Hi, Dad F. !
Of course I expected a Beatles defense esp., & do understand all of your points... But: really, we're not disagreeing much at all-- except in our appreciation of Beatles music per se.
Your point/ defense is essentially how significant & ground-breaking they were-- but the question was, were they over-rated or not based upon their rep. I never did say they "suck" or were worthless-- like I did the others! But my point was a different one, that I feel you are tacitly agreeing to: that other/ contemporary bands of the time were "better": more talented, less commercial & more creative, better instrumentalists, etc. Sounds like you might agree that bands like Cream, Stones, Kinks, Jimi H., & Led Zep., etc., were "better"/ more impressive, & made "greater" music (as I believe). The debt/ "paving the way" issue is something else... but the best work of Jimi & Stones & Floyd & Cream slays any Beatles songs I've ever heard! ("I am the Walrus!! Koo- Koo- Ka- Choo!", over and over again, annoys me to heck! "We all live in a Yellow Submarine!!"-- ditto!
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DF: ever heard the Stones "Satanic Majesties Request?" It's essentially their half-tounge-in-cheek tribute to/ parody of the Beatles (musically it's in their style)... and it's an amazing/ awesome album! (Better than any Beatles stuff-- of course IMHO!). First song is one of their all- time best that most know: "She's a Rainbow" The rest of the Album is non- commercial/ experimental/ "concept"... & "psychedelic..." & so the critics & public panned or ignored it. I'd be curious if you've heard it... & how favorably you'd compare it to the "best" of the Beatles?
Final point on the Stones: much has been said about the over- rated talent level of Keith & the band-- that they're instrumentally nothing special/ "over-rated". True fans know who the musically "genius" Stones were-- as these guys produced the Stones very best Albums/ music: I'm talking about Brian Jones (RIP)... & Mick Taylor-- one of the best Guitar Players in Rock history! "Sticky Fingers..." "Goats Head Soup..." "It's Only Rock & Roll..." "Exile on Main St..." THESE are the musically superior Stones Albums, that I claim "better" than the Beatles best! Enjoy!
