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

@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.