Which was most influential

[oldman]

Having been there for both, it has to be Elvis. Elvis was like nothing most of us had ever seen. That's not to take anything away from the Beatles, but if it wasn't for Elvis, there wouldn't have been mainstream rock and roll. Even though Ed Sullivan wouldn't televise him below the waist, we all knew it was cool. The Bealtes did not write their early hits, they were covers of Bo Diddley. Chuck Berry, etc.
The Beatles became a huge influence. They wrote most of their songs, something most artists didn't do. They wrote songs of love and peace in a time many of us were questioning the values of Eisenhower America (and I know LBJ was President when they hit the States). But those songs came later.

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by oldman

The Bealtes did not write their early hits, they were covers of Bo Diddley. Chuck Berry, etc.

Nice. I was just wondering if anyone mentioned Chuck Berry or Bo Diddley in this thread.

I had a David Bowie 'Live at the Beeb' album where he covered Berry's 'We're Almost Grown.' Wasn't some amazing cover, but showed me the respect he had for Berry.

And Diddley's 'Who Do You Love' is a fav of mine

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by oldman

Having been there for both, it has to be Elvis.

Elvis didn't write songs. Elvis didn't play on his recordings. Elvis didn't engineer his records. Elvis didn't produce his records.

Elvis was an entertainer. He was absolutely amazing and the best entertainer since Frank, but an entertainer, nonetheless. Once Elvis got out of the Army, his popularity waned so he turned to movies.

After The Beatles split, they became even more popular. Each of them had successful solo careers and were loved by billions.

There people to this day all over the world that reference The Beatles in their works, whether it's Soundgarden or Coldplay or Oasis or any number of million selling acts (not to mention all the acts in the 60's and 70's. Oh, and Tears for Fears, etc. and so on).

There are very few, if any artists/songwriters that wake up and say "I wanna be like Elvis".

[stevieray]

"before elvis, there was nothing."

it's a silly comparison.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by stevieray

"before elvis, there was nothing."

it's a silly comparison.

Sorry to disagree, Stevie, but plenty of influential artists existed before and during Elvis' short reign (whom I absolutely LOVE).

Charlie Christian, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Freddie King, BB King, Muddy Waters and so on and so forth.

Elvis was The King. Sometimes imitated but never duplicated.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Sorry to disagree, Stevie, but plenty of influential artists existed before and during Elvis' short reign (whom I absolutely LOVE).

Charlie Christian, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Freddie King, BB King, Muddy Waters and so on and so forth.

Elvis was The King. Sometimes imitated but never duplicated.

quote is from Lennon. as i'm sure you are aware.

it's silly because comparing one guy to four isn't realistic.
Like Johhny Cash, EP is in rnr, country and gospel HOF's. that alone speaks to a broader range of influence.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by stevieray

quote is from Lennon. as i'm sure you are aware.

it's silly because comparing one guy to four isn't realistic.
Like Johhny Cash, EP is in rnr, country and gospel HOF's. that alone speaks to a broader range of influence.

You're right: It's really silly. Elvis and The Beatles inspired countless millions (if not billions, seriously) to pick up an instrument and learn to sing or play.

Only a teeny-weeny fraction of those people were then able to turn those influences into commercially viable music for everyone else to enjoy.

Personally, Elvis ranks infinitely higher for me than The Beatles. But I have to acknowledge that I know way more people in the field of music that were inspired and continue to be inspired by The Beatles to this day.

The bottom line is that they were both groundbreaking and amazing acts and we're fortunate to have been able to enjoy their works.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're right: It's really silly. Elvis and The Beatles inspired countless millions (if not billions, seriously) to pick up an instrument and learn to sing or play.

Only a teeny-weeny fraction of those people were then able to turn those influences into commercially viable music for everyone else to enjoy.

Personally, Elvis ranks infinitely higher for me than The Beatles. But I have to acknowledge that I know way more people in the field of music that were inspired and continue to be inspired by The Beatles to this day.

The bottom line is that they were both groundbreaking and amazing acts and we're fortunate to have been able to enjoy their works.