First of all, you shouldn’t be wearing earphones when you are running toward 2 ton metal projectiles (also known as cars). If you do run on the streets, don’t be listening to music and distracting you. This list is for listening to classic rock when you are on a track or safe area. OK?
The list of Top Classic Rock Songs To Run To, is certainly a personal list. I did take request and got some bizarre suggestions.
Methodology
These are not, for the most part, my favorite classic rock songs. In fact, only about 40 on the list would make it there. These are my favorite classic rock songs, to run to. They are upbeat and road tested. I have a different list for the slower classic rock songs. Points were given for having a good message, having running in its theme and points taken away for a negative message. For example, songs about getting STDs were not included. Any foul language was a big negative, if not elimination. Some of the songs you may not recognize, please don’t knock them unless you have run to them.
The songs must be at least 15 years old. The genre is rock or pop. I really didn’t care if they were popular, although most were. For example, Highway Song by Blackfoot, many wouldn’t recognize but I listened to it three times on my marathon. It is such a good running song and a great, if not the one of the best, all-time starting songs.
I started out with 3067 rock songs, mostly classical rock. I quickly culled to 600 and sent out requests from various sources. I took approximately a year to test them out. This list was then rated roughly with a point system and narrowed down to 125 and I continued taking requests and testing. I ranked, then ranked and ranked again. Some of my rankings, I found, depended on my mood when I was doing it. I did try to keep this at a minimum, but heh, I’m human.
So here they are. I hope you find some songs from long ago, some songs to try again, and even some new ones to try out. Enjoy.
Best opening songs:
Opening songs are songs that start out slow and build to an exciting pace. It gives you enough time to get warm, and then you’re raring to go with the other songs. 1. Highway Song, Blackfoot 2.) Proud Mary, Turner 3. Band on the Run, McCartney and Wings.
Best “Guts Out” Finishing Songs:
Finishing songs are ones with an incredible beat and that bring a feeling of “Go For It!” 1. Get Ready for This, 2 Unlimited 2. What I Like About You, Romantics 3. Only the Strong Survive, REO Speedwagon 4. Born to Run, Springsteen 5. Never Been Any Reason, Head East.
In Reverse Order:
| Rank | Title | Time | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Do It Again | 5:57 | Steely Dan | The Definitive Collection |
| 99 | Take It Easy | 3:32 | The Eagles | The Very Best Of The Eagles |
| 98 | Runnin’ With The Devil | 3:36 | Van Halen | Van Halen |
| 97 | Take Me Home Tonight | 3:31 | Eddie Money | The Best of Eddie Money |
| 96 | Already Gone | 4:16 | The Eagles | The Very Best Of The Eagles (Disc 1) |
| 95 | Old Time Rock And Roll | 3:15 | Bob Seger | Greatest Hits |
| 94 | I Love Rock ‘N Roll | 2:56 | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | I Love Rock ‘N Roll (Remastered) |
| 93 | Hungry Like The Wolf | 4:06 | Duran Duran | Like Omigod! The 80’s Pop Culture Box [Disc 3] |
| 92 | Goodbye To You | 3:48 | Scandal | Like Omigod! The 80’s Pop Culture Box [Disc 3] |
| 91 | Fortunate Son | 2:20 | Creedence Clearwater Revival | Chronicle, Vol. 1 |
| 90 | Reelin’ In The Years | 4:35 | Steely Dan | Greatest Hits 1972-1978 |
| 89 | Jump | 4:02 | Van Halen | The Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1 |
| 88 | Let’s Go | 3:37 | The Cars | Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology (Disc 1) |
| 87 | Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye | 4:06 | Steam | Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 |
| 86 | Tush | 2:16 | ZZ Top | Greatest Hits |
| 85 | Walk Of Life | 4:12 | Dire Straits | Sultans Of Swing [Disc 1] [Special Edition] |
| 84 | Girls Just Want To Have Fun | 3:57 | Cyndi Lauper | The Official American Bandstand Library Of Rock & Roll [Disc 8] |
| 83 | I Will Survive | 8:02 | Gloria Gaynor | Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive: The Anthology |
| 82 | Gloria | 3:54 | Laura Branigan | Billboard Top Hits 1982 |
| 81 | I Hate Myself for Loving You | 4:07 | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | Up Your Alley |
| 80 | Houses of the Holy | 4:03 | Led Zeppelin | Latter Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin, Vol. 2 |
| 79 | You Love The Thunder | 3:55 | Jackson Browne | Running On Empty |
| 78 | Teenage Lament ’74 | 3:52 | Alice Cooper | Mascara & Monsters: The Best Of Alice Cooper |
| 77 | Rock You Like A Hurricane | 4:12 | Scorpions | Like, Omigod! The 80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) [Disc 5] |
| 76 | Have You Ever Seen The Rain | 2:41 | Creedence Clearwater Revival | Chronicle, Vol. 1 |
| 75 | Crimson and Clover | 3:17 | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | I Love Rock ‘N Roll (Remastered) |
| 74 | Kings And Queens | 3:50 | Aerosmith | Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits |
| 73 | La Grange | 3:52 | ZZ Top | Greatest Hits |
| 72 | Wanted Dead Or Alive | 5:10 | Bon Jovi | Slippery When Wet |
| 71 | Any Way You Want It | 3:23 | Journey | Journey’s Greatest Hits |
| 70 | Another One Bites The Dust | 3:35 | Queen | Like, Omigod! The 80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) [Disc 1] |
| 69 | California Dreamin’ | 2:41 | The Mamas & The Papas | Positively ’60s [Disc 1] |
| 68 | Gimme Three Steps | 4:28 | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Skynyrd’s Innyrds |
| 67 | Born In The U.S.A | 4:41 | Bruce Springsteen | Greatest Hits |
| 66 | The Warrior | 3:58 | Scandal | We Are the ’80s |
| 65 | Watching The River Run | 3:29 | Loggins & Messina | The Essential Kenny Loggins [Disc 1] |
| 64 | School’s Out | 3:31 | Alice Cooper | Mascara & Monsters: The Best Of Alice Cooper |
| 63 | Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ | 3:51 | Journey | Journey’s Greatest Hits |
| 62 | James Dean | 3:38 | The Eagles | The Very Best of The Eagles (Disc 1) |
| 61 | Indian Reservation | 2:53 | Paul Revere & The Raiders | Jammin Oldies- The 60s |
| 60 | The Boys Of Summer | 4:51 | Don Henley | Building The Perfect Beast |
| 59 | Let My Love Open The Door | 2:44 | Pete Townshend | Like, Omigod! The 80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) [Disc 1] |
| 58 | Summer, Highland Falls2 | 3:20 | Billy Joel | Turnstiles |
| 57 | White Wedding, Pt. 1 | 4:13 | Billy Idol | Classic Rock Gold [Disc 2] |
| 56 | Glory Days | 3:49 | Bruce Springsteen | Greatest Hits |
| 55 | Livingston Saturday Night | 3:13 | Jimmy Buffett | Son Of A Son Of A Sailor |
| 54 | The Entertainer | 3:41 | Billy Joel | Streetlife Serenade |
| 53 | Fame | 5:16 | Irene Cara | Fame (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) |
| 52 | Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) | 3:04 | Looking Glass | One Hit Wonders (Re-Recorded Versions) |
| 51 | Dream On | 4:27 | Aerosmith | Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits |
| 50 | Radar Love | 6:27 | Golden Earring | Moontan |
| 49 | Come Sail Away | 6:05 | Styx | Greatest Hits |
| 48 | Daydream Believer | 2:59 | The Monkees | The Best Of The Monkees |
| 47 | You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet | 3:52 | Bachman-Turner Overdrive | Classic Rock Gold |
| 46 | We Didn’t Start The Fire | 4:48 | Billy Joel | The Ultimate Collection [Disc 2] |
| 45 | The Kid Is Hot Tonight | 4:28 | Loverboy | Loverboy Classics |
| 44 | Ballroom Blitz | 3:31 | Tia Carrere | Wayne’s World |
| 43 | Rio | 4:45 | Duran Duran | Greatest |
| 42 | Money For Nothing | 4:10 | Dire Straits | Sultans Of Swing [Disc 1] [Special Edition] |
| 41 | The Spirit Of Radio | 4:58 | Rush | The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 |
| 40 | I’m Still Standing | 3:04 | Elton John | Greatest Hits 1970-2002 [Disc 2] |
| 39 | Livin’ On A Prayer | 4:10 | Bon Jovi | Slippery When Wet |
| 38 | Against The Wind | 5:34 | Bob Seger | Greatest Hits |
| 37 | Ridin’ The Storm Out | 5:50 | REO Speedwagon | The Hits |
| 36 | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | 2:52 | Pat Benatar | Best Shots |
| 35 | Shout | 4:08 | Tears For Fears | Billboard Top Hits – 1985 |
| 34 | Pressure | 4:42 | Billy Joel | The Nylon Curtain |
| 33 | Takin’ Care Of Business | 4:47 | Bachman-Turner Overdrive | ESPN Presents: Jock Rock, Vol. 1 |
| 32 | Wild Night | 3:28 | John Mellencamp | Words & Music: Greatest Hits [Disc 2] |
| 31 | Mony Mony | 2:55 | Tommy James & The Shondells | Billboard Top Rock ‘N’ Roll Hits: 1968 |
| 30 | Rebel Yell | 4:47 | Billy Idol | Billy Idol: Greatest Hits |
| 29 | Lucky For You | 5:02 | REO Speedwagon | You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish |
| 28 | I’m A Believer | 2:47 | The Monkees | The Best Of The Monkees |
| 27 | Call Me | 3:33 | Blondie | Like, Omigod! The 80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) [Disc 1] |
| 26 | Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) | 3:50 | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | Bad Reputation |
| 25 | I’d Die For You | 4:32 | Bon Jovi | Slippery When Wet |
| 24 | Run Through The Jungle | 3:08 | Creedence Clearwater Revival | Chronicle, Vol. 1 |
| 23 | Twist And Shout | 2:33 | The Beatles | Please Please Me |
| 22 | Down On The Corner | 2:46 | Creedence Clearwater Revival | Chronicle, Vol. 1 |
| 21 | Cabaret (Live) | 4:00 | Liza Minnelli | Liza Minnelli: 16 Biggest Hits |
| 20 | Proud Mary | 4:56 | Ike & Tina Turner | The Official American Bandstand Library Of Rock & Roll [Disc 6] |
| 19 | I Saw Her Standing There | 2:56 | The Beatles | Please Please Me |
| 18 | A Matter Of Trust | 4:10 | Billy Joel | The Ultimate Collection [Disc 2] |
| 17 | Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) | 3:17 | The Hollies | Classic Rock Gold |
| 16 | Get Ready For This | 3:44 | 2 Unlimited | ESPN Presents Stadium Anthems: Music For The Fans |
| 15 | Band On The Run | 5:14 | Paul McCartney & Wings | All The Best |
| 14 | Gonna Fly Now (Theme from “Rocky”) | 2:48 | Bill Conti | Rocky [Original Motion Picture Score] |
| 13 | Don’t Stop Believin’ | 4:11 | Journey | Journey’s Greatest Hits |
| 12 | Only The Strong Survive | 3:53 | REO Speedwagon | Only The Strong Survive |
| 11 | Highway Song | 7:32 | Blackfoot | Rattlesnake Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Best of Blackfoot |
| 10 | Eye of the Tiger | 4:04 | Survivor | Now That’s What I Call the 80s |
| 9 | I Won’t Back Down | 2:57 | Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | Greatest Hits |
| 8 | Winning | 3:28 | Santana | The Best of Carlos Santana |
| 7 | Runaway | 3:51 | Bon Jovi | Bon Jovi |
| 6 | Never Been Any Reason | 5:11 | Head East | Flat as a Pancake |
| 5 | Runnin’ Down A Dream | 4:23 | Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | Greatest Hits |
| 4 | What I Like About You | 2:55 | The Romantics | Radio Hits of the ’80s |
| 3 | Walk This Way | 3:41 | Aerosmith | Toys In The Attic |
| 2 | Running On Empty | 5:31 | Jackson Browne | Running On Empty |
| 1 | Born To Run | 4:30 | Bruce Springsteen | Greatest Hits |
