The article identifies three late-1970s rock songs it argues helped shape the sound and commercial direction of 1980s rock. It presents Aerosmith’s cover of “Come Together”, Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” and Journey’s “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” as early examples of the punchier, arena-ready style later associated with the decade.

– Aerosmith’s 1978 “Come Together”, a Top 30 hit and Beatles cover, appeared on the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack.
– Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” was a Top 5 single from 1978’s Double Vision and was written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones.
– Journey’s 1979 “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’”, from Evolution and written by Steve Perry, became the band’s first Top 15 single.