The genius of the Beatles

[dgold44]

Just sipping on a White Russian while I hear Beatles tunes in the background

I find it beyond comprehension that 4 guys could produce well over 50 -75 huge hits in only several years
Utter genius
I bet 200 yrs from now that people will still listen to the Beatles in whatever form they maybe

Yes genius

 

[MichaelNadal]

Overrated for me their timing was right though.

 

[dgold44]

Nobody half as good and Led Zeppelin was god like

 

[Stretchy Man]

Been listening to Beatles as well recently.
Two things strike me. How underrated Ringo is as a drummer, and how bad Paul and George are as musicians. I always thought at least George played on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but then found out that was his mate Eric Clapton. John's guitaring is underrated too but mixed too low by that idiot George Martin.

 

[Stretchy Man]

Nobody half as good and Led Zeppelin was god like

What?

 

[Bartelby]

Given that they plagiarised shamelessly from the best Led Zep should be good.

Nobody half as good and Led Zeppelin was god like

 

[stringertom]

My timing was right. I heard pop music before them and they changed the sound of music more than any other band.

OP said 50-75 big hits. That’s probably accurate but all the others LennMac wrote that weren’t quite hits were still better than most other bands’ bigger hits and that continued all the way through Abbey Road, their last studio album. George Martin was so good at blending their sound with what was pretty advanced technology for the times. The first time I heard Sgt. Peppers was mind altering without an ounce of drink or a wisp of smoke.

No one like them before and all those that followed them were greatly influenced by their groundbreaking directions they took music.

 

[-snake-]

Been listening to Beatles as well recently.
Two things strike me. How underrated Ringo is as a drummer, and how bad Paul and George are as musicians. I always thought at least George played on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but then found out that was his mate Eric Clapton. John's guitaring is underrated too but mixed too low by that idiot George Martin.

You just couldn't be any more wrong. . Ringo is the luckiest sob on earth, that has to be said. But I agree with MN here. I'd say the trio Purple/Zep/ Sabbath was more influential.

 

[atatu]

Have you guys seen that movie "Yesterday" it's pretty damn funny.

 

[BlueB]

Been listening to Beatles as well recently.
Two things strike me. How underrated Ringo is as a drummer, and how bad Paul and George are as musicians. I always thought at least George played on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but then found out that was his mate Eric Clapton. John's guitaring is underrated too but mixed too low by that idiot George Martin.

Whaaat? Ringo wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles. It was Paul who played the drums in almost all recordings. He was by far the best musician out of the 4. Take note, I didn't say artist, but musician.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[stringertom]

You just couldn't be any more wrong. . Ringo is the luckiest sob on earth, that has to be said. But I agree with MN here. I'd say the trio Purple/Zep/ Sabbath was more influential.

Everyone of the creative forces in those three bands will tell you they wouldn’t have been able to write as they did without the groundbreakers. They were the vanguard of creativity in pop rock, along with traditional blues pioneers like John Mayall. For example, The Yardbirds spawned Led Zep, Jeff Beck and Cream and they were heavily influenced by the melodic Beatles and the raw blues of Mayall. Same for The Stones.

 

[junior74]

Been listening to Beatles as well recently.
Two things strike me. How underrated Ringo is as a drummer, and how bad Paul and George are as musicians. I always thought at least George played on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but then found out that was his mate Eric Clapton. John's guitaring is underrated too but mixed too low by that idiot George Martin.

Clapton plays beautifully on Guitar Gently... like he does on everything, really - but overall I find George a much more creative and contributing guitarist. He is searching outside the box, especially on the White Album and Abbey Road, but also on the earlier stuff. Listen to Happiness is a Warm Gun. Harrison's guitar work still sounds avantgarde, 50 years on. Sublime.

Clapton basically plays the blues. He does it wonderfully smooth. But he is nowhere near Harrison in terms of creativity.

I've always thought Harrison could only be replaced by two guitarist; Robbie Robertson and Robbie Krieger. They too filled their bands' music with colour and shade, invention... in short: They made the colours that made brilliant songwriting last instead of getting old.

None of the three were "perfect" or incredibly skilled. But they played with invention, and they played with both heart and brains.

 

[stringertom]

Been listening to Beatles as well recently.
Two things strike me. How underrated Ringo is as a drummer, and how bad Paul and George are as musicians. I always thought at least George played on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but then found out that was his mate Eric Clapton. John's guitaring is underrated too but mixed too low by that idiot George Martin.

I suggest you listen to this track from Paul’s first solo album and then tell me he’s a terrible musician. He plays every instrument and all the vocals except for Linda’s minor backing vocal riff, recording it a room in his London room on 4-track overlays:

 

[stringertom]

Clapton plays beautifully on Guitar Gently... like he does on everything, really - but overall I find George a much more creative and contributing guitarist. He is searching outside the box, especially on the White Album and Abbey Road, but also on the earlier stuff. Listen to Happiness is a Warm Gun. Harrison's guitar work still sounds avantgarde, 50 years on. Sublime.

Clapton basically plays the blues. He does it wonderfully smooth. But he is nowhere near Harrison in terms of creativity.

I've always thought Harrison could only be replaced by two guitarist; Robbie Robertson and Robbie Krieger. They too filled their bands' music with colour and shade, invention... in short: They made the colours that made brilliant songwriting last instead of getting old.

None of the three were "perfect" or incredibly skilled. But they played with invention, and they played with both heart and brains.

What do you think of Mark Knopfler? For some reason, I thought of him when you described the impact of Harrison, Krieger and Robertson.

 

[junior74]

What do you think of Mark Knopfler? For some reason, I thought of him when you described the impact of Harrison, Krieger and Robertson.

I hear you. Knopfler is more like a session guitarist too me - like he could fit all bills with his more skilful approach. But he too has a unique style/ tone, absolutely - you can instantly hear it's him. Just like you can with Blackmore, for instance. Like their guitars have their own voices. Andy Summers from the Police is somewhat in the same realm for me, despite the very different style. He is also a little "odd", but incredibly stylish and creative and, like our neurotic friend from Manhattan would say; he has an "otherness" about him

 

[Stretchy Man]

I suggest you listen to this track from Paul’s first solo album and then tell me he’s a terrible musician. He plays every instrument and all the vocals except for Linda’s minor backing vocal riff, recording it a room in his London room on 4-track overlays:

Sorry mate. Really not impressed. That lead guitar is pretty poor. He is a very good songwriter though if you like fluffy stuff about the sun shining and birds singing. Some great melodies.

Mark Knopfler however is a great guitarist. Love how he often plays just a single note much quieter than the rest of the phrase often unexpectedly that really adds to the feeling. Genius.

 

[Stretchy Man]

I got over the disappointment of George not playing lead on While My Guitar Gently Weeps and reminded myself he still has the Day Tripper riff - one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time. I then found out John come up with that.

He is still my favorite Beatle though. Charming, humble and funny. And he wrote Something. An amazing song.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Lennon was quoted in 1980 "My solo stuff is just as good as the Beatles. It may take you guys in the media 20 years to figure that out..."

Some of his solo stuff, particularly his debut solo album is brilliant. But the rest is too damn sporadic and cannot compare to his work with the group.

My favorite is the debut Plastic Ono Band album. Sorry, but I hated Double Fantasy when it was first released. Still don't care for it.
Too trite. Where is the rock and roll?

 

[junior74]

Lennon was quoted in 1980 "My solo stuff is just as good as the Beatles. It may take you guys in the media 20 years to figure that out..."

Some of his solo stuff, particularly his debut solo album is brilliant. But the rest is too damn sporadic and cannot compare to his work with the group.

My favorite is the debut Plastic Ono Band album. Sorry, but I hated Double Fantasy when it was first released. Still don't care for it.
Too trite. Where is the rock and roll?

Lennon definitely was the most relevant in the Beatles. Like Waters was for Floyd.

Not the best musicians, but the best artists/ writers. I believe they both could have performed art in many forms. I also think they both had their own unique voice, both in terms of singing and in terms of writing. Very impactful types.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Lennon definitely was the most relevant in the Beatles. Like Waters was for Floyd.

Not the best musicians, but the best artists/ writers. I believe they both could have performed art in many forms. I also think they both had their own unique voice, both in terms of singing and in terms of writing. Very impactful types.

Would tend to agree that John was the most artistic one. Mac has some paintings on display too but it does not seem as interesting as John's.



[URL]https://www.paulmccartney.com/arts/faces[/URL]

 

[ollinger]

I bet 200 yrs from now that people will still listen to the Beatles in whatever form they maybe

I asked my daughter who's in her 30s if people she knows listen to The Beatles, she finds none of them particularly interested. These generational things tend to fade away.
.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

So special.

I still turn to Rubber Soul for lush harmonization.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Paul's said that he incorporated many of the Everly Brothers' vocal harmonic devices to achieve max effect.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

So special.

I still turn to Rubber Soul for lush harmonization.

Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album. So many great songs!

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album. So many great songs!

Oh, my gosh, preach.

I got that album as a gift a long time ago. One of my first CDs. I must have nearly melted that thing from so much play.

Some of these really bring tears to my eyes.

 

[Genious at Work]

Just sipping on a White Russian while I hear Beatles tunes in the background

I find it beyond comprehension that 4 guys could produce well over 50 -75 huge hits in only several years
Utter genius
I bet 200 yrs from now that people will still listen to the Beatles in whatever form they maybe

Yes genius

That's because they had a little help from their friends. IYKWIM.

 

[Genious at Work]

My timing was right. I heard pop music before them and they changed the sound of music more than any other band.

OP said 50-75 big hits. That’s probably accurate but all the others LennMac wrote that weren’t quite hits were still better than most other bands’ bigger hits and that continued all the way through Abbey Road, their last studio album. George Martin was so good at blending their sound with what was pretty advanced technology for the times. The first time I heard Sgt. Peppers was mind altering without an ounce of drink or a wisp of smoke.

No one like them before and all those that followed them were greatly influenced by their groundbreaking directions they took music.

Yup, The Beatles just managed to be consistently excellent, a feat that no other band could for so long. For example, think about The Doors great eponymous debut, and some of the crap that followed. The Beatles are an ongoing project, and anyone who feels sorry for their dissolution doesn't understand the dynamics of music. They were meant to finish the way they did. It was a perfect arc to the best popular music story ever told.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

That's because they had a little help from their friends. IYKWIM.

''A little LSD 1 2 3 helped produce their best work.''

 

[Sudacafan]

I asked my daughter who's in her 30s if people she knows listen to The Beatles, she finds none of them particularly interested. These generational things tend to fade away.
.

My sons, 18 & 22, hardly know about their music. Of course they know who they were.

 

[stringertom]

''A little LSD 1 2 3 helped produce their best work.''

This song is really a tribute to their roots in British skiffle music.

 

[junior74]

My sons, 18 & 22, hardly know about their music. Of course they know who they were.

My guitar playing daughter, 14, knows just about every Beatles song by heart.

Beatles, Pixies and Nirvana. Those are her favourite bands. There's hope

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Been listening to Beatles as well recently.
Two things strike me. How underrated Ringo is as a drummer, and how bad Paul and George are as musicians. I always thought at least George played on While my Guitar Gently Weeps but then found out that was his mate Eric Clapton. John's guitaring is underrated too but mixed too low by that idiot George Martin.

You're right about Ringo Starr as a drummer (Starr was in a number of show bands prior to The Beatles and Paul McCartney himself mentioned that when Ringo sat in for Pete Best one night that they (McCartney & Lennon) looked at each other and knew the THAT represented the real beginning of The Beatles). As for McCartney himself, he wasn't a technical virtuoso by any means but (like Ringo) he had a great ear for feel and taste. As for Harrison he became known as a very accomplished slide guitar player.

Scroll to the 9:00 minute mark - and just check out the last minute:

You just couldn't be any more wrong.

Ringo is the luckiest sob on earth,

that has to be said.

But I agree with MN here. I'd say the trio Purple/Zep/ Sabbath was more influential.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/en...ining-the-underrated-Ringo-Starr-12312369.php

Whaaat?

Ringo wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.

It was Paul who played the drums in almost all recordings. He was by far the best musician out of the 4. Take note, I didn't say artist, but musician.

An urban legend quote supposedly attributed to John Lennon - was not the case:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/19/ringo-starr-great-drummer-the-beatles-genius

 

[BlueB]

An urban legend quote supposedly attributed to John Lennon - was not the case:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/sep/19/ringo-starr-great-drummer-the-beatles-genius

Possible... But I clearly remember reading John's quote somewhere. I don't feel quite like doing the research on that now, too busy. I'm sorry if I have spread a myth.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1036745026238337025

 

[KineticChain]

there were like 6 bands in the 1960s. weak era

 

[Bartelby]

It's a pity then that you just don't get the spirit of the sixties.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1036745026238337025

 

[Stretchy Man]

No need to take my world for it. Listen to what some famous drummers have to say about Ringo:

 

[dgold44]

Was Ringo a great drummer ???

That video Says it all
Thx

 

[stringertom]

A lot of the Fab Four slamming got bolstered by some direct shade thrown at them by Quincy Jones, who singled out Paul and Ringo in particular in Twitter posts he has since publicly apologized for.

I’m never going to say any of The Beatles were the best at playing their particular instruments but they were as great a team as we’ll ever witness. A lot of the credit after composition (mostly MacLenn before George blossomed on their last and greatest few albums) has to go to George Martin. He really taught them around the studio and built their sound like Phil Spector created his signature aural style.

 

[stringertom]

My guitar playing daughter, 14, knows just about every Beatles song by heart.

Beatles, Pixies and Nirvana. Those are her favourite bands. There's hope

Here’s a test for her: only one Beatles tune (a classic BTW) was written in the key of B major. Name it.

Hint: The verses are in B and all the choruses are in A until the last, which goes back to B.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[stringertom]

@stringertom

Single favorite track?

Entire catalog.

If I told you I would ruin the mini-quiz for @junior74 ’s daughter.

My second favorite might have to be either Across The Universe or Here There And Everywhere. They are quietly pure gems to listen to over and again.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[Crocodile]

Beatles had great influence on the music industry including giving birth to ELO ( Son of Beatles) and the work that Jeff Lynne had done in producing George Harrison's last album, Cloud Nine. Most recently Jeff was inducted in the hell of fame by Dahni Harrison.

 

[stringertom]

Beatles had great influence on the music industry including giving birth to ELO ( Son of Beatles) and the work that Jeff Lynne had done in producing George Harrison's last album, Cloud Nine. Most recently Jeff was inducted in the hell of fame by Dahni Harrison.

ELO live at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall...an unforgettable performance for me!

 

[Crocodile]

ELO live at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall...an unforgettable performance for me!

Lucky you, I'm hoping Jeff might do an Australian Tour but I might have to do a trip over to the UK or US. Very talented man.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Lucky you, I'm hoping Jeff might do an Australian Tour but I might have to do a trip over to the UK or US. Very talented man.

Mention of Jeff Lynne still makes me think of the Traveling Wilburys.

 

[stringertom]

Lucky you, I'm hoping Jeff might do an Australian Tour but I might have to do a trip over to the UK or US. Very talented man.

It was back in the days of affordable tickets for concerts. Now you have to take a second mortgage to see the amounts of shows I saw in NYC in the space of just half a decade. Scalped tickets guaranteed 10 rows or less from the stage at twice face value for me and a date was under $100. Now you’re in nosebleed seats for $400.

 

[junior74]

If I told you I would ruin the mini-quiz for @junior74 ’s daughter.

My second favorite might have to be either Across The Universe or Here There And Everywhere. They are quietly pure gems to listen to over and again.

Hahaha, I'll ask her (if she ever gets up - 14 year olds...)

Favourite songs: Something, Strawberry Fields Forever, Across The Universe

The other day, my father and I were discussing cities, and he mentioned that he went to see The Beatles in Århus DK in 1963. Just like that.

And then my daughter had the same type of experience when I told her I've seen Nirvana. It was like she couldn't belive it.

Another huge one for me was Beastie Boys in a small club in Oslo in '95.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Just sipping on a White Russian while I hear Beatles tunes in the background

I find it beyond comprehension that 4 guys could produce well over 50 -75 huge hits in only several years
Utter genius
I bet 200 yrs from now that people will still listen to the Beatles in whatever form they maybe

Yes genius

Who are the Beatles?