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I'd say Zappa is more influential than Etta slightly, less popular (even though Etta didn't have that much chart success initially) and acclaim is hard to tell, Etta's prolly #2 most acclaimed female vocalist in rock behind Aretha and Zappa's acclaim is more encompassing, production, composing, guitar playing, etc.

Chicago I'd say only had good musical impact during Terry Kath era after that they were seen more as sellouts. I obviously agree with some sort of Chicago bump for reasons you mentioned but I would not have them side by side with Joel either just like old Brian's list kept some distance between the two. Chic I'd say takes influence over them clearly and, for all the shit disco got, Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards went on to become widely respected figures overall; Talking Heads, the Cure and the Smiths I'd say win out both acclaim and influence clearly as well.

Not really related to any placement but it's funny to me how it's controversial to label rap artists as a part of rock or even Stevie Wonder as rock yet huge variety of artists gets grouped together under one Latin music genre label.

Yeah, it was Etta's acclaim as a vocalist that I think gives her the edge. It's close though.

The Terry Kath era is still 9 studio albums and a live one. Other members esp Cetera are also really acclaimed. It's true I probably overrated them, I can see them lower.

Tim wrote: Fri May 08, 2026 9:17 am Not really related to any placement but it's funny to me how it's controversial to label rap artists as a part of rock or even Stevie Wonder as rock yet huge variety of artists gets grouped together under one Latin music genre label.

It could be worse, like "world music".

Guess I underestimated how many albums Chicago released with Kath. I think your breakdown for Cochran v Genesis/Roxy Music and for Cochran v Patti Smith are pretty much correct which may suggest Genesis/Roxy Music > Cochran/Patti Smith order. Anyway, that's what I'd suggest for this group.

131. Frank Zappa
132. Etta James
133. Justin Timberlake
134. Blondie
135. Billy Joel
136. Martha & the Vandellas
137. Iron Maiden
138. Chic
139. Talking Heads
140. The Smiths
141. The Cure
142. Chicago
143. Iggy Pop & the Stooges
144. Sex Pistols
145. Oasis
146. Daft Punk
147. TLC
148. Kate Bush
149. Roxy Music
150. Genesis
151. Eddie Cochran
152. Patti Smith
153. Daryl Hall & John Oates
154. A Tribe Called Quest
155. Lana Del Rey
156. Rush
157. Bad Bunny
158. Phil Collins
159. Ariana Grande
160. Usher

Chicago still look too high, imo. Even the Kath era isn't that well received with critics. I'd say Kate Bush and Roxy Music both take acclaim easily and probably influence as well.

I'd say initial popularity is a bit of blowout for Chicago even though admittedly Kate's lasting popularity is very good.

You could say the same about Phil Collins, Bad Bunny, Hall & Oates, etc.

I guess. I do think Chicago is a bit more influential than artists you cite with their jazz-rock popularization as well as inspiring one of ddd's most prolific posters.

Maybe, but I also think Bad Bunny and Hall & Oates at least are also more acclaimed.

Guess I can live with Chicago between Roxys and Genesis. Fido?

131. Frank Zappa
132. Etta James
133. Justin Timberlake
134. Blondie
135. Billy Joel
136. Martha & the Vandellas
137. Iron Maiden
138. Chic
139. Talking Heads
140. The Smiths
141. The Cure
142. Iggy Pop & the Stooges
143. Sex Pistols
144. Oasis
145. Daft Punk
146. TLC
147. Kate Bush
148. Roxy Music
149. Chicago
150. Genesis
151. Eddie Cochran
152. Patti Smith
153. Daryl Hall & John Oates
154. A Tribe Called Quest
155. Lana Del Rey
156. Rush
157. Bad Bunny
158. Phil Collins
159. Ariana Grande
160. Usher

Don't you want to list The Mothers of Invention with Zappa?

I guess I went with old Brian's listing but sure I can change it from now on to, say

xxx. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

I don't know, Chicago doesn't only have initial popularity, they had two decades of constant Gold albums, half of them Platinum, many multi-platinum, with many hits, lots of Grammy noms, Grammy Hall of Fame, Rock Hall, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and various members, esp Kath and Cetera, are very acclaimed by other musicians. I can see them there I guess.

Yes to Zappa & the Mothers.

I could see Lana Del Rey a bit higher. I think she takes acclaim and influence over Hall & Oates for instance, due to pioneering the alt-pop genre.

I'd also have Usher higher. When compared to Chicago, for instance, popularity is probably a tie (and may even go to Usher), acclaim would go towards Usher (his musical impact is very strong in its own right), while he's also been cited as an influence by tons of r&b singers in the years since.

Thoughts:

131. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
132. Etta James
133. Justin Timberlake
134. Blondie
135. Billy Joel
136. Martha & the Vandellas
137. Iron Maiden
138. Chic
139. Talking Heads
140. The Smiths
141. The Cure
142. Iggy Pop & the Stooges
143. Sex Pistols
144. Oasis
145. Daft Punk
146. TLC
147. Kate Bush
148. Roxy Music
149. Usher
150. Chicago
151. Genesis
152. Eddie Cochran
153. Patti Smith
154. Lana Del Rey
155. Daryl Hall & John Oates
156. A Tribe Called Quest
157. Rush
158. Bad Bunny
159. Phil Collins
160. Ariana Grande