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1964 - 1966
Notable Historical Events of this Time:
Cuban Missile Crisis (1961)
Kennedy assassination (1963)
Growth of the Civil Rights Movement
March on Washington (1963)
Civil Rights Act (1964)
Selma March “Bloody Sunday” (1965)
Growing divide in America to support or protest the Vietnam Conflict
Growing support for feminism and environmentalism
Beatlemania!
Fertile ground for the British Invasion:
American youth in the 1960s listened to a variety of musical styles, all of which seemed to be competing for popularity
The American music industry had been seeking the next big “Elvis” moment
Shocked of the Beatles, they launched the “British Invasion” of American pop
The story of British invasion has two interrelated threads:
The history of British pop before 1964, British interest in American music styles
How British music affected American pop beginning in 1964
British Pop in the Late 1950s and Early 1960s Part 1:
until 1964, Americans thought British music was secondary
British were most likely successful in their home country
American music has been popular in Britain since the end of World War II
Big companies controlled the music business in Britain prior to 1964
few independent record labels, no independent radio stations
Radio access was controlled by the Government, made it difficult for indie labels to get their records played on the air
R & B, country and western info was scarce
British Pop in the Late 1950s and Early 1960s Part 2:
Resurgence of American folk and jazz
Skiffle: The British amalgamation of folk, jazz, and blues, in the 1950s UK became a localized popular style
Lonnie Donegan was one of the most popular skiffle musicians to influence future British Invasion bands (Beatles, Led Zeppelin)
The U.K. music business faced a challenge in trying to place domestic records on the pop charts, where Americans dominated
Cliff Richard was possibly the first British Rock musician with his1985 hit, “Move it”
Richard’s early 60s career was modeled after the “Elvis Hollywood approach”
Skiffle:
The British amalgamation of folk, jazz, and blues, in 1950s UK became a localized popular style
The Beatles as Students of American Pop 1960-1963:
The Beatles were formed in 1957 in Liverpool, playing skiffle at first, then rock and roll in the style of American artists
Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Ray Charles
Original changed their name several times during its early years (original name = “The Quarrymen”
The Beatles made extended trips to Hamburg, Germany to perform, and they were also regulars at the Cavern Club in Liverpool
The band frequently played long sets, which helped them to refine their skills
Lennon & McCartney: popular singer & songwriters of the 20th century
Fab Four made creative contributions: Ringo and George wrote and sang too
The Beatles as Students of American Pop 1960-1963 continued:
Growing up in Liverpool gave the Beatles greater exposure to American pop music, but limited their access to the London-based music industry
Brain Epstein was the group’s first manager
helped the Beatles “clean up” their stage act
landed a record contract with EMI
place a hit record on the U.K.
Beatlemania (c. 1963 - 1966)
1963, the Beatles recorded their first album: Please Please Me
they had three more hits, and then got the term “Beatlemania”
Still, no success in America yet, their early singles were licensed to indie labels, and Capitol Records assumed they would flop
Epstein had them appear on the Ed Sullivan Show
he convinced Capitol Records to release “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, which became a number-one hit in the United States
The American Beatles Experience:
after Ed Sullivan, they had several number-one albums, two successful films before 1966
The Beatles' last concert: San Francisco 1966.
Took a break after controversy from John Lennon’s “We are more famous than Jesus” quote
From Craftsmen to Artists:
“I Want to Hold Your Hand”: The Beatles blended a variety of American musical influences in their early records
AABA form (Tin Pan Alley)
Wholesome lyrics (Teen Idols)
Duet singing (Everly Brothers)
Background vocal “ooo’s” (Little Richard)
Driving low-register rhythm guitar (Chuck Berry)
Hand clapping syncopations (Girl Groups)
Their 1962 and 1964 songs were described more as a craft since they relied on formulas to create songs
From Craftsmen to Artists (continued):
1965: The Beatles had a wider range of musical influences from their variety of instruments, timbres, and lyrical creativity
The song “Tomorrow Never Knows” (1966) more artistic approach, new direction in popular music
Sitar and bass drone (Indian music influences)
Tape loops, backward guitar, electronically processed vocals (innovative studio effects
Psychedelic lyrics (Timothy Leary’s “The Psychedelic Experience”
New creative direction contributed to a change in the sound of popular music for many bands afterward
The Growing Importance of Lyrics:
The Beatles’ early lyrics typically dealt with simple teenage love
Later songs were more complex and unconventional and reflected their tendencies toward a more “artistic" approach with modern culture references psychedelic themes, and spirituality
The Beatles: Catalyst for cultural and musical change?
Making the case for bands that create their own music! As their popularity increased their freedom to create music as they wished increased
New recording techniques, studio effects, and longer-duration songs
Concept Albums (“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”)
Integrating performance venues in the South for the first time
Political, and cultural commentary in their music and public life
Their early frustrations with large stadium concerts changed the logistics of arena rock
British artists were able to reclaim the pop music charts in their own country
More opportunities for British musicians in other countries, particularly the United States
The Beatles: Catalyst for cultural and musical change? (cont.)
Other artists started to write their own songs
“Tommy'“ - The Who (1969)
“Tapestry” - Carole King (1971)
“Dark Side of the Moon” - “Pink Floyd (1973)
“Red Headed Stranger” - Willie Nelson (1975)
“2112” - Rush (1976)
The British Invade: Haircuts, Accents, and Guitars
After the Beatles, a number of British bands appeared on American charts, many of which were either modeled after the Beatles or the Rolling Stones
The term British invasion is generally used to describe bands that featured guitars and long-haired musicians, but these groups were musically diverse
Gerry and the Pacemakers; The Dave Clark Five
Gerry and the Pacemakers were nearly as popular as the Beatles in the United Kingdom, but they were never white as successful in America
The Dave Clark Five had a number of Top 40 hits in 1964 and 1965
Herman’s Hermits, Freddy and the Dreamers, and the Hollies:
Three Beatles-type bands from Manchester, England had hits on American charts beginning in 1965
