Some of mine's include Led Zeppelin, Oasis and The Police
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Monty Python...
I unironically agree with you.
Just watch them having to turn Ringo's drum stand around in the '64 Washington Coliseum concert and try to tell me that it's not a Pythonesque bit of comedy!
Yeah I watched Magical Mystery Tour the other day, it's on the same 'frequency' as Python's stuff. Not as funny, of course, but definitely fishing from the same pond.
Exactly ~
Yep, every time someone has tried to claim the title "the Beatles of comedy," they're ignoring the fact that that slot is already filled.
Amen
Well George financed it didn't he?
Later movies
The Rutles inspired The Beatles, come ON!! Ha, but Neil Innes, who was at the time one of the writers for Python, had a Flawless interpretation of Lennon, to this day I'm amazed! Eric Idle memorized Paul, and the songs! George loved em. (Yeah yeah, Oasis fer sher but DAMN The Rutles were amazing!)
Hold My Hand!
Edit: kbd had a stroke
ELO
Seriously, just end the thread on that note
John Lennon even said it. He said if they'd kept going they'd sound like Electric Light Orchestra.
I don't think ELO is as lyrically sophisticated as The Beatles. But when it comes to writing hooks, I think Jeff Lyne legitimately is as good. Or close to it. He's lyrically kind of par for the course, but a melodic genius.
I mean it's hard not to like Turn To Stone. Even if you don't like classic rock. It's just so catchy. And they've got countless others just like it. It's really easy to hear the Beatles influence on stuff like Mr Blue Sky (although I wish more people knew more than just that song. It's like only knowing Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana). Even their more disco inspired stuff has that Beatles element to it.
I think a lot of people are ELO fans and just don't realize it yet lol. When they realize that they know half the songs already. If any of you haven't listened to them, just check out their Greatest hits album. It's great.
Clearly pals with George as well, considering the Willburys
Jeff Lynn produced a huge amount of George’s solo work, and the Willburys only happened because George happened to be at Jeff’s place at the same time as the other members and they got to jamming!
He produced one album, Cloud Nine.
How difficult must it have been to keep a pop band going during the days of disco? He did a pretty masterful job. I question his aesthetic, sometimes, but it’s hard to argue with success!
It would’ve certainly been an uphill battle, and progressive rock bands were struggling in that era too which is why so many of them either disbanded or “sold out” and started making more mainstream music by the time the 80s came around.
Even in the Spotify description for ELO it says they were looking to pick up where I Am The Walrus left off
The only band I would even consider to be a spiritual successor would be ELO. I do think you’re downplaying Jeff Lynne lyrical abilities, some of my favorite ELO albums, Time and Eldorado, have some pretty good lyrics. And while I do think the Beatles were great lyricists, Jeff isn’t too far from that level. But I agree with everything else you said.
It was recently announced that Jeff Lynne’s ELO is doing their farewell tour so I would highly recommend to anyone to get tickets if they can and want to.
Mr Blue Sky is greatly inspired by the middle part of A Day In The Life, as Paul reminded Jeff Lynne early in their relationship, for which he was not thanked.
ELO was explicitly formed with the vision of combining the sound of the Beatles (what we now call pop music) with orchestral arrangements. They soon progressed to heavy synth use as well, but point being – not only did John Lennon say it, ELO did too!
Even John has said this!
We have a wooden mid-century-modern dresser, and the guy at the place we got it from swears it belonged to someone from ELO.
The Rutles
The Shitty Beatles
The Beatles are the shitty Rutles
I'm referring to a different band. Unfortunately, they suck.
https://youtu.be/mPIpeW581rE?si=RhnA81Jott3qBtLm
So, it’s not just a clever name.
Are they any good?
They any good?
Mostly because of the trousers
XTC
Had to shuffle past all the ELOs to find this!! "I hear a dandelion's roar in Piccadilly Circus!"
This is the answer. And the fact that it's not the top answer is proof that more people need to listen to XTC.
Even if it were the top answer, more people need to listen to XTC.
Any advice on albums to start with? I see they have quite a few.
English Settlement and Skylarking. If you like the first, continue with Black Sea and Drums and Wires. If you like Skylarking, just go forwards chronologically. But they‘re all great!
Thanks! I noticed they're all pretty well-rated on my usual source, so this helps.
If you could only buy one record, I'd buy Skylarking. Twice.
I think The Big Express is a great follow up (even though it came first). Then I'd get Oranges & Lemons. Then English Settlement. Every other record you can get as you find which of those three 'sounds' you like best.
XTC it is. Must mention their Dukes of Stratosphear venture as well. It’s an incredible dip into 60’s psychedelia done to perfection. What a band.
Best answer, closest a band has ever gotten to the Beatles.
Thank you for mentioning them! I love the guys from Swindon, every Beatles fan should definitely check them out.
John Lennon would've loved "Dear God" :(
ELO, and Queen. Both were obsessive about the studio, and pushing what could be done to the limits.
It saddens me that Queen get the level of hate they do. Whatever the justified irritation at the ubiquity of their big songs on the radio, they were an incredibly talented and innovative group of musicians who produced some truly incredible music.
It's a bit of a cliché, but I suspect the people who slag them off probably haven't engaged with their 70s work, which is really diverse and interesting. And, quite frankly, even their poppier stuff from the 80s is generally very good.
For sure, I appreciate their style isn't to everybody's taste, but like the Beatles I hold that there's something in there for everyone.
Yeah I'd agree with that too.
The only contemporary band I'd say has some of that DNA in it is certain Arctic Monkeys songs. Not from the AM album, but other parts of their discography. Probably from the heavy Rubber Soul influence and John Lennon's solo career. Alex Turner is a really strong lyricist at times too.
The Stone Roses were slated to be successors, but their contract completely screwed them from making music until 5 years after their debut.
Badfinger
I think people listen to the first two badfinger albums and see a Beatles granny music clone band. They should listen to Wish You Were Here, their masterpiece, it was created in 1974, and an song from that album is far better, far more interesting and far more unique than say Come And Get It
I could see this for "No Dice," but "Straight Up" hits pretty hard. Totally agree "Wish You Were Here" is their best album (although I think my favorite songs are on "Straight Up") and it's easily their most underrated/ underplayed material.
Great band.
I think their lead singer sounds exactly like Paul sometimes. I hear it really clearly on the song Day After Day. Their overall sound is very beatlesque too.
Oh they sound just like John and Paul at times.
Big Star
Scrolled too damn long for this one!
This is the answer I was looking for.
Big Star were an amazing band and their songs are top shelf, especially songs like “September Gurls”, “Thirteen”, “The Ballad of El Goodo” and a bunch of others.
Radiohead
This is my thought too. They don’t really “sound” Beatle-ish, but their pushing the envelope sonically and lyrically reminds me of the Beatles. Each album feels like it’s breaking new ground.
Radiohead to me is the only band besides The Beatles that is that famous while also evolving so radically. Pablo Honey vs King of Limbs is just as radical a shift as Please Please Me vs The White Album.
This is the answer for me.
Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood are still making brilliant music in 2024.
This is way too far down
Yeah, depending on the album, Radiohead is sort of like if you mixed the later eras of The Beatles with Smashing Pumpkins’ softer songs.
I think the Beatles were the end of an era. Those that came after were of a different ilk.
4 strong personalities and musicians, with each going his own way afterwards....
the sum was always greater than the individual parts, and that's okay
I wouldnt say always greater, RAM is better than most Beatles albums
You're mad.
The Beatles were a one off, nobody had come close to what they managed to achieve, but they inspired other bands, after them. Spiritual successors, the who, , queen , ELO, all big in the 70s.
I’d say there were other bands who achieved greatness and inspired others on a similar level to the Beatles but in their own ways, and they still weren’t nearly as huge as the Beatles were especially during Beatlemania. Honestly, the only musicians who are really even comparable in terms of Beatlemania popularity and ubiquity amongst the general public would be composers like Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.
So, putting aside Beatlemania levels of popularity, you have bands like Pink Floyd during the Roger-led era, Led Zeppelin (depending on who you ask), Smashing Pumpkins at their peak in the mid-90s, Metallica was huge for a while (ironically after their best albums), David Bowie was massively influential to musicians even if only some of his albums are popular with the general public, etc.
i see the only band that fits the bill, as usual, gets no respect
https://youtu.be/3YQb-0P320s?si=Z9qjk0iI7oslSsAi
https://youtu.be/LPRrHyXchEY?si=g4uJ1GQ3LXJuErto
I'd say Elliott Smith is a real contender for Beatle successor. He took such a great amount of influence from them, but really created his own sonic mood/universe instead of sounding "Beatle-y but less than" like so many others. The amount of truly excellent songs in his catalogue is kind of bonkers, too.
It’s an interesting question without an answer, but these guys come the closest for me.
The relentless touring for years long before they were really successful, which turned them into a great band.
The evolving sound and refusal to write songs like they’d already done. Or even use their typical instruments, switching around to shake things up.
The decade of bizarre art films instead of normal music videos because they refused to do a typical 80s music video.
The studio experimentation. Some of the sounds on those early albums and how they achieved them are just great stories.
The yearly Christmas singles that echoed the Beatles. Has any other band sent out fan club Christmas singles for more than 20 years?
Stopping touring at the top to just make albums. They didn’t tour either of their biggest records.
Walking away on their own terms and doing exactly what they want today, which is make music and art as individuals.
Remaining friends, and working together, while continuing to insist the band is done and they’re good with that.
REM is so Beatley without trying to be Beatley. I think it stems from Peter Bucks understated jangly guitar and Mike Mills bouncing melodic bass and incredible high harmonies. It’s like George and Paul-lite alongside Michael Stipe.
I recently met Peter Buck and he said the Ed Sullivan appearance is what got him into music.
Pete’s guitar sounds more like Roger McGuinn’s
McGinnis based his guitar style on Harrison, among others.
It's weird to see Michael stipe with hair
Which band is this?
REM
I didn't know either. I'm like, if that's REM, where is the bald guy?
I hate when people just post a photo and don’t say who it is! Some people are face-blind and can’t tell. Plus you’re making it impossible to search for anything.
Was my answer as well. Plus Buck loves a weird stringed instrument as much as Harrison did.
XTC
The Ramones - four white guys, same clothes, dark hair, joyous music. And their name comes from Paul Ramon - McCartney's fake name on the early Scottish tour.
(added later) And the Ramones music had the same impact on the audience as the Beatles' when they returned to Liverpool from Hamburg - intense, pounding, no one had ever heard anything like this.
Little Feat - Their name is spelled as it is as a Beatles reference. Martin Kibbee (songwriter) adopted the name "Fred Martin" so when he wrote songs with Lowell George the credit read "George - Martin."
I did not know this
Well there’s a great fact that I never knew!
I must be a big fan then
Yes! Everyone has been naming Beatlesque groups, but in a weird way, Ramones totally make sense! They were really a true "band" with 4 distinct members that each had different personalities & different writing styles. They inspired countless imitators of their image and sound worldwide (still to this day).
Yeah, Some of these other groups were related to the later Beatles. The Ramones stem from the early Beatles. It’s interesting that Deedee knew about the Paul Ramon story in 1974.
These are two of my favorite bands of all time, but musically they don't have much in common with the Beatles.