# Led Zep, The Stones, The Beatles, or The Who?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 10, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805 "2014-04-10T17:25:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/1 "2014-04-10T17:25:25Z")
In my early teen years, the now defunct NYC radio station WPLJ devoted a day to playing tunes these four groups only. I know many of you would like to chime in with Pink Floyd or my other personal favorite, The Kinks(!), etc., but I’m restricting the poll to just these four, sorry.
I’m going with THE WHO…although I love all four bands, some of Pete’s songs will always resonate with me more than the rest.
Whatd’ya say, mate?
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### Author:  [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/2 "2014-04-10T17:27:09Z")
Stones
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/3 "2014-04-10T17:30:17Z")
Was it WPLJ or WNEW? I could swear WNEW was the station that did that. 🙂
Voted for The Who
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/4 "2014-04-10T17:33:12Z")
I need to know the criteria before I can cast an informed vote.
But I cast a provisional vote for the Stones.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/5 "2014-04-10T17:34:09Z")
That’s a tough one.
Led Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands, OTOH, The Beatles were so versatile if you don’t like one style of their music you can probably find something else of theirs you do like (though there’s only a handful of their songs I don’t care for).
Personally, I’ve always felt the ultimate power group would have been Led Zeppelin with Robert replaced by Roger Daltrey. I think Roger had a lot more control over his voice than Plant. It’s like going to a concert and putting your fingers in your ears. You can still hear the music perfectly fine, but it knocks out all the distortion. Having Roger front LZ, IMHO, would have taken LZ up another notch.
Anyways, what exactly am I choosing? Just 'here, pick one" Probably Led Zeppelin. Only band I can ever listen too forever, probably The Beatles. The Who should fit in there somewhere as well.
As for The Rolling Stones, as much as I like them, I could live without them if I had too.
Do I have to make a choice?
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### Author:  [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/6 "2014-04-10T17:35:44Z")
Green Bean, I couldn’t remember which station either, but a web search came up with WPLJ, so I assumed it was right. Now I’m thinking it was WNEW too.
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/7 "2014-04-10T17:38:41Z")
If I had to choose “only one”, it would have to be The Beatles, simply because their catalog is much wider in style than any of the others
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### Author:  [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/8 "2014-04-10T17:40:40Z")
PLJ had switched over to top-40-lite or whatever the heck it was by the time I was in high school, and I think they were doing those weekends when I was in HS, so that’s why I was thinking NEW. Maybe PLJ did it before the format switch too. (born in 1971)
**JoeyP** and **Silenus** - You’re thinking too hard about this. Pick one! 😃
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/9 "2014-04-10T17:41:11Z")
I think for me that The Beatles’ catalog is much more stylistically varied, so I could get along in life with them meeting all my musical needs.
But, I will readily admit that I am familiar with the entirety of The Beatles’ catalog and only have dipped my toes into the others.
But, if I just consider the charting hits of The Beatles versus the charting hits of the others (which is what I know of the others), they still seem to have more variety of style.
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/10 "2014-04-10T17:43:22Z")
Who fanatic since the moment I heard “Run Run Run” played on my friend’s tinny little Silvertone record player in 1968. Only saw one gig with Keith (Oakland '76)and one guitar smash (Oakland '82), but I’ve been to every Who and solo show that I could afford. I’ve interviewed Pete a couple of times via email on behalf of a fan message board, the first one was posted on his then-official site…possibly the coolest rock ‘n’ roll moment of my life.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/11 "2014-04-10T17:45:33Z")
I voted for Led Zepp. A few years ago, XM had a Led Zeppelin only channel for about 6 months, and I realized I never changed it during that time. Ever. After they changed the channel to something else, I bought the entire Led Zeppelin collection from iTunes. It’s my go-to when I’m working in the garage. Something about working on a car or motorcycle with Led Zeppelin blasting just seems right.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/12 "2014-04-10T17:45:41Z")
Really tough to decide between Zeppelin and Beatles. I will pick Zeppelin because they satisfy my occasional need to ROCK!
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/13 "2014-04-10T17:46:28Z")
> [@control-z](#):
>
> Really tough to decide between Zeppelin and Beatles. I will pick Zeppelin because they satisfy my occasional need to ROCK!
More or less my thought process as well.
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### Author:  [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/14 "2014-04-10T17:50:03Z")
It sucks to have to drop Led Zeppelin but it’s got to be The Beatles, really.
I don’t care for The Stones or The Who so leaving these two is not a problem.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/15 "2014-04-10T17:55:12Z")
Well, if I only have to choose one, it will certainly not be Led Zeppelin: for a number of reasons.
But I’m not sure what my vote is for. If I could only listen to one of these for the rest of my life? I’d be insane within a number of months.
The Beatles are probably my favourite band, but The who and The Stones are definitely in the top 5 also. I’d have eliminate The Stones though, because anything that came after “Some Girls” in 1978 is crap.
Between The Who and The Beatles, The Beatles win. Process of elimination.
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### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/16 "2014-04-10T18:09:52Z")
I wouldn’t listen to a whole day of any of those groups, nor a day with just those groups. I have most of all of their catalogs in my collection. Abbey Road is the best album for the Beatles, followed by Sticky Fingers and Houses of the Holy and Who’s Next.
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### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/17 "2014-04-10T19:48:21Z")
WPLJ rocked from about 1974 to 1981. WNEW rocked from about 1982 to 1993.
So, you’re both right. You’re probably just slightly different ages.
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### Author:  [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/18 "2014-04-10T20:04:04Z")
I’m not a huge fan but of the choices listed I’m going with the Stones.
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/19 "2014-04-10T20:16:09Z")
I would have to go with Led Zep.
I really like the Who, and the Beatles have a _great_ body of work…but if I’m forced to choose, it’s Zep.
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### Author:  [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zep-the-stones-the-beatles-or-the-who/685805/20 "2014-04-10T21:39:02Z")
Obv. the Beatles but the Stones around 68-72 weren’t too shabby.
Such a shame about Robert Plant.
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