How about the holy trinity of seventies rock: Kansas, Foreigner, and Journey?
Blues Brothers?
Ripped off Aerosmith pretty egregiously. Listen to the second side of Rocks.
I vote Aerosmith. Very influential. Pixies are right up there.
I’d trade all of them for Three Dog Night.
If I have my memories correct, the first seven or so Beach Boys albums were done by the band itself and that’s the Beach Boys sound as we know it. Brian phased in the Crew over the next couple when he stayed off the tour and spent the time in the studio.
When I think of the greatest band, though, I think in terms of musicianship rather than songwriting. That would put the Allmans up on top. If we’re going by songwriting it’s a whole nother list.
And you all own or have owned a copy. ADMIT IT!
Greatest Hits 1971-1975 was the top selling album of the 20th Century. Also in the top 10 was Hotel California.
Kansas? I don’t think they get all the votes from their immediate families. Great band, but outside of a couple albums, they were an acquired taste and largely ignored by the mainstream.
Foreigner? Really? Half the original line up were English.
Journey? Now they may have a claim!
It’s the musical quality that is meaningless in a discussion like this. It is too subjective. Too much variation in personal taste. We could never get a consensus that way.
The Doobie Brothers (1970-'82 incarnation) were contenders.
Nope. Never.
And this Wikipedia page says it’s number six.
Is Fleetwood Mac (tied for seventh) considered American post Lindsey and Stevie? Buckingham is fine at guitar himself. Every song on those hit albums has good guitar and every one sounds different from the others. How many bands can say that?
I’m not an American and I was going to suggest The Band but there’s a cunning Canadian lurking there as well …
Soundgarden is also my favorite of those bands. I wish I had seen them back in the day. I did see Alice in Chains at Lollapalooza in 1993, and they put on a good show.
I considered that, too, but they were founded in New York City, so I’d give them a pass as being American.
Kind of like The Pretenders. Great band but just a bit too English kinda sorta.
I was going to mention the Foos. Not THE greatest maybe but a runner up for sure.
Although I’ve thrown out my main votes, honorable mentions might include Television, The Byrds, Love, Metallica, Fugazi, Cheap Trick. Even though it’s not really in my sweet spot stylistically, I’m having a hard time finding an argument against Van Halen when considering all the criteria.
It’s rather weird to judge a 20+ year career based on the band’s first single. And not even the song but the video! Pearl Jam is another close runner-up IMO.
I formed my opinion about them when I saw Eddie at a Bob Dylan anniversary special. He did “Masters of War” and he did the whole eye rolling 'I’m about to explode!!!" routine there, to one of Dylan’s least interesting tunes. He didn’t have a clue. I’ve heard plenty of this band. They are the modern version of Grand Funk, but without the songs. I’m with Cobain on this one.
Interesting fact:
There has now been more time elapsed between 2015 and the release of Nirvana Nevermind than there was between Nevermind (1991) and the release of the first black sabbath album (1970)
You know, you can say that. You might even believe it. But that’s far from making it true.
“Mellow” has a pretty non-ambiguous meaning in this context, and it’s not a synonym for uninteresting.
Sorry, but my definition of GARBOAT has to hold rocking first and foremost. If a particular band’s catalog has lots of non-rocking material, it’s going to hurt them when they go up against the folks who still pushed the form without trying to make it chamber music or folk. Rock at its core isn’t about being complex or smart, it’s about making people shake their butt in a particular way.
If the Wrecking Crew gets a nomination, I submit The Swampers, aka The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. 75 gold records should count for something.