3 Classic Rock Songs That Took Years to Finish—And Were Worth the Wait

Music production has never been known for its speed. While technological advancements have made recording faster and more accessible in the 21st century, creating and releasing a song can still be a drawn-out process. For some classic rock legends, certain tracks took not just years—but decades—to be completed and shared with the world. These songs, unearthed from dusty archives or revived by new creative sparks, prove that great music often waits for the right moment to be heard.

Paul McCartney – “When Winter Comes”
Though released in 2020, Paul McCartney’s “When Winter Comes” originated in a much earlier era. The song features a noticeably younger-sounding McCartney, and for good reason—it was recorded in the late 1990s during the Flaming Pie sessions but never made it onto the final album.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, McCartney, grounded by the global halt in touring, revisited his personal archive of unreleased material. The result was McCartney III, a self-produced album largely crafted at home. Among its tracks, “When Winter Comes” stood out as a delicate, acoustic ballad that had waited more than 20 years for its release. By dusting off the original recording and giving it a proper place in his discography, McCartney demonstrated the timelessness of his songwriting.

Billy Joel – “Turn The Lights Back On”
Billy Joel had not released a new pop single in over three decades when “Turn The Lights Back On” debuted in 2024. Since the early 1990s, Joel had shifted his focus toward live performance, especially through his iconic Madison Square Garden residency, and away from the recording studio. After his 1993 album River of Dreams, Joel described songwriting as having become “painful,” and for years, he chose not to write or record new music.

That changed when producer Freddy Wexler approached him with the early framework for a song. Wexler’s persistence—and a bit of creativity in contacting Joel through a mutual connection with his former family physician—led to the pair collaborating on what would become “Turn The Lights Back On.” Upon its release, the single quickly climbed the charts, proving that Joel’s ability to craft compelling, emotional music had not faded with time.

Tom Petty – “Somewhere Under Heaven”
Tom Petty’s archives are filled with unfinished gems, many of which trace back to the early 1990s. “Somewhere Under Heaven” was one such track, originally recorded during the Wildflowers sessions in 1992. Though the album was already extensive, the song didn’t make the final cut.

Years later, in 2015, the track was resurrected as part of the promotional campaign for the expanded Wildflowers & All The Rest reissue. The full box set wouldn’t be released until 2020, but “Somewhere Under Heaven” gave fans an early glimpse into what had been left behind. Co-written with Mike Campbell, the song carries the emotional depth and melodic strength that defined much of Petty’s best work, reaffirming the enduring quality of his musical legacy.

These songs, long delayed yet never forgotten, offer a fascinating look into the creative journeys of rock’s most iconic artists. Whether postponed by circumstance or simply awaiting the right collaborator or cultural moment, these tracks prove that some music only gets better with time.