Greatest Rock Artists Of All Time (Revision Version)

[pauldrach]

I've edited the current revision version into the first post of this thread and Brian's original post into the second.

I've also corrected one spelling error (Rickie Lee Jones), added an apostrophe to The B-52's, made a few artist names consistent with the way they seem to be handled now whenever one entry encompasses both a solo artist and a band (Diana Ross/The Supremes, Smokey Robinson/The Miracles, Curtis Mayfield/The Impressions, George Clinton/Parliament-Funkadelic, Frankie Valli/The Four Seasons, Frank Zappa/The Mothers of Invention, Iggy Pop/The Stooges, Chaka Khan/Rufus, Patti LaBelle/Labelle), deleted a few The's where they don't belong (Beastie Boys, Four Tops, Eurythmics) and added a few backing bands (Bruce Springsteen (& the E Street Band), Elvis Costello (& the Attractions), Dick Dale & the Del-Tones).

I wasn't sure whether Crazy Horse should be added in brackets after Neil Young since they also made somewhat significant recordings as a standalone act. I also think it may be good to add at least Utopia to Rundgren's entry (adding Nazz and Runt as well may be too nitpicky even for me) but wanted to check back.

I'm also not sure how frequently I will manage to update the first post but will try to do so regularly. I'm also not sure I'll catch every little edit so tell me about any obvious oversight on my part.

The list in the first post is formatted with BBCode, which makes adding new acts somewhere in the middle a little easier.

[ManPerson]

1. Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
2. Toots & the Maytals
3. Jimmy Buffett
4. UB40
5. Lou Reed
6. Huey Lewis & the News
7. Ohio Players
8. Warren Zevon

I suggest we first look at/insert this group.

This is what I came up with:

1. Lou Reed
2. Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
3. Toots and the Maytals
4. Warren Zevon
5. UB40
6. Ohio Players
7. Huey Lewis and the News
8. Jimmy Buffett
Last 4 were pretty hard to order, though.

[Tim]

I guess I agree with the top three and see the #4-8 in roughly the same range on this list. My first attempt at inserting them.

240. Massive Attack
241. MC5
242. Hüsker Dü
243. Jackson Browne
244. Phil Collins
245. Sade
246. Lou Reed
247. Ariana Grande
248. Nicki Minaj
249. Hall & Oates
250. Boyz II Men
251. Pet Shop Boys
252. Alanis Morissette
253. Future
254. War
255. Chaka Khan/Rufus
256. Eurythmics
257. Salt-N-Pepa
258. Peter Gabriel
259. The Righteous Brothers
260. Jethro Tull
261. Soundgarden
262. George Harrison
263. Electric Light Orchestra
264. The (Young) Rascals
265. T.I.
266. Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
267. The Marvelettes
268. Joe Tex
269. The Prodigy
270. Johnny Ace
271. Lloyd Price
272. Cher
273. R. Kelly
274. The Lovin' Spoonful 
275. The Spinners
276. Barry White
277. Weezer
278. The Shadows
279. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
280. Erykah Badu
281. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
282. Television
283. Todd Rundgren
284. 50 Cent
285. Boston
286. Buffalo Springfield
287. Justin Bieber
288. Journey
289. John Mellencamp
290. ZZ Top
291. The Moonglows
292. Duane Eddy
293. Alice in Chains
294. Heart
295. Bryan Adams
296. Tina Turner
297. Patti LaBelle/Labelle
298. Steve Miller Band
299. The Dells
300. Tyler, the Creator
301. INXS
302. The Doobie Brothers
303. Moby
304. The Chemical Brothers
305. Jan & Dean
306. Boogie Down Productions
307. The B-52's
308. Ritchie Valens
309. Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
310. No Doubt
311. Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine
312. Anita Baker
313. Mary Wells
314. Jeff Buckley
315. Tori Amos
316. Blue Öyster Cult
317. Tracy Chapman
318. Ice-T/Body Count
319. Toots & the Maytals
320. Shirley & Lee
321. The Hollies
322. Judas Priest
323. Giorgio Moroder
324. Fugazi
325. Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew
326. Queen Latifah
327. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
328. Dead Kennedys
329. Black Flag
330. Laura Nyro
331. X
332. Foreigner
333. System of a Down
334. Peter Frampton
335. Carly Simon
336. The Roots
337. The Pointer Sisters
338. Jack Scott
339. Larry Williams
340. Kurtis Blow
341. Warren Zevon
342. Kansas
343. Robbie Williams
344. UB40
345. Aphex Twin
346. Grand Funk Railroad
347. Dave Matthews Band
348. Ohio Players
349. Huey Lewis & the News
350. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
351. The Chiffons
352. Big Mama Thornton
353. Jimmy Buffett
354. Bonnie Raitt
355. Annie Lennox
356. Sarah McLachlan
357. Yellow Magic Orchestra
358. Melissa Etheridge
359. Rickie Lee Jones
360. Joan Armatrading

[Tim]

Next:

Captain Beefheart
Cheap Trick
Crystals
The Fall
Megadeth
New York Dolls
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Pavement
PJ Harvey
Randy Newman

[ManPerson]

I'd say Lou Reed takes acclaim and popularity over MC5 and Husker Du, as well as acclaim and influence over Sade and Phil Collins.

Toots and the Maytals seem a bit low considering their significant influence. I'd say they're more acclaimed and clearly more influential than most artists in the Bieber/Journey/Mellencamp/Heart/Bryan Adams range of the list. I think I'd have them back to back with Gary Numan, since I'd argue that influence is fairly close, popularity goes to Numan and acclaim goes to T&tM.

[ManPerson]

Next:

Captain Beefheart
Cheap Trick
Crystals
The Fall
Megadeth
New York Dolls
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Pavement
PJ Harvey
Randy Newman

This is what I came up with:
1. New York Dolls
2. Captain Beefheart
3. Cheap Trick
4. The Crystals
5. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
6. PJ Harvey
7. Pavement
8. Randy Newman
9. The Fall
10. Megadeth

[ManPerson]

Also, do we want to include Sugar with Husker Du?

[Tim]

Different from what I came up at first.

1. Crystals
2. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
3. PJ Harvey
4. Randy Newman
5. Captain Beefheart
6. New York Dolls
7. Cheap Trick
8. Pavement
9. Megadeth
10. The Fall

Crystals another vehicle for Spector's wall of sound influence, three legendary singles, noted for occasionally handling mature themes in their lyrics which made them stand out among the girl groups of early '60s. Nick Cave & PJ Harvey both among the most acclaimed singer-songwriters to came out of the post-punk era. Newman occasionally had success with his '70s work and film scores, plus highly idiosyncratic style and stellar writing, including for other artists. Beefheart despite firmly being in the underground huge influence on all sorts of experimental/art rock, think prog, punk, even post-punk, Trout Mask Replica widely considered a masterpiece nowadays. Dolls another widely influential band, influence found in punk, glam rock/metal, even hard rock, a brief but critically acclaimed career. Cheap Trick bridged the gap between hard rock and power pop with a great popularity, in Japan especially, cited as influence on alt & modern power pop. Pavement may be the leaders of 1990s indie rock, not the most prolific but certainly highly acclaimed, even some success with Cut Your Hair. Megadeth, Dave Mustaine metal legend, one of thrash metal's Big 4, The Fall highly acclaimed brain child of Mark E. Smith, one of the post-punk pioneers.

[Tim]

Also, do we want to include Sugar with Husker Du?

Seems a stretch with Grant Hart also playing an important role in Hüsker Dü creatively.

[Tim]

I wasn't sure whether Crazy Horse should be added in brackets after Neil Young since they also made somewhat significant recordings as a standalone act. I also think it may be good to add at least Utopia to Rundgren's entry (adding Nazz and Runt as well may be too nitpicky even for me) but wanted to check back.

I'd lean towards considering Crazy Horse to be primarily a Young's backing band ergo added to his entry. Not opposed to Utopia addition as well.

[Tim]

How about this as sorta middle ground?

1. Captain Beefheart
2. New York Dolls
3. Cheap Trick
4. Crystals
5. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
6. PJ Harvey
7. Randy Newman
8. Pavement
9. Megadeth
10. The Fall

[ManPerson]

How about this as sorta middle ground?

1. Captain Beefheart
2. New York Dolls
3. Cheap Trick
4. Crystals
5. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
6. PJ Harvey
7. Randy Newman
8. Pavement
9. Megadeth
10. The Fall

I could see The Crystals closer to where you had them.

[ManPerson]

How about this?

240. Massive Attack
241. Lou Reed
242. MC5
243. Hüsker Dü
244. Captain Beefheart
245. Jackson Browne
246. Phil Collins
247. Sade
248. Ariana Grande
249. Nicki Minaj
250. Hall & Oates
251. Boyz II Men
252. Pet Shop Boys
253. Alanis Morissette
254. Future
255. War
256. Chaka Khan/Rufus
257. Eurythmics
258. Salt-N-Pepa
259. Peter Gabriel
260. The Righteous Brothers
261. Jethro Tull
262. Soundgarden
263. The Crystals
264. George Harrison
265. Electric Light Orchestra
266. New York Dolls
267. The (Young) Rascals
268. T.I.
269. Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
270. The Marvelettes
271. Joe Tex
272. The Prodigy
273. Johnny Ace
274. Lloyd Price
275. Cher
276. R. Kelly
277. The Lovin' Spoonful
278. The Spinners
279. Barry White
280. Weezer
281. The Shadows
282. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
283. Erykah Badu
284. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
285. Toots & the Maytals
286. Television
287. Todd Rundgren
288. 50 Cent
289. Boston
290. Buffalo Springfield
291. Cheap Trick
292. Justin Bieber
293. Journey
294. John Mellencamp
295. ZZ Top
296. The Moonglows
297. Duane Eddy
298. Alice in Chains
299. Heart
300. Bryan Adams
301. Tina Turner
302. Patti LaBelle/Labelle
303. Steve Miller Band
304. The Dells
305. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
306. PJ Harvey
307. Tyler, the Creator
308. INXS
309. The Doobie Brothers
310. Moby
311. The Chemical Brothers
312. Jan & Dean
313. Boogie Down Productions
314. The B-52's
315. Ritchie Valens
316. Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
317. Randy Newman
318. No Doubt
319. Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine
320. Anita Baker
321. Mary Wells
322. Jeff Buckley
323. Tori Amos
324. Blue Öyster Cult
325. Tracy Chapman
326. Ice-T/Body Count
327. Shirley & Lee
328. The Hollies
329. Judas Priest
330. Giorgio Moroder
331. Pavement
332. Fugazi
333. Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew
334. Queen Latifah
335. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
336. Dead Kennedys
337. The Fall
338. Black Flag
339. Laura Nyro
340. X
341. Foreigner
342. System of a Down
343. Megadeth
344. Peter Frampton
345. Carly Simon
346. The Roots
347. The Pointer Sisters
348. Jack Scott
349. Larry Williams
350. Kurtis Blow
351. Warren Zevon
352. Kansas
353. Robbie Williams
354. UB40
355. Aphex Twin
356. Grand Funk Railroad
357. Dave Matthews Band
358. Ohio Players
359. Huey Lewis & the News
360. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
361. The Chiffons
362. Big Mama Thornton
363. Jimmy Buffett
364. Bonnie Raitt
365. Annie Lennox
366. Sarah McLachlan
367. Yellow Magic Orchestra
368. Melissa Etheridge
369. Rickie Lee Jones
370. Joan Armatrading

[Tim]

Guess I will post what I drafted in comparison

240. Massive Attack
241. Lou Reed
242. MC5
243. Hüsker Dü
244. Jackson Browne
245. Phil Collins
246. Sade
247. Ariana Grande
248. Nicki Minaj
249. Hall & Oates
250. Boyz II Men
251. Pet Shop Boys
252. Captain Beefheart
253. Alanis Morissette
254. Future
255. War
256. Chaka Khan/Rufus
257. Eurythmics
258. New York Dolls
259. Salt-N-Pepa
260. Peter Gabriel
261. The Righteous Brothers
262. Jethro Tull
263. Soundgarden
264. George Harrison
265. Electric Light Orchestra
266. The (Young) Rascals
267. T.I.
268. Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
269. The Marvelettes
270. Joe Tex
271. The Prodigy
272. Johnny Ace
273. Lloyd Price
274. Cher
275. R. Kelly
276. The Lovin' Spoonful 
277. The Spinners
278. Barry White
279. Weezer
280. The Shadows
281. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
282. Erykah Badu
283. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
284. Toots & the Maytals
285. Television
286. Todd Rundgren('s Utopia)
287. 50 Cent
288. Boston
289. Cheap Trick
290. Buffalo Springfield
291. Justin Bieber
292. Journey
293. John Mellencamp
294. ZZ Top
295. The Moonglows
296. Crystals
297. Duane Eddy
298. Alice in Chains
299. Heart
300. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
301. Bryan Adams
302. Tina Turner
303. Patti LaBelle/Labelle
304. PJ Harvey
305. Steve Miller Band
306. The Dells
307. Tyler, the Creator
308. INXS
309. The Doobie Brothers
310. Moby
311. The Chemical Brothers
312. Jan & Dean
313. Boogie Down Productions
314. The B-52's
315. Randy Newman
316. Ritchie Valens
317. Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
318. No Doubt
319. Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine
320. Anita Baker
321. Mary Wells
322. Jeff Buckley
323. Tori Amos
324. Blue Öyster Cult
325. Tracy Chapman
326. Ice-T/Body Count
327. Shirley & Lee
328. The Hollies
329. Judas Priest
330. Giorgio Moroder
331. Fugazi
332. Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew
333. Pavement
334. Queen Latifah
335. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
336. Dead Kennedys
337. Black Flag
338. Laura Nyro
339. X
340. Foreigner
341. System of a Down
342. Peter Frampton
343. Carly Simon
344. The Roots
345. The Pointer Sisters
346. Jack Scott
347. Larry Williams
348. Kurtis Blow
349. Megadeth
350. Warren Zevon
351. The Fall
352. Kansas
353. Robbie Williams
354. UB40
355. Aphex Twin
356. Grand Funk Railroad
357. Dave Matthews Band
358. Ohio Players
359. Huey Lewis & the News
360. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
361. The Chiffons
362. Big Mama Thornton
363. Jimmy Buffett
364. Bonnie Raitt
365. Annie Lennox
366. Sarah McLachlan
367. Yellow Magic Orchestra
368. Melissa Etheridge
369. Rickie Lee Jones
370. Joan Armatrading

[Tim]

Next:

Rick James
Scorpions
Slayer
Stylistics
T. Rex
Wire
Linda Ronstadt
Luther Vandross

[ManPerson]

Guess I will post what I drafted in comparison

240. Massive Attack
241. Lou Reed
242. MC5
243. Hüsker Dü
244. Jackson Browne
245. Phil Collins
246. Sade
247. Ariana Grande
248. Nicki Minaj
249. Hall & Oates
250. Boyz II Men
251. Pet Shop Boys
252. Captain Beefheart
253. Alanis Morissette
254. Future
255. War
256. Chaka Khan/Rufus
257. Eurythmics
258. New York Dolls
259. Salt-N-Pepa
260. Peter Gabriel
261. The Righteous Brothers
262. Jethro Tull
263. Soundgarden
264. George Harrison
265. Electric Light Orchestra
266. The (Young) Rascals
267. T.I.
268. Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
269. The Marvelettes
270. Joe Tex
271. The Prodigy
272. Johnny Ace
273. Lloyd Price
274. Cher
275. R. Kelly
276. The Lovin' Spoonful 
277. The Spinners
278. Barry White
279. Weezer
280. The Shadows
281. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
282. Erykah Badu
283. Gary Numan/Tubeway Army
284. Toots & the Maytals
285. Television
286. Todd Rundgren('s Utopia)
287. 50 Cent
288. Boston
289. Cheap Trick
290. Buffalo Springfield
291. Justin Bieber
292. Journey
293. John Mellencamp
294. ZZ Top
295. The Moonglows
296. Crystals
297. Duane Eddy
298. Alice in Chains
299. Heart
300. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
301. Bryan Adams
302. Tina Turner
303. Patti LaBelle/Labelle
304. PJ Harvey
305. Steve Miller Band
306. The Dells
307. Tyler, the Creator
308. INXS
309. The Doobie Brothers
310. Moby
311. The Chemical Brothers
312. Jan & Dean
313. Boogie Down Productions
314. The B-52's
315. Randy Newman
316. Ritchie Valens
317. Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
318. No Doubt
319. Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine
320. Anita Baker
321. Mary Wells
322. Jeff Buckley
323. Tori Amos
324. Blue Öyster Cult
325. Tracy Chapman
326. Ice-T/Body Count
327. Shirley & Lee
328. The Hollies
329. Judas Priest
330. Giorgio Moroder
331. Fugazi
332. Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew
333. Pavement
334. Queen Latifah
335. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
336. Dead Kennedys
337. Black Flag
338. Laura Nyro
339. X
340. Foreigner
341. System of a Down
342. Peter Frampton
343. Carly Simon
344. The Roots
345. The Pointer Sisters
346. Jack Scott
347. Larry Williams
348. Kurtis Blow
349. Megadeth
350. Warren Zevon
351. The Fall
352. Kansas
353. Robbie Williams
354. UB40
355. Aphex Twin
356. Grand Funk Railroad
357. Dave Matthews Band
358. Ohio Players
359. Huey Lewis & the News
360. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
361. The Chiffons
362. Big Mama Thornton
363. Jimmy Buffett
364. Bonnie Raitt
365. Annie Lennox
366. Sarah McLachlan
367. Yellow Magic Orchestra
368. Melissa Etheridge
369. Rickie Lee Jones
370. Joan Armatrading

I guess Pet Shop Boys probably take acclaim and easily take popularity over Captain Beefheart. Maybe they could move up since I think Captain Beefheart's definitely more acclaimed and influential than Phil Collins, Sade or Hall & Oates.