The British Invasion #2
The Mersey Beat bands
By mid-1964 the British Invasion was well on the way starting with the Beatles fellow Mersey Beat bands:
Cliff Richard & the Shadows
Cliff Richard & the Shadows had previously released ‘Living Doll’ by Cliff Richard and the Drifters for the film Serious Change back in 1959 reaching #30. ‘It’s All in the Game’ was released Feb 15th, 1964 reaching #25 on the Billboard charts in America. Before the Beatles, Cliff Richard was one of the only British artists along with the Tornados and Dusty Springfield, to have a top 40 hit in America. He is the third top-selling artist in Britain
The Searchers
The Searchers were a British band, like the Beatles, that had tried all throughout 1963 to place singles in the American charts but were unsuccessful until the Beatles broke down the gates in early 1964 they had six singles released in 1964, of these there was three notable top 20 hits:
“Needles and Pins” originally released by Jackie DeShannon, The Searchers version reached #13 on April 11th, the second British Invasion band to reach the American market after the Beatles.
“Don’t Throw Your Love Away” released in April reaching #16 originally recorded by the Philadelphia R&B group the Orlons and
“Love Potion No. 9” written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, originally recorded by the American R&B group the Clovers reaching #23 as did The Searchers releasing the song late 64′ also reaching #23 in January of 1965.
The Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five was another British band (headed by drummer Dave Clark) that became the 2nd British Invasion group to appear on the Ed Sullivan show after the Beatles three-week run, they had six gold disc top 10 hits in 1964 with
‘Glad All Over’ released March 7th reaching #6 written by Dave Clark and vocalist Mike Smith.
“Bits and Pieces” released April 11th reaching #4 also written by Dave Clark and vocalist Mike Smith.
“Do You Love Me” released in May, was previously a hit for the Contours written by Berry Gordy.
“Can’t You See That She’s Mine” released June 20th reaching #4 written again by Clarke and Smith.
“Because” released August 8th’s and reaching #3 written by Dave Clark and
“Anyway You Want It” released in November reaching #9 also written by Clark.
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers another British Invasion Liverpool band placed two top ten hits in 1964 with
‘Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying’ released on June 6th reaching #4 and
‘How Do You Do It’ released August 8th a #9 hit which was incidentally a song the Beatles, in particularly John Lennon, who flatly refused to release the song as a Beatles single.
Billy J Kramer & the Dakotas
Billy J Kramer & the Dakotas was another Mersey beat artist. Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas as backup band, managed by Brian Epstein, produced by George Martin and recorded songs written by Lennon & McCartney, had several UK hits with ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’ backed by ‘I’ll Be On My Way’. They had two top 10 hits in America
‘Little Children’ on May 2 going to #7 position by j. Leslie McFarland and Mort Shuman backed with
‘Bad to Me’ June 13th which went to #9 penned by Lennon & McCartney.
‘I’ll Keep You Satisfied’ released August 15th reaching #30 and ‘From A Window’ released Sept 19 reached #23, both written by Lennon & McCartney were the last hits Kramer had in the US.
Herman’s Hermits
Herman’s Hermits another act that would capitalize on the Mersey Beat craze was the late 1964 hit ‘I’m Into Something Good’ released 11/14/1964’s reaching #13, even though Herman’s Hermits were not from Liverpool but Manchester. They would go on to release many hit singles in the US in the coming years of the mid 60’s.
Peter & Gordon
Peter & Gordon were a pop duo from England. Peter Asher whose sister actress Jane Asher dated Paul McCartney from 1963 to 1968as a result of this, Paul McCartney would write most of the duo’s hits.
‘A World Without Love’ achieved number one in both the US & the UK released May 16th and written by Paul McCartney.
‘Nobody I Know’ released June 15, reaching #12, written by Paul McCartney.
‘I Don’t Want To See You Again’ released Sept 21st, reaching #16 and also written by Paul McCartney.
‘I Go To Pieces’ released in December reaching #9, written by Del Shannon.
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield was the first female artist from Britain to have a top ten hit in American with the July 11th release of ‘Wishing and Hoping’ reaching #6 in the states.
The Honeycombs
The Honeycombs another British Beat/Pop group had a million-selling hit with the October 10th release ‘Have I the Right?’ reaching #5 in the US.
These bands were later collectively known as the Mersey Beat Sound (Beatlesque) a somewhat bubble gum McCartneyesque sound that was popular with the young girls both in England and America at the time.
These Mersey Beat groups would combine with other London acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Manfred Mann, The Kinks, The Searchers, The Zombies and Them (with Van Morrison) to be part of the first wave of British invasion bands to take over America in 1964.