3 Classic Rock Songs With Choirs That Will Make You Believe in Angels

When you think of classic rock songs and classic rock bands, most of the time what comes to mind are four- or five-piece groups. Drummer, bassist, lead guitarist, keyboard player and lead singer. But sometimes, certain bands or certain songs need bolstering. Enter: the choir. A group of singers that can bring a song to the next level. A group of singers that make you feel like heaven is on earth.

Here below, we wanted to explore three examples of that. A trio of classic rock tracks that feature choirs that make all the difference. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs with choirs that make you believe in angels.

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“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones from Let It Bleed (1969)

A song about a true fact of life, this track from the Rolling Stones’ 1969 LP Let It Bleed has lead vocalist Mick Jagger singing about the reality that you can’t always get what you want. And as if he needed any backing on the idea, Jagger gets support from the London Bach Choir, singing both at the beginning of the song and later at the 4:30-minute mark, as if to say what Jagger is singing is divine and we should all listen to him. Indeed, on the song, Jagger sings,

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

No, you can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you’ll find
You get what you need

“Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd from The Wall (1979)

This song featuring a children’s choir brings home the point that individuality is key and conformity is not. The track, which opens like a disco song with electric guitar and driving drum beat, talks about not needing thought control. Society has a way of shaping people whether they like it or not but Pink Floyd tells us not to be another brick in a wall. Rather, kids should be left alone to discover themselves as unique individuals. And the children’s choir backs up this idea, agreeing with the band. On the track, Roger Waters sings,

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone

Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone

All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall

“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper from School’s Out (1972)

Speaking of not needing education, this track from shock-rocker Alice Cooper celebrates the moment when school is over and kids can be free for the summer. Like the song above, Cooper is backed up by a choir of singers who are celebrating right along with him. They’re exultant, they’re happy, they’re unencumbered—finally. And on the song, Cooper sings,

School’s out for summer
School’s out forever
I’m bored to pieces

No more pencils, no more books
No more teachers, dirty looks
Out for summer, out ’til fall
We might not come back at all

Photo by Ian Dickson/Shutterstock