Classic rock can get a little melodramatic. For example, the lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” don’t warrant the tune’s over the top instrumental. The song was a hit but it missed the No. 1 spot.

An iconic 1974 track has recently been crowned the greatest American rock song of all time. It beat out a powerhouse list of beloved songs that were recorded and released by iconic artists. More than ...