[Jung Roe]

Hi Howard.  Nice thought provoking topic here.  With my Google search, I was just trying to answer your question “which is better…”.  As I am sure we can all agree this is a very subjective question, so I will support my opinion by pointing out the fact almost all polls on the matter lists the Beatles as #1.  There is wide and overwhelming public consensus to that.  Who is #2 is irrelevant as the evidence I am providing answers your question for me anyway.  I learned a long time ago when debating something as subjective as this, getting drawn into the details is never ending and pointless because the argument from both sides is anecdotal at best.  Focussing on the results is more effective, so that is what I intended to do here.  I agree with Tomas here on his assessment of that Quora article.

[Jung Roe]

It’s interesting that if you do a Google search on “The Greatest Rock band of all time..” or anything to that affect, there is consensus between most lists in placing the Beatles at #1, but there is no consensus on #2 and below. Depending on the source, anything below #1 is almost anyone’s guess. It’s all over the place.

For example:
-Rolling Stones Magazine provides a list called the top Rock artists of all time:
1..Beatles
2..Bob Dylan
3..Elvis Presley
4..Rolling Stones

-Spinditty
1..Beatles
2..Led Zeppelin
3..Rolling Stones
4..Jimi Hendrix

-CNN
1..Beatles
2..Led Zeppelin
3..Eagles
4..Pink Floyd

-Fox
1..Beatles
2..Rolling Stones
3..Led Zeppelin
4..AC/DC

It supports what I said earlier that the Beatles towers above the rest. After the Beatles, the #2 is anyone’s guess and subject to personal preference, but hardly anyone can deny #1 is the Beatles.

[Jung Roe]

Watched the Ruby Tuesday video, and Mick Jagger in those days certainly had charisma on the stage the way he could dance and sing.  Whenever I see the Beach Boys, Beatles or Rolling Stones perform in one of those early 60’s shows like Ed Sullivan, I wonder how much of the live audience actually heard anything with all that screaming.  Couldn’t imagine sitting in front of a group of screaming girls at one of those shows.  Maybe end up suffering from hearing loss afterwards 🙂  I do remember being at an AC/DC concert in the 80’s in Toronto.  When they lowered that cannon for (For Those About to Rock We Salute You) and fired it, I think my ears rang for a few hours after the show.

[Jung Roe]

Howard, certainly no one can deny the Rolling Stones are one of the greatest rock bands of all time, at the upper stratosphere echelon in the Hall of Fame.  Their accomplishments are impressive and are as relevant today as they were 6 decades ago.

As for that 7 years old, that’s why we are all here to one day have MLT music recognized in every corner of the world.  🙂

[Jung Roe]

I’ve come across this question a few times over the years, and often times a more general question like does anyone else even come close to the Beatles.  General consensus has been the gap between #1 (Beatles) and #2 is a non contest.  The Beatles tower above the rest.  How many Beatles melodies have been incorporated into other classical genres like Hey Jude, Yesterday, Long and Winding Road, Here Comes the Sun etc compared to Rolling Stones.  Just musically Beatles tunes are universal and a household name.  The Rolling Stones have a big following inside the Rock/POP community, but outside of that, no as much as the Beatles.  A 7 years old in TimBukToo would likely recognize an iconic Beatles melody, probably not a Rolling Stones one.  You could debate the nuances of a Rolling Stones song or album to a Beatles one all day long, but the truth is in the pudding.  The influence of Beatles music on the rest of the music world is incomparable.  Some Stones ballads, a Simon and Garfunkle melody, a John Denver tune, an Elton John or Bee Gees tune here or there, but nothing to the extent of how the Beatles influenced music globally and across the generations.  You are more likely to come across a grade 3 class do a Beatles festival show than a Rolling Stones or anyone else.  That is how prolific Beatles music is globally, no one else comes close, except Bach, Beethoven and Mozart.  They had the advantage of time  🙂

 

[Jung Roe]

I had a neighbor friend who is a huge Stones fan, and when he came across MLTs “The Last Time” and “Paint It Black” video on my Facebook posting, he was beside himself.  I think any Rolling Stones cover, especially a ballad, if MLT decide to cover would be just stellar.  Lisa and Mona’s vocal depth and versatility I think would adapt any Mick Jagger vocal character just fine.

 

[Jung Roe]

Lovely words Jacki! I couldn’t agree more.

THE

IS WHERE THE GROOVIEST PEOPLE HANGOUT!!!

[Jung Roe]

Thanks Roger. I really liked what Paul McCartney said when he was inducting Brian Wilson into the hall of fame. Something to the effect that it takes true genius to create music that can move you to tears. When I hear some music by the Beach Boys, Beatles, Rolling Stones… and so many of the great bands of the 60’s, even 6 decades later they still can move us so deeply to tears of joy. There was a lot of genius back then, and I love how that genius has transported to the future through the few musical talent that exist today, foremost MLT team ( Fab 4) . The recent videos “Once Upon a Time”, “Starman” are so fantastic unaffected by the barrage of canned music the industry is trying to push. I just saw another interview Paul McCartney gave last week where after writing over a 1000 songs since the 60’s he says “Writing music is still a thrill because out of nowhere you produce a rabbit.” Creativity is a wonderful thing, and the 60’s seemed to have been one of the most creative periods of modern times as pointed out by many sociologists. Beatles, Civil Rights movement, first man on the moon, etc… Seeing Mick Jagger still doing his moves on stage in 2019, Paul McCartney releasing a brand new album, John Sebastian touring, Beach Boys filling the concert halls etc…it is all indeed inspiring for the rest of us mere mortals to witness. I think that is their legacy and virtue to be able to move and make a difference in people’s lives for generations, to their last breath. Beethoven kept creating until his death bed.

[Jung Roe]

An MLT weekend morning with an awesome new video!

[Jung Roe]

With the Rolling Stones, while I like some of their classic upbeat songs like Satisfaction, Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Woman, Under My Thumb etc…, it’s their ballads that really blew me away.  Angie, Wild Horses, As Tears Go By.  Despite their bad boy image, they have an incredible tender side to their art.  That is why they are so great.

I love this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUzBjabwwbY

 

[Jung Roe]

Hi Howard.  I think the Beach Boys-Beatles Rivalry was definitely a North American thing.  While the Rolling Stones are considered one of the forefront bands of the British Invasion, they had some major international hits like Satisfaction (first international no 1 hit) and Paint It Black in 1965/66, but their huge popularity in North America to match the levels of the Beach Boys and Beatles came in the late 60’s (1966/67 – Rolling Stones Height of fame period), after Pet Sounds and Sargent Peppers, and the rivalry thing was pretty much over by 1967 as you said.  I think the Rolling Stones and all the great bands of the 60’s certainly benefited from the heights Pet Sounds and Sargent Peppers elevated rock/pop music to.

I look forward to your Sargent Peppers vs Pet Sounds analogy.

[Jung Roe]

Hi David.  I think this is a new video that was posted very recently, and I am really glad someone compiled a video about this.  I don’t think enough people appreciate that rivalry that did exist, because in the early 60’s before the “British Invasion”, the Beach Boys were huge and cranking out the hits better than anyone else in North America, so when the Beatles arrived and began to eclipse the Beach Boys, there was that natural rivalry (this was before the Rolling Stones and the onslaught of other big British Bands that would follow shortly afterwards) between the Beatles and Beach Boys.  Brian Wilson took notice and admitted the Beach Boys were number 2 at that point after the Beatles.  That rivalry in the early and mid 60’s benefited music that would follow.  It paved the way for revolutionary studio music creation never seen before that other groups later would follow suit and benefit from.  I think album creativity and complexity in pop/rock music stepped up to newer heights after Rubber Soul, Pet Sounds, Revolver and Sargent Peppers, and the positive rivalry between Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney was a big factor.

When MLT talk about taking a hiatus from live performance and going into the studio to write and create new original songs and albums, Pet Sounds and Sargent Peppers come to mind.  After all, MLT are one of the few artists out there today carrying on that artistic song writing tradition from the 60’s that Brian Wilson and the Beatles started.

[Jung Roe]

Thanks Roger!  🙂  Very much enjoying your guitar photos and your passion you are sharing with us all.   It’s hard to contain the enthusiasm for Mona and Lisa isn’t it for all the joy they bring to their fans through their music and all they do.

[Jung Roe]

I saw Jeff Healey play live early on in his career, I think back in the 80’s.  Certainly a talented and inspiring musician despite any handicap.

[Jung Roe]

Congrats Roger!  That Ricky 350v63 looks awesome next to the Gretsch Duo-Jet.  Love your MLT music corner of guitars.  Thanks for posting these.