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

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.

What no Buffalo Springfield ...Grand Funk R.R. ,Santana .

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.