The Rolling Stones make the strongest case here for groove as a band’s organizing principle. The Rock Hall documents their roots in blues and R&B; and their explorations of country, psychedelia and disco. Start with Let It Bleed (1969), including “Gimme Shelter,” then Sticky Fingers (1971) to hear a different slice of their peak-era songwriting.
Pay attention to the way the guitars leave room for the rhythm rather than treating every song as a solo showcase. We rank the Stones above Sabbath for the range of settings in which their musical personality works. They could reach #1 if the test were enduring stage identity and feel. Our reason for keeping them fifth is that the four bands ahead make stronger cases for reshaping the possibilities of songs or complete albums; longevity alone does not settle that comparison.
Sources: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Sticky Fingers chart record.
Photo: Jim Pietryga · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized where needed and recompressed; image retains this license.
