I figured I stir some disagreement. Feeling curmudgeonly this morning and short of time, but I stand by my statements.
Concessions: Yes they were marginally more interesting than most of the early sixties beat combos that could be considered their peers, yes they wrote a few (and only a few) inspired, perceptive songs (in a huge songbook of "She Loves Me, Yeah, yada yada" type trash that was I am sure less naive sounding in its day), yes they were part of a huge cultural movement that changed the face of western society.
No, they were not leaders of men, or great thinkers, or influential musicians (though the noises at adorned the more elaborate of their works were - at least in popular music terms - fresh and influential). Ringo could barely hold a beat, Paul was never a great bass player, John had no pretentions at great musicianship and George was - well - there, I suppose.
They behaved - for much of their career - and lived in a millieu not dissimilar to Take That or other faddish pop groups. Many of their contemporary fans didn't give a shit about the music, they boys had cute smiles and moddish haircuts and shouted "Yeah" a lot. Groovy.
John developed into a mildly interesting artist in his own right - none of the others did anything worth a dime afterwards.
They caught the zeitgeist, rode the cultural roller-coaster, dreamed up a few pretentious stunts, made a lot of records none of which has ever held my attention for more than the odd song.
I just find it frustrating that so much effort, money and emotion get invested in rehashing all this, when new music is treated as the unwanted, unloved and inconvenient bastard grandchild.
At best this is someone tinkering with history (good intentions or not). More realistically a money-making ploy on the part of whoever it is owns the rights to the back catalogue these days.
Clearly I am in a minority, and I wish you every enjoyment from whatever music floats your boat. And no, neither Elvis nor Dylan do much for me, but both are at least as important in cultural terms.