10 Best Hard Rock Songs Of All Time

Trying to choose the 10 best hard rock songs of all time, when all music is relative to each one of us, is not an easy task; however, you can always count on Made Manual to call it like it is. Seriously, music is not only subjective, it is also a personal choice. See if you agree with the findings.

1. “Smoke on the Water" Deep Purple: You would be hard pressed to find a guitarist who cannot say this was not the first hard rock song he ever learned. This band was never given the credit they deserved. They rocked then; they rock now. Such a simple melody, terribly silly lyrics; yet it still compels folks to dance.
2. “Money Ain’t for Nothing” Dire Straits: Much like the first top ten best hard rock song, this hard-driving, simple riff forever kills. It’s a hard rock song about excess and what money can do for (or to) a person. Did you realize Sting sang on the front of it? Additionally, it won MTV’s best hard rock video (animated, no less) in 1986.
3. “Barracuda” Heart: The big boys of rock ain’t got nothing on these ladies. These two pioneer sisters go “crazy on you” and hold their own. Although they do mostly acoustic shows these days, Ann and Nancy Wilson still draw full stadiums when they grace us with Ann’s gorgeous harmonies and Nancy’s really cool kicks.
4. “Keep on Loving You” REO Speedwagon: Hey, power rock ballads need love too! Sure, it drips with pure cheese, but you must it admit it gets under your skin. The lead singer of, Kevin Cronin admitted in an interview that he tearfully wrote this top ten best hard rock song after discovering his wife had been cheating on him.
5. “Dream On” Aerosmith: How awesome would it be to have your first record shoot you straight to rock heaven? Nevertheless, it is rumored that their first recording label, Columbia, didn’t even promote it. It seems they were more hyped up about other artists on their roster. In fact, they almost dropped them, until it steadily started climbing the charts.
6. “Angie” The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger wrote most of this rare acoustic ballad. Most of the material they did during that time were much harder, more aggressive rock songs. There is much speculation that the wiry Jagger wrote it for David Bowie’s wife; he vehemently denies this. Deny it all you want, Mick…the painful cracking and sobbing in your voice is what makes this one of the most loved top ten hard rock songs of all time, to this day.
7. “Do You Feel Like I Do?” Peter Frampton: Ah, everyone’s guilty secret. Though Aerosmith first used the talk box on their mega-hit “Sweet Emotion,” Frampton hooked his up to his axe and did it solo, causing crowds to lose their minds on this best rock song of all time.
8. “Kashmir” Led Zeppelin: This rock song of all time is almost ten minutes of unadulterated rock in its purist form. Frontman Robert Plant attributes its success to his drummer, John Bonham, saying…”It was what he didn’t do, that made it work.” Agreed, but we’re pretty sure Plant’s golden vocals had a little something to do with it.
9. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” Guns N' Roses: Talented guitar god Slash (now with Velvet Revolver), was just horsing around with this riff in the studio. Axl had written a poem, but had no melody. After hearing Slash’s riff, he had to convince him to keep playing it. Eventually, Slash did come to like this best rock song of all time. We imagine he came around to digging it on the way to the bank.
10. "Hell's Bells" AC/DC: This track is the first recording on their Back in Black album, and is by far and away, their biggest selling album. It is also a tribute song to their former lead singer, Bon Scott who drank himself to death. For those about to rock, we salute you, Mr. Scott.