The Rolling Stone

Ummm, that's kind of like being asked to explain why sunsets are beautiful...

They're the ultimate breakthrough of the bluesier side of the British invasion, their style was a much more malleable than a lot of their peers and had a greater variety of influences and they seemed to understand black music a lot more than bands like The Kinks, The Who, and even The Beatles did but they were also very much able to create distinctive pop hooks. Furthermore they did a lot to help introduce a harder edge to rock and role that set the stage for the 70s style of area rock in a way that many of their British Invasion peers didn't. Begger's Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Mainstreet, and Some Girls are all classics.

On the two points you named... yeah Mick Jagger isn't the world's greatest vocalist but he makes up for it with his effective lyrics and general energy. As for their production, it varies from album to album but that was never really the point, they were a more down to earth band with a dirtier sound and their songs were ultimately probably meant to be played live anyway.

Dracula

The argument that the Stones understood Black music and were harder edged is kinda silly when you remember that Jimi Hendrix was a peer. Also, in the 70's, they were pretty soft/mainstream compared to Black Sabbath, The Ramones, Six Pistols, etc.

I think the Stones' success is due to their image and live performance, a precursor to Kiss and 80's hair metal. If you want true musicianship, you can find it elsewhere.

Elvis is tricky. The guy opened the door for mainstream rock n roll, but then spent a decade making shitty movies. Then he got fat and died. I sort-of feel the same about John Lennon. Beatles aside, he didn't do much in the 70's. Then he died. I can definitely defend Elvis in the 50's, but I can't defend Elvis in general. And that's my point with the Rolling Stone. They have their hits. The hits are good, very good, but in general they're nothing special. There were much better bands in the 60's and 70's.

The Mick Taylor stuff is there best stuff, but yeah Neverending, you're wrong.

Wings was a blight upon humanity.

Dracula thebtskink

Why are ya'll hating on Wings? Band on the Run is a Top 10 rock album of the 70's. Live & Let Die is badass.

Anyway, yeah, Led Zeppelin pretty much stole all their music but at least Robert Plant knows how to sing and Jimmy Page is ARGUABLY a better guitarist than Keith Richard.