[Mr. Mojo]

I think Bob Dylan's three mid-60's masterpieces (Bring it all Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde) were more influencial than anything the Beatles released, and Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison have admitted as much. Bob was the first to combine poetry with rock and roll (in 1965).....a truly revolutionary msucial accomplishment. Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, etc. created the bare bones of rock and roll, but Dylan (and to a lesser extent the Beatles) brought it to maturity.

(As a side note, it's quite false to classify Dylan as an "anti-war protest singer," especially since only 2 of his 30+ albums could be accurately classified in that genre, and both were released before out involvement in Vietnam. He's simply a rock and roller with a poetic genius).

[Fresh Wind]

You have to include Blood on the Tracks as well. Another masterpiece.

[eddie willers]

LOL...we bring up Dylan at the same time.

Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison have admitted as much.

And they convinced him to "Go Electric".

No doubt about it, the two put the blood in the water and much greater music flowed from the well. (I LOVE mixing metaphors).

BTW...speaking of Dylan, I consider The Band (based on their first two albums) to be second only to The Beatles.