Here are mine - in a Battle of the Bands, the US wins for me:

The Beach Boys
The Byrds
Velvet Underground
The Monkees
Jefferson Airplane

The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Yardbirds
The Hollies

Santana and CSNY debuted in '69, so I feel they belong to the '70s.

I'm going to stick to American bands. This is a combination of best/faves, rather than just best:

Creedence
The Beach Boys
The Byrds
The Doors
The Lovin' Spoonful

The Beatles
The Kinks
The Yardbirds
Fleetwood Mac
The Dave Clark Five


The Byrds
The Rascals
The Beach Boys
The Four Seasons
The Monkees

Allman Brothers
Beach Boys
Byrds
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jefferson Airplane



Beatles
Kinks
Led Zeppelin
Rolling Stones
Who

Not really a big 60's fan, but there are some of my favorite bands that started in that era. Let me think here...

US artists:
CCR
The Doors
Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Byrds
Simon And Garfunkel


UK artists:
Rolling Stones
The Kinks
The Who
Led Zeppelin
Procol Harum

-I feel I've committed a sin by not mentioning The Beatles-I appreciate everything they did, I'm just not a big fan, and feel these other acts are better.

I didn't list my British top 5 because I wanted to see if Zeppelin counted. I thought they'd be '70s rather than '60s. Anyway, I totally agree with Jeff Leventhal's top 5 UK.

#1 UK:
Beatles
Who
Stones
Kinks
DC5

#2 US:
Beach Boys
Doors
Four Seasons
CCR
Byrds

If the definition was group instead of band and the Motown acts would count, I'd put the Supremes behind the Beach Boys, slide the Temptations in at #5 and move the US ahead of the UK.

USA:

Byrds
Buffalo Springfield
CCR
Jefferson Airplane
Rascals

From across the pond:

Beatles
Stones
Who
Zombies
Fairport Convention

It's easier to compare the two countries if we limit it to bands. If we include vocal groups, the US would definitely be ahead. I voted US on the strength of the Beach Boys.

Beatles
Stones
Who
Kinks
Zombies

Beach Boys
Byrds
Springfield
Spoonful
The Mamas and The Papas

Thanks Charles. Since you pointed out that Zeppelin is rightfully considered a 1970s band, however, I've reconsidered my choices. It seems as though I may have been cheating a bit, since despite the fact that both Led Zeppelin (UK) and the Allman Brothers (US) released their debut albums in 1969, most of their body of work occurred during the 1970s. Oops, sorry about that.

Therefore, in the interest of fair play and historical accuracy, I'll slightly revise my lists by substituting the Doors for the Allman Brothers (US) and the Yardbirds for Led Zeppelin (UK).

Well, in that case I'm not sure I totally agree anymore. Maybe. I'll have to think about it.

Not judging solely on their 60s only output if they extended beyond and make list:

British:
Beatles
Who
Rolling Stones
Fleetwood Mac (ok - 60s only for this one - no slight to later incarnations - I like, alot, but not enough for a fav list)
Yardbirds

US:
Grateful Dead
Love
Bryds
Mothers of Invention
Santana


Hybrid:
Jimi Hendrix Experience (although Jimi is from the US, the balance of the band and his initial success was on the British shores)

Mothers of Invention
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Canned Heat
Lovin Spoonful
Turtles

Beatles
Kinks
Rolling Stones
Cream
Who

OK, I think I have to go with Robert Meagher's top 5 UK. Sorry, Jeff.

UK:
Animals
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Traffic
Who

Still thinking about the US.

I'll take a crack at this. I may edit it more then once! I'm waffling on the Grateful Dead, whether to consider them 60's or 70's. I think of the Dead when I think 60's, but my opinion is that their best work was in the 70's. . I would have put Donovan in my UK list, but since he's a solo artist..... The Doors & Steppenwolf are both hovering around my USA list fighting with The Dead & Spirit. Either way, looking at my lists USA wins for me.

I threatened an edit, & since we now have a 70's thread where I made the Grateful Dead my #2, they're being replaced here by the Doors.

US
Jefferson Airplane
Byrds
Jimi Hendrix
The Doors
Spirit

UK
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Cream
Traffic
Ten Years After

I thought of the Dead as well, but as you say, their best work was in the '70s.

I'm not sure if you call Jimi Hendrix Experience an American band. Aren't they 2/3 British? Of course Hendrix is American and he IS the experience, but at that point can you really call them a band? Aren't they more a solo artist and his backup group?

By your definition Jimi is only 1/3 of the sum???

1.) I own Noel Redding's solo cd and his Fat Mattress vinyl LPs...nuff said...

2.) Mitch Mitchell is still alive and kicking ...not recording.

Here is my math

Jimi Hendrix = 98.6% X Jimi Hendrix Experience = US Band

In the late 60's didn't the Stones add Mick Taylor? Is he not American? They are still Britsh to me...

My argument is that by your math Jimi Hendrix experience isn't a band, it's a solo act with back up guys.

I think you could put the Experience either place-same for Buckingham/Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac.
Mick Taylor is English