# Hands down, best classic rock song of all-time **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976 "2001-09-06T02:21:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![okielady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@okielady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okielady)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/1 "2001-09-06T02:21:27Z")
[sup]This has probably been discussed, but…[/sup] What do you consider the best classic rock song of all time? I am personally in love with Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” although I probably wouldn’t say it’s the **best** song of all time. Stairway to Heaven? Hotel California? Love them both, but I think they’re too…what’s the word I’m looking for? Common, maybe? So what is it, fellow Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![okielady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@okielady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okielady)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/2 "2001-09-06T02:23:55Z")
Oops…after posting this I realize it will probably be moved to Cafe Society. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/3 "2001-09-06T02:29:14Z")
**Layla** would probably be a popular choice, but not mine. I’d go for **Child in Time** by _Deep Purple_. Or maybe, **Aqualung** by _Jethro Tull_. ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/4 "2001-09-06T02:30:01Z")
I think I’d have to go with Queen’s _Bohemian Rhapsody_. It’s got all the elements…long enough to be complex, tempo changes, plus that whole “arena-rock” factor. Honorable mentions go to _Sweet Home Alabama_, _Ramblin’ Man_, and _More Than A Feeling_. ---
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/5 "2001-09-06T02:38:47Z")
I second “Wish You Were Here” although I think “Freebird” by Lynrd Skynrd deserves an honourable mention. Obviously, “Dark Side of the Moon” is the best album ever made by anybody but that belongs in a different thread. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/6 "2001-09-06T02:47:55Z")
My definition of Classic Rock is different. Queen wouldn’t make the cut. But, it’s a subjective thing. I’d say “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple or “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin or “All Along the Watchtower” (Hendryx cover) Not that I necessarily like these songs (some) but they qualify to me as quintessential “classic” rock. ---
**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/7 "2001-09-06T02:50:40Z")
As far as Floyd is concerned, I’d have to go with **Shine On You Crazy Diamond** …otherwise, **Candy Man** by Sammy Davis Jr. No question. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/8 "2001-09-06T02:57:15Z")
In those “count down” radio thingys “Stairway To Heaven” is usually No. 1 and I don’t really have a problem with that. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/9 "2001-09-06T03:25:42Z")
My favorite classic song is “Cocaine” by Eric Clapton. I am not sure why I like the song so much, probably the same reason anyone likes any song? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/10 "2001-09-06T13:18:54Z")
Any discussion of classic rock songs must begin, and end, with **Louie, Louie.** ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/11 "2001-09-06T13:26:49Z")
Gotta agree with Zep’s _Rock and Roll_. It kinda defines R&R, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/12 "2001-09-06T13:43:19Z")
I think Stairway to Heaven, the mainstay, deserves and lives up to the title. The song that popped into my head when I opened the thread, though, was Sweet Emotion. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecb155/32.png) [@Living\_Dead\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Dead_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/13 "2001-09-06T13:43:34Z")
Cafe Society has a beat you can dance to. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/14 "2001-09-06T13:47:29Z")
Rolling Stones, “Satisfaction” Why is this even subject to debate? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/15 "2001-09-06T14:09:14Z")
It’s very hard to topple _Stairway to Heaven_ and _Satisfaction_. _Layla_ has to be way up there, as well. BUT! … sorry, **Kunilou** – there is definitely room for debate. IMHO, there are other classic rock songs which I think are as good, musically, as the three anthems above: _Don’t Fear the Reaper_, Blue Oyster Cult _Walk Away_, James Gang _More Than a Feeling_, Boston (tragically overplayed) _Carry On Wayward Son_, Kansas _While My Guitar Gently Weeps_, Beatles _Bell Bottom Blues_, Eric Clapton/Derrick & the Dominos (was he still in D&D then?) ---
**Author:** ![ellen97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ellen97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellen97)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/16 "2001-09-06T14:19:05Z")
“Old Time Rock N Roll” by Bob Seger. In the CD cover of his greatest hits collection, Bob says that this is the 2nd most played jukebox song of all time. (He says #1 is Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”) ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/17 "2001-09-06T14:21:39Z")
It isn’t. This is IMHO, and the man asked for ours. Or lady. Whatever. The greatest difficulties I have with this are twofold; too many songs have always been called the best, and I really can’t stand then any more because they’re played out. Stairway, Freebird and Hotel California come under this. The second problem I have is defining “Classic Rock”. Queen, Led Zep, Hendrix, The Who, Cream, BOC … this list goes on and on … however, they came along during or just after what are popularly called “oldies”; Mamas and the Papas, The Beatles … ect. I like an awful lot of both. Two Sillouettes on the Shade, Can’t You Hear My Heart Beat?, and Monday Monday are favorites, but are called oldies. Classic Rock songs that are best? Bobby McGee, Hey Joe, Four Sticks and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Not all personal faves, but certainly big-time classics. Hmmm, seems to me these lists can get awful long, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/18 "2001-09-06T14:23:19Z")
Oh, yeah, bordolond … how could I forget Kansas’ Dust in the Wind? ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/19 "2001-09-06T14:32:36Z")
Rock and Roll by Zep was great, but Rock and Roll on Lou Reed’s live album (Rock and Roll Animal , IIRC) always topped that one in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Simon\_Met\_a\_Pieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simon\_Met\_a\_Pieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simon_Met_a_Pieman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976/20 "2001-09-06T14:49:20Z")
Drift away by Dobie Gray followed closely by Wheel in the Sky by Journey [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hands-down-best-classic-rock-song-of-all-time/79976.md?page=2)