Time Out Ranks the 10 Greatest Classic Rock Songs, Led by Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze'
Time Out has unveiled its ranking of the ten greatest classic rock tracks, with Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" topping the list. Coming in second is Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," while The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" secures third place. Queen and David Bowie’s collaborative hit "Under Pressure" is placed fourth, notable for its spontaneous creation in 1981. The list also showcases hits like The Who's "Baba O'Riley," Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," and Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain." Joan Jett’s "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," alongside "Funk #49" by the James Gang, rounds out the selections.
Key facts
- Time Out ranked Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" as the greatest classic rock song of all time
- Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" placed second and The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" third
- Queen and David Bowie recorded "Under Pressure" during an impromptu studio jam released in 1981
- Vanilla Ice borrowed the "Under Pressure" bassline for his 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby"
- The Who's "Baba O'Riley" references composer Terry Riley and spiritual teacher Meher Baba in its title
- Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" is the only track on "Rumours" credited to all five band members
- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks in 1982
- Miley Cyrus inducted Joan Jett and the Blackhearts into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015
Entities
Artists
- Jimi Hendrix
- Jimmy Page
- John Bonham
- Robert Plant
- Charlie Watts
- Keith Richards
- Mick Jagger
- David Bowie
- Freddie Mercury
- Brian May
- Roger Taylor
- John Deacon
- Vanilla Ice
- Pete Townshend
- Roger Daltrey
- Terry Riley
- Meher Baba
- David Gilmour
- Roger Waters
- Stevie Nicks
- Lindsey Buckingham
- Christine McVie
- Joan Jett
- Miley Cyrus
- Joe Walsh
- Phil Lynott
- Kovid Rathee
Institutions
- Time Out
- Led Zeppelin
- The Rolling Stones
- Queen
- The Who
- Pink Floyd
- Fleetwood Mac
- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
- the Arrows
- Billboard
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- the James Gang
- Thin Lizzy
- Eagles
- Formula One
Locations
- United States
- United Kingdom
Sources
- Quartz —