The best rock songs of all time can be subjective but there is a definitive list. Even if your absolute favorite rock song doesn’t feature, it doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the all-time greats. The fact is that there are so many of the best rock songs of all time that there are bound to be some that don’t make the big top 100. With an abundance of glorious rock music from the 60s, 70s, 80’s 90s and beyond, there are just too many rock songs to mention. Plus, some rock songs span genres, such as punk and New Wave. However, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe are the top ten greatest rock songs ever. Does your favorite feature? Read on to find out.
Purple Haze by Jim Hendrix
This intense rock song features a fabulous blend of blues with rock and delivers a concoction of superbly different sounds that gives it cult status. Jimi Hendrix instinctively knew what his fans wanted to hear and this song spans decades – giving listeners of all ages something extraordinary to enjoy that resonates with music buffs of today’s decade as well of those from yesteryear.
Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
One of the all-time-greatest ever rock bands, there was no song that didn’t delight from Led Zeppelin. Whole Lotta Love is an epic track that reached enormous accolade, featuring incredible guitar work and the loudest possible drums. Mix that up with Robert Plant’s vocals and you get an exceptional piece of music that deserves its status as one of the best rock songs of all time.
Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones
It’s hard enough to choose just one song by The Rolling Stones for the best rock songs of all time – there are just so many, but Sympathy has to be one of their greatest. With intensely powerful guitar, drums, and Mick Jagger’s dulcet tones, it’s as iconic as Satisfaction and just as exciting to listen to which gives it a well-deserved mention on this list.
Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie
When you combine the talents of two of the biggest names of the 1970s and 1980s the result is something so incredible that you can’t fail to be impressed. Even listening to this rock track today, you get shivers running up and down your spine. The sound is utter perfection, and it defies all belief that much of this song was performed using ad-hoc lyrics that were improvised by this superb duo.
Baba O’Riley by The Who
Pete Townshend’s Baba O’Riley features a synthesizer and guitar sound to give it a brand-new rock ‘n’ roll sound that hadn’t been heard before, paving the way for modern rock bands and still sounding sublime today.
Rockin’ In The Free World by Neil Young
An undoubtedly intense, raucous rock track which features an abundance of spectacular guitar and plenty of heavy punch, this rock anthem is one of the greatest rock songs of all time, still delighting audiences of today.
Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Nothing comes close to the rock song Comfortably Numb, which is completely original and encompasses Pink Floyd’s unique talent and sound. With organ playing and a haze of druggy musical sounds, it’s a thought-provoking musical piece that encapsulates those feelings of being in the midst of naughty narcotics. Relaxing yet at the same time an awakening, Pink Floyd is still seen to be one of the biggest rock bands ever spanning generations with their iconic music.
Funk #49 by The James Gang
A guitar that feels like it’s unmatched, a gritty sound with big vocals and a beat that pricks up your ears, Funk #49 well deserves to be on this list. This sound, while definitely rock, is something unique that makes it stand out from the crowd, deserving the acclaim that it received.
The Boys are Back in Town by Think Lizzy
Noted for its party beat and guitar playing, this tune was the ultimate get up and dance track that filled a dance floor and made you smile. Thin Lizzy never cease to delight – this rock song still gets plenty of air play and excites the youth of today as much as it did back in the 1970s.
Iron Man by Black Sabbath
Led by rock star extraordinaire, Ozzy Ozbourne, Iron Man features a set of lyrics that quite simply put, make no sense whatsoever and yet it works! With enough sound to blow your mind, it’s loud, edgy, and perfectly impolite, encompassing the band’s image and forcing anyone who listens to sit up and take notice!