Van Halen's You Really Got Me is probably the best song that Van Halen ever recorded, in my opinion. They had a lot of great hits, but You Really Got Me was their first single from their 1978 self-titled debut album, and it sounded so different from all the other late 70's rock songs. It's definitely one of the top ten rock songs of all-time. Enjoy!
The Scorpions' Rock You Like A Hurricane was one of their biggest hits in the U.S. In 1984, it peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, which was their highest position on the Hot 100 charts until 1991's Wind of Change peaked at #4. Rock You Like A Hurricane was the first single released from the Love At First Sting album. Enjoy!
Panama is my favorite Roth-era Van Halen song. It was the third single released from their 1984 album. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and #2 on the Mainstream Rock charts. Jump from the same album went to #1 on both charts and remains Van Halen's only #1 hit. Enjoy!
One by Metallica is significant because it was Metallica's first single to chart on any major U.S. Billboard chart. In 1989, it peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and it set the stage for future Metallica songs on the charts. One was the fourth and final single from their ...And Justice For All album, and it was their first single to be certified Gold. Enjoy!
Ozzy Osbourne has had a number of huge songs throughout his career, but none has charted as well as Mama I'm Coming Home. Back in 1992, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. To this day, it's his only top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Enjoy!
You've Got Another Thing Comin' is Judas Priest's highest charting single in the U.S. Back in 1982, it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It remains their only top five hit on any of the major singles charts. Enjoy!
Sweet Child O' Mine is Guns N' Roses' biggest hit of their career so far. Back in 1988, it went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, which was a rarity for a heavy metal band like GN'R. It's still their only #1 hit on any Billboard chart. 2002's November Rain came close when it peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 charts. Enjoy!
Black Hole Sun is arguably Soundgarden's biggest hit and most recognizable song. It spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts back in 1994. Soundgarden, along with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains are largely responsible for ushering out the 80's hair band sound and ushering in the Grunge Rock scene. Enjoy!
Here I Go Again is Whitesnake's biggest hit to-date. Back in 1987, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts as well as the Canadian Singles charts. It's the only #1 hit of their career so far. I don't think any guy who was a teenager back in '87 will ever forget this video for one simple reason: Tawny Kitaen dancing around in white lingerie... Enjoy!
For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) was the first single from AC/DC's album of the same name. It was released as a single in 1981, and it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. This is one of my all-time favorite hard rock songs. Enjoy!
Alice in Chains' Man in the Box was one of the first great grunge rock songs. At the time (1991) the song only made it to #18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts, but bands like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden helped usher in the grunge rock scene and rendered all but a small handful of hair bands obsolete. Enjoy!
Home Sweet Home is considered to be one of the first true power ballads by a heavy metal band. It ranks #12 on VH1's chart of the greatest power ballads of all time. The music video spent several months at #1 on MTV's Top 20 video countdown back in 1985. Enjoy!
Guns N' Roses' Welcome to the Jungle was a very close second to AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long as my favorite rock song of all-time. I remember the first time I heard this song. I was blown away because they looked like a hair band, but played and sounded like a heavy metal band with a slight hint of pop influence. It truly was a ground-breaking song. Enjoy!
I started really getting into rock music around 1980 when I was ten years old. One of the first rock songs I ever heard was AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long. It's been my favorite rock song ever since. It's one of those songs that no matter where you are, when it comes on the radio, you've got to turn it up loud. So, to get this blog rolling, here's my favorite rock song of all-time.