re: Who has the more diverse, detailed music? Steely Dan vs. Led Zepplin, Beatles, etc

quote:

---

Zep would be the better musicians

---

Difficult to imagine a rock band with more talented musicians, man-for-man. The songwriting was relatively unimaginative - Page somewhat infamously ripped off every great blues man he could find. Lyrically, Plant could approach greatness at times. While more of a vocal stylist than a strong singer, at times, when he was younger, he could deliver his lyrics powerfully.

quote:

---

Beatles would have the better lyrics and vocals

---

Yeah - the Beatles (and they were caught doing ripoffs too, but mostly early) had 3 legitimate songwriters who were also legitimate lead singers. For platinum sellers, I think we have to get to Fleetwood Mac to approach that level of talent in those 2 key areas.

quote:

---

The doors kinda suck

---

I can't agree with this, but they are overrated. Morrison wasn't much of a singer - but his lyrics were genius at times. The End is a masterpiece, but their work did not have the breadth or depth of Zeppelin or The Beatles, heck not even the Stones or The Who for my money.

quote:

---

I think Steely Dan are better studio musicians than any of them. Gaucho was perfection

---

I would be remiss (and we're still fairly close on the heels of Becker's passing) - Steely Dan wasn't really a "band" - it was an abstract musical concept surrounding Becker and Fagan - they were excellent in the studio because they hired the best studio musicians available. And guys who actually passed through the band were of the caliber of Skunk Baxter, Denny Dias - really top flight guys who were also great session musicians for others.

Main difference between Steely Dan and, say, The Beach Boys or any number of west coast rock and middle America R&B acts of the '60s and '70s is that Steely Dan wasn't afraid to say, "Yeah, we work with Skunk, Denny, Jim Gordon, Jeff Porcaro - we want the best."

A lot of those other folks used session musicians who largely labored in anonymity (the so-called Wrecking Crew, the Swampers, etc.).