Best band never to release a truly great album?

Although my previous lack of enthusiasm for the Doors as "The Greatest American Band" was met by disagreement, I would include them in this list. And I still think the Yardbirds are an equal contender. The UK "Yardbirds" lp aka "Roger The Engineer" is basically a compilation of stuff, not an example of a thought out album by the band. Most of the other nominees on this thread have had great albums in my opinion; Tull - Aqualung, Stones - Sticky Fingers or Exile, etc...

Roy Buchanan, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, and many others have some great albums front to back, but I don't think they ever expected 100% public approval, or hit after hit. Hell, I love every thing Tom Waits has released, Beefheart, or King Crimson, but I don't think they are sitting around waiting for the awards to flow in. Still, I think the Yardbirds win this one. Tom

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink is a GREAT Wood example, as well as "The Faces" lp. You are certainly correct about Woods finest hours", but he was destined to be a Stone. Tom

Well, "Roger The Engineer" may not have been totally thought out beforehand, but it certainly wasn't a random compiling of odd tracks, either. A lot of it was basically written as it was being recorded, and together with the previously written tracks, was totally recorded within about the space of a week. This makes it pretty unified, IMHO, even if charmingly (or amazingly) off-handed in its spontaneity, not to mention more than a little dirty behind the ears. And I liiiikes it that-a way!

Beck, Bogert & Appice - both the studio and live album really suffer from those two stupid and sooo mediocre soul tunes. I never couldn´t stand them. Soul thing does not fit them at all. Sorry Tim Bogert, you are not a good singer really. But you are a hell of a bassist :) Otherwise great band. Actually BBA Live in Japan 1973 is one of the most powerful live recording and probably the best rock bass sound captured on vinyl. Alongside MOUNTAIN Twin Peaks from the same year.

Under their own name, it has to be Little Village. Though they are on record in VERY fine form (first heard on John Hiatt's Bring The Family album), they recorded and released only one album under their own name, and it's not good. The rule going in was that no member (John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner---is that a Super Group, or what?!) could bring any already-written material---all songs had to be written on scene. Not a recipe for making good music.