American Songwriter has revisited three pop-rock songs from 1977 that the publication argues still shape the genre today, drawing on archival interviews with the artists about how each track came to be written. The selection spans hits from Daryl Hall & John Oates, The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, all released within months of one another during a particularly fertile year for the genre.

The article highlights the stories behind each song: Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1977 and was actually inspired by a wealthy ex-boyfriend of Daryl Hall's then-girlfriend, not a woman as the title suggests. The Eagles' "Hotel California", also released that February, has attracted numerous interpretations, with Don Henley describing it as a commentary on American excess and the tension between art and commerce. Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams", from the album Rumours, was written by Stevie Nicks in around ten minutes amid band tensions and has since amassed over two billion streams on Spotify.

– Feature revisits three 1977 pop-rock classics still influential today
– "Rich Girl" (Hall & Oates) hit No. 1 in February 1977, inspired by an ex-boyfriend
– "Hotel California" (Eagles) explores American excess and art versus commerce
– "Dreams" (Fleetwood Mac) written in minutes, now has over 2 billion Spotify streams