Van Halen: Finish What You Started (1988)

Eddie Van Halen came up with the riff at 2am one morning. He woke up neighbor and band mate Sammy Hagar and the pair penned this song about unfulfilled sex. The song is about blue balls and is quite straight forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIlBeqM0mRE

Tom Petty: Learning to Fly (1991)

A coming of age song for Tom Petty at his peak. There's some fun guitar work by Mike Campbell as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BJXwNeKsQ

Pink Floyd: Lost For Words (1994)

Floyd openly examines the relationship between David Gilmour and Roger Waters in "Lost for Words." The song is openly sarcastic and honest. By the end, Gilmour is admitting that "sometimes you just can't win."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwucFar9kM

Mother Love Bone: Chloe (1989)

"Chloe/Crown of Thorns" is Mother Love Bone's most famous song. It appeared in Say Anything with John Cusak, but did not break into the public consciousness until Singles three years later. It proved the late Andrew Wood's greatest moment. It also led to a spate of babies named Chloe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH0gnwtSEGI

Little Richard: Long Tall Sally

The song was originally titled "The Thing."  As "Long Tall Sally", Little Richard's classic has been covered hundreds of times. It's a 12 bar blues tune done to a rock n roll beat. It's one of the greatest songs of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxNSvFMkag

The Cult: Sweet Soul Sister (1990)

At the time, Ian Astbury said the song was about the Americanization of European culture. Years later, he said it was about Black Panther Angela Davis. It's one of The Cult's best songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNobN73F2JY

David Bowie: Modern Love (1983)

This might be Bowie's most infectious song. He claims Little Richard inspired the song about the battle between God and man. Nile Rodgers produced and played guitar and Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hDbpF4Mvkw