What are other artists' "Stairway to Heaven"?

"Stairway to Heaven" is, well...Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."

I've seen only one other thread regarding this. It is closed. It also defined a "Stairway" song as the artists' signature songs. I seek to change that. While "Stairway" may arguably be Led Zeppelin's signature song, there are many who can successfully argue against this notion with that band's immensely deep catalog. While "Satisfaction" is arguably the Rolling Stones' signature song, I don't think it stands out as their "Stairway." So what would make a song an artist/band's "Stairway to Heaven"?

Some, or perhaps all, of these factors:
• A sense of an epic journey
• Relative song length for artist
• An emotional buildup through chord, key, and/or tempo changes
• A cathartic release
• While the song need not be a Top 40 hit, it would likely be on a greatest hits collection and/or considered a career benchmark by fans, casual and dedicated alike—hence a concert favorite.

I'll start it off with one obvious choice and one less so:

The Beatles' "A Day in the Life"
• For this site, I think most of you know this song and would agree this song meets the criteria. (Although the Beatles certainly have a handful of other songs that could be their "Stairway.")

Bad Brains' "Banned in D.C."
• While this song barely surpasses the two-minute mark, for those familiar with the band's work, I think you might agree. (A note to the classic rockers who dislike the punk, Ric Ocasek produced this song for them on their debut LP Rock for Light.)

I'm looking forward to seeing some mighty "Stairway"'s out there!

 

Dream On - Aerosmith
Come Sail Away - Styx

 

Metallica - Fade To Black

 

Kansas ‘Carry On Wayward Son’
Lynyrd Skynyrd ‘Freebird’

 

Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

 

Scorpions - Still Loving You

 

How 'bout Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" for starters?

 

Aqualung - Jethro Tull

 

Bob Seger - Turn The Page

 

At least from the same record, I think I'd take "Song Is Over" instead, as I find that one to be more of a journey.

 

King Crimson - Starless

Official viddy:

 

This is a second!

 

Yes... that would work. And it's a better song.

 

This was your thread, Warrior! You still got "Fade to Black" rolling!

 

Rolling Stones - Moonlight Mile

 

Bohemian Rhapsody
Hotel California

 

"Won't Get Fooled Again" is definitely second to "Stairway" for "Stairway"-esque songs.

I'm tempted to say either "Station To Station" or "Heroes" for Bowie; the former is just kind of a two-part jam, and the latter doesn't really build the same way the others do. I had this immediate reaction when I heard "Teenage Wildlife", but apparently not very many people agree. That said, Bowie has so many great songs that to call one a "Stairway" in his legacy would be doing a disservice.

Somehow these ones slipped my mind. Definitely.

 

Mot-ta-ly Crue - Home Sweet Home

 

Grateful Dead - Morning Dew:

I've called this one the GD's "Stairway to Heaven" for a while now.

 

Journey - Faithfully

 

Throwing Muses - Bright Yellow Gun

 

“Wanted Dead or Alive” - Bon Jovi

Since it is a song even people that don’t like Bon Jovi like.

 

Elvis P ~ Suspicious Minds

Genesis ~ Supper's Ready

Neil Young ~ Like a Hurricane

The Saints ~ Messin With the Kid

Magazine ~ Motorcade

The Kinks ~ Shangri-la

Cold Chisel ~ Bow River

Rolling Stones ~ Midnight Rambler

 

Layla

 

Yes!