Top Ten Songs by Aerosmith
The band, whose members include Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford, and Joey Kramer, enjoyed great success throughout the 1970s. But Aerosmith saw a decline late in the decade.
Aerosmith could very well have been forgotten, like many bands of that era who are now only remembered by rock aficionados. But, in the 1980s, Aerosmith made a major comeback, aided by the monster success of Run-DMC’s rap remake of the Aerosmith song “Walk This Way,” on which Tyler and Perry both appeared. This, along with the release of their album Permanent Vacation, helped put Aerosmith back in the spotlight, and the band became even more successful than they had been earlier in their career. It’s a success they’ve maintained ever since. And, to date, they have sold over one hundred and forty million albums around the world.
Here is a list of Aerosmith’s top ten songs.
1. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
Released: 1998
Album: Armageddon soundtrack
Chart Success: #1 in the US, #4 in the UK
2. Angel
Released: 1988
Album: Permanent Vacation
Chart Success: #3 on the US charts
3. Walk This Way (by Run-DMC, featuring Steven Tyler and Joe Penny)
Released: 1986
Album: Raisin’ Hell by Run-DMC
Chart Success: #4 on the US charts, #8 in the UK
4. Janie’s Got a Gun
Released: 1990
Album: Pump
Chart Success: #4 on the US charts
5. Love in an Elevator
Released: 1989
Album: Pump
Chart Success: #5 in the US
6. Dream On
Released: 1976
Album: Aerosmith
Chart Success: #6 on the US charts
7. Jaded
Released: 2001
Album: Just Push Play
Chart Success: #7 in the US
8. What It Takes
Released: 1990
Album: Pump
Chart Success: #9 in the US
9. Walk This Way (the original version)
Released: 1977
Album: Toys in the Attic
Chart Success: #10 on the US charts
10. Cryin’
Released: 1993
Album: Get a Grip
Chart Success: #12 on the US charts
Song Trivia
* Steven Tyler’s daughter, Liv Tyler, appeared in the video for “Crazy.” Alicia Silverstone also appeared in the video.
* Crazy won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal in 1994.
* Alicia Silverstone appeared in three Aerosmith videos, for the songs “Cryin,” “Amazing,” and “Crazy.” Her performances in those videos were very popular, and many believe this launched her career.
* Liv Tyler starred in the movie Armageddon, which featured the song, “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing.”
* Mark Chesnutt recorded a cover version of “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing.” It became a #1 hit on the country music charts.
* The video for the Run-DMC remake of “Walk This Way” was the first video Steve Tyler and Joe Perry ever appeared in.
* The title for “Walk This Way” was taken from a line in the movie Young Frankenstein.
* “Janie’s Got a Gun” is about a victim of sexual abuse who shoots her abuser. One of the few Aerosmith songs to take on a serious social issue, “Janie Got a Gun” won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal in 1991.
* The song “Dream On” wasn’t a hit when it was first released in 1973. But, when it was re-released in 1976, it reached #6 on the US charts. Rolling Stone places “Dream On” at number #175 on their list “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
* The song “Love In an Elevator” was inspired by one of Steve Tyler’s real life experiences.
