1960s
1964 in British Music
The British Invasion conquers America as Beatlemania goes global.
The Story of 1964
The British Invasion of America began, and the UK charts were the most thrilling they'd ever been. The Beatles conquered the US in February with their historic Ed Sullivan appearance, but at home they were just part of an incredible landscape. The Rolling Stones broke through properly with 'Not Fade Away' and their debut album, offering a darker, bluesier counterpoint to Merseybeat's charm. The Kinks released 'You Really Got Me', a two-chord riff that invented a new kind of hard rock. The Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun' was a haunting folk-rock masterpiece that showed British blues had real depth. Dusty Springfield emerged as a solo artist with 'I Only Want to Be with You', bringing soulful sophistication. The Who were forming, and Small Faces were coming together. The charts were a battleground of extraordinary talent – every week brought another classic. This was the year British pop proved it wasn't a flash in the pan. The Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Animals and Dusty all charted simultaneously, an embarrassment of riches that made Britain the pop music capital of the world.
Key Events
The Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan Show — 73 million Americans watch
The British Invasion: The Animals, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five all break America
The Rolling Stones' first UK #1 with 'It's All Over Now'
Dominant Genres
Notable Trends
- →British bands dominate the American charts
- →Manager Brian Epstein runs an empire of Merseybeat acts
- →Television shows like Ready Steady Go! launch live music to mass audiences
Key Artists of 1964
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