The Kinks are way underated or not remembered enough today. Same for the Yardbirds. Both were big influences on other bands. Not to mention the parade of great guitarists that came out of the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Clapton! Can you believe that? Ever hear Chris Spedding?
I saw the Yardbirds at the Fillmore East once when Jimmy Page was playing with them. After about 2 songs, I said to myself, "that guitar player's not bad,...no,... sh*t, he's really, really good!" It was kind of obvious.
Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and the Sex Pistols are about the only bands that I didn't see that I wanted to. The first Led Zeppelin album with "Communication Breakdown" on it was revolutionary.
Agree with all you said. Nope never heard of Chris Spedding.
On the Kinks (whom I have undying admiration for) it's worth remembering that their degree of commerical respect is at least partly if not completely a function of conscious or sub-conscious choices that they made. They never wanted to be the magazine idols that some other bands became. I'm not really sure if they had it to do over, they wouldn't do it exactly the same way. What I find interesting is how often you hear Kinks songs either on ads or at venues like at sporting events. "Your Really got me" is as much of a musical landmark as "Heartbreak Hotel" or "Satisfaction" or "Twist and Shout". And their song list goes on and on and on.
Big admirer of Page and the Yardbirds. Love Cream stuff. Another relatively unappreciated musical statement - the single Blind Faith album - used to won that album on vinyl but hadn't heard it in a long time - recently started listening to it again on MP3 - amazing stuff.