Both of these bands began well before diving headlong into the province of sucking. The Doobie Brothers had meat on their bones prior to keyboardist/crooner Michael McDonald's arrival. A prog-symphonic rock act that wasn't as indulgent as Yes or stoned as the Moody Blues, Chicago was even better. Any rock edge had disappeared by their fifth album, replaced by a bland echo of their former selves. It's easy to forget how hugely successful Chicago were, and even easier to forget how good they used to be (and are again at times on 2006's Chicago XXX), but it's still awfully slick. —Chris Parker