A very hard poll

 

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.)