Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever (Post 8912307)

The Beatles or Elvis Presley. Debergs prog rock thread started me thinking and I thought it was a fairly easy choice until I talked to a few others about it and looked up some numbers. Now it seems like a toss up... although I know what my original gut feeling was.

The Beatles...
Best selling band in history... roughly 1 billion 600 million units sold
22 #1 singles world wide
7 grammys
10 films

Elvis Presley
Best selling solo act in history... roughly 1 billion 600 million units sold
36 #1 singles
3 grammys
33 films

Of course there is plenty of other criteria. What say you though?

Originally Posted by AustinChief (Post 8912378)

If we are talking about influential in society then these two are neck and neck... if we are talking inspiring to other musicians then they again both are near the top... if we are talking genuine influence on music and pushing genres forward neither breaks the top 10, nor the top 20, The Beatles may sneak into the top 50... maybe... if we limit the criteria to the 20th century.

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ (Post 8912415)

I didn't realize Elvis sold so many records...

Originally Posted by MIAdragon (Post 8912412)

Bob Dylan and the Stones have to be up there.

Originally Posted by Baby Lee (Post 8912431)

Putting up a top 10, just for kicks, and purely off the cuff

Beatles
Michael Jackson
Madonna
Elvis
Bob Dylan
Nirvana [time limited, but huge temporary impact]
NWA
Woodie Guthrie
Black Sabbath
Johnny Cash

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ (Post 8912425)

austinchef just quoted himself... that's fantastic!

Originally Posted by AustinChief (Post 8912418)

To expand on my post.. i would put guys like Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz and Duke Ellington above both. If we limit it to pop/rock then Buddy Holly jumps far ahead of both... so does Duane Eddy or Booker T. And of course the Beach Boys.

I'm a big fan of both the Beatles and Elvis but neither did a huge amount to push the envelope. It can be argued that the Beatles did as they matured but again, not nearly as much as so many others.

Originally Posted by Inmem58 (Post 8912416)

Too bad I couldn't expierence great artists like Presley or the Beatles. It's all shit now, lil Wayne, Nikki Manaj, and Justin Bieber. I can't stand those 3 stupid ****s.

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever (Post 8912429)

They're by far the 2 biggest selling acts of all time. The only 2 over a billion units sold and both over half way to 2 billion. Michael Jackson is 3rd at 750 million.

Originally Posted by AustinChief (Post 8912436)

I wanted to respond to the best post so far... left me little choice.. :D

Originally Posted by Luke Warm (Post 8912440)

Backstreet Boys
NSYNC
Justin Beiber
George Michael
Elton John
William Hung