Cara Beckenstein of Sunnyside, New York, suggested Bob Dylan. Hey, somebody had to. And several people did. But her reasoning was the best: “Think of his albums one by one, how different they all are from each other, how few tracks are clunkers, how many people have covered them, how many you know by heart today, the artistry, the poetry ... this guy is one for the ages.”

Most Overrated Band/Artist: As you’d expect, these include the biggest bands in history: U2, Rolling Stones, the Doors, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Yes, Aerosmith, Chuck Berry, the Ramones, the Grateful Dead, and my favorite, as one writer noted, “Boston, or was it Kansas? Or was it Journey? Or were they all the same band?” Said a writer from Indiana about the Grateful Dead, who asked that his name not be used for what will be obvious reasons, “My opinion is based on at least 20 Dead shows … their music only makes sense if you are seriously impaired.”

Most Underrated Band/Artist: The Band, the Jam, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cake, MC5, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Ramones were some nominated. Bob Rourke of Chicago wrote about the Faces: “Sure, they didn’t have many hits or make that many albums, were drunk most of the time, and did a ton of cover tunes. But if the category is taken literally, best band — not best musician, not best songwriter, but best band — the Faces win. They were tight, passionate, and energetic.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is rock–and-roll.

Thank you. And good night.