1980 Hit Ranked the 'Greatest Classic Rock Song That Completely Define the Genre'

Arguably, to be considered a classic rock band, a musical group has to release at least a handful of memorable hits. Therefore, music fans can't usually give a definitive answer as to what's the best classic rock song, as the genre is chock-full of impactful and beloved tracks. That being said, the publication Collider released a ranking of the "10 greatest classic rock songs that completely define the genre."

The ranking, published in May 2025, included rock hits like The Beatles' 1967 song, "A Day in the Life," "Gimme Shelter" byThe Rolling Stones from 1969, 1971's "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos, and The Doors' "L.A. Woman," released in 1970.

AC/DC's 1980 song, "You Shook Me All Night Long," was crowned as the best classic rock song that "defined the genre." According to Collider, the song, off the band's seventh album, Back in Black, should be recognized for its cheeky lyrics and incredible guitar, played by none other than Angus Young.

Collider reported that Back in Black marked the band's first album since singer Bon Scott died in February 1980. Scott was replaced by Brian Johnson, who originally performed with the Newcastle band Geordie.

In a 2011 interview on the Howard Stern Show, Johnson, now 78, shared that Scott had told his bandmates about him before he had died. According to Johnson, he was called in to audition for AC/DC shortly after Scott's death. After his audition, the band agreed he was the right fit, and they began working on Back in Black, which took six weeks to complete.

He also said that the first song he penned for AC/DC was "You Shook Me All Night Long." In the Howard Stern Show interview, Johnson said that he immediately knew the song would be a hit. According to Johnson, he told his bandmates that he believed "that's about the best rock and roll song [he had] ever heard in [his] life" upon first listen.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 9:22 PM.