Best Classic Rock Songs of All Time

Last Updated on 6 November 2023

The following list is the Official Definitive List of the 500 best classic rock songs of all time.

I averaged 21 different ranked lists of “Best classic rock songs of all time” to get this definitive compilation. See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including all 21 lists that were averaged.

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Hotel California – Eagles
Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix
Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Baba O’Riley – The Who
You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
A Day in the Life – The Beatles
More Than a Feeling – Boston
I Love Rock ‘n Roll – Joan Jett
Dream On – Aerosmith
Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin
All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
La Grange – ZZ Top
Under Pressure – Queen / David Bowie
Hey Jude – The Beatles
Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Barracuda – Heart
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Carry on Wayward Son – Kansas
Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young
Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
Back in Black – AC/DC
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard
Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Layla – Derek and the Dominos
My Sharona – The Knack
The Boys Are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy
Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
Roadhouse Blues – The Doors
Another Brick in the Wall (Pt. 2) – Pink Floyd
Tom Sawyer – Rush
Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones
Turn the Page – Bob Seger
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
Rock You Like a Hurricane – Scorpions
Slow Ride – Foghat
Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones
Imagine – John Lennon
Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
Black Dog – Led Zeppelin
Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
She Loves You – The Beatles
Just What I Needed – The Cars
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
We Are the Champions – Queen
Locomotive Breath – Jethro Tull
Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
We Will Rock You – Queen
Iron Man – Black Sabbath
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
The Joker – Steve Miller Band
Roxanne – The Police
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
All Right Now – Free
Bad to the Bone – George Thorogood
Bad Company – Bad Company
Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
Jump – Van Halen
Sunshine of Your Love – Cream
Walk This Way – Aerosmith
Panama – Van Halen
Highway to Hell – AC/DC
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
School’s Out – Alice Cooper
Roundabout – Yes
Money – Pink Floyd
American Girl – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Midnight Rambler – The Rolling Stones
Ramble On – Led Zeppelin
Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones
Charity Ball – Fanny
Black Magic Woman – Santana
Maggie May – Rod Stewart
Piece of My Heart – Big Brother and the Holding Company
Heartbreaker – Pat Benatar
Funk #49 – James Gang
American Pie – Don McLean
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Money for Nothing – Dire Straits
You Really Got Me – Van Halen
Another Brick in the Wall (Pt. 1) – Pink Floyd
Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin
American Woman – The Guess Who
Let It Be – The Beatles
Renegade – Styx
Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
Photograph – Def Leppard
Take It Easy – Eagles
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Feel Like Makin’ Love – Bad Company
Over the Hills and Far Away – Led Zeppelin
Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
Starman – David Bowie
Sweet Jane – Lou Reed
Edge of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks
Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones
Stranglehold – Ted Nugent
Everlong – Foo Fighters
Jack and Diane – John Mellencamp
Juke Box Hero – Foreigner
A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles
Have You Ever Seen the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Burning Heart – Survivor
One – U2
Runnin’ with the Devil – Van Halen
Radar Love – Golden Earring
L.A. Woman – The Doors
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Mississippi Queen – Mountain
Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
I Want You to Want Me – Cheap Trick
In the Air Tonight – Phil Collins
Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band
Live and Let Die – Paul McCartney and Wings
I Can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar
Enter Sandman – Metallica
Light My Fire – The Doors
Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
Cortez the Killer – Neil Young
Time – Pink Floyd
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
Layla – Eric Clapton
Crazy on You – Heart
Somebody to Love – Jefferson Airplane
Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
The End – The Doors
Eruption – Van Halen
London Calling – The Clash
It’s a Long Way to the Top – AC/DC
Can’t You See – The Marshall Tucker Band
Something – The Beatles
Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh
Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
Evil Ways – Santana
Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
Runnin’ Down a Dream – Tom Petty
Hold on Loosely – 38 Special
Hold the Line – Toto
Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles
Space Oddity – David Bowie
White Room – Cream
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & the Papas
Highway Star – Deep Purple
Your Song – Elton John
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Bachman Turner Overdrive
A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
Behind Blue Eyes – The Who
Burnin’ for You – Blue Oyster Cult
Show Me the Way – Peter Frampton
Rock’n Me – Steve Miller
Any Way You Want It – Journey
Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
Life in the Fast Lane – Eagles
Nights in White Satin – The Moody Blues
Purple Rain – Prince
Riders on the Storm – The Doors
Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
Fell in Love With a Girl – The White Stripes
Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
Life’s Been Good – Joe Walsh
China Grove – The Doobie Brothers
Born on the Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Run to the Hills – Iron Maiden
2112 – Rush
Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones
Heard It in a Love Song – The Marshall Tucker Band
Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan
Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
Refugee – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
Dog & Butterfly – Heart
Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) – The Hollies
You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones
Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer
Careless Whispers – George Michael
Don’t Bring Me Down – Electric Light Orchestra
Magic Man – Heart
One Way Or Another – Blondie
With a Little Help From My Friends – The Beatles
Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
White Wedding – Billy Idol
Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and the Comets
Frankenstein – Edgar Winter
We’re an American Band – Grand Funk Railroad
No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley and the Wailers
California Girls – The Beach Boys
Peace of Mind – Boston
Helter Skelter – The Beatles
Lonely Is the Night – Billy Squier
Good Times Roll – The Cars
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Thunderstruck – AC/DC
Achilles Last Stand – Led Zeppelin
Lady in Red – Chris De Burgh
Texas Flood – Stevie Ray Vaughan
Livin After Midnight – Judas Priest
Oh Well – Fleetwood Mac
Hair of the Dog – Nazareth
Night Moves – Bob Seger
Crossroads – Cream
Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix
Hells Bells – AC/DC
Black Betty – Ram Jam
Aqaulung – Jethro Tull
Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
Love Is Love – Culture Club
My Generation – The Who
Every Breath You Take – The Police
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2
Do it Again – Steely Dan
Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
Pride (In the Name of Love) – U2
The Ocean – Led Zeppelin
Conquistador – Procol Harum
I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner
Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
Brain Damage – Pink Floyd
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
Tush – ZZ Top
Lola – The Kinks
Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon
Funeral for a Friend – Elton John
Revolution – The Beatles
Bang a Gong (Get It On) – T. Rex
Break on Through – The Doors
Rocket Man – Elton John
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Saving All My Love for You – Whitney Houston
Flirtin’ with Disaster – Molly Hatchet
Ace of Spades – Motörhead
Hot for Teacher – Van Halen
Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix
Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
Chip Away at the Stone – Aerosmith
My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Old Time Rock & Roll – Bob Seger
Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting – Elton John
Cocaine – Eric Clapton
No One Like You – Scorpions
No Sugar Tonight – The Guess Who
Because of You – 98 Degrees
Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash
Foxy Lady – Jimi Hendrix
Rock the Casbah – The Clash
Cold As Ice – Foreigner
Come Sail Away – Styx
Pink Houses – John Mellencamp
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
Love Alive – Heart
Rebel Girl – Bikini Kill
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
Who Are You – The Who
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman – Brian Adams
Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers Band
Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
Jessica – The Allman Brothers Band
Love in an Elevator – Aerosmith
Hello, I Love You – The Doors
Always – Atlantic Starr
Hard to Handle – The Black Crowes
Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
Already Gone – Eagles
Every Rose Has its Thorn – Poison
Rocket – Def Leppard
Eternal Flame – The Bangles
Brass in Pocket – The Pretenders
Home Sweet Home – Mötley Crüe
My Best Friend’s Girl – The Cars
Young Lust – Pink Floyd
How Deep Is Your Love – The Bee Gees
Sister Christian – Night Ranger
Run Through the Jungle – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love – Van Halen
Going to California – Led Zeppelin
Lunatic Fringe – Red Rider
Killer Queen – Queen
My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
With or Without You – U2
Even Flow – Pearl Jam
Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – George Benson
Foreplay / Long Time – Boston
The Stroke – Billy Squier
Miss You – The Rolling Stones
La Villa Strangiato – Rush
True – Spandau Ballet
We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
Caught Up in You – 38 Special
Young Americans – David Bowie
Like a Prayer – Madonna
Free Ride – Edgar Winter
Mr. Crowley – Ozzy Osbourne
What I Like About You – The Romantics
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) – Journey
Gonna Make You Sweat – C+C Music Factory
Life on Mars – David Bowie
Mama, I’m Coming Home – Ozzy Osbourne
Norwegian Wood – The Beatles
Boys of Summer – Don Henley
Dust in the Wind – Kansas
Hit Me with Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix
Wheel in the Sky – Journey
Rock & Roll Band – Boston
Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
War Pigs – Black Sabbath
Smokin’ – Boston
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
Poison – Bel Biv DeVoe
Across the Universe – The Beatles
Lucky Man – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Legs – ZZ Top
Gold Dust Woman – Fleetwood Mac
It’s a Beautiful Day – White Bird
Lady Jane – The Rolling Stones
Feels Like the First Time – Foreigner
Little Queen – Heart
Touch Me – The Doors
Flying High Again – Ozzy Osbourne
The Spirit of Radio – Rush
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
Moon River – Audrey Hepburn
Don’t Stand So Close to Me – The Police
Walk On the Wild Side – Lou Reed
Message in a Bottle – The Police
Centerfold – J. Geils Band
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Hysteria – Def Leppard
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy – Bad Company
Push It – Salt-N-Pepa
Dream Weaver – Gary Wright
Girls, Girls, Girls – Mötley Crüe
Fly Like an Eagle – Steve Miller
Back in the Saddle – Aerosmith
Reeling in the Years – Steely Dan
Somebody to Love – Queen
Child in Time – Deep Purple
You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi
Come Together – The Beatles
Jamie’s Cryin’ – Van Halen
Karn Evil 9 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Let’s Go – The Cars
Just a Song Before I Go – Crosby, Stills & Nash
The Real Me – The Who
Fool in the Rain – Led Zeppelin
Walking On the Moon – The Police
Breakdown – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Love Her Madly – The Doors
Fooled Around and Fell In Love – Elvin Bishop
Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones
I’ve Seen All Good People – Yes
Call Me the Breeze – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Subdivisions – Rush
Let My Love Open the Door – Pete Townshend
Dance the Night Away – Van Halen
Rainbow in the Dark – Dio
Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Still Loving You – Scorpions
Heat of the Moment – Asia
People Are Strange – The Doors
Help – The Beatles
Witchy Woman – The Eagles
Living After Midnight – Judas Priest
Spinning Wheel – Blood, Sweat & Tears
Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
Intro/Sweet Jane – Velvet Underground/Lou Reed
D’yer Mak’er – Led Zeppelin
Don’t Look Back – Boston
Two Tickets to Paradise – Eddie Money
What Is and What Should Never Be – Led Zeppelin
Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO
Piano Man – Billy Joel
Dogs – Pink Floyd
Down on the Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Time of the Season – The Zombies
Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads
Because the Night – Patti Smith Group
Band on the Run – Paul McCartney and Wings
Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots
Can’t Get Enough – Bad Company
Give a Little Bit – Supertramp
Rock with You – Michael Jackson
Groove Is in the Heart – Deee-Lite
One of These Nights – Eagles
Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2
New Year’s Day – U2
Gimme All Your Lovin’ – ZZ Top
Run Like Hell – Pink Floyd
Shine On You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd
You Might Think – The Cars
Limelight – Rush
You Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
Surrender – Cheap Trick
Takin’ Care of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Would? – Alice in Chains
Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2
Hot Blooded – Foreigner
Shakin’ – Eddie Money
Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin
Why Can’t This Be Love – Van Halen
Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles
Changes – David Bowie
Run to You – Bryan Adams
Everybody Wants Some – Van Halen
Green-Eyed Lady – Sugarloaf
Fly By Night – Rush
There’s Only One Way to Rock – Sammy Hagar
Amerian Pie – Don Mclean
From the Beginning – ELP
I’ll Wait – Van Halen
Train in Vain – The Clash
Rock On – David Essex
You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – The Beatles
Who Do You Love – George Thorogood
Us and Them – Pink Floyd
Rag Doll – Aerosmith
Jungle Love – Steve Miller
I Need a Lover – John Mellencamp
Detroit Rock City – Kiss
When the Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin
Got Me Under Pressure – ZZ Top
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Double Vision – Foreigner
Long Train Runnin’ – The Doobie Brothers
Hot Rod Lincoln – Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen
Swingtown – Steve Miller
Misty Mountain Hop – Led Zeppelin
Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon
Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel
Round and Round – Ratt
Middle of the Road – The Pretenders
The Logical Song – Supertramp
Hurts So Good – John Mellencamp
I’d Love to Change the World – Ten Years After
Into the Great Wide Open – Tom Petty
Blackbird – The Beatles
You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
That Smell – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Dreams – Van Halen
Goodbye Blue Sky – Pink Floyd
Beautiful Loser – Bob Seger
Love Hurts – Nazareth
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – AC/DC
How Many Friends – The Who
You’re All I’ve Got Tonight – The Cars
You Make Loving Fun – Fleetwood Mac
Close to the Edge – Yes
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks
Dream Police – Cheap Trick
Train Kept a Rollin’ – Aerosmith
Since I’ve Been Loving You – Led Zeppelin
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
Wrapped Around Your Finger – The Police
Ticket to Ride – The Beatles
Trampled Under Foot – Led Zeppelin
Fame – David Bowie
Synchronicity II – The Police
All the Young Dudes – Mott the Hoople
Shout at the Devil – Mötley Crüe
Tuesday’s Gone – Lynyrd Skynyrd
I Drink Alone – George Thorogood
The Rover – Led Zeppelin
30 Days in the Hole – Humble Pie
Cat Scratch Fever – Ted Nugent
Animal – Def Leppard
Let it Ride – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
All the Way From Memphis – Mott the Hoople
Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer