We put it to a vote, and these are our selections for the greatest American Bands of all time. The USA restriction wipes out The Beatles, Stones, U2 and lots of other acts that usually show up on the best-of lists. Most of these selections had their best years in the '70s, and many are still active. California bands got a lot of love in this one.
Here are our picks for the Best American Bands, as chosen by the Songfacts community.
Here are our picks for the Best American Bands, as chosen by the Songfacts community.
10. Steely Dan
Key Tracks:Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan are kind of like the Keith Olbermann's of music - highly intelligent with a slight air of superiority and meticulous in their work. Kenny Vance, who recorded them when they were in Jay and The Americans, told us that Becker and Fagen were indeed odd ducks, but they always had depth and wrote in a way that "the whole song is a hook."
Nominated by Yellowsnow
9. R.E.M.
Key Tracks:Early on, R.E.M. decided to split songwriting credits, which kept royalty disputes at bay. They started out in 1980 as a quirky college band and quickly became quirky superstars. What do they have over everyone else on this list? They're the only ones to appear on Sesame Street.
Nominated by Lucky
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers
Key Tracks:In the mid-'80s, you wouldn't have pegged these guys for massive Rock impact - they were too raucous and too naked. Their strength is their ability to turn their many Behind The Music moments into meaningful songs. A proud American export, RHCP has been well-loved in the UK for quite a while, where the scathing rock press took to them quickly.
Nominated by Farin
7. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Key Tracks:Formed in 1975, these guys have nailed just about every rock star milestone - MTV awards, Hall of Fame induction, Superbowl halftime show - and they have a way of showing up on other projects with when something great happens. Petty was in The Traveling Wilburys with Dylan, Harrison, Orbison and Lynne, and showed up on the last episode of The Larry Sanders Show. Heartbreaker Mike Campbell came up with the track for "Boys Of Summer" and played on "Sixth Avenue Heartache" for Dylan's kid.
Nominated by MC Kenne
6. The Beach Boys
Key Tracks:Lots of ink has been shed describing the genius of Brian Wilson, and there were definitely a few years where he was pushing the limits of what a song could do. What is sometimes lost is the harmony vocals that made those Beach Boys songs so listenable and so timeless.
Nominated by RonJonSurfer
5. Lynyrd Skynyrd
Key Tracks:Southern Rock is unlikely to ever get better. They pride themselves on keeping it simple, but judging from the comments their songs have racked up, they are a lot more intriguing than they claim. They are also one of the most resilient bands in history, recognized in the Guiness Book of World Records for carrying on for the longest time after the deaths of two original members.
Nominated by Shawna
4. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Key Tracks:Bruce and the band showed remarkable stage stamina, often playing 3-4 hour sets. Music was the only job Springsteen ever had, yet he knew just how to relate to us working stiffs. He would regularly show up on stage with bar bands even when he was immensely popular.
Nominated by Laurie
3. Eagles
Key Tracks:In 1994, the Eagles decided they were worth $100 a ticket, and they had no problem getting it. For a while, their Greatest Hits album even challenged Thriller for sales supremacy. Their distinction on this list is three members who have had hits as solo artists: Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey.
Nominated by Shawna
2. The Doors
Key Tracks:Probably the most polarizing group on this list, the Songfactors overall have a positive view of The Doors enigmatic sound. They made just 6 albums and were better known for Jim Morrison's misadventures than for their music, but the songs have shown remarkable staying power and continue to dominate classic rock playlists.
Nominated by Yellowsnow
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival
Key Tracks:Our #1 band never had a #1 hit, but they hit #2 five times and took Swamp Rock to new heights. They were really big in that magical year 1969, when they played Woodstock and had three different albums go platinum.
Nominated by Laurie
Comments: 31
Where are the Byrds?
-Clitherall from Duluth, MN
Lmao, where the hell is Aerosmith? It should be in the top 3, if not the Number 1.
-Anonymous
The Doors are one of the greatest for sure...but there are a lot missing from this list
-Groovy Chic from Cincinnati, OH
I'd have thought you'd have aerosmith,jefferson starship,nirvana or gnr in your top 10
-peter from newcastle, United Kingdom
Have you never heard of Aerosmith? How about KISS? Chicago? Guns 'N Roses? Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band? Collective Soul? JOURNEY?!?!?! That stuff you all have been smoking must be really good.
-Juan from El Paso, TX
um dave fleetwood mac was a band that originated in london nixx so hence not an american band....the grateful dead was wretched...but areosmith should so be on this list and eagles were more country rock then rock n roll and wth beach boys r sooo not rock n roll thats bubble gum pop!
-ROO from ST. LOUIS, MO
No Fleetwood Mac? Isn't Rumours the second-best-selling album of all time? And a couple of their members haven't done bad solo, either.
-Dave from Burleson, TX
TRM, the Rolling Stones are great but are not American...and there{s your answer.
-K from Mexico
Hey,What about the ROLLING STONES The greatest Rock-N-Roll band in the world.
-TRM from Woodlyn, PA.
The Guess Who were Canadian.
-Erik from Bloomfield Hills, MI