The 10 Biggest Classic Rock Hits That Never Won Record of the Year, Ranked

Winning a Grammy is one of music’s highest honors, but the Recording Academy is also famous for its history of controversial snubs. And classic rock hits are no exception. Unlike when The Beatles took home the coveted award at the 9th Annual Grammy Awards in 1967 for their hit song “Michelle” that was featured on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. However, over the years, so many legendary songs have lost Record of the Year to songs that have long since faded from the conversation while the “snubs” went on to give us some of the biggest and influential hit records of all time. Looking back, it’s hard to see how the Grammys made their choices.

From Beatles classic hits to arena-filled Queen anthems, these songs topped the Billboard Hot 100 and defined entire generations. They may have been overlooked on music’s biggest night, but their legacy has only grown bolder with time. Here are the 10 biggest classic rock hits that never won Record of the Year.

10

“The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy

Not many classic rock songs have the same melodic vibe as Thin Lizzy‘s “The Boys Are Back in Town.” The song was built around Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham’s unforgettable guitar skills, but the song was equally cinematic in its storytelling. The song does a perfect job of painting vivid pictures of old friends, past hometown bars and those magical nights you’ll always remember. Phil Lynott’s cool vocals give the song a personality unlike any other that makes it anything but a simple song.

The song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 charts at No. 12 when the song was released in 1976. It was the lead single from Jailbreak. This became the Irish rock band’s signature hit song that introduced them to audiences around the world. But, despite its cultural impact, the song lost at the 1977 Grammy Awards to George Benson’s “This Masquerade.” However, almost 50 years later, “The Boys Are Back in Town” still blasts through stadium speakers, movie soundtracks and classic rock radio playlists with the same electrifying energy.

9

“Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas

Progressive rock music has produced many songs but very few have crossed into the mainstream, like Kansas‘ “Carry On Wayward Son.” From the track’s instantly recognizable intro to its blaring guitar solos, the song packs an incredible amount of complexity into a song that makes it feel like it was meant to be a sing-along. Kerry Livgren’s lyrics about searching for meaning give the record an emotional weight that separates it from so many other classic rock songs from that era.

The song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 11 in 1977. The song became Kansas’ breakout hit from Leftoverture, which helped establish the band as one of the most pivotal acts of 1970s rock. The song would go on to earn a nomination for the 1978 Grammy Awards but lost to Debby Boone‘s “You Light Up My Life.” Decades later, “Carry On Wayward Son” is still one of the most beloved songs in classic rock. For a band that never reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, this song became a timeless classic that’s never gone out of style.

8

“Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac

The collapse of the relationship between Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks was not going to wallow in heartbreak when it was left up to Buckingham. Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” turned heartbreak into a bold rock anthem that was fueled by raw emotion and one of the most unforgettable choruses of the 1970s. Mick Fleetwood’s drumming pushes the song into this ultimate sense of controlled chaos that took personal turmoil and turned it into a grand performance.

“Go Your Own Way” peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. It was released as the lead single from their iconic album Rumours, which helped turn the album into one of the biggest commercial successes in rock history. Just like Kansas’ “Carry on Wayward Son”, Fleetwood Mac lost to Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” that year. However, you can’t listen to classic rock radio and not hear Fleetwood Mac’s iconic song. The song continues to live on in streaming playlists and live performances almost 50 years later after its release.

7

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Some songs become hits and others become part of a place’s identity. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is clearly cemented in both. The hit song began as a response to Neil Young’s criticism of the American South, but it evolved into one of the most recognizable rock songs ever recorded. The opening guitar riff makes the song feel instantly familiar and there is a sense of warmth that washes over when the beginning chords, infused with blues, begin. The song feels infectious and that has made it impossible to ignore all of these years later.

The hit song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 8 in 1974. The song gave Lynyrd Skynyrd their biggest hit, and it helped establish Southern rock as a force to reckon with. In 1975, the song earned the Record of the Year nomination but ultimately lost to Olivia Newton-John’s “I Honestly Love You.” While the Recording Academy chose a softer ballad as the winner, history has largely sided with Lynyrd Skynyrd. “Sweet Home Alabama” has become a cultural phenomenon of a song that even if you don’t listen to the genre as a preference, you definitely know this song.

6

“More Than a Feeling” by Boston

Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” is one of the most instantly captivating songs to ever be recorded. Tom Scholz spent years crafting the layered guitars, harmonies and spotless production that created a song that didn’t sound like anything else on rock radio in the mid 1970s. But at the core of the song, is the wistful reflection on memory and lost love the song provides. It’s as if the song transports you back into time.

In 1976, Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 5. As the lead single from Boston’s self-titled album, “More Than a feeling” pushed the band into stardom and became one of the defining songs of the classic rock era. In 1977, the song received a nomination but lost to George Benson’s “This Masquerade.” Despite losing, Boston’s hit song has cast a longer shadow between the two. The influence of this song can be heard in generations of artists who followed. And nearly 50 years later, the song still stands as a how some songs have just become timeless.

5

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

It’s impossible to think of rock music without thinking of Queen’s legendary hit “Bohemian Rhapsody.” A six-minute epic song that doesn’t have a traditional chorus, with an opera-style middle section with one of Freddie Mercury’s greatest vocal performances of all time. The song broke almost every rule when it comes to the traditional layout of a song. On paper, there is no way this song should have worked. However, Queen decided to make one of the boldest statements in music, proving that audiences would like this type of record when backed by perfect songwriting and production.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No.9 and spent a total of 19 weeks on the charts. What makes the Grammy’s treatment of this song so surprising isn’t that it lost Record of the Year. Because it never got the chance. Despite this iconic song becoming an international sensation and single-handedly redefining what a rock single could accomplish, the song wasn’t nominated for the award at all. It feels criminal and, looking back, the omission of the song makes it as shocking as the other losses on this list. “Bohemian Rhapsody” has since become one of the most celebrated songs ever. However, in 2004, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and has continuously topped “the greatest songs of all time lists.”

4

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses

If you ever find yourself thinking of iconic guitar riffs, Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” has to be at the top of that list. Not every rock song announces itself with a roaring power chord and ultimately gifts us one of the most famous guitar riffs ever written. The song unfolds into a love song that is unlike anything Guns N’ Roses had released before. The song was inspired by Axl Rose’s relationship with Erin Everly and displayed the band’s gritty attitude to love without sacrificing an ounce of their edge.

Luckily, the gamble paid off in a major way. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. The song would go on to become the band’s only No.1 hit, but this introduced them to an even bigger audience and officially cemented the band as one of rock’s biggest acts. However, despite the massive success and lasting influence, the song lost the 1989 Grammy Award to Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” Although McFerrin’s song is truly beloved as a moment in pop culture, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” has stretched far beyond that. Nearly four decades later, it’s still the song that defined Guns N’ Roses and one of the most recognizable tracks out there.

3

“American Pie” by Don McLean

From the beginning, this song had a lot of things working against it. Don McLean’s “American Pie” is more than eight minutes long, radio stations rarely embraced playing songs of that length, and its poetic and packed lyrics left audiences trying to interpret their meaning. However, this is exactly what made Don McLean’s song a masterpiece. Instead of just stating things plainly, McLean wanted to take listeners on a musical mystery ride when talking about nostalgia and cultural change with the loss of innocence. The track’s lyrics are still being dissected almost 50 years later, which proves how timeless the storytelling remains.

The risk paid off for this iconic song, released in 1971. “American Pie” climbed all the way to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. It was nominated for the 1973 Grammy Award for Record of the Year but lost to Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” Flack’s classic earned its acclaim, but McLean’s song grew into one of those rare songs that feels less like a hit single and more like a shared piece of American culture. The song has been sung by generations that have disagreed on the actual meaning of the song, but that is part of what makes this song a masterpiece. This is many decades later and the song still holds such power and fascination, making the Grammy snub one of the most memorable.

2

“Hotel California” by Eagles

Ever had a song that left you with questions, and it kept pulling you back to find them? That’s the true magic of “Hotel California.” Since its release, fans have spent decades debating the song’s true meaning, which has varied between interpretations about fame, the music industry, the American dream and excess. Don Henley and Glenn Frey left much of the symbolism behind the lyrics open-ended, which allowed for listeners to find something different with those haunting lyrics. Bring in Don Felder’s unforgettable guitar work, and you have a song that becomes more fascinating after each listen.

“Hotel California” was released on the Eagles‘ legendary album of the same name in 1976. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week, while the album spent eight non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. The song earned a nomination for the 1978 Grammy Award but ultimately lost to Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life”, suffering the same fate as Fleetwood Mac and Kansas on this list. Despite only one song being able to take home the coveted award, no one can deny the impact “Hotel California” has had, especially with its closing solo, which is often called the greatest recording ever. “Hotel California” has only become more legendary with time.

1

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles

Some songs are instant hits that you know will become a classic. While others slowly earn that title over time, “Hey Jude” by The Beatles somehow managed to do both. The song was written by Paul McCartney for John Lennon’s son Julian, during his parents’ divorce and what started as a deeply personal message evolved into one of the most uplifting songs in rock history. The gentle encouragement, the skyrocketing melody and the unforgettable “na-na-na” finale took this simple ballad to new heights. This song is a great example of how joy brings people together by having them sing along, whether it’s in a stadium, around a campfire or through their own headphones.

“Hey Jude” became The Beatles’ biggest hit single when released in 1968. The song peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and broke records by spending 9 weeks at No. 1. The song would go on to sell 8 million copies worldwide and become The Beatles’ longest-running chart-topper in the United States. But despite this massive success, the song lost the 1969 Grammy Award for Record of the Year to Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson.” This “snub” is often considered one of the biggest in Grammy history. The song remains one of the Beatles’ defining achievements, regularly appearing on lists of the greatest songs ever written. If there is a single song that proves Grammy victories don’t determine greatness, it’s “Hey Jude.”