10 Best Classic Rock Ballads

When Aerosmith came on the scene in the early 70's, they epitomized everything great about rock and roll. The band had an endless stream of catchy riffs while also having one of the greatest voices of the time in screamer Steven Tyler. Though the band initially tasted success with Toys in the Attic, the band's star rose exponentially once "Dream On" was released as a single.

The song was originally included on the band's first album, which flew under the radar for many years. Written around a melody Tyler wrote when he was just a teenager, the lyrics are some of the most heartfelt utterances to have ever been spoken in a rock song. Revolving around the passage of time, the entire song seems to be about taking accountability for all your dues in life and to keep pushing yourself until you get to where you want to be in life.

Given the heavy subject matter, the song would understandably be slow, but the song turns a corner in the choruses, with Tyler reaching deep in his throat to reach some of highest notes of his career. With this one track, Aerosmith were one of the first bands to create a song that had all the emotional heft of a ballad and all the force of a heavy rocker. The 80's hair metal students were surely taking notes.