There have been many articles and lists about great classic rock anthems. It’s no surprise with so many available to listen to. Some great songs in that category get missed alongside others from the 1970s and 1980s that you may have missed for one reason or another. Or maybe they just didn't get the airplay or success that those songs deserved.
When it comes to the top songs of classic rock, though, you can't really go wrong. Obviously, there will be differences in taste that make some songs seem better or worse to listeners. In general, though, the top songs are up there for good reason.
It’s hard to think sometimes that a few of those classic anthems might not have made it to the listening public. They are such strong sounds that such a failure is almost beyond belief. Despite that, some top classic rock songs that sold in millions nearly didn't get released.
These fantastic classic rock songs almost didn't happen
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
This classic tune gave the band their only US number one. So it’s perhaps a surprise to find that it could have fallen by the wayside early on and not made it to an album or release. Like many top songs, it began with a bit of riff developed with no specific song in mind.
Slash came up with the riff as a short warm-up exercise. It wasn't anything he had in mind for a new song. But then he heard an early working of a song and wasn't keen. Disclosing to Duff McKagan that he would get rid of the song. Slash is said to have taken that warm-up riff and made it sound strange; at times, he is said to have referred to it as a circus tune.
The plan was to ditch a song. It ended up creating a new one. And a monster at that, it’s very much a signature song for the band.
“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
If we are talking about iconic classic rock then there has to be a place for Bruce Springsteen and this excellent number. It is the title track of one of his great albums. But Born To Run as an album was high-pressure for Springsteen. It needed to land well after a couple of underperforming releases.
Springsteen also needed a top song and he had “Born To Run” in mind. But he was thinking big and looking for an epic anthem. The song wasn't quite shaping up as he’d like it and he spent months working on it with his producer and sound engineer. At times the frustration, retakes, and many rewrites got too much and came close to scrapping it.
In the end, though it all paid off. The song came together superbly achieving all that Springsteen wanted, and probably now a lot more. It underpinned the album too and helped launch him towards the huge star he is now.
“More Than a Feeling” – Boston
The story behind Boston the band and their amazingly successful debut album is quite astonishing. Tom Scholz had been recording tracks in his basement studio for several years, alongside a day job with Polaroid. Scholz laid down pretty much all the music himself, other than drums and vocals added by others.
He had been sending in demos to record labels regularly, but was also stacking up a big pile of rejections. Scholz resolved to give it one last try before packing it all in. That final demo included “More Than A Feeling” with vocals by Brad Delp.
Scholz was unsure about the song. It wasn't as heavy as some of his other work, but he submitted it anyway. It made a difference as Epic Records snapped it up quickly and the rest is history. Although Scholz, Delp, and Epic had to find themselves a band quickly to back it all up. Not a problem when you have a huge potential hit on your hands.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
It’s yet another massive classic rock song that nearly didn't make the cut. “Don’t Stop Believin’” originated from the then-new keyboard player at Journey, Jonathan Cain. The band was recording their 1981 album Escape and needed one more song to complete it.
Cain submitted this draft of a song which had an unusual structure with a very late chorus. The hook that people recall most doesn't arrive until almost the end of the song. That didn't help acceptance from the rest of the band, but Cain persisted and pushed back harder.
He knew what he was doing. It’s a signature tune for the band and a top seller. It became a worldwide hit and sold over 25 million copies, despite nearly being left off the album.
“Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie
This great song from a short-lived super combination of artists could easily have been left on the recording studio shelf. There may even be more David Bowie and Queen collaborations alongside it. The band was recording in Montreux, Switzerland when a nearby neighbour, David Bowie, dropped in to join them.
Bowie and Queen jammed on a few cover songs and decided to add to the fun with a new song. They used a strong, and now unforgettable, bass riff from John Deacon and added to it. Bowie guided Freddie Mercury on adding scat-style vocals.
I say guided, Mercury needed no help, but Bowie had a clear idea in mind. Later on, various Queen members have talked about the many precocious egos in the room at the time, but also how Bowie’s quiet but firm manner settled many discussions.
The band may well have left this as a fun session. There are some suggestions that Bowie and Queen recorded a few more tracks yet to see the light of day. But “Under Pressure” wasn’t one of those. Bowie pressed to get it finished and then released. A good decision for what became yet another top tune and a classic over the years since.