Historical February–March 2012 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
This article/debate started at the McPherson Block Party (as the keg was being drawn down). Let me start by saying that The Who has always been my favorite band (my older brothers fought hard to influence me, but Bill won out over Buck due to the hard-driving beat that got my heart racing by The Who).
The Stones are not far behind; my all-time favorite song being Sympathy for the Devil.
In the wee hours, we did get this right; these are the three greatest rock bands without a doubt.
But there is no denying that The Beatles is the greatest “rock” band ever. Just as in baseball, when arguing the greatest player ever – there is Babe Ruth and then the argument starts for the second greatest, which is the real debate.
But that is for another article/block party.
We can start with the sheer numbers: in Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Albums of All Time, the Beatles hold 4 of the top 10 albums.
They have 21 #1 Hits on the Billboard 100 charts.
They have sold more albums in the US than any other artist.
In the UK, they have the record for holding the top spot on the charts (174 weeks) longer than any other artist.
They had to stop touring because you couldn’t hear them playing over the screaming crowds (OK,not a fact).
Most “shower-sung” songs (unofficial stat). Ed Sullivan Show; were the Who or Stones ever invited? (I think he was afraid they would have trashed the set). Were either as popular as Jesus Christ? (this is not my blasphemy, but John’s).
This is not to mention their individual successes after their untimely break-up (thanks Yoko!).
The argument has been made that they are not a “rock” band, but more of a “pop” band.
To combat that argument, I suggest you listen to: Helter-Skelter, Revolution, Taxman or even Birthday to show you how they could “jam”!
The complexity and diversity of their music was responsible for both their growth in popularity as well as their demise, as their individual tastes became apparent. True, they have more mellow sounds than The Who or The Rolling Stones, but that just attests to their complete musical sound and artistry. Has there ever been a better song-writing duo than Lennon and McCartney?
From the early love songs (Love Me Do, She Loves You) to their storytelling numbers (Eleanor Rigby, She’s Leaving Home) to the timeless classics that span any musical genre (Hey Jude, Let It Be), not to mention arguably the greatest album ever made (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band), one is hardpressed to find a parallel. Their musical creativeness took hold on generations and has never lost its grip.
It is hard not to argue that they have been the most influential band of our generation, but possibly of all time. Their impact and influence can be heard in musicians from Motown to Jimi Hendrix as well as in punk and heavy metal.
The Beatles arrived sounding like nothing else and have inspired countless musicians to do the same. Their influence has also been seen in fashion; hairstyles and clothing trends were affected by them as young people looked to them as their representatives in a cultural transformation at the time. You could even say The Beatles started music videos with the movies they made and their North American tour in 1965 began the era of the modern rock concert, as they attracted crowds unlike ever before.
In mentioning their love songs and storytelling fables, I may be contradicting myself in arguing that they are the greatest rock and roll band ever. Granted; the face of rock and roll has changed (evolved may be a better term), but let’s not forget who shaped it.
Original photograph caption
Matt Boxdorfer with Beatles record. Descriptive caption supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2012.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2012_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
