Hi Adam. I agree with Bryer about the Who. I remember back in 1964 liking their song Can't Explain. And they were a highlight for me with their music. There is a good quality video of them performing the song on youtube. Its in black and white. It shows the Mod scene with fans of the group dancing . I love that.
Some tough picks. Elton John vs. Billy Joel is a hard one. I’d probably go with Elton John but it’s close. I’d have to go with Paul McCartney though. He just has too many amazing albums.
Beach Boys or The Monkees. The Beach Boys. Just for Brian Wilson's amazing songs and arrangements. And as you say, "Pet Sounds". Led Zeppelin or The Who. Tough one. Both have the best vocalists and guitar, bass and drum players ever. Based on their catalog, Led Zeppelin. Aerosmith or AC/DC. Aerosmith has a better vocalist. AC/DC have the best album, "Back In Black". I'll go with AC'DC, mainly cause of Bon Scott. ABBA or The Mamas And The Papas. I choose ABBA. The two writers/ producers in ABBA are incredible writers and arrangers. Fleetwood Mac or Heart. Ann Wilson from Heart is a great vocalist. I'll go with Fleetwood Mac. Great overall group sound. And "Rumours". The Byrds or the Eagles. The Byrds made great innovations. But, I'll go with the Eagles. "Hotel California" and "Desperado" are seminal works. Foreigner or Journey. Journey had a great lead vocalist, Steve Perry. Foreigner has a few great albums, Journey has more, especially "Escape". ELO or The Kinks. ELO has many great albums, and Jeff Lynne is a great writer/ singer. But, The Kinks had Ray Davies. One of the greats.
Elton John or Billy Joel. Billy Joel had a great run from '76 - '86. But, Elton John had many more great albums. Elton John is one my favorites. Billy Joel or Roy Orbison. Roy Orbison is one of the great vocalists. But, Billy Joel has a much better catalog. Billy Joel. Little Richard or Chuck Berry. Little Richard was a great vocalist/ piano player. While Chuck Berry pretty much invented rock music. Chuck Berry. Neil Young or Joni Mitchell. Joni has one of the best albums by a female artist, "Blue". But, Neil Young is a much greater overall artist. Neil Young. Phil Collins or Peter Gabriel. Peter Gabriel is a far better innovator and writer. But, I like Phil Collins' more MOR sound better. I choose Phil Collins. Bob Dylan or Paul Simon. Paul Simon is great. But, Bob Dylan is one of the G.O.A.T.s. Only Lennon/ McCartney top him as a songwriter. Celine Dion or Whitney Houston. I say Mariah Carey. ha! Both Celine and Whitney are/ were great vocalists. But, neither wrote. I'll go with Celine. John Lennon or Paul McCartney. Tough one. John had a more emotional singing style. Paul has better melodies, and had a longer career. A tie!
