The Beatles And Prog Rock

The Beatles basically started the "rock band," so of course it would landslide into progressive rock. Their influence in all things rock after their break-up is phenomenal, no one can match them. 

I think that The Beatles were very influential, but their producer George Martin too, because he is a very smart person and he had a very open mind, and he also had the knowledge and talent to translate the musical ideas of  The Beatles (who couldn`t write or read music scores) to very good arrangements. He also was the pioneer of some technical innovations in the recording studios.

I'm with Karny here. I think very little of what has transpired in the popular music world would have happened if not for their innovations. A brilliant studio band that definitely paved the way for many of the prog giants. Side 2 of Abbey Road was pretty much a lengthy suite (and quite a great one) before that was even fashionable or conceivable to many bands.

Karnevil9 wrote: marktheshark wrote: Guillermo wrote: I think that The Beatles were very influential, but their producer George Martin too, because he is a very smart person and he had a very open mind, and he also had the knowledge and talent to translate the musical ideas of  The Beatles (who couldn`t write or read music scores) to very good arrangements. He also was the pioneer of some technical innovations in the recording studios. Very true. Georgie was without a doubt the 5th Beatle. Yep as i mentioned sometime ago the Beatles were not very hot as musicians but Lennon & McCartney were the greatest ever song writers with a wealth of musical ideas...& you can be but without Georgie martin,non of it would have been put to the use that it was.

Yeah, they weren't experts on their intruments, except maybe Paul on bass. Even Jack Bruce and Chris Squire acknowledges that Paul pretty much made rock bass playing more sophisticated. His bass lines on Paperback Writer and Rain certainly raised the bar.

Funny, i was just listening to genesis, and was thinking about how they may have had some beatles influence and then i saw this thread.

Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely.

If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!

NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!

You trying to tell me Tomorrow Never Knows, She Said, She Said and Strawberry Fields Forever (and these aren't the only examples I can come up with)are pop songs?!

marktheshark wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!! You trying to tell me Tomorrow Never Knows, She Said, She Said and Strawberry Fields Forever (and these aren't the only examples I can come up with)are pop songs?!

 

Tommorow never knows...well steve hillage did a great cover

marktheshark wrote: Karnevil9 wrote: marktheshark wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!! You trying to tell me Tomorrow Never Knows, She Said, She Said and Strawberry Fields Forever (and these aren't the only examples I can come up with)are pop songs?!   Tommorow never knows...well steve hillage did a great cover Really. The only cover I knew was Phil Collins. I'll have to check it out.

 

Whoops!Sorry my mistake Hillage covered ''Getting better' & ''All too much''

The band :801 did it though.

While were on it..Pip pyle covered 'Strawberry fields'

NetsNJFan wrote: Ben2112 wrote: lunaticviolist wrote: The Beatles may not have been a true prog rock band, but they are surely one of the most progressive bands of all time. I think that sums it up nicely. If Only they could play their instruments, and didn't write pop music!!!!!

 

Could play their instruments?! I will admit that Ringo isn't the greatest drummer ever, but as I've read in a different thread, he was the king of "less is more" drumming. Paul McCartney was one of the best bassists ever, in my opinion, and a lot of my defense comes from Abbey Road. Not only that, but he drummed on quite a few songs that were too complex for Ringo such as Back in the USSR, and others. Furthermore he played guitar AND piano on quite a few songs. The acoustic guitar solo at the end of Wild Honey Pie on The White Album was Paul. George is a whole different story. Not only is he one of my favorite guitar players of all time, he can play the sitar, and every brass instrument. His arrangements on Love You To and Within You and Without You are extraordinary. John, too, was a very good guitar and piano player and should be credited as highly as the other two.