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