry On My Wayward Son – Kansas

# 193 – Lithium – Nirvana

# 192 – Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie

# 191 – That Smell – Lynyrd Skynyrd

# 190 – Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix

# 189 – Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

# 188 – Taking Care Of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive

# 187 – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John

# 186 – Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy – Bad Company

Released on the album Desolation Angels in 1979

# 185 – These Dreams – Heart

# 184 – Levon – Elton John

# 183 – The Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson

Released on the album In the Court of the Crimson King in 1969.

# 182 – Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love – Bad Company

# 181 – Riders On The Storm – The Doors 

# 180 – Mr. Crowley – Ozzy Osbourne

# 179 – Tarkus – Emerson, Lake & Palmer

# 178 – God Save The Queen – The Sex Pistols

# 177 -The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway – Genesis

# 176 – Purple Rain – Prince

# 175 – Going To California – Led Zeppelin

# 174 – Born In The U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen

# 173 – Roll Me Away – Bob Seger

# 172 – The Song Remains The Same –Led Zeppelin

# 171 – Ace of Spades – Motorhead

# 170 – Flying High Again – Ozzy Osbourne

# 169 – Suffragette City – David Bowie

# 168 – Summer of 69″– Bryan Adams

# 167 – Miss You – The Rolling Stones

# 166 – Darkness On The Edge Of Town – Bruce Springsteen

# 165 – Bennie And The Jets – Elton John

# 164 – Sheep – Pink Floyd

# 163 – The Devil Went Down To Georgia – The Charlie Daniels Band

# 162 – Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers Band

# 161 – The Ocean – Led Zeppelin

# 160 – Holiday in Cambodia – Dead Kennedys

# 159 – Who Are You – The Who 

# 158 – Changes  – David Bowie

# 157 – Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

# 156 – Jack And Diane – John Mellencamp

# 155 – Rock You Like A Hurricane – The Scorpions

# 154 – The Pretender – Jackson Browne

# 153 – I Can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar

# 152 – Yellow Submarine – The Beatles

# 151 – Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones

# 150 – From Me To You – The Beatles

# 149 – Roadhouse Blues  – The Doors 

# 148 – I Don’t Need No Doctor – Humble Pie

# 147 – Jessica – The Allman Brothers Band

# 146 – All My Loving –  The Beatles

# 145 – Heat Of The Moment – Asia

# 144 – Roundabout – Yes

The classic Yes song was released on the album Fragile in 1972.

# 143 – Who”ll Stop The Rain – CCR

# 142 – Jet – Paul McCartney & Wings

# 141 – Eruption – Van Halen

# 140 – Nobody’s Fault But Mine – Led Zeppelin

# 139 – Back In Black – AC/DC

# 138 – Helter Skelter – The Beatles

# 137 – L.A. Woman – The Doors 

# 136 – The Long And Winding Road  – The Beatles

# 135 – And You And I – Yes

Released on the album Close To The Edge in 1972

# 134 – Get Off My Cloud – The Rolling Stones

# 133 – Another Brick In The Wall – Pink Floyd

# 132 – California Girls – The Beach Boys

# 131 – The End  – The Doors 

# 130 – With A Little Help From My Friends – The Beatles

# 129 – Do You Feel Like I Do – Peter Frampton

# 128 – Crazy On You – Heart

# 127 – Pink Houses – John Mellencamp

# 126 – American Woman – The Guess Who

# 125 – In The Dead Of Night – U.K.

# 124 – Night Moves – Bob Seger

# 123 – Rambling Man – The Allman Brothers Band

# 122 – Hot ‘N’ Nasty – Humble Pie

# 121 – Can’t You See – The Marshall Tucker Band

# 120 – Norwegian Wood – The Beatles

# 119 – Magic Man – Heart

# 118 – One – Metallica

# 117 – Feels Like The First Time – Foreigner

# 116 – While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles

# 115 – Thank You – Led Zeppelin

# 114 – Karn Evil 9 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer

# 113 – Light My Fire – The Doors 

# 112 – Evil Ways – Santana

# 111 – Stone Cold Crazy – Queen

# 110 – Summertime Blues – Blue Cheer

# 109 – Sympathy For The Devil – The Rolling Stones

# 108 – Day Tripper – The Beatles

# 107 – Tie Your Mother Down – Queen

# 106 – Burning Down the House- Talking Heads

# 105 – Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin

# 104 – Bat Out Of Hell – Meat Loaf 

# 103 – Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple

# 102 – Back In The Saddle  – Aerosmith 

# 101 – Fool For The City – Foghat

# 100 – Oceania – Smashing Pumpkins

# 99 – Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf

# 98 – Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

# 97 – Green Grass And High Tides Forever – Outlaws

# 96 – 2112 – Rush

# 95 – All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

# 94 – Where The Streets Have No Name – U2

# 93 – Barracuda – Heart 

# 92 – Jungleland  – Bruce Springsteen

# 91 – White Rabbit – The Jefferson Airplane

# 90 – Dream On – Aerosmith

# 89 – A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum

# 88 – Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles

# 87 – Liar – Queen

# 86 – Suite Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby Stills & Nash

# 85 – Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

# 84 – Revolution – The Beatles

# 83 – Driving Wheel – Foghat

# 82 – Mississippi Queen – Mountain

# 81 – Judgement Day – Van Halen

# 80 – All The Way From Memphis – Mott The Hoople

# 79 – Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf

# 78 – The Rover – Led Zeppelin

# 77 – Dream On  – Aerosmith 

# 76 – Something – The Beatles

# 75 – All The Young Dudes – Mott The Hoople

# 74 – Take It Easy – The Eagles

# 73 – Ticket To Ride – The Beatles

# 72 – Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne

# 71 – Since I’ve Been Loving You – Led Zeppelin

# 70 – Imagine – John Lennon

# 69 – Close To The Edge  – Yes

# 68 –  How Many Friends – The Who

# 67 – Hotel California – The Eagles

# 66 – You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette

# 65 – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles

# 64 – Walk This Way – Aerosmith 

# 63 – More Than A Feeling  – Boston

# 62 – I Saw Here Standing There – The Beatles

# 61 – When The Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin

# 60 – I Love Rock And Roll – Joan Jett 

# 59 -My Generation – The Who 

# 58 – Train in Vain –  The Clash

# 57 – Amerian Pie – Don Mclean

# 56 – Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones

# 55 – Revolution – The Beatles

# 54 – Paranoid – Black Sabbath

# 53 – Maggie May – Rod Stewart

# 52 -Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles

# 51 – Roxanne – The Police

# 50 – We Will Rock You/ We Are The Champions – Queen

# 49 – Dont Fear The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult

# 48 – Band On The Run – Paul McCartney & Wings

# 47 – Rock And Roll – Led Zeppelin

# 46 – Dogs  – Pink Floyd

# 45 – Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones

From the album Let it Bleed released in 1969

# 44 – Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones

# 43 – Help – The Beatles

# 42 – A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles

# 41 – Panama –Van Halen

# 40 – Heartbreaker – Pat Benatar

# 39 – The Real Me – The Who 

# 38 – Money – Pink Floyd

# 37 – Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones

The song was released on the album Sticky Fingers in 1971

# 36 – Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles

# 35 – You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC

# 34 – Hot For Teacher – Van Halen

# 33 – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

From the classic album Out of Our Heads released in 1965

# 32 – She Loves You – The Beatles

# 31 – Life On Mars – David Bowie

# 30 – Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

# 29 – Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin

# 28 – Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

# 27 – Strawberry Field Forever – The Beatles

# 26 – Hey Jude – The Beatles

# 25 – The Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin

# 24 – Comfortably Numb- Pink Floyd

# 23 – Let It Be – The Beatles

# 22 – Welcome To The Jungle – Guns N’ Roses

# 21 – Chip Away at the Stone –  Aerosmith

# 20 – Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

# 19 – Layla – Derek And The Dominos

# 18 – Kashmir – Led Zeppelin

# 17 – I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles

# 16 – Achilles Last Stand –  Led Zeppelin

# 15 – Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie

# 14 – Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

# 13 – Sweet Child Of Mine – Guns N’ Roses

# 12 – Black Dog – Led Zeppelin

# 11 – Slow Ride – Foghat

# 10 – Tiny Dancer  – Elton John

# 9 – Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

# 8 – Baba O’Riley – The Who 

It’s fitting that The Who is the only band to have two songs in our top 10. What’s so amazing is both of these songs appeared on the same album entitled Who’s Next released in 1971.

# 7 – Born To Run  – Bruce Springsteen

This epic song wound up landing Bruce Springsteen on the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines in the same week. Being held as “the future of Rock and Roll” by his future manager John Landau, that’s exactly what he became.

# 6 – Sweet Jane – Lou Reed

While many people may be surprised to see this Lou Reed song in the top 10, those of us who grew up in the 70s will remember how big this song was when Lou Reed released it on Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal in 1974.

# 5 – A Day In The Life – The Beatles

My friend said to me if you’re going to do a top 500 classic rock songs list you might as well just make the top 100 all Beatles songs and then there’s everything else. He has a point.

# 4 – Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream

The sound of the 1960s rock era was defined by Eric Clapton’s legendary guitar chords that fuel this song.

# 3 – Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix

There were so many classic Jimi Hendrix songs but this one has always just stood above all the rest to us.

# 2 – Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin

Could this be the most classic guitar riff of all time? It’s right up there. This legendary Led Zeppelin song was released on the band’s second album in 1969. Everything we came to love about Led Zeppelin is defined in this song.

# 1 – Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who 

The Who set the bar pretty high for classic rock when they released this song in 1971. This may be the most-played classic rock song of all time on the radio. An epic masterpiece by one of the greatest rock bands in the Story of Classic Rock.

Top 500 Classic Rock Songs Of All Time article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022

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