This 1972 Hit Was Named 'Most Awesome Rock Song' of All Time
- - This 1972 Hit Was Named 'Most Awesome Rock Song' of All Time
Nicole MooreFebruary 16, 2026 at 4:37 AM
0
Photo by Brian Cooke/Redferns/Getty Images
While "All the Young Dudes" by English rock band Mott The Hoople was released nearly 55 years ago, the song has remained a classic. The 1972 hit was named "the most awesome rock song" ever released in a list published by The Vinyl District. The song was off the band's fifth record, also titled All the Young Dudes.
The other top five hit songs on the list include Rod Stewart's 1971 "Every Picture Tells a Story," Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1974 “Sweet Home Alabama," Don McLean's “American Pie” from 1971, and “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan. The list, which featured a total of 100 songs, also featured beloved rock anthems like “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, “L.A. Woman” by The Doors, “Baba O’Riley” by The Who, “The Weight” by The Band, “Carry On Wayward Son” by Kansas, “New Speedway Boogie” by Grateful Dead, and “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure.
According to The Vinyl District, the Mott The Hoople song took home the title of "the most awesome rock song of all time" because of its unserious, fun vibe and glam aesthetic.
Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoop Spoke About Hearing 'All The Young Dudes' For the First Time
Fans of the song are well aware that late singer, David Bowie, originally wrote the tune. In a 2003 interview on the Howard Stern Show, the band's vocalist Ian Hunter explained that Bowie was a fan of Mott the Hoople and wanted them to record his song, "Suffragette City." Hunter theorized that Bowie tried to give them the song because "he thought it was a rocker and we were a rock-and-roll band." Hunter said they rejected the tune, which ended up on Bowie's 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
In addition, Hunter said that the band was planning on parting ways before Bowie approached them with "All the Young Dudes."
"It was done. It was over," said Hunter in the 2003 interview.
Hunter also recalled that Bowie showed the band "All the Young Dudes" by playing "it on an acoustic guitar." According to the musician, he was immediately impressed with the tune.
"The first thing [I thought] was I can sing this. And the second thing was like I've never been behind a hit before. And it's a funny feeling because nobody else has ever heard this you know. And then I'm sitting there with the band you know and we're listening to this and it's obvious, isn't it?" said Hunter during the Howard Stern Show interview.
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
