1963 in British Music

The Story of 1963

Beatlemania erupted, and British pop music was never the same. It began quietly enough – 'Please Please Me' hit number one in February, followed by the album of the same name recorded in a single day. But by the summer, the phenomenon was unstoppable. 'From Me to You', 'She Loves You' and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' were soundtracking a cultural revolution. The screaming, the hysteria, the long hair – it all seemed to happen overnight. Britain was captivated, and the world was next. The Merseybeat explosion was in full swing – Gerry and the Pacemakers scored three consecutive number ones, while The Searchers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, and Cilla Black all charted. The charts were suddenly awash with British talent, a homegrown revolution that made the American invaders of the Fifties look like a passing phase. The Rolling Stones released their debut single, a cover of Chuck Berry's 'Come On', signalling that a grittier, bluesier alternative to Merseybeat was coming. The Beatles' 'She Loves You' became the biggest-selling single in British history to that point. The Sixties had truly arrived, and Britain was leading the charge.