Battle of the Bands Midwest Bracket

The Buckinghams

I've been promoting, in dribs and drabs, an upcoming feature on my radio show by which we will attempt to determine the greatest American rock and roll band from the period between 1954 and 1974. A couple days ago, I listed out the match-ups for the first round in our Northeast Bracket; here are the songs going head-to-head in the first round of the Midwest Bracket. Comments are welcome:

The New Colony Six

Chicago, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" vs Cryan Shames, "Sugar and Spice"
Grand Funk Railroad, "We're An American Band" vs The Gants, "I Wonder"
Lynyrd Skynrd, "Sweet Home Alabama" vs The Knickerbockers, "Lies"
Buckinghams, "Mercy Mercy Mercy" vs Shadows of Knight, "Gloria"
The Crickets, "Oh Boy!" vs Big Star, "September Gurls"
The Stooges, "Search and Destroy" vs Rock and Roll Trio, "The Train Kept a'Rollin'"
Box Tops, "Cry Like a Baby" vs Rare Earth, "I Just Want to Celebrate"
New Colony Six, "Love You So Much" vs Outsiders, "Time Won't Let Me"