Top Fifty Bands or Artists of all Time... Period...

Here's my list of the top fifty bands or artists of all time. I think it's at least an interesting list, hopefully you'll enjoy it. I've always tended to stay away from lists with the thought that it was very difficult to say "Well, U2 is better than Elvis, Hendrix is better than "The Boss" when all styles are so different. I certainly tried to do my best. I'm sure Nirvana being missing from the top ten will raise some eyebrows. Let me explain. The test I used for the top ten was simply this: you needed to have released more than one landmark album in a career. I often see Nirvana in the top five of a lot of lists and I personally think this is ridiculous. Yes, they were very important to the movement of alternative or "grunge" or whatever you want to call it, but were they any more important than Pearl Jam or Soundgarden? I don't think so. To have them rank among the Beatles, Dylan, Zeppelin is an embarrassment. The key thinking here is that they released ONE landmark album. Talk to me when you've released more than that. So, with that rant over with, please enjoy:

1) Bob Dylan - Hands down the most respected artist among artists of all time. When you're influencing the Beatles, well it doesn't get any better than that. (Landmark Albums - The Freewheeling Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, Time Out of Mind)
2) The Beatles - The most influential band of all time, arguably. Not only that, they wrote the best SONGS of all time. (Landmark Albums - Revolver, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Abbey Road)
3) Led Zeppelin - The heaviest band of all time wrapped the blues in a brand new sound and practically invented heavy metal. As Billy Corgan once said about them "Their influence is so severe, that it's hard not to hear them in every rock band since". Amen (Landmark Albums - Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV, Physical Graffiti, Houses of the Holy)
4) Rolling Stones - If I had grown up in the late fifties/early sixties I'm 100% positive they would've been my band. Even over the Beatles. I love them today, but it would've been great to see them live back then. This was the original band to take the blues and make it even dirtier and heavier than it already was. They weren't clean like the Beatles. (Landmark Albums - Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, tattoo You)
5) Jimi Hendrix - The most influential guitar player of all time, for better or worse. He wasn't the most technically perfect player, but who cares? He created sounds where others just played notes. It's almost as if he plays in color to others black and white. Not to mention, he had some great songs. (Are You Experienced, Electric Ladyland, Woodstock)
6) Bruce Springsteen AND the E-Street Band - An artist who's just as relevant today as he's been in his long career. Made his name on his legendary marathon live shows and then some great albums. (Landmark Albums - Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska, Born in the USA, The Rising)
7) U2 - Here's another band still releasing important music. I wasn't as keen as others on the last record, "All That You Can't Leave Behind", but I can't wait for the new one, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb". They were my favorite band during "The Unforgettable Fire". They are this generations Beatles or Stones, there's no question of their importance to music. Disagree? Give me another band that's been as interesting in the last two decades. (Landmark Albums - Under a Blood Red Sky, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby)
8) Neil Young - Not including his work with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, He'll be remembered as one of the most influential solo acts of all time. When I watch a live show of his, he makes it feel as if he's playing just for you. The kind of artist to watch late at night, curled up on the couch. Watch any acoustic performance of his and you just become transfixed. (Landmark Albums - Harvest, After the Gold Rush, Harvest Moon)
9) Miles Davis - The most influential jazz artist of all time. Unquestionably. He created the single most well known, (and to many, the best) jazz record ever made, "Kind of Blue". He never wanted to stay in one place musically too long though. You listen to Kind of Blue, and then listen to "Bitches Brew", it's hard to believe it's the same person. A note to his greatness - GUITAR World magazine dedicated a special edition to the anniversary of "Bitches Brew". For a TRUMPET player. Incredible. (Landmark Albums - Kind of Blue, Bitches Brew)
10) Elvis Presley - Known as more of a singles artist it's difficult to name some landmark albums from Elvis. His string of singles speak for themselves though. "Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock, Love Me Tender, etc... The list is literally endless. He did break down into a bit of a caricature of himself later in life, but this doesn't tarnish his legacy in my opinion. He will be remembered as the man who blended country, gospel, Rhythym and Blues, and created the blueprint for Rock & Roll.
11) Pink Floyd
12) Radiohead
13) Metallica
14) Jeff Buckley
15) The Allman Brothers Band
16) The Police
17) The Who
18) Hank Williams
19) Muddy Waters
20) Nirvana
21) Johnny Cash
22) Smashing Pumpkins
23) Wilco
24) The Doors
25) The Beach Boys
26) Cream
27) Van Halen
28) The Replacements
29) B.B. King
30) R.E.M.
31) Guns & Roses
32) Uncle Tupelo
33) Buddy Guy
34) Nine Inch Nails
35) Steely Dan
36) Emmylou Harris
37) Credence Clearwater Revival
38) Eric Clapton
39) Soundgarden
40) Pearl Jam
41) Red Hot Chili Peppers
42) The Cars
43) The Jayhawks
44) Los Lobos
45) Frank Sinatra
46) Rage Against The Machine
47) Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
48) Janes Addiction
49) Oasis
50) Primus