The Beatles or The Rolling Stones or who ? ( or even the Who ? )

Thanks for the new posts and the info.

   ---   Thanks a lot the info Batgirl. Yes of course " Buddy Holly & The Crickets " belong in a class of their own without a doubt, however " Bill Haley & His Comets " also go way back to the early days of Rock. Plus there is also a connection between Rock and Country music thru " Rockabilly Music ". That reminded me of the fact that Elvis Presley had his big early hit ( back in 1954 ) with " That's All Right Mama " and also had his version of " Blue Moon Of Kentucky " on the same 45 rpm record. Of course Bill Monroe of Bluegrass fame had written " Blue Moon Of Kentucky " and when Elvis recorded that number he had to speed up the tempo a bit. 

I guess Huey Lewis got the News.

Sure R&R had its roots in C&W, Bluegrass, Blues, Boogie Woogie and even Jazz.  That's one reason it's hard to define, but also a reason why it's so varied. The Everly Brothers were country. Their father, Ike, was a fantastic guitarist along the lines of Les Paul and Chet Atkins. I think, even more than Elvis, they blended R&R with Country.   The influence of old time Country music is quite evident in the early Beatles (but then again so is the influence of 40s music and show tunes).    

Lol

no. he was still playing until he was diagnosed with a rare ear disease. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Huey-Lewis-Inner-Ear-Disorder-Interview-481926091.html

(even if he did not have the disease, what's wrong with being a golf bum?)

My favorite example of a cover is Johnny Cash playing Soundgarden's Rusty Cage. Naturally, I like Soundgarden's version a lot better, but it just blows my mind that Johnny Cash would cover it.

some of those covers do seem odd, as you mention, big bird. for example, nine inch nails did johnny cash's hurt. reznor was a cash fan?!?

tony bennett put out an album a few years back where he took popular/rock songs and put big band (orchestra) to them. the few songs i heard were impressive.

yes. my mistake. 

funny how easy it is to forget these things.

(by the way, i think the fragile is a masterpiece)

Nothing hopefully.

That's my retirement plan!

Is amazing how people like Johnny Cash so much better, now that he is dead.

Hurt was a very fitting swansong for an artist such as Cash, though.

The Velvet Underground

We recently lost another singer from the old days of Rock & Roll with the passing of Gary Marsden of Gary And The Pacemakers. They had a big hit back in 1965 with: " Ferry Cross The Mersey " ( also written by Gary Marsden ).

Has to be the Beatles for me but I'm biased as I'm from Liverpool. 

Soundgarden did a pretty good cover of Johnny Cash's "Rusty Cage".

Oh wow.

I never knew that was a Johnny Cash cover.

"If you need another name for Rock'n'Roll you can call it Chuck Berry."

--John Lennon

If I were stranded on a desert island with the music of only one band it would be The Beatles. No need to think twice.

But I listen to everything from classical to metal depending on my mood. I'm a big fan of many, many of the bands mentioned on this thread.

If I had to pick a favorite genre or era I think the British invasion bands are my favorites.