Quote thingy not working again - what roo said about who knows where music would have been
The beatles did two main things, imo.
Utilised new available technologies in recording.
Drew from multiple genres, globally and historically.
Both of these are really as a result of technology: if its there we will use it. What its orgininally for may not be what we use it for.
Overdubbing, and comercially available international travel, ease of availability of both print and recorded music: all were new or exploding then.
Point is, someone else (and indeed many others did) would use these to make new music, the same way information technology is doing a similar thing now (the era of the semi-pro sounding home studio and libraries of music of any sort that only the filthy rich or long lived music lover could or would have before is upon us). The influence, good or bad, stems from travel and cultural exchange and better electronics, and the vacuum would have been filled by someone.
Alright, that last part is conjecture, but its highly likely.
And OK, the beatles *did* do it, but that doesnt mean that we owe modern music to them. I'd rather make the case for Les Paul, for doing most of the work to make multitrack recording, for example.
