Top 100 Classic Rock Songs of All Time

Debating the top classic rock songs of all time is a sure-fire way to liven up any road trip or night out. There are countless worthy contenders, endless opinions and really, no wrong choices. Hundreds of thousands of AOL Radio listeners have rated songs on our Classic Rock station over the years. Based on this info, we present the Top 100 Classic Rock Songs of All Time.

100

Love Her Madly

The Doors

Jim Morrison's fiery spirit mixes with a sense of world-weariness on this bluesy classic from their final album.

iTunes | Lyrics

099

Money for Nothing

Dire Straits

Do you think guest vocalist Sting, or anyone from his generation, still wants their MTV quite so badly?

iTunes | Lyrics

098

The Chain

Fleetwood Mac

You gotta love bands where it's much easier to talk about which members have NOT slept with each other. Yet.

iTunes | Lyrics

097

Foreplay / Long Time

Boston

Who needs air guitar? The beginning of this classic rock track instantly turns any desk into an air Hammond Organ.

iTunes | Lyrics

096

Brown Sugar

The Rolling Stones

If your young children ask, just tell them this song's lyrics are about baking cakes and pies, stuff like that.

iTunes | Lyrics | Top 10 Rolling Stones Songs

095

White Room

Cream

How many Cream fans over the years do you think have painted their rooms white and gotten black curtains?

iTunes | Lyrics

094

Down on the Corner

Creedence Clearwater Revival

If the bass, cowbell and sing-along vocals here can't cheer you up, you must be having a real bad day.

iTunes | Lyrics

Credence Clearwater Revival Down On The Corner

093

Brown Eyed Girl

Van Morrison

With talent comes some crazy: Van Morrison told Time Magazine he's written 300 songs better than this one.

iTunes | Lyrics

092

Pinball Wizard

The Who

A rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid who can play pinball? Great drugs back in those days, huh?

iTunes | Lyrics

091

Run Like Hell

Pink Floyd

If you listen to music while jogging, this song's good for keeping you going after you hit your, yup, wall.

iTunes | Lyrics

090

Dust in the Wind

Kansas

Kansas may have written this song, but it now belongs to Will Ferrell, thanks to this scene from 'Old School.'

iTunes | Lyrics

089

Honky Tonk Women

The Rolling Stones

"Hey, Keith, you wanna spend the holidays in Brazil and write a song about hookers?" "Sure thing, Mick!"

iTunes | Lyrics

088

Night Moves

Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

A tale of teens coming of age in the backseat of a '60 Chevy; is Seger besting Springsteen at his own game?

iTunes | Lyrics

087

Young Lust

Pink Floyd

You think English chaps are so polite, so sophisticated, and then you hear these lyrics.. guess not!

iTunes | Lyrics

086

Go Your Own Way

Fleetwood Mac

One of many sunny-sounding, lyrically sad Fleetwood Mac songs. They're like the Beach Boys on downers.

iTunes | Lyrics

085

Radar Love

Golden Earring

If you're getting tired late at night on the highway, this classic rock song is good for another 10 miles, easily.

iTunes | Lyrics

084

Black Water

The Doobie Brothers

Very cool that this band could do traditional rock music and, later, the Michael McDonald-era soul style so well.

iTunes | Lyrics

083

D'Yer Mak'er

Led Zeppelin

What's it been, forty years, and still nobody can make their drums sound as great as John Bonham does here?

iTunes | Lyrics | 10 Best Led Zeppelin Song

082

Won't Get Fooled Again

The Who

It's true, The Who don't get fooled much, but even they didn't see the end of 'the Sixth Sense' coming.

iTunes | Lyrics

081

Paranoid

Black Sabbath

Just as someone at every U.S. rock show yells out for 'Free Bird,' in Finland, they call for 'Paranoid.'

iTunes | Lyrics | 10 Best Black Sabbath Songs

Filed under: Best Songs, Rock, Top 100 Songs

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. won't get fooled again at 82 and no Springsteen Born to Run - who did this some idiots who never listen to any good music - please Sweet Home Alabama - did you listen to AM music all your life - Ballad of Curtis Lowe is the best song on Second Helping

Posted at 1:51AM on Jun 10th 2010 by steve

2. Black Water/Doobie Bros.
One of the most annoying songs after Jesus Is Just Alright, he may be for you; song sucks for me.

This is supposed to be 100 BEST songs, not the worst, right. So where are:
SKATING AWAY (on the thin ice of a new day) from War Child, Inside from Benefit? by Jethro Tull MUCH BETTER SONGS.

Posted at 11:39PM on Jun 11th 2010 by TOMCAT

3. A decent classic by Aerosmith. ABSOLUTELY RUINED
WITH DUMB RUN D M C - R A P READ THAT ANY WAY YOU WANT.
Tyler Rocks.
Run apparently can't.. without someone elses's hit.
ABSOLUTELY RUINED THE SONG. WOULDN'T BUY OR D/L it FOR FREE!!!

I thing he was standing to close to that bong when he dun let them jack that song!

Posted at 11:42PM on Jun 11th 2010 by Tom M

4. No Springsteen at all on this list??? This is a terrible list. The Beatles songs alone are way off. Garbage

Posted at 8:20PM on Jun 19th 2010 by tim

5. Yeah I agree this is a horrible list..where is the Springsteen? CCR should've been much higher on the list, and every time I hear sweet home alabama I want to break the damn radio!

Posted at 8:39PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Adam

6. You have to remember there are several factors involved here. If they play one song 20 times and another just a few which song gets rated more? Springsteen is very guarded about his music on the net, less exposure, less play, less votes.

Posted at 8:53PM on Jun 19th 2010 by pat

7. No Guns N Roses, no Jethro Tull in the Top 100 Rock Songs.....can't be!!!!!!!!

Posted at 8:58PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Timof

8. Who comes up with these lists, anyway? Some of the songs are ok, but how about U2, and some Beatle songs, they had it way over anybody else. Yes, even Bruce Springstein had good songs. I am disappointed. There is so many way better songs then the ones listed above. AOL writers, are not necessarily what everyone likes, just what they like.

Posted at 8:58PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Gwarmwind

9. NAZARETH's "HAIR OF THE DOG" (I DON'T MESS WITH A SON OF A BITCH!!!)ought to be in the top 20 and they are not eeeeee-ven my favorite band!!! This list blows, no "Running on Empty" by Jackson Browne, no "Children of the Sun" by Billy Paul, No
Nugent whatsoever means this is totally bogus, Journeys "Wheel in the Sky" should have been their representative song, No Rush or Styx or Sammy Hagar (Theres Only One Way to Rock!) on here is a travesty...they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Posted at 12:14AM on Jun 22nd 2010 by Brandon

10. no Van Halen?

Posted at 9:07PM on Jun 19th 2010 by K1a1

11. not even closs to top 100

Posted at 9:07PM on Jun 19th 2010 by mary

12. Besides no Springsteen, only one Dylan song and it's Knocking on Heaven's Door... Stairway to Heaven is a good number one. What about Light My Fire.. This is not a top list

Posted at 9:43PM on Jun 19th 2010 by roundabout77

13. Not one Jethro Tull song????

Posted at 9:14PM on Jun 19th 2010 by jcollins1711

14. Springsteen missing ? Who cares ! Where is Van Halen ?

Posted at 7:40PM on Jun 21st 2010 by khetrick

15. No Van Halen,No Steely Dan,Too much Led,too much Stones.Golden Earing?Radar Love?Dire straits songs are out of order.I'm done with this list.Bret Michaels was closer!

Posted at 9:39PM on Jun 19th 2010 by jeff

16. Trash, this list is so polliticly correct it makes me want to throw up. Bias to the point of Moronic. The people who made this list are idiots with an extra twist of sissy.

Posted at 1:05PM on Jun 20th 2010 by TonyS

17. What about "School's Out" by Alice Cooper? Probably THE MOST played song at this time of the year! Also, "All Good People" and "Roundabout" by Yes? Who votes on these things?

Rockin' in Buffalo

Posted at 9:33PM on Jun 19th 2010 by magickalworld

18. Come on...where is "The Boss"? Thunder Road???

Posted at 9:30PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Budcvngh

19. What about "School's Out" by Alice Cooper? Probably THE MOST played song at this time of the year! Also, "All Good People" and "Roundabout" by Yes? Who votes on these things?

Rockin' in Buffalo

Posted at 9:32PM on Jun 19th 2010 by magickalworld

20. "Stairway to Heaven"?...are you kidding me? I know these things are subjective, but have a little imagination, for crying out loud!

Posted at 9:32PM on Jun 19th 2010 by tmills1956

21. Led for the head

Posted at 9:42PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Jan

22. Where are songs by Foreigner and Styx? At least there is one Journey song on the list.

Posted at 9:51PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Asouthnldy

23. I know a way to save 75% on the cost of cigarettes while smoking a healthy alternative. There's no carbon monoxide or tar. Money back guarantee and lifetime warranty! http://www.eCigBiz.com or http://www.Smoke-Tip.com

Posted at 9:58PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Mallory

24. No Robin Trower and nothing off the best Live Album ever Frampton Comes Alive. Allman Brothers not there. No Bruce,Jackson Browne. Man who made up this list.

Posted at 10:02PM on Jun 19th 2010 by RALPH

25. The list tells me todays music is not music...its just vial and vulgar..really not any kind of music at all...whethers is rock and roll or whatever...its just repulsive..

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 20th 2010 by m murray

26. I like this obscure song "Hey Jude" and think it should be on this list...

Posted at 10:22PM on Jun 19th 2010 by jcsdo

27. No "Thunder Road" by Springsteen? LAME!

Posted at 9:37AM on Jun 20th 2010 by JackAssin

28. This list is right on the money. Great bands and may I stress Bands. No solo artists and please, crying about Bruce Springstein, he's all about POP rock and making the charts. To put him on this list would be an insult. I agree, Led Zeppelin is worthy of the title of the greatest Rock Band of all time.

Posted at 10:31PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Randy

29. nobody thinks American Pie is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Lyrically I think it is by fat the best. It goes through the history of rock from the late 50's to 1970. Anybody agree /disagree

Posted at 10:42PM on Jun 19th 2010 by danadam1

30. Seriously? Who made this list?

Posted at 10:50PM on Jun 19th 2010 by mjj

31. Bruce Springsteen sucks

Posted at 10:51PM on Jun 19th 2010 by 2lazy2p

32. American Pie is the writers personal view of rock history from the death of Valens, Big Bopper, and Buddy Holiday to corruption of Rock culminating at Altamont. Personally I think it is far superior to any other rock's lyrics.
"Can U see the real me" is a favorite of mine
by the Who

Posted at 11:01PM on Jun 19th 2010 by danadam1

33. Where's In-a-gadda-da-veda, the quintessential acid rock?

Posted at 11:27PM on Jun 19th 2010 by naed

34. any greatest 100 with no RUSH at all or without even placeing American Pie is just wrong. I believe WE ALL DESERVE A RECOUNT......

Posted at 11:01PM on Jun 19th 2010 by 2112mike2112

35. This list is hardly representative of the best of rock 'n roll. Back in the day the Godfather's of Rock didn't come from American Idol or have their tunes played on AM Radio. Elvis will always be the King; the Beatles, the Stones,Zepplin,Janis and Jimmy the Royalty in the court. And Michael Jackson would never be considered "rock" by purists. There are lists, and then there is the undeniable truth.

Posted at 11:26PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Stanley

36. no iron maiden? no van halen? only one jimi hendrix? and what the heck is with all of the pink floyd? this list is obviously subjective...

Posted at 11:26PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Irlandaise

37. strange how songs are picked. Banks and fat kats pick what is going to make them money and they play it. Good music is hidden under the heavy blanket of corporate profits. Other than Dock of the Bay, have you EVER heard ANY otis Redding sone on the air? How about any Dylan song other than "they'll stone you". The bankers pick the hits and make us sick. SCREW the so called hits, it's all made up

Posted at 11:30PM on Jun 19th 2010 by enutsaid

38. So many are missing!!! Robin Trower, Rush, Scorpions are a few.

Posted at 11:37PM on Jun 19th 2010 by Dwayne

39. This "Top 100 List" is more like the Top 100 Lame Classic Rock. At least SOME good classic rock got on the list, however 87% of this supposed Top 100 is overrated bolony. The Beatles are not Classic Rock, they have always been in the "Oldies" section at the music stores I go to. The Rolling Stones were the birth of PUNK music. . . need I continue? Enough talk, this list is nowhere near accurate.

Posted at 11:36PM on Jun 19th 2010 by kumorisamurai

40. I am just an old guy so you can take this for what it's worth, but the 101st best Beatle song is better than most of your list. Fab Four way underrepresented.

Posted at 12:04AM on Jun 20th 2010 by DaveJ

41. I like much of the music mentioned in the listing, but the top 100(?), not in this world nor the next.

Posted at 12:15AM on Jun 20th 2010 by naed

42. this must have been based on air play or sales on syndicated stations.

no wishbone ash, santana, even springsteen made seseme street with "Born To Spell" and his own muppet. at least someone else has heard of Quick Silver, the "left off's" made a beter list, actualy
more complete. buddy had the "crickets" just as Springsteen had "The E Street Band", thanks for bringing up the Seeds, Zombies, Etc.

Posted at 11:33PM on Jun 21st 2010 by gcstone

43. Livin on a Prayer?

Posted at 12:38AM on Jun 20th 2010 by Danielle

44. Classic Rock? Duhhhh.... Where's *JanisJoplin *KISS~I,Wanna RockN'Roll All Night *ArethaFranklin~RESPECTorTHINK
*Zevon~Weirwolf of London *JoeCocker~Cry a River *JeffersonAirplane~WhiteRabbit...
Classic Rock? Check out Woodstock:)

Posted at 8:59AM on Jul 14th 2010 by xntreek1

45. Lame, lamer and lamest. Obviously no two people would agree about this list, but the person or persons who created this list seem to have not even heard of most of the great groups, movements, issues or the songs that Classic rock celebrated. This is a hodge podge that looks like someone put their iPod on shuffle and just the first 100 songs that came up.

Posted at 1:12AM on Jun 20th 2010 by TERRY DUSHENKO

46. All of AOLs song lists always suck. & the damn teaser is worse, telling me "one band is on the list 15 times, but it's not the Beatles or Stones", but what I have to read through the hole f---ing thing & keep count, your not going to tell me at the start? Screw you AOL

Posted at 1:28AM on Jun 20th 2010 by Lists always suck

47. I have come to the conclusion that the writers deliberately make mistakes on these lists so then everyone can debate and call them idiots. They knew people would jump all over the decision to leave out Bruce Springsteen! If they want our resoect, they need to be serious about these things.

Posted at 2:07AM on Jun 20th 2010 by Kari Hopes

48. Oh please! Who makes up these lists? Some jerk from Rolling Stone Magazine.
There are so many songs that they leave off it is pathetic. Who makes these jerks the experts anyway? Everybody has their own favorites. We don't need some radio station or magazine guru to tell us what the best songs are.

Posted at 2:33AM on Jun 20th 2010 by Denis Heurtevant

49. Oh, now I find out that it's an AOL list.
Dumbass me. No wonder the list sucks.

Posted at 2:39AM on Jun 20th 2010 by Denis Heurtevant

50. Oh my God! No "Inside Out" by XYZ?!?! What's the matter with you list making people??

The only thing lamer than this list is the nubes crying about not seeing their favorite song on it.

Posted at 2:50AM on Jun 20th 2010 by Allen

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