British Invasion
September 11th 2007 01:57
In 1964, rock'n'roll music was hardly ten years old, but already its youthful audience had demonstrated it's short attention span, coupled with an insatiable appetite for something new, Early rock'n'roll's first hero, Bill Haley, seemed too old, Elvis Presley's stint as a GI seemed to have made his music soft, Jerry Lee Lewis had marries his 13 year old cousin (yikes), Little Richard had got religion, Chuck Berry was in prison, Buddy Holly was dead, and the new stars who had risen seemed less exciting and flamboyant.
Very few British records had penetrated the US chart before 1964 then with the appearance of The Beatles on the influential "Ed Sullivan Show" the flood gates opened.
Initially, the United States was enthusiastic, despite the fact that the rest English-speaking world had capitulated. This provided literally dozens of British groups to achieve commercial success in the US. Ultimately, every British group of any note from the mid-1960s made it in the States, including The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Moody Blues, Cream, Traffic, Pink Floyd and The Troggs (although in some cases, success did not occur overnight as it had for The Beatles and The Stones).
For the first time since rock'n'roll was born, America wasn't totally predominant, and American acts like The Walker Brothers and later Jimi Hendrix successfully launched themselves in Britain before returning to reap the bigger rewards provided in their homeland.
America again found their voice via '60s soul music and then psychedelia -both these styles had much in common with R&B and country music, the joint sources of rock'n'roll. What was different -and remains one of the British Invasion's most impressive achievements - was that Britain would be taken seriously as an inventive and trend-setting source of popular music.
Here is Mis Wanderlust's favorite British Invasion Bands
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
The Yardbirds
The Moody Blues
The Spencer Davis Group
Cream
Blind Faith
The Kinks
Led Zeppelin
Very few British records had penetrated the US chart before 1964 then with the appearance of The Beatles on the influential "Ed Sullivan Show" the flood gates opened.
Initially, the United States was enthusiastic, despite the fact that the rest English-speaking world had capitulated. This provided literally dozens of British groups to achieve commercial success in the US. Ultimately, every British group of any note from the mid-1960s made it in the States, including The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Moody Blues, Cream, Traffic, Pink Floyd and The Troggs (although in some cases, success did not occur overnight as it had for The Beatles and The Stones).
For the first time since rock'n'roll was born, America wasn't totally predominant, and American acts like The Walker Brothers and later Jimi Hendrix successfully launched themselves in Britain before returning to reap the bigger rewards provided in their homeland.
America again found their voice via '60s soul music and then psychedelia -both these styles had much in common with R&B and country music, the joint sources of rock'n'roll. What was different -and remains one of the British Invasion's most impressive achievements - was that Britain would be taken seriously as an inventive and trend-setting source of popular music.
Here is Mis Wanderlust's favorite British Invasion Bands
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Who
The Yardbirds
The Moody Blues
The Spencer Davis Group
Cream
Blind Faith
The Kinks
Led Zeppelin
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
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Cream was dynamite, too...
Comment by Chic Critique
I have to say your list is basically perfect...! I can't think of anyone to add or anything I disagree with. This era is one of my favourites in music history, and in particular British music from this time rocks the most.
"Little Stevie Winwood" was such a legend....Keep On Running was so far ahead of its time....in fact....they all were. Or maybe they were just right for the time.
Great post! Nice to 'see' you!
Cheers
CC
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
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True that bother!
Mis
Comment by Miswanderlust
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HAHAHAHA! So good to see you too! Glad that you liked the list!
Mis
Comment by katyzzz
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katyzzz
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Never a big fan of Blind Faith or the Moody Blues (sorry Knights in White Satin is just so overrated in my books) even though it was huge in the US.
But as for your other choices - Right On - hmmm that sounded a little dwebbie didn't it?
Emerson Lake and Palmer had their moments as did Yes and Pink Floyd.
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
He married his 13 year old cousin? yikes!
You have some great choices there... and a couple I haven`t heard of before. Thank goodness for YouTube!
Ash
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Miswanderlust
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I agree with you about the Moody Blues "Nights in White Satin" was definitely the make out song of the 70s. You would be surprised to know that they still sell out venues in the states.
In regard to Blind Faith.."Can't Find My Way Home" is one of my fav songs of all time. But you know to each his own! :0)
You never sound dweebie friend.
Cheers to you also! Always a pleasure!
Mis
Comment by Miswanderlust
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So glad that you enjoyed the post
Mis
Comment by Miswanderlust
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Thank goodness for youtube indeed. There are times when putting together a post that a scramble over to their site to check my work. So glad that you stopped by.
Mis
marrying a cousin no thanks
marrying a 13 year old (why? Such a difficult age)
Comment by Miswanderlust
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The Animals would have been on the "next list" along with the Troggs and others. I had to look up The Small Faces... Thanks for the stretch!
Mis
Comment by D. Armenta
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Comment by Miswanderlust
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True that sister!
Comment by Mrs M
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Hope you ladies are having a good day
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I only read this week that Robert Plant has confirmed that Zeppelin are reforming for a tour. I think it's being announced some time this week
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
The Moody Blues
and Pink Flyod
Comment by Miswanderlust
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HAHAHA! Thanks for keeping us honest! Hope all is well in your neck of the wood!
Mis
Comment by Miswanderlust
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If you think of any just let me know!
Mis
just completed a post about the tour...I am in Heaven (stairway to?)
Comment by Miswanderlust
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The Davies brothers put the "fun" in dysfunctional. They made the Gallagher brothers look downright demure. I miss The Kinks a lot. Most of my friends spent their high school and university careers getting high to The Moody Blues and Pink Floyd. Oh well... so good to see you!
Mis