Originally, I was going to do some lame July 4th playlist and while I was doing it, I realized it is the same as my Plague Playlist and Weekend Playlist and every other playlist I have. So, today I will do a lame list of the Greatest American Rock and Roll Bands.
My general disclaimer is in effect here. I may not include every great band but these are definately at the top. Before I start, I have some comments: The MC-5 is not included. I honestly have never heard one song they have ever done and I have been listening to music for 55 years. No matter what every critic says, they aren’t the greatest band America has ever produced. Also, The list is just bands, not individual artists. I will save that for another day.
The following need no explanation and I will just list them because they are at the top.
The Beach Boys
The Eagles
Chicago
The Allman Brothers Band
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Doors
Aerosmith
The Grateful Dead
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
The Temptations
Some of you may argue about the Doors or Aerosmith being in this top ten but everyone of these groups has produced at least two classic albums and have tremendous followings across the country.
Those are the easy ones. Now for some groups that may have you scratch your head.
Alice Cooper, for instance. I never was one for the theatrical shows that they put on but the underlying music was very solid. It was about young male angst and class exclusion. Plus, the band was as tight as any band in history and if you listen to the production on an album like School’s Out you will see what I mean.
Nirvana. Now I was never a fan of that Seattle grunge, garage rock sound but Nirvana was different. The songs were depressing and introspective in a way that you rarely see in rock and roll. I still to do this day believe that Nirvana had not even touched on what they could have achieved before Kurt Cobain took his own life.
Grand Funk Railroad. Thats a head scratcher for most of you. I loved the first three albums and their live stuff was equally as good. This band could rock and they were heavy on the lead guitar but never approached that heavy metal guitar slashing of Judas Priest or Panterra. The last three of four albums sucked beyond anything imaginable and that is why everyone discounts this group. Listen to Grand Funk and you will know why I included them here.
J.Geils Band. No head scratching here. One of the most under-appreciated bands in history. They produced three great albums (one classic) and epitomized rock and roll in the ‘70’s. Full House, as you already know, is one of the best live albums ever recorded and a mediocre band could not do something like that. Any group that highlights the harmonica can’t be all bad.
The Pretenders. One of the few bands that highlighted a woman on guitar and vocals. They could rock with the best of them and in the early ‘80’s they owned the charts. The one caveat is that they spend a good portion of their early years in England and were influenced by The Clash and other punk bands in London. However, Their home base was the US and Chrissie Hynde has made it very clear from the beginning that she was from “Ohio and The Pretty Countryside”.
Little Feat. This is a “My Favorite” selection and I won’t back down( Dont worry, he’s next). Lowell George and band played a fun, loose boogie and mixed rock and roll, some jam band, and R&B. They were a Southern band that really wasn’t from the South. Another great live album “Waiting for Columbus” encapsulates the band and all that was good about them.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Easy pick again. I never truly appreciated how great they were until I bought the five record live album, Live Anthology. Amazing from beginning to end. I know I am not the only one who feels this way but I still feel his loss today and again, I was not a huge Petty fan, so that shows you the impact he had on rock and roll music.
Steely Dan. Growing up and going to college, this was the soundtrack of my life. I have been a fan since their first album and honestly can listen to any song from Can’t Buy a Thrill to Aja and never hit skip. To this day, Aja is still one of the best albums I have ever heard. Steely Dan is also in that special place for me. I have seen them three times and I still listen to their music and that is saying something since I normally don’t listen to an artist after I see them in concert.
The Doobie Brothers. Not much of stretch here. They have produced a tremendous amount of good music over the years. Not saying anything they have done is a masterpiece but they are consistent and very tight. I have only started listening to some of their more obscure stuff and it is pretty good as well.
Van Halen. Yeah, I know, very commercial, too easily mocked. However, they had Eddie Van Halen and that is all you need to know. At their peak, they could pack the Grand Canyon and everyone would hear the show. They were loud, kind of goofy and had hit after hit. For me, I could only listen to maybe six or eight songs but you still have to give credit where credit is do.
The Ramones. Punk in a 1,2,3,4 beat. Every riff was the same and so what. They were great. Pounding rock and roll and never longer that two minutes fifty seconds. Whats not to love? They influenced a whole generation from the basement of Cafe Wa and CBGB’s.
The Talking Heads. I understand that David Byrne is not everyones cup of tea and they didn’t real rock but they occupied a space in rock that was very hard to define. Intelligent, well thought out lyrics with subtle but driving beats. Super intelligent people rarely create approachable music and Byrne, for the most part, did.
Sly and the Family Stone. Considering the World we live in today, I am surprised more people aren’t touting Sly and The Family Stone’s music. It was all about inclusion and being good to one another. It was about fun and love and they could jam like no other band. Sly Stone’s tumble into a drug rabbit hole destroyed this band and it’s a shame because they had a lot to say and I think everyone should go back and listen to any of their first five albums.
I know I have missed a few and there are several I left off purposely. That’s where you come in. Send me your thoughts and opinions and I will warn you now, don’t tell me Guns n Roses is one the greatest American rock bands, I will scream.
And if you have a couple of minutes over the weekend, Rick Beato on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN1bp7-dfA4
Does Great guitar players of the 70s. My oh my, just very enjoyable. Enjoy the 4th of July!!