Some irrefutable truths about rock and roll

No matter how you feel about them, The Beatles have become the yardstick that others are measured by. IMHO, they were and still are head and shoulders above everyone that preceded and succeeded them. Their influence transcended far beyond the music alone. Keep in mind, the Beatles stopped touring after about 3 years, which probably would have been suicide for most artists.

"The Beatles have become the yardstick that others are measured by. IMHO, "

No doubt.

Over the years, as I listen to all kinds of new, old and different music, and then re-visit those Beatles songs that still resonate all these years after the fact, I realize just how true this statement is.

In Western Societies at least, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Ellington, Beatles.....these are the cream of the crop as determined by quantity and quality of output plus popular longevity compared to their peers.

The Beatles vs Chuck Berry?

It's a variation on my comment to Brauser on classical music vs rock music. These are apples and oranges. Or, in this case, maybe apples and pears.

As noted by Ee3, The Beatles themselves often contended that the highest point of Rock n Roll came from Chuck Berry. Berry's achievement was minimalist, primativist art. When The Beatles added their craftsmanship, mastery of melody and harmony, and expanded the structure and vocabulary (remember the sitar?) of Berry's music, they created something different; more varied, more nuanced, and much more universally admired. OTOH, it's also fair to observe that, for the purist, they merely diluted the original.

Some prefer The Stones precisely because they never strayed as far from the "pure" RnR ethos as did The Beatles. When they expanded their vocabulary, they tended to look more towards Country and Funk - other tributaries in the minimalist musical stream. I always figured that this was the basis of The Stones vs. The Beatles debate through the last 40 years or so. At heart, it's the same argument.

It's also worth mentioning that Berry, Little Richard, et al. had their own antecedants. Louis Jordan and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown were working the blues side before Berry and there was a rockin' Gospel movement prior to Little Richard. So maybe some of the credit should stretch back further in time.

You might also want to consider Brian Wilson's (acknowledged) contribution to the evolution of rock music. He, too, brought the same innovative approach to structure, harmony and vocabulary (remember the theremin?) that The Beatles provided. Even though his body of work can't IMHO touch that of The Beatles, he should get credit for much of the musical innovation that forms the basis for a lot of Beatle worship.

In short, the evolution of rock music had a number of touchstone artists. Berry, Little Richard, Brian Wilson and The Beatles (and surely some others) all qualify. I just think people tend to rank them according to their own priorities, rather than on the priorities of the respective musicians who created the music. The Beatles had a firm grasp of that principle when they lavished praise on Berry, et al.

Marty

Drivel Audiofeil? that's your opinion just like everything else you say and talk about, you are not the resident expert on rock roll! and you don't decide when "nuff is said"
Your arrogance is only exceeded by your ignorance. I stand by what I said, I've already done the research so I don't need to take my own advice that's why I make the statements that I make. You however obviously haven't as is witnessed by the statements you make!
Anybody that knows anything about Little Richard knows that "Titti Fruity and "Sweet 16 are not the only songs he made and is famous for but again that's what limited knowledge does for you. (I digress.)
Maybe one day when you and others increase your knowledge about the subject, then we can have an intellegent discussion but right now obviously you're working at a deficit.
Nhff Said

Excellent response Marty, I see that you have some knowledge an understanding about the genre.
The problem here is that as usual, folks have gotten away from what the original post stated which was who invented or created rock & roll? not who was the greatest rock & roll group(Audiofeil)
Nobody's not saying that the Beatles aren't and weren't one of the greatest groups in the history of the genre but they didn't invent it!!!!!