Best band never to release a truly great album?

Bomarc, I thought of The Yardbirds, but they actually did release what I consider to be a great album in Britain, "The Yardbirds" (aka "Roger the Engineer"), but like a lot of British invasion acts, their original releases got chopped up and re-glued to make different LP's for the US market.

As far as the MG and VU thing goes, if you and Fish reread my post, you'll see that I stipulate that all the great groups released great albums, and I consider these to be among them. What I listed instead, was bands who I didn't think actually got to make the record they *could've* made under different circumstances. In other words, what we've got is worth treasuring, but we don't know what we're missing. Fate (and record labels) didn't smile on all bands the way The Beatles had it. But as I said, fans (like me) find the flaws endearing. I was taking the topic off on a tangent a bit, though.

I certainly have to agree with Bomarc's pick of the Yardbirds. How could that much talent never produce a truley killer album???? First you've got Clapton, then later Jeff Beck, and finally Jimmy Page, along with Keith Relf throughout. Every album has it's gems, but not one solid from beginning to end. Don't get me wrong, I have all of their albums, but there is no Revolver in the bunch. Zaikesman had a great call with Pretty Things, but I think Parachute and S.F. Sorrow are great albums start to finish. They were just overshadowed by The Beatles. Jond nailed the Dead with three great studio albums. BBA was a good call, but they did release the double Live in Japan lp which is good start to finish. Roy B? I love all his stuff. I really can't think of a better pick than the Yardbirds. Tom

"Roger the Engineer" might make the greatness cut, although I think the band's best work came earlier, in the first year with Beck and those great singles that made up Side 1 of the U.S. album "Having a Rave Up." Fill that period out ("Shapes of Things") rather than the random picks from "Five Live Yardbirds," and you would have a truly great Yardbirds album.

As for the Dead, it should be obvious that I am not among the "committed," but I'll take your word for it, Jond.

The Rolling Stones

Trey, I'm afraid you're gonna have to make your case why, if you don't consider Now!, Out of Our Heads, December's Children, Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, or Sticky Fingers (and possibly even 12 X 5, Aftermath, Exile on Main Street, or Some Girls) to be great albums.