What UCR got right and got wrong on their list of the greatest classic rock songs

Okay, so Michael Gallucci over at Ultimate Classic Rock really took on a tough task when he tried to pick the 100 greatest rock songs ever. Honestly, it felt like he knew he was setting himself up for some criticism! As a huge rock fan – and yeah, that’s definitely me – I figured people would have opinions about what made the list, and what didn’t. It’s just impossible to please everyone when you’re talking about something as personal as favorite songs!

Let me start by saying this is a solid effort. Gallucci has put together a good list of rock songs spanning more than forty years, and it does a pretty good job of covering a lot of ground.

Okay, so I’m already thinking, forty years feels kinda short, right? If rock really started taking off in the mid-50s, that gives us about seventy years of music to pick from. This list seems to cut things off at the year 2000, and honestly, that’s fine if you think classic rock hasn’t been any good since the 90s – like, after Clinton left office.

I disagree with that idea. While everyone acknowledges that classic rock had its peak a while ago, claiming nothing worthwhile has been released since 1995 seems overly critical and a little grumpy, in my opinion.

One music fan’s edits to Ultimate Classic Rock greatest rock songs list

This isn’t just about preferring older music. Gallucci only thought three songs released after 1986 were good enough to include.

Okay, so looking at this list, it’s crazy to me that half of the songs are from just ten years – 1968 to 1977. I mean, yeah, that was a great time for classic rock, but 50% feels like a lot. And get this – twenty of the songs, which is 20% of the whole list, came out in just 1975, ’76, and ’77! That seems super concentrated to me.

I was in my musical prime during those years, and even I can’t say they were as good as all that.

The list mentions 79 different artists, either bands or individuals. However, many artists appear more than once – 13 are mentioned twice, and four are mentioned three times. You might expect the artists with three songs on the list to be legendary figures, and that’s true for two of them.

It’s easy to understand why Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin each have three songs on this list. However, I question the inclusion of The Who and Aerosmith, even though I’m a longtime fan of both bands and have seen them perform live many times. While I enjoy their music, it feels odd to rank them above legendary artists like Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Regarding the performers who only play two songs, I’ll state this: Def Leppard is one of them, which I find really strange.

Gallucci doesn’t explain how he grades, so I’m assuming he didn’t accept any hip hop, even artists who blend rock and hip hop. It’s a bit strange, since he included similar artists like ABBA, Smokey Robinson, and the Jackson 5, but that appears to be his decision.

Honestly, I’m really surprised by how little punk rock made the cut. Seeing “Anarchy in the U.K.” at number 96 just feels…wrong. Sure, “You Really Got Me” and “London Calling” ranked higher, but whether those are true punk songs is up for debate. And honestly, the biggest problem? Not a single Ramones track made the list, which is a huge oversight in my book.

I want to share a few more adjustments I’d make if I were creating this list myself. I’ll aim to go beyond just listing my personal favorites. For example, surprisingly, I’ve never been a fan of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” which is ranked 14th by Gallucci. However, I recognize why others love it and don’t mind seeing it included.

I’m planning to add some new songs, so first I want to list the ones I think should be removed.

“Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne (number 100)

It’s a solid song and a good album overall. However, only someone deeply familiar with the soft rock of the late 70s would likely rank it among the best rock songs of all time. Personally, I’m not even sure it’s one of Jackson Browne’s top five songs.

“Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac (92)

I enjoy Fleetwood Mac’s hit songs as much as anyone, and I’m glad to see “Go Your Own Way” finally charting at number 85 – it’s a well-deserved recognition for the band.

“Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead (86)

I realize this is a tough point to make to Grateful Dead fans, but I don’t think the studio recording of this song is particularly strong. If you haven’t experienced it in a live setting, it doesn’t really deserve a place on this list, and I don’t believe live performance should be the main reason something is included.

“Bringing on the Heartbreak” by Def Leppard (79)

Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath appear on the list more than once, which is fine. However, Def Leppard shouldn’t be included at all. While I’m willing to accept “Photograph” even though I believe it’s overrated at number 31, I find the song “Heartbreak” to be overly sentimental and unpleasant.

“Jump” by Van Halen (77)

While “Runnin’ With the Devil” deserves its popularity, this other song represents everything that’s disappointing about 1980s rock. Guitar bands are sacrificing their sound by relying too heavily on synthesizers, and it’s just not good!

“Kiss” by Prince (71)

It’s clear that “Purple Rain” is ranked 66th, and there’s no debate about that. However, the omission of “When Doves Cry” is causing a lot of discussion, particularly because “Kiss” seems to be filling its spot.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis (53)

Oasis was incredibly popular, and this song is probably their most famous. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s their best song – it’s a bit overly sweet for some people.

“Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey (52)

Journey’s song was a massive hit, and it’s probably their most famous. However, that doesn’t necessarily make it their best song. It tends to be a bit overly sweet – I even adjusted the description to better fit Journey’s American sound.

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who (38)

I understand these songs are classics. However, I think Gallucci gave too much credit to The Who by including both “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley” back-to-back, especially since “My Generation” is also on the list. While both are similar, I’d actually choose “Baba O’Riley” over “Teenage Wastland” as the more memorable track – it’s more iconic than Roger Daltrey’s famous scream.

“Night Moves” by Bob Seger (1976)

I don’t really know how to phrase this. This simply isn’t a top 500 songs, let alone top 100.

“Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith (13)

To include this song, move it back to position 40 and remove “Dream On.” Aerosmith will still have two songs on the list, as “Walk This Way” is already at number 98.

Alright, I’ve removed eleven songs. Now I need to pick eleven new ones to take their place. This is going to be a difficult choice.

Okay, so I’m setting some ground rules for this. I’m going to use the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s idea – only considering songs that are at least 25 years old. That means anything released after 2001 is out. I figure that gives me enough time to really have a good perspective on the music. Otherwise, I’d be tempted to include something super new like “New Self” by The Bobby Lees, but it just came out a few months ago, and that doesn’t feel right for this list.

Here’s what should be on the 100 Greatest Rock Songs list.

“Blank Generation” by Richard Hell & the Voidoids
“I Wanna Be Sedated” by Ramones
“Louie Louie” by the Kingsmen
“Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin
“The Passenger” by Iggy Pop
“Love Shack” by the B-52s
“Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden
“Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill
“Basket Case” by Green Day
“Friday I’m in Love” by the Cure
“Loser” by Beck

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2026-04-25 14:01