Black Sabbath

The poll was difficult until I came to Tull at the end. Then it was easy. Otherwise, hard to pick between Sabbath, Zeppelin, Moodies.

Ooh, ya almost got me!

I love ELO all the way up to and including Time. Progressive or not from 1971 to 1981 they made so many classic pop-songs that I'll never tire of so they'll got my vote as well. 

   I thought they peaked around Eldorado & Face the Music but I like some of the stuff from New World Record   &  Out of the Blue. After that they lost me. 

A very easy poll.

JT

Black Sabbath and Tull would tied for second (however, Tull may someday be # 1 as I explore more of their music). 

Chicago comes next but only the earlier stuff

After that would be BOC, a band that I've always wanted to like but other than a handful of songs, doesn't do much for me. 

The rest are whatever.

I'll vote based on longevity, having listened to most of these groups for decades. The Moodies and BOC still sound the freshest to me after all these years.

whew.. from the first album to the last.  Absolutely killer stuff with very little filler. One of those bands whom 'greatest hits' do zero justice for. Their best are not what are found on those, one of those few bands whose best was just a bit over the head of the average music listener.

Curse of the Hidden Mirror was phenomenal. I held out hope for another studio album, but I don't think it's happening.

Black and Blue (BOC and Sabbath) was a helluva concert in 1980. Eric Bloom (or was it Buck Dharma?) drove a Harley onto the stage and the madness began. Ronnie James Dio was great with Sabbath as well. The guy was like 4 foot tall. They had to get him one of those metal milk crates to stand on just to reach the mic.

Zep and BOC are close behind.  Tull, I have to be in the mood to listen.

 

But that doesn't mean I'm lacking in love for most of the other bands on the list.  Tull in particular, who actually still cranked out some excellent albums long after what should have been their "use by" date.  But that classic seven run by the Moodies is completely unequaled.  

At their best, though, Black Sabbath were equally impressive.  And BOC would have been right there in the discussion had they been a little more consistent.  

CHICAGO's material was very strong and valuable in the late 60's. I think all the albums are great until 6 or 7, for example, and these were doubles ... not just singles! A lot of music, and very progressive, though we tend to not appreciate the sound of horns and brass in a lot of progressive materials. The band ALQUIN fits into the same area until BEST KEPT SECRET.

If we take the time they were around in context, I would say that LZ stood out, but their strength was in concert until the mid 70's when they tore up stages and audiences in pieces, like no one else could. JT should/could get some credit, however, as much as I like all the early albums (until MIAG), after that I think he sold out to rock radio and hits, and that lowers the value for me.

I enjoy a lot of BS, however, I did not think that the lyrical side was as important, and thought that it was mostly showmanship than it was valuable in a meaningful way to one's life, other than just plain fun entertainment. I still have all the early material all the way to the album after SBS.

I vote for CHICAGO, as they were very important for me, in the early days, in Madison, WI during their time.

Even then, while not trying to be controversial,  each of those bands has only done what I would subjectively call brilliant albums:

A New World Record & Time

'Four symbols' & Houses of the Holy

Heavy Horses & Crest of a Knave

As it happens  the two Tull albums  I happen to like best happen to be Crest of a Knave and Heavy Horses.   

And the two ELO albums I happen to find I experience the greatest pleasure from listening to happen to be A New World Record and Time.   That is not to say I don'y enjoy tracks from  other albums by those bands, because I do.  Very much so.   But I've always maintained one should be honest with oneself as well as others as to what music one likes.  And I personally happen to find that those four albums work best as complete albums with no weak tracks at all.  

 

In the late 60's and very early 70's I probably played The Moodies even more than Tull or Zep though I am a fan of all the early Tull lps. I chose Zep ,as they became in time a favorite for me later than the other bands. They had a unique approach to blues and rock with that mystical and slightly proggy edge...and imho kept trying to push the boundaries of their genre. Tull did that with TAAB and Passion but then reverted back to their older sound. All the bands on that list are well represented in my collection and I like what they did at their peak..., though imho none of them really did anything to push their music in other directions or even try to..( I actually like the early folky T Rex better than the later glam rock one.)

 

Deep Purple hasn´t ever been my biggest favourite, but I have listened and also bought almost all their seventies albums, the main reason is that one guy sold them to me very cheap years ago.

7. Led Zeppelin

8. Deep Purple

9. Chicago

10. T-Rex

Deep Purple & Sabbath made me stop and ponder a bit... but Tull for sure. 

Sabbath is a no-brainier for me. It was my initial reaction, but just before I cast my vote I did pause for thought. After all, the only Sabbath albums I really love are the first six - although 13 comes close, with a wave of nostalgia.

But then I realised that there’s not a band in this poll where I could not say similar. While I have plenty of bands and artists in my collection (perhaps even the majority) where I like all, or almost all, of what they’ve released; every band here I like only selected parts (generally a run of albums). So second thoughts cast aside, and my vote goes to Sabbath.

(For the record, Procol Harum is easily second, for me. The hard part of the poll for me being third place, but I think I’ll give that to The Moody Blies.)

 

 

 

Black Sabbath

Led Zeppelin

Electric Light Orchestra

I highly recommend folks to see the Daily Doug shows on Chicago Transit Authority, and then Chicago 2 ... it is actually very good and you can see how special and intricate the work they did was ... a very special band, that did things with the horns and brass that most never considered and so much of it was very tasteful and well thought out ... and hearing DD appreciate it ... is very special indeed for me.

Tull > Moody Blues > ELO

of course, back in the day, it would have been Sab > Zep > Purple all day long, but those days are long gone..