In article ,
mike mueller wrote:

Andre Jute wrote:

So as not to disturb my family, sleeping on the floors below me, I
took the disc box from the top. It turned out to be my rock'n'roll
collection, which is pretty modest at about 250 discs or sets. Putting
in my hand with closed eyes, taking potluck, grabbing a handful of
discs, I came out with six discs:

British Beat before the Beatles, organized by years, 1956 to 1962
inclusive, EMI compilation issued 1993. My God, there was some raw
talent back then! Alma Cogan, Frankie Vaughan, The Southlanders,
Lonnie Donegan, Humphry Lyttleton, all just off the 1956 disc. The
Beatles, by comparison, are homogenized, sanitized; in retrospect they
remind me of nothing so much as Euro-vegetables: universal, bland, pre-
pureed, the perfect chinese taste (right after you finish listening
you want real music).

Andre Jute
"The noted vacuum tube hi-fi designer, cyclist, music collector and
critic, author, economist, psychologist, soldier and advisor to
statesmen worldwide has made his home in the vicinity for many years."
-- from his hometown's website, contributed by wreck.audio admirers

I have a friend who was given the task of re-engineering some beach boy
tunes . He had the pleasure of working with the original tape masters.
As a favor to me , he recorded a cd of the boys sans back-up.
The beach boys could sing. And they harmonized chillingly well.
Knock the california surf sound if you must, but it had its time and
place in music history.

As for the Beatles...... Sorry my friend. They may have been limp at
first, but their music was composed well and 45 years later still is a
joy too listen too.
Mike Mueller

Besides the whole image/sociology thing, the Beatles were/are a success
for these reasons, IMO:
1. Genius song writing. Sure the very early stuff is fairly fluffy,
but later, the three writers turned out stuff for the ages.
2. Rock solid rhythm. I think that there is a lot to be critical of in
Ringo's drumming (fills in weird places, for example), but he's like a
freaking digital clock. So is Paul on bass. Unconventional style?
Sure. But SUPER aware of time.
3. George Martin; 'nuff said.