Introduction
Classic rock is a broad rock music genre that emerged in the mid to late 1960s and peaked in popularity through the 1970s and into the early 1980s. The term encompasses various rock styles like blues rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, and early heavy metal. It’s generally characterized by strong guitar riffs, extended solos, driving rhythms, and anthemic vocals.
Classic rock has had an enormous cultural impact and left a lasting legacy on the music world. The songs continue to receive extensive radio airplay decades after being released. Their familiar melodies, hooks, and lyrics are etched in pop culture history.
In this article, we’ll explore the best classic rock songs from the peak decades of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. You’ll take an epic journey through rock history highlighting legendary bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Nirvana, and many more. Get ready to crank up the volume on the most iconic, quintessential rock tracks that have stood the test of time and still inspire artists today. From chill, contemplative ballads to high-energy arena anthems, this curated playlist has something for every classic rock fan. Let’s dive in!
Top Classic Rock Songs of the 70s
The 1970s were a golden era for classic rock music, producing countless iconic anthems that still resonate today. This decade saw the rise of bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, and others who crafted epic rock songs that have stood the test of time. Here are some of the top classic rock hits of the 1970s:
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"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin – Often considered one of the greatest rock songs ever written, this 8-minute epic starts quietly before building to an explosive crescendo featuring some of Jimmy Page’s best guitar work. The cryptic lyrics and mystical aura cemented it as a classic rock legend.
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"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen – A true musical masterpiece, this 1975 song popularized the rock opera format. Its unusual structure, operatic sections, and unforgettable melody made "Bohemian Rhapsody" an instant classic. Freddie Mercury’s powerful vocals and the band’s creative vision produced a timeless work of art.
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"Baba O’Riley" by The Who – The synthesizer intro is one of the most recognizable in rock. Roger Daltrey’s soaring vocals, Pete Townshend’s energetic guitar, and Keith Moon’s dynamic drums made this a quintessential Who anthem. The lyrics poetically capture teenage angst and rebellion.
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"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd – The title track of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album, this song mourns the absence of founding member Syd Barrett. David Gilmour’s evocative guitar work and vocals, combined with Roger Waters’ heartfelt lyrics, give "Wish You Were Here" an emotional weight.
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"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd – Driven by a Southern rock guitar riff, Ronnie Van Zant’s vocals celebrate Southern pride in this 1974 hit. The lyrics take digs at Neil Young while establishing Skynyrd’s status as icons.
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"Hotel California" by The Eagles – Opening with one of rock’s most memorable guitar duals, this Eagles classic features cryptic imagery in Don Henley’s lyrics over an ominous minor-key melody. The extended guitar solos make it a staple of classic rock radio.
Best of the 80s
The 1980s produced some of the most memorable and iconic rock anthems of all time. Hair metal and hard rock dominated the decade, churning out stadium-filling hits with huge hooks, blistering guitar solos, and flamboyant frontmen. While genres like new wave and synthpop also flourished, it was the big guitar rock sound that defined the 80s.
Here are some of the most quintessential 80s rock hits:
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"Livin’ on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi – This 1986 power ballad became an instant classic thanks to Jon Bon Jovi’s soaring vocals and Richie Sambora’s talk box guitar work. An uplifting song about perseverance.
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"Sweet Child o’ Mine" by Guns N’ Roses – The lead single off Appetite for Destruction, this 1988 smash highlights Slash’s iconic opening riff and Axl Rose’s impressive vocal range.
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"You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC – AC/DC brought raucous hard rock to the masses with this sexualized rocker featuring Brian Johnson’s signature raspy howl.
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"Photograph" by Def Leppard – A shimmering 1983 glam metal ballad layered with vocal harmonies and guitar arpeggios. The music video got heavy rotation on MTV.
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"Jump" by Van Halen – David Lee Roth shows off his wild frontman persona in the buoyant synth-driven 1984 hit. Features an iconic keyboard riff by Eddie Van Halen.
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"Home Sweet Home" by Mötley Crüe – This heartfelt 1985 power ballad displays the band’s sensitive side and established them as global superstars.
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"I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner – Lou Gramm’s emotional vocals made this 1984 power ballad one of the decade’s most enduring love songs.
The music videos for these songs were pivotal in making them massive pop culture sensations. MTV provided the perfect platform for rock bands to showcase their sound and image. Everything from the big hair, eccentric outfits, pyrotechnics and choreographed moves became iconic symbols of 80s excess and flamboyance. Even today, these music videos evoke powerful nostalgia for the decadent arena rock heyday.
Best of the 90s
The 1990s produced some of the most raw, gritty, and emotionally charged rock music ever heard. Building off the alternative rock movement of the 80s, bands in the 90s forged an entirely new sound that came to define the decade.
The grunge scene exploded out of Seattle, producing genre-defining artists like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden. These bands favored distorted guitars, angst-filled vocals, and introspective lyrics that resonated with disaffected youth. Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became the anthem of Generation X with its mix of quiet-loud dynamics and an infectious, fuzzed-out guitar riff.
Other essential grunge tracks from the 90s include Pearl Jam’s "Alive," capturing the band’s raw, stadium-ready sound, and Alice in Chains’ "Man in the Box," featuring Layne Staley’s ominous vocal delivery. Soundgarden went a slightly more psychedelic route with "Black Hole Sun" and its surreal, brooding melody.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers blended rock with funk and hip-hop influences. "Under the Bridge" showed their more introspective side with Anthony Kiedis’ poetic lyrics exploring loneliness and addiction. They also produced wah-wah pedal-fueled funk rock hits like "Scar Tissue" and "Californication."
Rounding out the 90s rock highlights were alternative bands like Stone Temple Pilots, who had a grunge-inspired crunch but added Beatles-esque melodies on songs like "Plush." Live brought an earnest folk-rock vibe with tracks like "Lightning Crashes." Collectively, these artists produced the soundtrack for 90s rock music. Their songs were anthemic yet introspective, fuzzy yet melodic, and above all else, genuine.
Where to Find and Create the Ultimate Classic Rock Playlists
With so many legendary classic rock songs to discover, streaming playlists are the perfect way to explore the genre’s greatest hits. Here are some of the top playlists for diving into the classic rock catalog on popular music platforms:
Spotify: Rock Classics, All Out 70s, 80s Hard Rock, 90s Alt Rock Anthems, Epic Classic Rock, Good Times: Great Oldies, Rock Legends
Apple Music: All Time Classic Rock Hits, Best Classic Rock Songs, Epic Classic Rock, Hard Rock Classics, Totally 80s Rock
YouTube Music: Greatest Classic Rock Songs, All Time Best Classic Rock, 70s 80s and 90s Rock Giants, Classic Rock Ballads, Timeless Classic Rock
Amazon Music: 100 Classic Rock Anthems, Best Classic Rock Workout, Epic Driving Rock, Ultimate Dad Rock, 100 Greatest Rock Love Songs
Beyond streaming curated playlists, every classic rock fan should create their own personalized playlist. Select your all-time favorite tracks and albums from the 70s, 80s, and 90s to craft the perfect mix. Tap into feeling nostalgic by including songs you grew up with. Or go for an epic road trip vibe with high energy driving anthems. Get creative and make it your own!
Classic rock playlists also make great gifts for family and friends. Surprise your parents or co-workers with a "Best of the 70s" or "80s Rock Hits" compilation. Celebrate and share the music you love by creating custom playlists for any mood or occasion. With thousands of rock classics to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Let these legendary tunes bring you together and rock on!
The Legacy and Influence of Classic Rock
Classic rock has left an indelible mark on the music industry and continues to shape modern rock music today. The legendary artists from the 70s, 80s, and 90s set a high standard for musicality, songwriting, and live performance that all subsequent musicians have aspired to reach.
Many of the most prominent mainstream rock bands today directly cite classic rock acts like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Guns N’ Roses as major influences. The blues-inspired guitar playing, epic solos, driving rhythms, and larger-than-life frontmen established in classic rock form the backbone of modern hard rock and metal. Classic rock song structures, melodic hooks, vocal harmonies and emotionally-charged lyrics also inform today’s pop punk and alternative rock.
Beyond direct musical impact, classic rock indelibly shaped the culture and business around rock music. The explosion of FM radio in the 70s spread the music to vast new audiences and enabled bands to extend their songs into epic jams and conceptual suites. The excess and spectacle of arena rock shows raised the bar for live performances with ever-more elaborate light shows, pyrotechnics and stage theatrics. Music videos brought a bold visual dimension to songs, forever linking classic rock hits to iconic imagery.
No modern rock musician can ignore the towering achievements of classic rock, whether striving to emulate their heroes or deliberately subverting their influence. Regardless of genre, today’s artists still look to Hendrix, Page, Mercury, Rose and Cobain as archetypes of rock stardom and creative brilliance. Even as musical tastes evolve, the classic rock canon persists as a measuring stick for excellence and inspiration.
Conclusion
Classic rock continues to resonate with music fans decades after these legendary songs first hit the airwaves. The iconic tracks showcased from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s represent the very best that rock music has to offer. From Led Zeppelin’s epic "Stairway to Heaven" to Nirvana’s angst-filled "Smells Like Teen Spirit," these classic rock anthems demonstrate brilliant artistry and musicianship that has stood the test of time. Though styles and trends have changed, the raw power and emotion conveyed in these classic rock staples remain as impactful today as ever. Their familiar melodies and lyrics have etched themselves into pop culture and continue to influence new generations of artists and fans. The legacy of classic rock lives on through these immortal songs that will be enjoyed for many years to come. Their timeless appeal is a testament to the profound influence of rock legends like Queen, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and others who shaped the sound of a musical era. This ultimate classic rock playlist celebrates these monumental tracks that listeners return to again and again.