4 of the Best Rock Songs Turning 45 This Year

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: the 1970s might be the all-time best decade for rock ‘n’ roll, from both an innovative and song-specific perspective. However, this musical magic seemed to carry over into the early 1980s, as proven by these four incredible rock songs from 1981, celebrating their 45th birthday this year.

“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty

Tom Petty might have had his qualms when he heard his old demo turned into a duet by Stevie Nicks, but thank goodness Nicks decided to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. Petty gifted Nicks “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” after he decided not to use it. Unbeknownst to Petty, Nicks kept his scratch vocals on the demo and turned the song into a duet. A mightily successful one at that—the track from Nicks’ solo debut Bella Donna peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

“The Stroke” by Billy Squier

Personally, I feel like Billy Squier is a woefully underappreciated rock ‘n’ roll star from the 1980s. Songs like “The Stroke” are the reason I feel that way. To be clear, I know he’s still more ubiquitous than other rockers. But peruse national classic rock radio stations, and you’re far more likely to hear a cut from Bob Seger or Bon Jovi than Billy. Of course, any sting that might still deliver today is likely soothed by the triple-platinum rating of Don’t Say No, which features “The Stroke”.

“Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones’ 1981 album Tattoo You might be full of studio outtakes, but it’s anything but a throwaway album. The album’s opening track, “Start Me Up”, has become a career-defining song and crowd favorite that, appropriately, opens many Stones shows. As we celebrate this track’s 45th birthday, we can’t help but marvel that The Rolling Stones had already been performing and recording music for nearly two decades at that point.

“Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a Queen song in this conversation about incredible rock music from 1981. “Another One Bites The Dust” might be nearing cliché status at this point (if it isn’t already there). Nevertheless, it became so intensely well-known for a reason. That bass line is truly infectious—an unsurprising characteristic of a song written by the band’s bassist, John Deacon. Indeed, the song sounds like a bassist wrote it, and Freddie Mercury’s powerful vocal performance makes it even more impactful.

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