# What bands most "owned" their sound? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113 "2016-08-17T18:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/41 "2016-08-18T13:50:16Z")
Are we assuming that “owning their sound” is a good thing? I would argue that one of the Beatles’ greatest strengths was the fact that they didn’t own any one sound: Their diversity of sounds was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/42 "2016-08-18T13:59:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are we assuming that “owning their sound” is a good thing? … Not necessarily. I agree that NOT owning a sound was a strength of the Beatles. But I can certainly imagine cases where it would be. There writers that produce books to a fairly predictable formula, TV shows that follow nearly the same plot week after week, … There were “John Wayne movies” and “Arnold movies” that were fairly predictable because they were structured around the strengths of an actor. Perhaps predictability is a good thing for an industry, but not necessarily for any of the individuals involved in it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/43 "2016-08-18T14:49:12Z")
See, I definitely think the Beatles had an identifiable sound–their vocal harmonies, Ringo’s charming and characteristic drums, the melodic basslines, etc.–all sound distinctive to me. It’s true, the character and types of music changed wildly from early, rock & roll Beatles to psychedelia Beatles, but, at the heart of it, the Beatles still sounded like the Beatles. I really don’t see how the Kinks are any more distinctive–they’ve similarly carved out quite a range of sounds. First time I heard a song like “Come Dancing” I was shocked to hear that was the same band that made “You Really Got Me” or “Village Green” or even “Lola.” Their sound is at least as wide ranging as the Beatles’ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/44 "2016-08-18T15:05:31Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Chicago. > We left half way though their 4th of July show because all their songs sound the same. In the park? I’ll add Electric Light Orchestra to the list. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/45 "2016-08-18T16:02:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Not necessarily. I agree that NOT owning a sound was a strength of the Beatles. But I can certainly imagine cases where it would be. There writers that produce books to a fairly predictable formula, TV shows that follow nearly the same plot week after week, … There were “John Wayne movies” and “Arnold movies” that were fairly predictable because they were structured around the strengths of an actor. > > Perhaps predictability is a good thing for an industry, but not necessarily for any of the individuals involved in it. The Beatles seemed to “own” whatever sound they put their minds to. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/46 "2016-08-18T16:14:35Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The Beatles seemed to “own” whatever sound they put their minds to. I would say the Beatles owned their jangly mop-top sound. But then they moved beyond it, and sort of latched on to other sounds. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/47 "2016-08-18T16:17:42Z")
CCR definitely; [Fogerty was sued in 1985 because his solo album, “Centerfield,” sounded too much like a CCR record](http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centerfield_(album)#Legal_issues). John prevailed and was awarded lawyer’s costs. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/48 "2016-08-18T16:47:20Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > In the park? > > I’ll add Electric Light Orchestra to the list. I agree, the original sound of ELO was a rock band with strings. Along that same line I’d add the original sound of **Chicago**. Those first 5, 6 albums by Chicago was a rock band with a horn section sound that no one else had, or for that matter, hasn’t since. They’ve since lost that original sound, but they did have it once. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/49 "2016-08-18T17:19:47Z")
**ABBA**. The arrangements, the voice play, and the kinda-wall-of-sound sound. **Supertamp**. (Wurlitzer) Piano intro for 20-30 bars and then the whole band. **Mägo de Oz**. Hard Rock with Celtic flavour. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/50 "2016-08-18T17:52:17Z")
**Yes** , in their prime. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/51 "2016-08-18T17:54:17Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I would say the Beatles owned their jangly mop-top sound. But then they moved beyond it, and sort of latched on to other sounds. Which they owned. Except for Chuck Berry music which I don’t think they did. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/52 "2016-08-18T23:25:17Z")
Al lot of the punk or punk influenced bands. Ramones, Sex Pistols, Fugazi, Green Day, etc ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/53 "2016-08-18T23:31:34Z")
Mamas and Papas, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113/54 "2016-08-20T13:15:05Z")
Black Sabbath completely owned their sound. Many have tried but none can match the original 4 guys. Ozzy had very distinctive vocals with heavy lyrics. Geezer was a very fluid bass player that supported Bill Ward’s plodding but groove driven drums. Tony Iommi created an entirely different format with his detuned guitar and the doubling of lead guitar breaks. Sabbath would often shift gears in songs which led to 2, 3 or more hooks within a song. All of this led to Heavy Metal, Doom Rock, Stoner Rock…whatever. They were true originals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bands-most-owned-their-sound/763113.md?page=2)