Vince Calandra - on the Beatles' first US TV appearance

[slownoman]

Elvis was NOT a solo act. He fronted a band. Scotty Moore sound familiar. He was king of the fifties because of racist. Chuck Berry, who wrote great songs, kicked Elvis' ass. As far as the most influential act, the most popular, the most creative. No contest. The Beatles. Every time they reissue something, it goes to number one. Elvis was a white man covering black music, and his peak was from '55 to '59. He died a fat over the hill vegas lounge lizard.

[alltruenatural]

3:58 "Jesus Christ what is going on, this is frightening" LOL LMAO...classic.

[geekman127]

george cloony?

[ricorico33]

Much bigger than elvis, michael jackson, queen, abba, led zeppelin, frank sinatra and any any any other artist ever walked t on the earth.

[karlakor]

@ricorico33 Throughout music history there have been performers whose popularity and fame equaled that of the Beatles. Franz Liszt was the greatest pianist of his day, possibly the greatest in history, and women didn't throw roses, they threw their jewels onto the stage when he played. Mass hysteria followed him everywhere he went, and he drove his audiences to sheer madness. Every composer and performer acknowledged that Liszt was KING.

[psst67]

NOPE.... not even 4 to one, Elvis WIns!!! I sure wish that I would find SOMEONE to point out that the late Paul Catalana brought the Beatles to the west coast ,San Francisco, etc. 1965,1966! He followed with The Rolling Stones, Dave clark 5, Peter Noone "Herman's Herments", and many more! Does anyone Remember?!

[dlc54]

How hurt would Brian Epstein have felt when Sullivan told him to, "Get Lost"

Sad...

[Mpen65]

I believe the Beatles tower over everyone combined; Stones, MJ, etc. But over the years you have to give Elvis the dignity that without him there probably wouldn't have been the Beatles, or they would have been radically different without him. But are they bigger than Elvis, hell yeah. Beatlemania started in 1964 and they broke up, essentially in 1969. In 5 years they built a body of music that can't be duplicated before or since. In 1964 they held the top 5 spots on billboards 100.

[ukfan15]

The beatles were 4, Elvis was 1. Explain that one!

[NonStopRocker]

That means there were 3 more Beatles than Elvis...

[darius595]

elvis sang hey jude, let it be and something. john lennon sang hound dog. elvis was the king of rock and roll. the beatles invented rock music.

[phillydog77]

Very insightful. It's wonderful. Thank you.

[IIBeto]

Elvis is the King, but the beatles were a phenomeno. sorry for my poor english.

[hayabusafmw]

elvis never wrote a song himself he is the KING OF KARAOKE....

he has a strong voice

but the beatles are the KINGS

even elvis knew it & said it lol

[vegardertilbake1]

Oh yes I so agree. Ive been arguing about that so many times. Elvis were great, but just as an artist, the beatles were much greater in many ways

[TheFracturedCrew]

THANK YOU!

[badtown88]

So true. That's how to shut up a person who thinks Elvis is better than the Beatles. Just ask them how many songs Elvis wrote.

[sapphiretaurus]

They were also four human beings who were very talented musicians, singers, and songwriters.

[gpliao]

elvis: innovator of solo acts

beatles: innovators for pop groups

[5inthehole]

The funny thing about that is; Elvis really shouldn't even be considered "The King" as he first performed for Sam Phillips of Sun Records in 1955 where as Little Richard, the true founder of american Rock n roll, had been record music since late 1953. Infact Elvis "Covered" many of the songs Little Richard had already sang, such as Tutti Frutti and Clawdy Miss Lawdy, for example.

[ub2outhall]

Regardless of what you thik if Elvis was better or not. The fact is Elivis felt the Beatles were a threat to him, thats way he tried to get them banned.

[bsond]

some sill arguments on here!?

It's like arguing that blue is a better colour than red or the other way round etc..

There are probably lot's of little points you could argue either way but the fact is Elvis was absolutely fantastic and so were the beatles.

[Marcoj24]

I think the were much bigger than elvis

[nickbutane56]

It's idiotic to compare Elvis with the Beatles, Elvis was bigger than any one of them individually. As one of the group pointed out if someone didn't like one they still had three others to enjoy. Without the influence of Elvis I, personally, doubt Lennon would've been as aroused by rock as he was. It's sheer ignorance to downplay Presley's influence as inconsequential in history.

[prosteelheader]

bigger than elvis... he was right!!!

[Velvet4U]

But he was a terrible business man.

Why? Because the Beatles could have made more money than anyone would have believed. Brian did the negotiations also.

Also they had no control over the marketing of the many "Beatle toys and other items"

[Charleybones]

Well,

Brian Epstein was a great promotions person, and he was in general a great business person too. It helped that he was booking the greatest band in the history of rock. But back then, toys, t-shirts and other mass produced commercialized items (outside of records) were not as big as they became. Brian missed the boat on that because up until then the money earned from such things was nominal.

[Pedrooch]

If he was right, than why has Elvis sold more records than the Beatles.

[kemress]

Because he hasn't.

[dunskie]

Epstein was such a great manager.