The Beatles Have Landed!! (British Invasion)

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Last week, we opened with The Canon in which I tried to squeeze 50 years of rock history into 25 songs. It was a hopeless task; more of a 25-way signpost all pointing in different directions. We’ll focus in on a lot of those, and take many byroads in the weeks ahead, so strap on a helmet, because we’ll be all over the place.

The first task now is where to begin? I could start with the 1950’s, where it all began, but I wasn’t alive then, nor were most of you. It’s important, and we’ll get to it, but it has more in common with what came before it than what came after, in many respects.

The shape of rock as we know it, as groups recording their own material, featuring, in theory anyway, equal billing, really didn’t appear until the early 60’s, when the Beatles landed and opened the floodgates. I wasn’t born then, either. But like many, I discovered rock via the Beatles.

So Randomplay Archivist #2 will focus on the key artists/songs of the British Invasion. Oldtimers will be familiar with all of these, some more than others. For younger listeners building new genre libraries, each of these lead down some fascinating avenues. Again, some more than others.

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01: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction | The Rolling Stones

From Out of Our Heads (1965) The Stones’ first American #1 from their first American #1 album. Raised eyebrows for a cryptic reference to menstruation.

02: You Really Got Me | The Kinks

First Kinks hit to chart in America (#7 in 1964). Their first charting album in America was Kinda Kinks, (#60 in 1965). The power chords that are this songs hooks point towards heavy metal, still a few years away.

03: A Hard Day's Night | The Beatles

The Beatles had six #1’s, including this one, in 1964. More ambitious than their breakthrough hits, it features a 12-string guitar. The title track from their first movie.

04: House Of The Rising Sun | The Animals

Animals first #1 in America. Traditional song, with organist Alan Price picking up a co-credit. The Animals (like the early Stones and the Pretty Things) were bluesier than many of their contemporaries.

05: Substitute | The Who

A major hit in England, this didn’t chart in America. The Who wouldn’t have a hit Stateside until 1967, or a top ten album until 1969, although they were consistent hitmakers in England during that time.

06: Heart Full Of Soul | The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds’ second biggest hit in America. The first was “For Your Love”. This one is from the 1965 Jeff Beck version of the band, and is a good representation of their sound. Beck had replaced Eric Clapton on guitar; a later edition would feature Jimmy Page.

07: Baby Please Don't Go | Them

Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Them featured Van Morrison on vocals. Bluesy and intense, they were among the grittier (and better) British Invasion bands. Better known for hits like “Gloria” and “Here Comes The Night”, this never charted in the US, but has appeared in many movies.

08: Wild Thing | The Troggs

Primitive 3-chord rock from the Troggs, who specialized in raw, ragged, simple, basic rock. The Troggs had two more hits, “With A Girl Like You“ and “Love Is All Around“. This hit #1 in the States in 1966.

09: Itchykoo Park | The Small Faces

The Small Faces were mod contemporaries of the Who. Much more successful in England, this was their lone US hit, #16 in 1968. This is a playful psychedelic pop tune; they were capable of harder rock and progressive rock, too. Eventually evolved into the Faces.

10 I'm A Man | Spencer Davis Group

Exhilarating and forceful, this made #10 in 1967, and even reached #48 on the Black charts, a tribute to Stevie Winwood’s credibility. “Gimme Some Lovin’” is their biggest and best known hit, but this one is arguably better. Winwood would later join Blind Faith and Traffic.

11: She's Not There | The Zombies

#2 in 1965, this features the eerie vocals of Colin Blunstone and the intense organ of Rod Argent (who would form Argent in 1969). The Zombies were among the best of the melodic-oriented British Invasion bands. They had two more hits, “Tell Her No” and “Time of the Season”.

12: Carrie Anne | The Hollies

This was the third top-10 in the US for the Hollies, #9 in 1967. Known for harmonies and tunefulness, the Hollies gained an extra maturity to their sound in the late 60’s, this song being an early example. Lead vocals from Graham Nash on this one, Allan Clarke and Tony Hicks also sang.

13: The Game Of Love | Wayne Fontana And The Mindbender...

Tough version of Clint Ballard original, featuring a good guitar solo by Eric Stewart over a Bo Diddley style beat. This was their first stateside release, and it hit #1 in 1965. Singer Fontana would leave the band, who would score once more with “A Groovy Kind Of Love” in 1966.

14: Needles And Pins | The Searchers

Sonny Bono/Jack Nitzsche penned tune reached #13 in 1965. This has an almost proto-folk-rock feel to it, not unlike some of Beatles For Sale. The Searchers’ biggest hit in America was their cover of the Clovers‘ “Love Potion No. 9” which made it to #3.

15: There's A Kind Of A Hush | Herman's Hermits

Herman’s Hermits had ten top-10 hits in America from 1965-1968, a better track record than nearly any of their peers. This was their last one, reaching #4 in 1967, though they’d chart twice more in 1968. Always very lightweight and fairly silly, this was their best tune.

16: The Crying Game - Dave Berry

Best known in the Boy George version from the movie of the same title, this was a top-10 hit in England in 1964, although it didn’t chart stateside. Berry was a star for a couple of years and England, but never dented the American charts.

17: Roadrunner | The Pretty Things

Led by Mick Jagger-lookalike Phil May and the guitarist Dick Taylor (who actually played in early versions of the Stones) , The Pretty Things were an R&B and blues-based unit in the early days. They never charted a single in America, but sold well in England. They lasted well into the 80’s, modestly charting two albums in the US in the 70’s.

18: Ferry Cross The Mersey - Gerry And The Pacemakers

George Martin produced group from Liverpool, but much more lightweight than the Beatles. They had six top-40 hits in America. This wistful, string sweetened ballad reached #6 in 1965, and would be their last top-10. “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying” and “How Do You Do It?”, both in 1964.

19: Hippy Hippy Shake | The Swingin' Blue Jeans

Their lone top-40 hit in America, “Hippy Hippy Shake” peaked at #24. While this song is fairly silly sounding today, the Swingin’ Blue Jeans were actually a fairly good band. Their next chart entry, at #97, was “You’re No Good”, later a #1 smash for Linda Ronstadt.

20: Shout! | Lulu

Only 16 when she scored this hit (#1 in England, but only #96 in the States). For a teenage girl, she had a surprising amount of R&B flavor to her, and she kept charting in England into the 80’s. Her biggest US hit is the theme to the movie “To Sir With Love”

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