R & R Hall of Fame Beach Boys and Beatles

The closest band America had to the Beatles was The Beach Boys. Their albums loaded with hot rods and hot bods, hang tens, and perfect tens were the vinyl embodiment to the American dream; the reason the west coast had a music scene. And then there was Pet Sounds, an album more introspective than Pavlov, Freud, and Maslow. Brian Wilson’s production was equal to Phil Spector’s and the subject matter was a lot more interesting. Only Beatles producer George Martin had as worthy material, and he did not write his. Unfortunately in the later tours, Mike Love was the Beach Boys frontman, but at least the vibes were good.

The Beatles had us at Meet the Beatles. This band single-handedly wrote the book by which all other artists are judged. Prior to their invasion lyrics were always verse chorus, verse chorus, verse chorus (AB AB AB). The Beatles songs tended to have a bridge or bridges and at times began with the chorus. Their lyrics were often in the third person unlike the traditional first and second person lyrics. They could sing and write songs about anything, cellophane flowers, Yellow Submarines, Octopus’s Gardens, Magical Mystery Tours, circus flyers, and multi-colored mirrors on hobnail boots. All members of the band could sing songs and play instruments. For many years, all rock bands were molded in their image, only recently have they returned to banging the drums with the bass and away from the Fab Four’s backbeat. The focus is now dance oriented songs as opposed to mind oriented music. The Beatles were lyrically and musically creative. If only today’s bands would strive for one of the two they would succeed. The impact of the Beatle’s break-up is even unequaled. Not even Pink Floyd fans with their one missing link can relate. And what happened to our belief that all we need is love?