Head To Head: Beatles vs Rolling Stones

[mfb]

How memory fades.

Has everyone forgotten that The Beatles wrote their music and performed it without a reference? That equates to a bit of talent right there.

Now, the Rolling Stones, just for the shear sake of longevity, are ok by me, but the likes of Robert Johnson and countless blues players, not to mention little Richard, really gave the Stones a reference by which to underpin their basic swagger.

Head to head, the Beatles by about 100 miles.

[sowhat]

Learn something new about myself every day... i thought i was just stupid.
Thank you, Roy.

[admin]

Music is a subjective experience and as such it is accepted that each of us may view the same body of work in a different light.

These differences make our discussions here interesting and if we listen closely they become a window into our own thoughts.

There is no right and wrong when it comes to music. It is what it is. While our discussion of music brings our emotions to the surface at the same time it adds depth to our understanding of others.

[phlemmy]

I detest the Beatles...so the stones obviously get my vote.

[mfb]

Originality is in very short supply. Any musician that today is able to digest and synthesise influences and comes up with interesting new twists will have my vote of approval anytime (which means nothing to anyone else, but a little to me), no matter what particular market segment.

The amazing leap "outside the box" that The Beatles did back in 1963, in so many different ways, was truly original back then, and at once it gave prospective new groups a new direction to aim for as well as creating such a high platform for themselves that it seemed almost unreachable by other groups of the day.

The Rolling Stones were one such group, and Oldham conscientiously decided to market them as the complete antithesis of The Beatles just so that they, the Stones, could get their feet near the door. As such, in my opinion the Stones were one of the first internationally acclaimed "manufactured" groups, long before The Monkees.

Ok, so, ... many, many people don't give two hoots about any of that because music is music and whatever floats your boat (without analysis) is good enough and it can be said that any analysis of music is defeating the purpose of music itself, which is to be enjoyed (one way or another) and not dissected.

But, still, originality amid mediocrity is such an easy thing to spot that it would've been interesting to head the topic as "head to head: Monkees vs Rolling Stones"!

[admin]

Manuel: I appreciate your analysis.

There can be little doubt but that The Beatles offered a fresh new sound. Their originality is what won me over. I also enjoyed the Stones during the early times with Brian Jones as they too offered a contrast to the Fab Four, and as you say this may have been carefully crafted by Oldham. In some ways we have to give him credit as he was successful in his portrayal of the Stones as a more rebellious bunch than the Beatles.

[kenposurf]

It's like which do you like better ice cream or See's Candy ..yum....I will say my favorite Beatles release is Abby Road....Aftermath for the Stones....

[JakeK]

I voted for "It's All Over Now", mostly because I like to get down and dirty like the Stones did.

The Beatles' best stuff comes from "Help" through "Abbey Road", in my opinion.

I don't really want to choose a favorite, mostly because I can't. They are both equally good bands, and have done a lot together and have impacted the music industry, so we have to give them that!

[chuck_king]

I love the Beatles, but "From Me to You" has got to be one of the weakest songs in their catalog. And I don't think the Stones really found their voice till they tossed Brian Jones, but they had a few shining moments before then and "It's All Over Now" was one of them. So, the Stones get this one as far as I'm concerned.

[phlemmy]

While the Stones may have been "created", the ultimate personalities of Mick and Keith are what made the band truly original. Paul and John couldn't hold a candle.

[einar]

From Me To You vs. It's All Over Now.. Strange choises, Peter! If I was to put one of them in the player just now, I'd pick the latter. But I'll refuse to vote in your election! Why a self-penned early effort vs. a cover version? Why not From Me To You vs. Come On? If we stick to IAAN, pair it with Twist And Shout! Jagger/Richards wrote a whole bunch of great songs, but they just don't match Lennon/McCartney (noone does). But hey, an interesting topic: We have learned that L/McC is in fact L OR McC to a great extent. Is this so with Jagger/Richards too? Do they write seperatly and share the honour, or are they true co-workers?

[admin]

Thanks Einar. The rationale for selecting these songs was as follows:

In my selection of songs I used the billboard criteria. What I tried to do was to equate the two songs chosen based on the chart position and the time in the charts. This was the first song to achieve a number one status for both groups and the time on the charts was comparable. Also, because the songs appeared in the charts at roughly the same time the method used to determine their position was essentially the same.

It may be a strange choice, but I wanted to see how these groups first number 1 would do in competition with one another.

With regard to the extent to which they collaborated, many of the early compositions appear to have been a team effort although like Lennon-McCartney solo writing was credited to both. I believe that Brown Sugar, for example, was written by Mick Jagger but credited to both.

I also believe that the first Stones' composition to chart was "Tell Me" and it placed in the top 30 as far as I remember. Perhaps Roy can set me straight on this.

[kenposurf]

Have to go w/The Stones "I'ts All Over Now" on this one...

[dedicated_follower]

Reinforcement needed here for The Stones. Choice of music is difficult to define, but in this case the simple way I describe it is that The Stones almost always had more "Umph!" to their music. Their music excites me, whereas The Beatles music is just OK. It never gave me a chill down my neck when I heard it.

The Beatles did better in their earlier years, but their albums Abbey Road and Let It Be did absolutley nothing for me.

Naturally I have voted for The Stones and It's All Over Now. It just sends a chill down the spine. The song is soooo powerful, whereas From Me To You is light weight pop in comparison.

Jim

[mgauction]

"Its All Over Now" for me, noted the first great studio sound for The Stones and it might be my all-time favorite song by them. Recording had changed dramatically between the years these two songs were released, so, it seems a little unfair. I believe this is the only time I have ever voted against The Beatles for anything -- not a Stones fan.