Len Fehskens wrote:

>Bert Bailey, in a moment of indiscretion, writes:
>
>>For all the huge fun they gave us and their undeniable talent, as Pete
>>Townshend once said: "The Beatles rate in rock music right beside Herman's
>>Hermits" ...or words to that effect.
>
>For all that I respect Townshend's own work, he's really off base on this
>one.  The Beatles' complete output is far more distingushed than that of
>Herman's Hermits.

I think you miss the thrust.  His remark attempts to put the Beatles in
perspective:  barring a few superb, mostly early forays (Money, Twist &
Shout, Dizzy Missy Lizzy), the Beatles were central to pop music but _very_
peripheral to rock n'roll, which went near dormant during their reign.  For
that, in the 60s, we must look to others.

Mind you, you did smell the rat of a put-down from a confirmed rock 'n
roller, and I wouldn't take issue.  That said, it's neither here nor there
if Townshend did cast a slur, as his distinction stands:  "Love me Do,"
"Michelle," and "The Long & Winding Road" -- and most of what happened in
between -- are _not_ rock 'n roll.  While far better, I agree, than "Mrs.
Brown you've got an Ugly Daughter," and "Leaning on a Lamppost," they're of
the same ilk.

Be that as it may, the question concerning us on this list, of course,
remains:  might McCartney's extraordinary talents lend themselves to CM? I
guess we'll just have to stay tuned...

Bert