Hi,  Dad F. !    

     Of course I expected a Beatles defense esp., & do understand all of your points...   But:  really,  we're not disagreeing much at all--  except in our appreciation of Beatles music per se.
Your point/ defense is essentially how significant & ground-breaking they were--  but the question was,  were they over-rated or not based upon their rep.  I never did say they "suck" or were worthless--  like I did the others!  But my point was a different one,  that I feel you are tacitly agreeing to:  that other/ contemporary bands of the time were "better":  more talented,  less commercial & more creative, better instrumentalists,  etc.  Sounds like you might agree that bands like Cream, Stones, Kinks, Jimi H., & Led Zep.,   etc.,  were "better"/  more impressive,  & made "greater" music  (as I believe). The debt/ "paving the way" issue is something else...  but the best work of Jimi & Stones & Floyd & Cream slays any Beatles songs I've ever heard!  ("I am the Walrus!!  Koo- Koo- Ka- Choo!",   over and over again,  annoys me to heck!  "We all live in a Yellow Submarine!!"--  ditto!    

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DF:  ever heard the Stones "Satanic Majesties Request?"   It's essentially their half-tounge-in-cheek tribute to/  parody of the Beatles  (musically it's in their style)...  and it's an amazing/  awesome album!  (Better than any Beatles stuff--  of course IMHO!).   First song is one of their all- time best that most know:  "She's a Rainbow"   The rest of the Album is non- commercial/ experimental/ "concept"...  & "psychedelic..."   & so the critics & public panned or ignored it.  I'd be curious if you've heard it...  & how favorably you'd compare it to the "best" of the Beatles?
Final point on the Stones:   much has been said about the over- rated talent level of Keith & the band--  that they're instrumentally nothing special/ "over-rated".  True fans know who the musically "genius" Stones were--  as these guys produced the Stones very best Albums/ music:  I'm talking about Brian Jones  (RIP)...   & Mick Taylor--  one of the best Guitar Players in Rock history!  "Sticky Fingers..."  "Goats Head Soup..."  "It's Only Rock & Roll..."  "Exile on Main St..."   THESE are the musically superior Stones Albums,  that I claim "better" than the Beatles best!   Enjoy!   
