1960s
1965 in British Music
The British Invasion peaks — Beatles at Shea, Dylan goes electric, pop rules the world.
The Story of 1965
British pop's imperial phase continued, with the charts delivering classics at an absurd rate. The Beatles released 'Help!' and 'Rubber Soul', the latter marking their evolution from mop-top pop to something more sophisticated and introspective. The Rolling Stones scored their first UK number one with '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', its fuzzed-out riff the sound of rock music growing up. The Who's 'My Generation' was a snarling declaration of youth rebellion, complete with stuttering vocal and destructive live shows. The Kinks were at their commercial peak with 'Tired of Waiting for You' and the classic 'A Well Respected Man'. Dusty Springfield's 'Son of a Preacher Man' was still to come, but her 1965 work cemented her as Britain's finest white soul singer. The charts reflected a nation obsessed with pop – pirate radio stations like Radio Caroline were broadcasting from ships in the North Sea, playing the hits the BBC wouldn't touch. Mod culture was at its peak, with The Who, Small Faces and the whole Carnaby Street scene defining British youth. It was the year British rock music grew up, got loud and got complicated.
Key Events
The Beatles play Shea Stadium to 55,000 screaming fans — the biggest concert of the era
The Rolling Stones release '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' — their defining anthem
Bob Dylan goes electric at the Newport Folk Festival, dividing folk purists
The Who smash their gear on TV for the first time
Rubber Soul released — the album where the Beatles became artists
Tom Jones announces himself with 'It's Not Unusual'
Dominant Genres
Notable Trends
- →British Invasion dominates American charts
- →First stadium concerts
- →Singer-songwriter era begins
- →12-string Rickenbacker sound defines the year
Key Artists of 1965
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