The Best Classic Rock Songs of All Time
The proof of the greatness of rock music can be seen in any music store where the release of past albums with the digital “re-master” label persuades the buyer to purchase this amazing music once again. I have been involved in arguments about what songs are the best. The question has been which are the best rock songs of all time? The top ones on the list which I suggest are:
Free Bird:
The best of the Southern rock bands of the 70’s is arguable Lynyrd Skynyrd. If Ronnie Van Zandt and two other members had not perished in a plane crash, one would have made a rough guess as to the number of songs that would have lasted as long as this one. Not only is it a great song, it contains one of the amazing extended guitar solos from any genre. The song begins as a ballad and it is the only guy/girl love song written by guitarist Allen Collins and front man Johnnie Van Zandt. This is one of the few songs where the title is mentioned only once yet it lingers in the minds of guitar lovers. In 2008, Guitar World Magazine listed the guitar solo as one of the three greatest of all time in any genre. Another Lynyrd Skynyrd song, Sweet Alabama, could also easily make it to the list.
Can’t You See
This song was released in 1973 by Marshall Tucker Band and was written by Toy Caldwell – a band member. It was also the first single of the band and on the billboard hot 100, it peaked at number 75. In 1976, the Waylon Jennings version of the song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles. It rose to number 1 on the RPM Country charts of Canada. Other than Jethro Tull, it is one of the few rock songs which feature a flute solo as an intro. This solo makes it easy to be instantly recognizable. It is almost impossible to listen to the song in any large audience and resist singing to the solo and dancing to the rhythm.
La Grange:
1n 1973, La Grange was released by ZZ Top and is one of the most easily recognized songs. A brothel in Texas was the subject of the song and was later on the subject of the movie titled “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”. Unfortunately, ZZ Top did not have the opportunity to play in La Grange Texas in Miss Edna’s boarding house or that their song was not featured in one of the opening scenes in the movie concerning the famous establishment. Certainly, it stands as a standard for Southern rock and Gibson Les Paul is the main piece of the sound of ZZ Top.
American Woman:
The song titled “American Woman” which was released in January 1970 rose to the top of the billboard 100 by the end of March. The song was performed and released by the Guess Who; it was written by two of its members, Jim Hale and Burton Cummings.
