Zeppelin or The Beatles?

**Mr Janny** · 10-10-2011, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

Then, by your standards, Beatles >>>>>>> Zep

I have no standards, other than the universal truth that the first 90 seconds of "When the Levee Breaks" is a better piece of music than anything ever sung, played, hummed, recorded or conceived by any member of the Beatles.(That includes Pete Best)

**Mr Janny** · 10-10-2011, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by herbicide

Fail:

Traveling Riverside Blues - YouTube

The "Lemon Song" is basically a collage (a very good one, btw) of the grandaddy of the blues, Robert Johnson. Most of it is taken from this song though, including the most famous line. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but:

1. Zep never really gave credit for it, and acted for the most part like they came up with it.
2. More importantly, in this contest Zep is matched up with what are considered two of the best songwriters in history.

1. So what? That just proves that Zep can not only play their own songs better than the Beatles, but they can play other peoples songs better than them, too.

2. "Ten Years Gone" rhymes just as well. Feel free to substitute it for the purposes of my parody.

**herbicide** · 10-10-2011, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

I have no standards, other than the universal truth that the first 90 seconds of "When the Levee Breaks" is a better piece of music than anything ever sung, played, hummed, recorded or conceived by any member of the Beatles.(That includes Pete Best)

I see your Levee and raise you "A Day in the Life's" intermission.

**CLONEing around** · 10-10-2011, 10:07 PM

This isn't even close. The Beatles moved music forward more than any other band before or since. There is no disputing that Zep is one of the greatest bands of all time. But the Beatles are THE greatest band of all time. Any way you measure it. Sales, critical acclaim, influence, they are at the top of the heap. And nobody has even mentioned their two best albums, Rubber Soul and Revolver.

**DistrictCyclone** · 10-10-2011, 10:25 PM

Apples and Oranges. Zeppelin were better musicians, had better live shows, improvised better, and played with more moxie and energy than the Beatles ever could. But the Beatles were far better songwriters, revolutionized popular music in a few short years, were undeniably original, and are arguably the single most influential act in history.

Depending on which measures you choose, either is better. Choosing those measures is an inherently subjective exercise, so there's no way to definitively say who is "better".

**Wx4Cy** · 10-10-2011, 10:28 PM

Both. different music and different eras. Cant really compare. Kinda like comparing walter johnson and nolan ryan. Cant choose just take both because both were awesome.

**herbicide** · 10-10-2011, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by DistrictCyclone

Apples and Oranges. Zeppelin were better musicians, had better live shows, improvised better, and played with more moxie and energy than the Beatles ever could. But the Beatles were far better songwriters, revolutionized popular music in a few short years, were undeniably original, and are arguably the single most influential act in history.

Depending on which measures you choose, either is better. Choosing those measures is an inherently subjective exercise, so there's no way to definitively say who is "better".

Originally Posted by Wx4Cy

Both. different music and different eras. Cant really compare. Kinda like comparing walter johnson and nolan ryan. Cant choose just take both because both were awesome.

How dare you two introduce logic into a kick-*** debate about two of the most awesome bands to grace the face of the earth.

**Mr Janny** · 10-10-2011, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by herbicide

I see your Levee and raise you "A Day in the Life's" intermission.

That ostentatious piece of crap? What is it? Just a big crescendo followed by one repeated note and an alarm clock. Is it even music?

Look, I'll boil this down for everyone. It's pretty simple.

The people who listened to the Beatles when they were young, grew up to become our mothers.
The people who listened to Led Zeppelin when they were young, grew up to **** our mothers.

That should just about put this thing to bed.

**MeanDean** · 10-10-2011, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by herbicide

Fail:

Traveling Riverside Blues - YouTube

The "Lemon Song" is basically a collage (a very good one, btw) of the grandaddy of the blues, Robert Johnson. Most of it is taken from this song though, including the most famous line. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but:

1. Zep never really gave credit for it, and acted for the most part like they came up with it.
2. More importantly, in this contest Zep is matched up with what are considered two of the best songwriters in history.

3. Zep "stole" Dazed and Confused" from Jake Holmes. Even got a copywrite... somehow?!? Their signature tune, ripped off! That would be like the Beatles being known for Twist and Shout and claiming they wrote it. Isley Brothers who???

**MeanDean** · 10-10-2011, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

That ostentatious piece of crap? What is it? Just a big crescendo followed by one repeated note and an alarm clock. Is it even music?

Look, I'll boil this down for everyone. It's pretty simple.

The people who listened to the Beatles when they were young, grew up to become our mothers.
The people who listened to Led Zeppelin when they were young, grew up to **** our mothers.

That should just about put this thing to bed.

Huh? No guys listened to the Beatles? No women liked LZ? No lezzie ****ed my mama!

**herbicide** · 10-10-2011, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

That ostentatious piece of crap? What is it? Just a big crescendo followed by one repeated note and an alarm clock. Is it even music?

Look, I'll boil this down for everyone. It's pretty simple.

The people who listened to the Beatles when they were young, grew up to become our mothers.
The people who listened to Led Zeppelin when they were young, grew up to **** our mothers.

That should just about put this thing to bed.

What about those who grew up well beyond their era, and listen to them both? Pearl Jam had a song about it I think

**herbicide** · 10-10-2011, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by MeanDean

3. Zep "stole" Dazed and Confused" from Jake Holmes. Even got a copywrite... somehow?!? Their signature tune, ripped off! That would be like the Beatles being known for Twist and Shout and claiming they wrote it. Isley Brothers who???

Dazed and Confused? Stairway (although not anywhere near my favorite). Everybody knows Twist was Isley Bro's, Led got/gets a whole lot of criticism for taking from earlier music with no cred due.

**MeanDean** · 10-10-2011, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

No, just no.

that's great that you want to put 60's bands against them, but Zep is primarily a 70's band. Their best stuff didn't hit until then. Their early stuff is definitely a British take on American blues. They played classic blues songs. But, rock and roll is built on covers and derivation.

The Beatles got popular playing bubblegum songs for school girls before branching out. This method was recently rechristened "Timberlaking".

Zep may have borrowed from Willie Dixon, but at least their early stuff is listenable.

Huh? Early Beatles played covers of R&B, Soul AND Pop. Ever heard of Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Chan Romero, Buddy Holly, Larry Williams, Arthur Alexander, Little Richard? These were their primary influences.

You think the Beatles are not as good because you dismiss their early work, but excuse the early work of Zep because they hadn't developed their rock and roll (best stuff) till later. Flawed logic.

**Mr Janny** · 10-10-2011, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by MeanDean

Huh? Early Beatles played covers of R&B, Soul AND Pop. Ever heard of Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Chan Romero, Buddy Holly, Larry Williams, Arthur Alexander, Little Richard? These were their primary influences.

You think the Beatles are not as good because you dismiss their early work, but excuse the early work of Zep because they hadn't developed their rock and roll (best stuff) till later. Flawed logic.

No, no, no. You misunderstand. I'm not excusing anything by Zep. They hit their stride with III, but those first two albums are still amazing.

Here's how it breaks down.

Led Zeppelin (III and beyond) >>>>> Led Zeppelin (I & II) >>>>>> Beatles (Rubber Soul and beyond) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Beatles (Pre-Rubber Soul)

**cyfan15** · 10-10-2011, 11:30 PM

It's hard to compare because they played different kinds of music and Led Zeppelin had a more advanced starting point. When the Beatles started out, it was all about singles, and recording was done on two (later four) track tape. Albums were just a couple singles plus a bunch of filler. The Beatles were one of the first bands to actually put much time into albums songs. In fact, most of their albums didn't include any singles and still sold well based on their popularity and the quality of the music. By the time of Rubber Soul, the album became considered a piece of art by itself.

The Beatles transitioned from pop/love songs to more serious music to psychedelic music to all-out rock in a period of about seven years. I often wonder what they would have sounded like with modern recording equipment instead of four-track tape.