Which was most influential

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

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?

[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.

[Rausch]

I suspect a poll fixed by dumbassery...

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I suspect a poll fixed by dumbassery...

Not only that but it's a weird question to ask the fanbase of a midwestern football team, 99% of whom do not work in the music business as songwriters, musical artists, producers or engineers.

THOSE people will provide the real answer.

[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.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Not only that but it's a weird question to ask the fanbase of a midwestern football team, 99% of whom do not work in the music business as songwriters, musical artists, producers or engineers.

THOSE people will provide the real answer.

This is the first time I've ever wanted to kick yer' nuts up 'round your ears...

[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.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Rausch

This is the first time I've ever wanted to kick yer' nuts up 'round your ears...

[tk13]

There's way more to this than just what Hollywood engineers think. They are far from the only people who are allowed to be influenced by the music of the Beatles, or Elvis, or Zeppelin, or anyone really. Think of how many people learned how to play guitar, piano, or learned how to sing because they were moved by the music of some of these bands. But maybe that's misreading the question.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by tk13

There's way more to this than just what Hollywood engineers think. They are far from the only people who are allowed to be influenced by the music of the Beatles, or Elvis, or Zeppelin, or anyone really. Think of how many people learned how to play guitar, piano, or learned how to sing because they were moved by the music of some of these bands. But maybe that's misreading the question.

Right and I mentioned that. And it's not just Hollywood engineers. It's every engineer or producer in the world.

[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.

[Tombstone RJ]

just say no to Elvis Costello.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Well sir.. you have come to the right place!

Here is the problem.. Elvis Costello has done it all. His music spans so many different styles and genres that it's hard to just say "start here." BUT at least we have a starting point with "Just a Memory." That came from Get Happy! his 4th album. That song is slower than the typical songs on that album. So if you want that style, you will want to go forward in time with his work rather than going back. That style is closer (imho) to Trust or what is often considered the greatest EC album (produced by Geoff Emerick) Imperial Bedroom.

If you want I can suggest some favorite songs and see if they are on YouTube. Oh, another good "starter" album I have found is King of America. it really defines the "middle" of his career for me and is just a damn good album.

my advice to you sir it to either get a life or start drinking heavily.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

my advice to you sir it to either get a life or start drinking heavily.

I'm over the top on both counts!

It's fine if you don't like EC.. but it's hard not to recognize the breadth of his work.

Let's list a few genres he has done significant work in...

punk/new wave
soul
country
Tin Pan Alley pop
reggae
rock
blues
jazz
classical (string quartet and even a ballet)
torch songs
etc etc the list goes on...

My taste in music is EXTREMELY broad and fairly deep and EC is one of the few artists that even comes close to touching on a noticeable fraction of it.

The guy has 30 studio albums.. only 8 of which didn't break the top 100... mostly due to being limited releases.

let's look at some of the artists he has written for... (and often with)

Chet Baker
David Crosby
Roy Orbison
Johnny Cash
Paul McCartney
nick Lowe
Dusty Springfield
Alison Krauss
The Chieftains
The Dubliners
Sam Moore
Roger McGuinn
and many many more

and this doesn't cover the people who have covered his works... bands like
Green Day
Linda Ronstadt
Duran Duran
Toto
Bob Walkenhorst(had to slip in the local boy)
George Jones
Ben Folds Five

And this list is just from his FIRST ALBUM. The full list is massive