Which band IS really America's Greatest (rock & roll band)?


When I consider my priorities for this category, I cannot come up with any other than CCR.

Their output as a band was short compared to others, yes..

When I say America's greatest rock & roll band, this = the output or even the basis on which a band formed, had in their DNA, America's roots! It doesn't even matter that we now know CCR formed in California, their DNA as a band transformed their birthplace but it more importantly brought forth the (soul) of get down and dirty) Rock & Roll in it's raw form!

HELL YEAH!
128x128slaw
This topic came up 10 years or so ago and I specified Rush. Always regretted not picking Allman Brothers Band which I'm doing now.
Honorable mention: Bob Seeger band, Ted Nugent band.


If you want to go way back and talk about all-time best:


- The Tympani Five (Louis Jordan’s band). Jordan is considered the father of Rock ’n’ Roll, though that credit could also go to Big Joe Turner.

- Little Richard’s recording band. Unbelievably great, including the best drummer in the entire history of Rock ’n’ Roll, Earl Palmer.

- Chuck Berry’s band---Johnnie Johnson on piano, Willie Dixon on upright bass, and various drummers.

- Scotty, Bill, and D.J. Fontana, Elvis’ original band (Sun Records, early RCA).

- The Crickets (Buddy Holly’s band). Listen to his and their recording of "Down The Line" for some blistering hot R & R.

- The Rock ’n’ Roll Trio (Johnny and Dorsey Burnett plus Paul Burlinson---Jeff Beck’s idol---on Telecaster). Their "Train Kept A-Rollin’" is just too cool to believe.

- The band that recorded with The Everly Brothers, which included guitarist Hank Garland and drummer Buddy Harman, two of the best musicians I’ve ever heard.


Now THAT is what I consider Rock & Roll.

There are individuals being mentioned. I think the OP specified a band. Sometimes a fine line. If individuals are included it would be hard to top Elvis and Dylan.

Another band worth mentioning was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I'd put them right up there with Skynrd. I think those two and the Eagles would be hard to beat. All uniquely American sounding with largely American subject matter and all three enormously successful with the Eagles having one of the top selling albums of all time.

@n80, if your comment was made in regard to the names I mentioned (it may not have been), I named the band, then gave details about it’s members. Bands have members, right? ;-)

If The Band is eligible, what makes them SO unique is that they are a self-contained "unit" (writing their songs, singing them, and playing the instruments) that is at least as good as any band hired by solo artists for accompaniment. If you are "just" a backing band that provides accompaniment for a solo artist, you have to be a REALLY good band. Rock 'n' Roll bands are known for their songs, sound, and/or style, not necessarily for their excellence as a performing band, in the old sense of the term. For instance, The Heartbreakers made excellent music, but provided poor accompaniment for Bob Dylan. Not as bad as The Dead, of course ;-). On the other hand, The Band were an excellent band in the sense I am speaking of, as good as any group of studio musicians, many of them the best in the world.