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!
Late in their history, Capaldi moved from the drum riser to the front of the stage (he was a songwriter as well as drummer), and Hawkins and Gordon were brought in to play double drums. Do a search on Google Images for pics of them on stage.
Wikipedia says Jim Gordon was a member 1971-2, Roger Hawkins (and bassist David Hood, Roger's rhythm section partner in The Swampers) 1972-3. So Jim and Roger were both playing drums in Traffic during 1972. After Roger left, Capaldi returned to the drummers throne.
It's a silly topic really but still...NRBQ were an astonishingly great and original band and crazy good live. Little Feat in the 70s were considered the best live band out there...that opinion was shared by a lot of the English guys like the Stones and Zep, and they were likely faves of just about any musician playing in the 70s...including me. Lowell George (of Feat) produced at least one Dead album, and his one solo album is very cool. The Band were amazing, and I consider them an American band...saw them as the Hawks with Dylan (no Levon at that time), and later also as The Band, and even once later without Robertson...I wore out a copy of the "Brown Album" and that still is in the rotation around here. If you think Rock and Roll is dead I suppose you missed the SRO insane Greta Van Fleet show at Red Rocks last week...my CO based daughter sent me some live video of ’em. Derivative (so what?), young, and fun...American!
To me, the definition to America Greatest Rock and Roll Band means bands that made great up tempo music with heavy guitar riffs and amazing vocals. There are 3 bands that come to my mind that will actually fit that title and made music that I can never get tired of listening to. First, would have to be Grand Funk Railroad who was know as America version of Led Zeppelin and was also know to have some of the largest concerts gathering at the time. Check out their live concert. Second, would have to be Jefferson Airplane/Starship. Many have heard Airplane music, but Starship really rock through the 70s and 80's and my last pick did not start as a band, but ended having the most popular debut Rock album of all times - Boston.
So many great bands how do you possibly pick one ? however thinking back when I was a kid growing up in Southern California it was the Mamas & Papas though I was in love with Michel Philips I still occasionally listen to their music .
Spirit, a band from the late 60's to early 70's may not have been the greatest but were pretty darn good. The album Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus was a masterpiece. Hey, and how about Frank Zappa and the Mothers. That said I agree with nearly everyone. Too many good bands to really nail it down to one.
Let’s start with North American Northern greats like Neil Young ,with or without Crosby stillsand Nash which ,were excellent , the Guess who another great band forgotton or overlooked, Steppenwolf in my opinion is still timeless . And who can forget Santana , as well as Chicago. All special with their own styles and lets not forget the Doors , and Jim Hendrix experience !!
In_shore, we were all in love with Michelle Phillips. Please don't be monopolizing her attention. I suppose you could make a realistic and valid argument she was so appealing, that alone would make the Mamas and Papas the greatest American band of all time. I might have to rethink my Big Brother and the Holding Company position now that you mentioned her.
Funny some of the suggestions for the foreign bands. I love Neil, U2, Rush, the Stones, the Band, etc...but they ain't 'merican.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers would likely be #1 in my book R.E.M and the Talking Heads could argue for a next spot But I can't believe no one has mentioned Steely Dan??? 7 phenomenal albums before the pause. Jazzy yes but the quality and breadth of their work over 10+ years has few American peers.
Steely Dan are and were astonishing. Becker's solo albums are so good I was mostly angry about his death because his output stoped. My most recent live experience with those guys was a show with Elvis Costello (!) opening a couple of years ago...the groups they assembled for recent live shows was heart stopping...best backup singers, tight utterly pro monster players all around..Jon Herington...man. I have every original vinyl of 'em from the 70s, all the solo stuff, and my former neighbor Elliot Scheiner got a grammy for Gaucho, which is still an amazing album I listen to often.
Agree on Steely Dan. I have always loved them, but when Walter Becker died I spent a few weeks listening to their albums over and over, coming to the conclusion that no American band has ever surpassed the quality of their albums, especially the first four.
I didn't read through all the posts so I may have missed the mention. Lot's of good ones by the way but how about the man than just retired, Mr. Paul Simon? Sure, he's a single artist and not a band but what better American icon?
Buffalo Springfield were a major influence on my early musical career, but they were legendary for their inconsistent live shows...fist fights...out of tune playing and singing...but obviously monster talent. I tried to sing like Stills which for me was a really bad idea as it likely sounded like a 17 year old surfer kid who had just swallowed a frog.
Buffalo Springfield and Moby Grape remind me of each other---almost too much talent for one group, both with three guitarists and singers, and multiple songwriters. Springfield’s three album are all must-owns imo, and while the Grape’s are more variable, there are some great ones. Their debut is one of the best ever, sounding just as fresh and exciting as it did at the time of it’s release. A lot of the music from their time now sounds dated, but the music of these two groups is timeless. Two of America’s greatest bands, though I’m not sure I’d call either Rock ’n’ Roll. Maybe the Grape, Springfield definitely not.
I saw Moby Grape when I was 16 in 1967. A surfer friend I was visiting in Santa Barbara got us tickets to see Tim Buckley since he knew I was a huge fan, and the show turned out to be Buckley opening, with The Jimi Hendrix Experience second, and Moby Grape headlining. Suffice to say this was a life altering event as Moby Grape was one of the most powerful live bands I’ve ever seen, and sort of made all the other "folk-rock" white guys seem tired. Buckley was cool also of course, and that Hendrix guy...wonder if he ever made it...
Damn wolf, I’m green with envy. Though going to shows in San Francisco frequently, I somehow managed to never see the Grape live. Same with Springfield. But the one band (heh) I most regret not seeing live are The Hawks, whom you also saw. Punk ;-) .
I'm surprised no one mentioned Nirvana. The only had 3 full length studio albums, yet influenced a generation and numerous bands. They have sold over 75 million albums world wide.
I'm surprised no one mentioned Nirvana. They only had 3 full length studio albums, but influenced a generation and numerous bands. They have sold over 75 million albums world wide.
For me, it takes more than a band that had just 3 influential lps. (BTW, I don't even consider Nirvana to be Rock & Roll. So it really doesn't meet the definition I laid out in my original post as (Rock & Roll).
Buffalo Springfield represented an "actual" lunatic fringe, using actual fringe. And "Mister Soul" was a kick a** R&R song as was "Bluebird," especially the long version. In the early 70s I saw a faux version of Buffalo Springfield consisting of Dewey Martin and a bunch of studio guys...Martin was obviously drunk, and the whole thing was really weird and somewhat shameful.
wolf, I saw Dewey and three other guys playing billed as The New Buffalo in the middle of '69, my teen combo opening for them at a local San Jose High School. Randy Fuller, Bobby's brother, was playing bass and singing harmony. The stipulation was that Dewey would play on my drumset, as he traveled with only a share drum, bass drum pedal, and stick bag. I thought they were real good, but no Buffalo Springfield.
I can't believe that Zappa and the Mother's, CSN or CSNY weren't mentioned. CCR, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, ZZ Top and Journey are awesome choices as well.
geofkait - sorry i missed your mention slaw - rock & roll has many genres, perhaps you should be more specific to how you define rock & roll. it seems like you are stuck in your generation of rock - 'classic'.
Ok lets get this straightened out first on the confusion. I see many people getting confused of the term Rock and Roll. Think of music like taxonomy of biology. R&R is towards the top where there is then sub classes; Rock, Pop, RnB, and so forth.
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