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It was 50 years ago today....

...that the Beatles played their last concert on the rooftop of Apple Records.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beatles-famous-rooftop-concert-15-things-you-didnt-kno...
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gpgr4blu
1,080 posts
 
I think the Beatles songwriting, singing and arranging talents will never be equaled in the realm of pop/rock. In most interviews with musicians of that era and shortly thereafter,they say that listening to the Beatles caused them to pick up a guitar and play. They were indeed stood for much more than music as they led the cultural revolution through the turbulent mid- late 60s.  Virtually EVERYBODY listened to the music of the Beatles and loved the music. Some even sang about it (e.g."Beatles new record's a gas"--Ball of Confusion-Temptations). But now only the music remains. On the basis of their music alone, three of their albums are, to this day, in my top 10 of all time led by the U.S. version of Rubber Soul. Not to mention All Things Must Pass. So IMHO, they were not the second coming, but they were damn close.  
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
.....Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,715 posts
 
Correct Geoff. Let It Be was such a downer they wanted to go out on a higher note (they knew The Beatles were over. George had already started recording his All Things Must Pass debut, and Paul was also working on a solo album), so went in and recorded the Abbey Road album. Let It Be took so long to finish (John brought in Phil Spector, who ended up "over" producing the album) that Abbey Road, their final recordings, were released prior to the dismal Let It Be. I can’t listen to that album; it’s absolutely dreadful.
dgarretson
2,594 posts
 
I'll take John Lennon with his fur jacket and Epiphone guitar on that rooftop as the iconic image of R&R in any era.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,715 posts
 

@gpgr4blu, believe me, I completely understand why you feel the way you do, and wouldn't dream of challenging your opinion. The Beatles made some great Pop music, a fair amount of which I would not want to be without. And they are unquestionably amongst the three most important and influential artists in Rock 'n' Roll history (along with Elvis and Dylan). And yes, their cultural influence cannot be overstated, for better or worse. 

However ;-), in regard to songwriting, do know Paul McCartney considers Brian Wilson his favorite songwriter? I can't name a Beatles song on the level of Brian's "God Only Knows". That Lennon considered Chuck Berry his hero? That Lennon & McCartney modeled themselves on The Everly Brothers, who had the best songwriting, singing, and musicians of them all? All the above music may be from before your time, but it's what The Beatles music is based on, and is still considered superior by older guys like Dylan (who is not in awe of the 1960's).

As to singing, taste is just that. Paul was and is a pretty good singer, but great? Give a listen to Richard Manuel of The Band. John? Okay, I guess (pre-Yoko, that is). George? Pretty bad. Ringo, terrible.

Arranging? Sorry, no. That was George Martin.

The thing about The Beatles is that they were greater than the sum of their parts, at least to me. Each to his or her own! Just an alternate point of view.

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