Beatles in Music History

With the new Beatles Re-mastered CD's coming out, I am more than ever trying to decide their place in music history. I know that their music is still enjoyed by millions, but what I am trying to imagine is: where would music have gone without the Beatles? Would we still have been listening to those syrupy songs by people like Gene Vincent (was that his name?), and contrived groups like those created by Phil Spector (he should have been jailed then!!). What about the white bread singers like Pat Boone who sang many songs that were hits because they covered music by African American singers-songs that a huge number of radio stations wouldn't play! Or how about the "California sound"from the likes of Jan and Dean and yes, the Beach Boys.(How people can compare their "Pet Sounds" album to Sgt Pepper is still beyond my comprehension!!!) Or maybe the male quartet singers like the Crewcuts and many others??

Don't get me wrong, thankfully there were some Rockers, and some great ones!! But would the "Rock Group" have existed? The Beatles were unusual in so many ways, but in particular-they wrote their own music-with a few covers at first. Their ability as musicians and song writers set them apart from any musicians of that time.

It is also amazing to see how quickly the Beatkes evolved-in fact over and over again, in such a relatively short time! (Of course, it didn;t hurt having an absolute musical genius like George Martin working with them!!).

I have no doubt the Beatles have joined the ranks of the great composers and musicians of all time. But where would music have gone without them?? I hope that people will read this and leave their thoughts. It is a hard concept to get your brain around!