Two weeks ago marked the 40th anniversary of the Beatles’ stateside arrival and subsequent and now-historic Ed Sullivan performance. Their U.S. appearance also helped further the British Invasion into American musical culture, bringing us an abundance of tunes by groups and artists such as Them, The Dakotas, Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Bee Gees, Donovan, and The Rolling Stones.

While, at least in the beginning, the Beatles displayed a clean-cut, wholesome image, the Stones were pure anti-establishment – refusing to wear matching suits, trashing hotel rooms, blatant substance abuse, etc. But, like the Beatles, they too sold stacks of wax, even if their lyrics had to be edited (Let’s Spend Some Time Together versus Let’s Spend the Night Together) before their Ed Sullivan performances. And the band’s longevity proves their popularity was more than just a fad.

Around the turn of the century – 2000, not 1900 – many “best of” lists popped up, ranking everything from movies to songs to albums to bands. Magazines, radio stations, news magazines – among others – all participated in this ranking biz. It seemed, when either the Beatles or the Stones was named Best Band, the other was at the top of Best Album or Best Song.

But lists, like most things, are not perfect, In fact, most forgot a noteworthy feat by a 1970s rock group that featured a former Beatle. The group was Paul McCartney & Wings, and their accomplishment, among many, was the most albums sold collectively.

And then you’ve got to consider The Eagles, whose first greatest hits compilation has sold approximately 28 million copies, more than any other single album in music history.

And then there’s Canadian rockers The Guess Who, whose "American Woman" – as Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Lester Bangs said in "Almost Famous: The Bootleg Version" (and I’m paraphrasing here) – is the best piece of gobbledygook there is. Well, Tommy Hilfiger thought so, too. So did Lenny Kravitz and director Jay Roach (Austin Powers). Never mind the group only managed one dually popular 45, versus the library produced by the Beatles and the Stones. (Yeah, baby!)

So, just remember: the Beatles may wanna hold your hand, and the Stones may want to spend the night with you, but Sir Paul can still sing you some silly love songs, the Eagles swear their gonna find you one of these nights, and that American woman will still mess your mind.

Can you dig it? 'One, two, three, FOUR! . . .'

Copyright © 2004, Talia M. Wilson
published in Cooper Point Journal, Feb. 26, 2004

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