Fair enough. I like Springsteens writing more as well but I think the Beatles overall did more for music obviously. I listen to both fairly often. Been on a Springsteen kick lately though.

In terms of influence, the Beatles are going to beat anyone, because they were the first and best at so many things. Lyrically, they kinda blow.

Yeah lets make fun of Born in the USA but yet "I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand" is like some sort of genius. Their songs are fairly simple, not many instruments, great harmonies though.

Bruce really perfected the "wall of sound". Many of his E Street Band songs employ this tactic. And the thing is, Bruce orchestrates every sound in pretty much every song. He knows what he wants from the lead guitar, rhythm guitar, drums, piano, sax, bass, violin, whatever the fuck is in the song. Listen to Born to Run with a pair of headphones in and try and pick out how many different instruments are coming at you all at once, and imagine having that in your head before its even been played and knowing what you want and when.

The Beatles never did anything like that, nor did they manage to continue their genius beyond a decade. Does that make The Boss better than the Beatles? Not necessarily, but everyone acts like the Beatles are untouchable despite their weaknesses (no longevity, crappy lyrics). Also, I think a lot of their music doesn't hold up very well. "When I'm 64" sounds straight out of a Barney tv show (Ditto "Yellow Submarine"), "Ticket to Ride" sounds like a hippie 60's song (among others), while some of their harder stuff tends to hold up much better although it ALL is VERY 60's sounding (I know I know, they pioneered that sound, but whoever pioneered disco doesn't get brownie points in my book either).

With the exception of Springsteen's Born in the USA album, most of the rest of his catalog can not be put into any sort of timeframe because it all sounds so fresh and/or timeless. This is part of his appeal IMO to many of his fans.....his sound is HIS sound and doesn't really partake in any of the musical habits of the day.

I hate for this to turn into The Boss vs. The Beatles because I happen to love both for very different reasons, but I do think that Bruce should be considered the greatest American musician of all time. Some say this belongs to Michael Jackson, (whose TALENT was second to none) but many of his biggest hits weren't even written by him, and he failed to be relevant past around 1995 (be honest, you really didn't think much about him from then until he died). Elvis was a bit overrated IMO. I like his older stuff when he was hangin around with Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. After that he got a little goofy and the music got.....different.

I'll put Bruce's credentials up against any other American musician, ever.

Chuck Berry influenced all of them. Ask McCartney or Bruce...they have often given props to the True King of RnR.

Springsteen in concert = the greatest live act of all times IMO

Springsteens albums - top 5 artist

Tiernan;523832 wrote:Chuck Berry influenced all of them. Ask McCartney or Bruce...they have often given props to the True King of RnR.

Chuck Berry wouldn't have been anything if his cousin Marvin didn't find that new sound he was looking for at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance...

sherm03;524144 wrote:Chuck Berry wouldn't have been anything if his cousin Marvin didn't find that new sound he was looking for at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance...

Classic! LMAO!

Tiernan;523832 wrote:Chuck Berry influenced all of them. Ask McCartney or Bruce...they have often given props to the True King of RnR.

Actually, John Lennon said quote: "Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been Elvis, there would not have been The Beatles."

Who are the Beatles?

Mooney44Cards;524259 wrote:Actually, John Lennon said quote: "Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been Elvis, there would not have been The Beatles."

Yeah that's why the Beatles covered so many Elvis tunes...Roll Over Beethoven, Backin the USSR (Berry's Back in the USA), Sweet Little Sixteen, and a dozen other songs with Berry's signature guitar rifts. Elvis and Michael Jackson are the biggest musical hoaxes ever crammed down the American public's throat.

Elvis was. Michael Jackson was decent pop music. Overrated? Yes. Bad? No.

Tiernan;524806 wrote:Yeah that's why the Beatles covered so many Elvis tunes...Roll Over Beethoven, Backin the USSR (Berry's Back in the USA), Sweet Little Sixteen, and a dozen other songs with Berry's signature guitar rifts. Elvis and Michael Jackson are the biggest musical hoaxes ever crammed down the American public's throat.

I don't know why you're arguing, I didn't say it, Lennon did. Just because you consider Elvis a hoax doesn't mean he didn't influence the Beatles.

And yes, Elvis was one of the artists who they covered often before they had written a lot of their own music.

I'm arguing because Chuck has been shafted for 60 yrs in getting his due as the True King of Rock n Roll by a glorified lounge singer who happened to be white and could adequately sing black artist's songs. If Lennon said that, he was as misled as the rest of the world.

Anyone else listened to his new album, the promise, yet? it just leaked online, its part of a bigger collection coming out november 16. 2 discs of outtakes from darkness on the edge of town. it is brilliant. brilliant record, really shows off bruce as a pop song writer.

UANyg;540977 wrote:Anyone else listened to his new album, the promise, yet? it just leaked online, its part of a bigger collection coming out november 16. 2 discs of outtakes from darkness on the edge of town. it is brilliant. brilliant record, really shows off bruce as a pop song writer.

Saw the documentary The Promise on HBO which is what motivated me to start this thread. Awesome documentary for anyone that has HBO On Demand.

Channel 23 on XM is now a 24/7 Neil Diamond channel.

Bruce is a great song writer and I love the E Street Band.

Born to Run is one of the all time best albums and songs. If you do not like that song and album, something is wrong with you.

You got to remember when opening up the who is the greatest topic.
ALL TIME >>ALL TIME
ALL TIME CLASSIC ROCK
ALL TIME AMERICAN CLASSIC ROCK
So many. Lets go Clasic Rock...................... Rolling Stones ...Beatles......Eagles.....Elton John......Queen.....Van Halen........AC/DC.......OZZY........I googled it and I dont even see him in the top 50 Classic rock bands ...... Pink Floyd.........Led Zeplin..... The Doors .... Am I looking at the catigory?

We're talking about good bands. AC/DC is disqualified.