The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones

Two of my personal favorites of all time however who do you think is the better band? Both of these bands have been influential to rock and modern music heavily borrows elements that these bands created or made popular (the use of synthesizers with The Beatles and the blues roots with The Stones.) Here is my favorite song from each band.


Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles


Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

In my book they are the two greatest rock bands of all time, but I think the Beatles are better. Much better.

The Beatles wrote some early songs for the Stones, and in watching Lennon and McCartney huddle around a piano and create music, Mick Jagger got the idea of writing songs himself.

Lennon once quipped that every time the Beatles released an innovative track, the Stones would come out with a copycat version of it shortly after. I'm not sure how true this, but I think it's fair to say that the Beatles were more of an inspiration for the Stones than vice-versa.

You picked two great songs. I posted in another thread that my favorite Beatle tune is While my Guitar Gently Weeps. My favorite Stones' song is Let's Spend the Night Together.

There are many posters on the board, who know much more about music in general, and the Beatles in particular. Their comments will be very interesting.

I adore both While My Guitar Gently Wheeps and Let's Spend The Night Together klydon. Listen to Muddy Waters' cover of LSTNT Klydon. There was a time when i listened to While My Guitar Gently Weeps every night before going to sleep (the album version) there's just something about that song that got me hooked (the overall sound and the Clapton solo.)

I just listened to the Muddy Waters' version for the first time. It's outstanding.

Great question Don is Dead.

I LOVE both groups and have been fans since day one. Of course now you're talking "my era" so I suppose have a little prejudice to that time period.

Sympathy with the Devil IS one of my favorites but if I had to choose one of the many many Stones songs, it likely would be "You Can't Always Get What You Want" with my favorite Stones album, "Let It Bleed". Yet they've had so many hits and Jagger, tho older still sounds the same and of course nobody "Moves Like Jagger."

The Beatles too had so many hits both as a group and separately. I love nearly all of their music. I favor their later stuff more so than the early recordings but they had many great songs. For me, if I had to pick a favorite (and it's very hard), I'd go with "A Day In The Life." Favorite Beatle album remains for me, the White Album.

All & all, given the fact that the Beatles started a NEW wave in music with their totally different look & sound that changed the music industry not to mention influenced an entire generation of teenagers worldwide, I had to vote for them. I was around, but too young to be "into" the Elvis craze when he arrived on the scene, BUT will NEVER forget the excitement that surrounded the Beatle craze. Great time to be a teenager. I only regret that of all concerts I've seen I NEVER got to see either the Beatles or The Stones. Damn!!




TIS

Definitely the Rolling Stones for me...not from that era but love me some Jagger and Richards..

Beatles - they changed music. I like the Stones, but I wouldn't put them in the same catagory, but then again I wouldn't put anyone in the same catagory as the Beatles.

The Beatles are the best band ever so for me it's the Beatles..Rolling Stones where a better live band though, not that i ever saw them both..

It was around 1964/65 or so (can't remember exact year). The Beatles were HUGE. My best friend was going to Detroit, Cobo Hall, to see the Beatles in person. She asked me if I wanted to go. My parents wouldn't let me travel way to Detroit EVEN THO my friends father was driving her there. Boy I was mad and really regret not being able to go.



TIS

I'm surprised that this age old question hasn't been asked before on this site well i've done something similar this time moving onto the 70's with Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin

http://www.gangsterbb.net/threads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=644058&#Post644058

What i would give to have been around those days just to see John and George (two of my personal heroes.) And i agree with you on the White Album (underrated when compared to SPLHCB and Revolver.) John once called it an encyclopedia of rock, and how could you not agree with that statement, Julia and Helter Skelter were both on this album

Its not even close. BEATLES.

One of the fortunate things bout them aside from their enormous talent is that they weren't around long enough to become a parody of themslves. Can't say the same of the Stones.

The Stones.

The Beatles had some great stuff but I've never understood the God-like worship of them.

Being of an age where I can remember the '60s (on my good days!), I'll say first that both bands left their mark on me.

And dontomasso, above, makes a very telling point.

But, overall, I'd definitely say the Beatles.

Signor V.

I agree totally!!

As an aside: when I was a baby, John Lennon was on trial at the SDNY Courthouse, where my dad was a court clerk. It was Lennon's deportation trial or some crap like that. Anyway, my dad's judge ruled that Lennon would be allowed to stay in the US. My dad asked Lennon for his autograph, and he gave it to him, made out to me.
I sold that baby on ebay for 1200.00 back in 2006. I couldn't care less about having an autograph from Lennon. I heard though, that if he hadn't made it out to me and had NOT put my name on it, it would've been worth a LOT more. Had his famous little caricature on it, too.
I think all the Beatles came thru that courtroom at one time or another.

It's a great question because it's so difficult:

Lennon/McCartney were the greatest songwriting team in R&R history. I own the Complete Beatles sheet music for guitar, and everytime I turn a page, another great song jumps off it. Not one of their albums was devoid of a great song, and three--Rubber Soul, Revolver and Help!--were absolute five-star, with lots of others just behind them. But Beatles quit touring in '66, and did not leave us with any really exciting live albums. I had one from Shea Stadium--good but not great.

Where Beatles were a great studio/pop group, Stones were a brilliant blues/live recording band. Their live work--particularly Get Your Ya-Yas Out and Love You Live--earned them the sobriquet, "the greatest R&R band in the world." Sometimes they almost were. Check out the movie, "Gimme Shelter," and you see why. Made plenty of good studio albums too, especially "Let It Bleed." But they didn't produce anywhere near as many great songs as the Beatles.

It's funny - Sympathy for the devil and Strawberry Fields are also my favorites.
I love them both, but if I would have to choose which music to take to an island, it would be The Beatles.
It's been mentioned many times before that The Stones were the better live band. I was lucky having seen them twice.
But even more important: The Stones have many more songs you can dance to. The Beatles just a few. Most of their rock'n'roll stuff is on their early records. Their last dancing number, I would say, is "Drive My Car" on Rubber Soul.

Now that you mention "dance" songs. I have always said you, even at the very very beginning of a Stones song, you can't help but tap your feet and/or get up and dance.


TIS

ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?!?!?! Oh god what i would do for a Lennon autograph

Here's an interesting vid (a few parts long) that looks at the music of The Beatles from a technical standpoint, it'll make you all appreciate them more than you do already lol

Nice video..

Who do people think is better Elvis or Sinatra? For me Elvis was where it all began..

Elvis. The King outranks the Chairman.

Absolutely Elvis. I love Frank, but Elvis for me.




TIS

Frank was the first big teen idol (bobby soxers) in pop music, but Elvis surpassed him in popularity. The focus on the teen market probably started with Sinatra.

The big match-up was usually between Elvis and Beatles fans.

Elvis was alright never on the level of The Beatles though

I like both the Beatles and the Stones. My wife loves the Beatles and hates the Stones...so if i ever put a Stones CD on she screams at me to "turn those old buggers off"......

Our Rolling Stones are much better than your Beatles!!!1!

No seriously, da fuq? Beatles, man. The Beatles.



It's because they're awesome. Don Tomasso nailed it;



It's, like, the mythology man.



This.