Elvis, was he the best????

thesurfer
thesurfer Posts: 574
edited April 2011 in Music & Movies
Friend brought this up, started a big debate, told them id take it to the forum i belong to, Get some real music lovers thoughts on this, What say you all???
Not an Audiophile, just a dude who loves music, and decent gear to hear it with.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,457
    edited April 2011
    I am not much of an Elvis fan, but on many levels, the answer would be that he is in the top ten for sure. As far as being an inspiration to others, every rocker that came up behind him wanted to BE Elvis, including John Lennon.(imho, the greatest)
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  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited April 2011
    Was he the best? Absolutely not.

    However, his influence on popular music is unquestioned. I believe it was John Lennon who said, "Before Elvis, there was nothing."
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited April 2011
    Definitely legendary, but I've never been a fan.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,329
    edited April 2011
    Danny Tse wrote: »
    Was he the best? Absolutely not.

    However, his influence on popular music is unquestioned. I believe it was John Lennon who said, "Before Elvis, there was nothing."

    Agreed!!!! I would also add that he might be the first to crossover genres of music and be successful doing so..
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  • jmwest1970
    jmwest1970 Posts: 846
    edited April 2011
    He's definitely one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. I am a fan, but I wouldn't consider him as the best. I'd say top 20 in my book.
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited April 2011
    Well,Elvis is the best to a lot of people,I like Elvis. his movies and his music. There were a rivalry, between James Brown the King of soul and Elvis the king of rock n Roll, back in the day. There also, was a "rumor" that came out in the Black Community, that Elvis said,the only thing a black person could do for him, is to shine his shoes.. Although, I heard that all the time growing up,I never cease to listen to his music.I'm a person that always maintain my individuality.I don't follow something because it's popular ,I make up my own mine. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Presley and will always like his concerts(I have a tape called, this is Elvis,love it).My co-workers are surprise at all the variety of music that I have,being a James Brown fanatic.When they come to my house, I play what they like,not what I like. They bought me a coffee cup that says "I FEEL GOOD" that was very kind of them to do that for me.I'm proud to say, Mr. James Brown is my best artist.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2011
    maybe the best of his era.. the 50's... beyond that.. the Beatles were the best.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited April 2011
    danger boy wrote: »
    maybe the best of his era.. the 50's... beyond that.. the Beatles were the best.
    That I have to agree with.

    As pointed out earlier, "the best" is very subjective. Elvis also had movies playing for his fame. One thing I can say for sure many artists that came after him don't come any close to his level. However, many good ones also came afterward but "the best" would be depending on one's personal liking. Again, to each one their own.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited April 2011
    No .
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2011
    Elvis is way overrated.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited April 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Elvis is way overrated.
    Surely because there is a lot more women on this planet than men, right? :wink:
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  • kappclark
    kappclark Posts: 136
    edited April 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Elvis is way overrated.

    Beach boys - 36 Top 40 hits

    Beatles - 52 Top 40 Hits

    Four Tops - 24 Top 40 Hits

    Aretha Franklin - 35 Top 40 Hits

    Madonna - 40 Top 40 hits



    Elvis Presley -- 114 Top 40 Hits

    over 2 times the Beatles !! That says something, doesn't it ?? I am not a big Elvis fan, but he is the king in this regard !
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  • Bababouey
    Bababouey Posts: 129
    edited April 2011
    Elvis was a great interpreter of songs..he was not and never will be The King Of Rock and Roll.
    I save that title for Chuck Berry.
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited April 2011
    kappclark wrote: »
    Beach boys - 36 Top 40 hits

    Beatles - 52 Top 40 Hits

    Four Tops - 24 Top 40 Hits

    Aretha Franklin - 35 Top 40 Hits

    Madonna - 40 Top 40 hits



    Elvis Presley -- 114 Top 40 Hits

    over 2 times the Beatles !! That says something, doesn't it ?? I am not a big Elvis fan, but he is the king in this regard !

    James Brown had over 100 charted singles and 44 top forty songs beginning with "Think" in 1960 and ending with "Living in America" in 1986. but, without significant"Top 40 airplay". The records sold extremely well, only because of the strength of "SALES" in the Black community,on the RnB charts. He never had a number 1 pop hit,due to lack of top 40 airplay,(they wouldn't play his records on pop radio), but over 17 number 1 RnB hit songs.Most people know,"I feel Good and Papa's got a brand new bag".Although,he created his own sound "funk", Again, Lack of top 40 airplay, hurt him.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2011
    kappclark wrote: »
    Beach boys - 36 Top 40 hits

    Beatles - 52 Top 40 Hits

    Four Tops - 24 Top 40 Hits

    Aretha Franklin - 35 Top 40 Hits

    Madonna - 40 Top 40 hits



    Elvis Presley -- 114 Top 40 Hits

    over 2 times the Beatles !! That says something, doesn't it ?? I am not a big Elvis fan, but he is the king in this regard !

    I'm not really into Top40 music so the list is meaningless to me.
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  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited April 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Elvis is way overrated.

    As are The Beatles, The Who, Grateful Dead, Led Zep, Rolling Stones, Metallica, etc...the list goes well beyond just Elvis.

    And to answer the question, no, he wasn't.
    If...
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2011
    Lady Gaga is the king :rolleyes:

    and Elton John is the Queen! :tongue:
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,329
    edited April 2011
    danger boy wrote: »
    Lady Gaga is the king :rolleyes:

    and Elton John is the Queen! :tongue:

    Haha!!! Agreed!!! And I like them both better then Elvis.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited April 2011
    I wouldn't say "the best" or my favorite. He was extremely talented in many ways (except as a song writer). I think his Sun Sessions recordings are phenominal though! Take a listen to his version of "Blue Moon" on the Sun Sessions! The mood is just amazing.

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited April 2011
    Echo the comments of The Best being highly subjective. It boils down to a matter of taste. He is top five in my opinion. He paved the way for everyone else. In that regard I would have to say he beats whoever comes in second place. :cool:
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited April 2011
    Elvis? Yes. The best clown I ever saw.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited April 2011
    thesurfer wrote: »
    Friend brought this up, started a big debate, told them id take it to the forum i belong to, Get some real music lovers thoughts on this, What say you all???

    Was Elvis the best? I agree with those who say, "No".
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited April 2011
    Elvis was the Justin Bieber of the 50's :biggrin::biggrin:
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited April 2011
    george grand wrote: »
    elvis? Yes. The best clown i ever saw.

    wow, george
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited April 2011
    Elvis was great in the early days but failed to make great music later on in his life. Ray Charles made great music all of his life. James Brown did the same. It would have been interesting to have seen Elvis, James and Ray in an Idol sing off. But in the 50s that wouldn't have happened since a black singer and a white singer would never have been in the same venue. If James or Ray had the support of the white controlled radio stations record sales would have been very different.
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  • thesurfer
    thesurfer Posts: 574
    edited April 2011
    After some research, i found presley to be the Best, in regards of million selling singles, Million selling albums, The best, acording to the RIAA, If the riaa, counted presleys million selling singles, along with his albums, he would easily overtake everyone in that regard, Why they dont count all certfied formats, is beyond me, Id put him in my top 5, with Led Zeppelin on top,
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  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,833
    edited April 2011
    danger boy wrote: »
    Lady Gaga is the king :rolleyes:
    and Elton John is the Queen! :tongue:
    George Grand wrote: »
    Elvis? Yes. The best clown I ever saw.

    You know .... I'm having a hard time deciding which of these two statements made me laugh harder. :smile:

    Elvis wasn't the best, but he was .... significant.
    His Gospel music was, btw, pretty impressive.
    Sal Palooza
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  • kappclark
    kappclark Posts: 136
    edited April 2011
    I agree !!

    The litmus test of the Top 40 is, perhaps, flawed (!!) Chuck Berry with no #1 Top 40 hits ? (he actually did have a #1 hit with "My Ding-A-Ling" in 1972, according to Whitburn's book...)

    Strictly in terms of the charts, the numbers do not lie, but even so, I do not consider Elvis the KING... I think its safe to nominate the Beatles who did more than any other group commercially and creatively.

    Oh yes - and while we are on the topic of Rock 'n Roll, doesn't it seem strange that ABBA is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the Moody Blues are not ???
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,329
    edited April 2011
    rock n roll hall of shame is what it is...
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  • Gulfstrings
    Gulfstrings Posts: 313
    edited April 2011
    Not meant as sarcasm to ask, "The best what?" Celebrity is so generational. My grandmother loved Andy Williams. My granddaughter Justin Bieber.

    I like the blues while my wife prefers her classic "lady rock" by Carley and Carole.

    If the best is based on popularity then let record sales or dollars generated provide the answer.

    Of course that might leave us with Elvis, Michael and Elton ... guess I'll throw my vote to Savoy Brown.
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