Steve Winwood

Song: "While You See A Chance"
Artist: Steve Winwood
Album: Arc Of A Diver

My iTunes is full of classic rock songs, but some of them are more "timeless" than others. Steve Winwood, who was in the band Traffic in the 60s and later had a ton of success as a solo artist, has one of the more distinctive voices in rock. And his songs are also distinctive. This track, with its trademark keyboard riffs, is one of Winwood's best.

Getaway Car

Song: "Madeleine"
Artist: The Getaway Car
Album: All Your Little Pieces

This band used to be called The Excentrics, and never really achieved the success they deserved. They re-formed under The Getaway Car, and are still toiling in relative obscurity. These songs are some of the most melodic, heartfelt songs that you'll ever hear from an unsigned artist.

Simple Minds

Song: "Oh Jungleland"
Artist: Simple Minds
Album: Once Upon A Time

They are mostly known for the hit, "Don't You (Forget About Me)," but Jim Kerr and Simple Minds had some really great songs to go alongside that single. This was one of them. Simple Minds most closely resembled INXS back in the day, and could really bring the rock without ever trying too hard.

Pamela

Song: "Pamela"
Artist: Toto
Album: The Seventh One

Toto was a supergroup of sorts, since it began as a bunch of studio musicians getting together to write and perform. And they had some monster hits in the late seventies and early eighties. On this album, the lead song, "Pamela," is one that has to grow on you. But once it does, it cements its own place among the band's best work.

Jimmy Eat World

Song: "Bleed American"
Artist: Jimmy Eat World
Album: Bleed American

Jimmy Eat World rose fromt that emo/indie rock world a few years back and with this polished major label release, they cemented their place in complete and utter coolness. But more than that, this title track rocks with a fury that few rock songs ever have.

Elvin Bishop

Song: "Fooled Around And Fell In Love"
Artist: Elvin Bishop
Album: Struttin' My Stuff

This was a big hitfrom the mid-seventies, and it's got a really great bluesy pop vibe. But in addition the mad skills of Bishop on lead guitar, this was the coming out party for lead singer Mickey Thomas, who went on to Starship fame a decade later. Hands down, this is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

The Southland

Song: "Shadow"
Artist: The Southland
Album: The Influence of Geography

I became hip to this band at South By Southwest in 2006, as one of their songs was on a sampler. And then I went and downloaded most of the rest of the album. It's intelligent altern-pop, and the kind of songs you can listen to about 500 times and never tire of. This particular track is played about as much as any in my entire iTunes.