Top 10 American rock bands (kind of in order):
- Talking Heads
- Steely Dan (if they count as a “band”)
- R.E.M. (if they count as classic rock)
- The Velvet Underground (ditto)
- The Band
- Ramones (if punk counts)
- Guns N’ Roses (they absolutely count)
- Blondie
If grunge counts, then I’d round up my list with Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Otherwise, I’d go with two out of the Stooges (though they’re not classic rock-y at all), CCR... ah what the heck, Aerosmith or Kiss.
Sly and P-Funk would probably make the list if they count, but I usually label them as “funk” rather than “rock.”
I’m also disqualifying Fleetwood Mac because of its British origins. And Metallica is metal, otherwise they’d rank in the top 5.
The Doors would probably be in the next tier, with Tom Petty and others.
I’ll happily take recommendations for Beach Boys albums beyond
Pet Sounds, which to me is just “fine.”