An American Songwriter feature revisits four classic rock tracks released in 1979 that continue to resonate strongly with baby boomer listeners. The retrospective highlights how, despite the rise of new wave and shifting musical trends at the decade's close, these songs became enduring staples of classic rock radio and remain fondly remembered decades later.

The selection spans Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall", which topped charts in the US, UK, Ireland and Canada; Eagles' "Heartache Tonight", co-written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, JD Souther and Bob Seger, which also reached No. 1 on the Hot 100; Dire Straits' "Sultans Of Swing", written by Mark Knopfler, which hit the Top 10 internationally; and George Harrison's "Blow Away", the lead single from his self-titled album, which peaked at No. 16 on the Hot 100.