Hey everyone,
Things are really going to get interesting. All of these artists are all time greats who have gotten this far for a reason. While there have certainly been surprises and upsets, all of the one seeds and most of the two and three seeds are still in the running. Yet by the end of the week, nearly half of them may be eliminated.
Now that you know the band members and how long they were together, I wanted to give you some commercial tidbits. As you can imagine, the numbers vary greatly (Beatles vs. Velvet Underground). What is largely ubiquitous is an induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. That information I have also included here. For the Sweet 16 next week, I will delve into numbers regarding critical acclaim. Get to it, voters and predictors! Here's the bracket: http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=428801
Note: "Trans-Atlantic" means that a certain album or single reached a position threshold in the U.S. and the U.K.
1 The Beatles
Commercial Figures: Estimated 1-2 Billion units sold worldwide, 20 #1 Singles in the U.S.
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1988 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: I Want to Hold Your Hand
Vs.
13 Queen
Commercial Figures: Estimated 150-300 Million units sold, 8 studio albums with 10+ Million in Worldwide Sales
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2001 (4th year)
Another Key Track: We Will Rock You
3 Elvis Costello
Commercial Figures: 11 career Top-10 Albums in the U.K., numerous Gold and Platinum records
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2003 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Radio Radio
Vs.
2 The Velvet Underground
Commercial Figures: Virtually none. Highest overall position was #31 in New Zealand for "1969: The Velvet Underground Live"
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1996 (5th year)
Another Key Track: Sweet Jane
1 The Rolling Stones
Commercial Figures: Estimated 200+ Million units sold, 9 Trans-Atlantic Top-5 singles
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1989 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: Jumpin' Jack Flash
Vs.
4 James Brown
Commercial Figures: Around 100 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100, 110 for the R&B chart
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1986 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: It's a Man's Man's Man's World
3 The Clash
Commercial Figures: 14 Top-40 singles in the U.K., 2x Platinum in U.S. for "Combat Rock"
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2003 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Complete Control
Vs.
2 Marvin Gaye
Commercial Figures: 18 Top-10 singles in the U.S., "Midnight Love" is U.S. 3x Platinum
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1987 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Sexual Healing
1 Prince
Commercial Figures: Over 100 Million units sold, 10 Top-5 albums in the U.S.
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2004 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Sign 'O' the Times
Vs.
4 The Doors
Commercial Figures: 100 Million units sold worldwide, 7 Top-10 U.S. albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1993 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: The End
3 Pink Floyd
Commercial Figures: Estimated 250 Million units sold, "The Wall" is 23x Platinum in the U.S.
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1996 (5th year)
Another Key Track: Arnold Layne
Vs.
2 The Who
Commercial Figures: Estimated 100 Million units sold, 11 Top-10 U.S. albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1990 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: I Can't Explain
1 Radiohead
Commercial Figures: 30+ Million units sold worldwide, five consecutive Trans-Atlantic Top-10 albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Not inducted, eligible in 2018
Another Key Track: Idioteque
Vs.
5 Beastie Boys
Commercial Figures: 40+ Million units sold worldwide, "Licensed to Ill" certified 9x Platinum in U.S.
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2012 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Intergalactic
6 Creedence Clearwater Revival
Commercial Figures: 30 Million units sold in U.S. alone, most #2 U.S. singles (five) without reaching #1
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1993 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: Bad Moon Rising
Vs.
7 Kraftwerk
Commercial Figures: Nine Top-40 albums in Germany
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Not inducted, eligible since 1995
Another Key Track: Das Model
1 David Bowie
Commercial Figures: Estimated 140 Million units sold, 20 Top-10 U.K. albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1996 (5th year)
Another Key Track: Ziggy Stardust
Vs.
5 Michael Jackson
Commercial Figures: Estimated 750 Million units sold, 13 #1 U.S. singles (more than any male artist in Hot 100 era)
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2001 (5th year)
Another Key Track: Beat It
3 Stevie Wonder
Commercial Figures: 10 #1 U.S. singles, "Songs in the Key of Life" certified Diamond (10 Million in U.S.)
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1989 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Vs.
2 Neil Young
Commercial Figures: 13 Top-10 albums in Canada, "Harvest" was best-selling U.S. album in 1972
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1995 (3rd year) and 1997 (member of Buffalo Springfield)
Another Key Track: Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
1 Bruce Springsteen
Commercial Figures: 120+ Million units sold worldwide, 14 Top-10 U.S. albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1999 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Born in the U.S.A.
Vs.
4 Talking Heads
Commercial Figures: 7 Top-40 albums in U.S., "Burning Down the House" a Top-10 hit in U.S.
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2002 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
6 Sonic Youth
Commercial Figures: Five Top-40 U.K. albums, "100%" reached #4 on U.S. Modern rock tracks
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Not inducted, eligible since 2007
Another Key Track: 100%
Vs.
2 Jimi Hendrix
Commercial Figures: Each of his three studio albums were Top-5 in U.S., "Are You Experienced" 4x Platinum in U.S.
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1992 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: Hey Joe
1 Led Zeppelin
Commercial Figures: Estimated 200-300 Million units sold worldwide, 6 Trans-Atlantic #1 albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1995 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Kashmir
Vs.
4 Miles Davis
Commercial Figures: "Kind of Blue" is 4x Platinum in U.S., considered best-selling Jazz album of all time
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 2006 (21st year)
Another Key Track: Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
3 Nirvana
Commercial Figures: Estimated 75+ Million units sold worldwide, four #1 U.S. albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Not inducted, eligible in 2014
Another Key Track: All Apologies
Vs.
2 Elvis Presley
Commercial Figures: Estimated 600 Million-1 Billion units sold worldwide, 18 #1 U.S. singles
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1986 (first ballot)
Another Key Track: Hound Dog
1 Bob Dylan
Commercial Figures: 16 Top-10 U.S. albums, three 2x Platinum U.S. albums
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1988 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Tangled Up in Blue
Vs.
4 Public Enemy
Commercial Figures: Three U.S. Platinum albums, four #1 singles on the U.S. Hot Rap Songs
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Not inducted, eligible since 2012
Another Key Track: Rebel Without a Pause
6 Beck
Commercial Figures: 8 Top-30 U.S. albums, "Odelay" 2x Platinum in U.S. and Canada
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Not inducted, eligible in 2018
Another Key Track: Devil's Haircut
Vs.
2 The Beach Boys
Commercial Figures: Estimated 100+ Million units sold worldwide, 15 Top-10 U.S. singles
R 'n' R Hall of Fame Status: Inducted in 1988 (2nd year)
Another Key Track: Don't Worry Baby
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