The British Invasion – An Invasion of Peace, Music and Love

Prior to the Beatles, who was listening to British popular music in North America? Practically no one. Perhaps one exception was Cliff Richard and his stand-alone back up band The Shadows. But they succeeded primarily in the UK.

But the success of the Beatles in 1964 led to US musical invasion by British bands. Many didn’t make it at all. Others had a minor hit. There were those who had one or two hits. And there were those (the Rolling Stones come to mind) who made life difficult for the Beatles. Some bands were hot for a couple of years (The Dave Clark Five) and then slowly faded into history. Does this mean that they didn’t have the talent of the Beatles?

The Dave Clark Five – Bits & Pieces – Top Of The Pops (1964)

The songs, by and large had to do with general themes. After all, the British were not interested in Vietnam or racial equality issues, and the Americans were (still) not that interested in politics at home.

On the following pages we bring some of the famous songs and bands of the British invasion. Of course it’s a personal selection. If you don’t like mine, why don’t you make your own book?

The Rolling Stones – The Stones, a more bluesy group than the Beatles, were London based. They were both friends and rivals. They were not the geniuses, not the musical revolutionaries that the Beatles were. But they are the band who is still around. Decca Records did sign THEM. Ironically the Beatles (John and Paul) gave them their a first hit.

The Stones had more sixties hits, including

• Get Off of My Cloud (1965) …

• Honky Tonk Woman (1969) …

• Under My Thumb (1966) …

• Jumping Jack Flash (1968) …

• Paint It, Black (1966) …

• You Can’t Always Get What You Want (1969)

• Sympathy For The Devil (1968)

Compare with the masters.

The Rolling Stones – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

From the Big Chill (0:39)

The Who – The Story of how they became famous is now a movie, telling the tale of how Lambert and Stamp discovered them in order to make a movie about a rock band. We discuss them later in the course. I was fortunate (thanks for Jeff Pulver) to meet Stamp’s wife Calixte Stamp who is no longer with us.

One of their most famous:

And another that I like:

The Animals – Another bluesy band featuring a charismatic front man Eric Burdon, and with organ to boot. They had a couple of other hits (We gotta get out of this place; It’s my life; Don’t let me be misunderstood). Is that ‘enough’ for immortality? I guess it is.

Animals – House of the Rising Sun

Compare with the 1960 soulful recording of Joan Baez.

How about Gerry and the Pacemakers? Do you know who their manager was? They had a string of big hits but then went downhill in 1965 and dis-banded in 1966.

And what about a famous band with only 1.5 mega-hits? Procol Harum

A Whiter Shade of Pale

Peter and Gordon – This lucky pair of guys (do you know why?) got a Paul McCartney tune and turned it into a number one hit. Otherwise we might never have heard of them.

A world without love – Peter and Gordon

Their unlikely 1966 hit! Lady Godiva

Herman’s Hermits – a personal favorite. Peter Noone was a childhood TV star in the UK. Nevertheless, they became a huge success in the US. They didn’t write their songs. What was their magic?

Herman’s Hermits – The End of the World

Compare with Skeeter Davis

The Yardbirds – A superband with legendary superstars:

Petula Clark – She was a little overage as compared with the others, but a great singer with some great songs.

Petula Clark Downtown. original version

The Hollies – Another great band with musical charm. The best thing about them in my opinion? Graham Nash!

“The Hollies – Bus Stop (1966 Live)”>The Hollies – Bus Stop (1966 Live)

The Kinks – What do you thinks?

Donovan, sometimes credited as the father of psychedlic rock.

Donovan – Sunshine Superman (1966)

I have met Donovan on several occasions and even sung with him (just the two of us). What an experience. Here are some of his more famous songs:

• Jennifer Juniper

• Hurdy Gurdy Man

• “Atlantis”

• “Laléna”

• “Barabajagal”

• Mellow Yellow

• Yellow is the color

• Sunshine Superman

• Season of the Witch

• Catch the Wind

Donovan in Tel Aviv (four years ago) singing Donna Donna.

And this one didn’t become a hit, but it should have…

and this is another favorite of mine

The Zombies

She’s Not There, The Zombies

Compare with Santana cover?

Say what you will, but the Sixties wouldn’t have been the Sixties without the Cream.

And last, but not least, the Moody Blues who played their own songs. Their first LP “Days of Future Passed” was truly a theme album, following the evolution of a day from sunrise to nighttime. Worth listening to the overture at the beginning. Now you know that their megahit “Nights in White Satin” is part of a greater whole. The whole LP here.

Nights in White Satin, Moody Blues, 1967

Next up:

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Woodstock – The Legend Lives On

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