the better half really doesnt like them but what does she know

Me, I reckon that despite the duds they do deserve the title of greatest band not least because if you look at the sheer breadth of their body of work in what was really 7 years from simple mop-top pop and rock&roll/r'n'b covers to their later work then you'd be hard pushed to find similar examples. Of course they had their own influences be it Elvis and chuck berry through to Smokey Robinson through to Dylan and The Beach Boys and despite the undoubted talents in terms of songwriting they also had the massive assistance of George Martin in transforming their ideas into recordings. Ultimately they had all the right things to get it right-talent/personality/drive and hard work and being in the right place at the right time. Their inventiveness in terms of songwriting and studio recording techniques alone have influenced countless bands. Could they have made it alone? Think their post-Beatle careers answer that one

. My own favourite album? Probably "Revolver". Most interesting band member? Probably George Harrison.