Our journey continues through Garage Rock and Bands that made the 1960s an important piece of rock and roll history. The Beatles and the British Invasion were an influence on many of the bands from this era; however, some may think that means they were trying to copy that sound. That is not the case. The majority of these bands were instead following this lead and expanding on it much as The Beatles themselves did.
The Beatles were heavily influenced by artists such as Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers and R&B music, but they were certainly not trying to copy it. Each band wanted to achieve their own fame and unique sound. Many succeeded and provided an influence on later artists and bands giving them their own piece of rock and roll music history. This week we explore some bands who some consider as part of the British Invasion.
The Animals
Eric Burdon and The Animals formed in England during 1962 and found fame in London in 1964. Their music is a combination of rock and R&B. The deep and gritty vocals provided by Burdon were a big influence to the groups success.
“The House of the Rising Sun” reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1964 and is considered their most significant song.
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” released in 1965 reached number 15 on the US chart.
“We Gotta Get Out of This Place” also released in 1965 and reached number 13 on the US chart. The song is listed in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. However, there was friction among the group and most of the original members departed. Burdon moved to the United States in 1967 and formed a new version of the Animals.
The new group had a couple of hits including “Sky Pilot” in 1968 which reached number 14 on the US chart; however, the band was short-lived. Burdon did continue on into later years with other bands.
The Kinks
began in 1964 with brothers Ray and Dave Davies in London. The band is known as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the 1960s. Their raw and rough sound combined with their lyrics were ahead of their time and sometimes considered as controversial.
They achieved international success with their third single “You Really Got Me” released in 1964 and reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song has been described as a blueprint for later hard rock and heavy metal.
Their next single release was “All Day and All of the Night” which reached number 7 on the US Chart and continued the hard rock sound.
The success continued during the years following and in 1970 they released perhaps one of their most controversial and well-known songs “Lola” which reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is listed as one of “Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
The Yardbirds
began in London in 1963 and were a huge influence on later psychedelic and hard rock. The band worked with several lead guitarists who would become icons of rock and roll music. These included Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck who are all among the top 5 of the 100 greatest guitarists according to Rolling Stone magazine. Electric guitar innovations such as feedback, distortion and fuzztone are among the bands many contributions.
With Clapton as their lead guitarist, the band had a major hit with “For Your Love” in 1965 reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, Clapton was not pleased with the groups commercial approach and shift from R&B. He left the band recommending that Jimmy Page be his replacement; however, Page in turn recommended Jeff Beck.
The band then released “Heart Full of Soul” in 1965 which peaked at number 9 on the US charts with Beck as the lead guitarist. Later performances of the song did include Page.
1966 saw the release of “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” with a lineup including both Page and Beck along with John Paul Jones on bass. The group disbanded in 1968, but the successes of Clapton, Page, Beck and Jones were only beginning.
Each of the bands we have covered this week made their mark on rock and roll history. Because they were from London some considered them as part of the British Invasion led by The Beatles. However, they were much more than a copy. Each had their own unique sound and expanded upon the influences from other groups and artists. All went through various lineups and eventually disbanded after several years of success. However, many of the members of these groups went on into the 1970s and beyond further making an impact on later rock and roll music.
Sources and Further Information:
The Animals – Wikipedia
It has been said that the intense arrangement of the song owes much to their desire to be the most memorable band on the multi-act tours of the U.K. they were booked on in the early days.
Eric Burdon | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic
Find Eric Burdon bio, music, credits, awards, & streaming links on AllMusic – Formerly of the Animals, the gutsy, distinctive…
https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_animals
The Animals – Wikipedia
It has been said that the intense arrangement of the song owes much to their desire to be the most memorable band on the multi-act tours of the U.K. they were booked on in the early days.
The Kinks | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic
Find The Kinks bio, music, credits, awards, & streaming links on AllMusic – An early highlight of the British Invasion that…
The Kinks – Wikipedia
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most important and influential rock bands of the ’60s decade.
You Really Got Me – Wikipedia
In 1998, Ray said, “I’d written ‘You Really Got Me’ as tribute to all those great blues people I love: Lead Belly and Big Bill Broonzy.”
Lola (song) – Wikipedia
” Lola” is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by English rock band the Kinks on their album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One . The song details a romantic encounter between a young man and a possible transvestite, whom he meets in a club in Soho, London.
File:Fanclub – The Kinks 2.png – Wikimedia Commons
From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
The Yardbirds | Biography & History | AllMusic
The Yardbirds are mostly known to the casual rock fan as the starting point for three of the greatest British rock guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Undoubtedly, these three figures did much to shape the group’s sound, but throughout their career, the Yardbirds were very much a unit, albeit a rather unstable one.
The Yardbirds
In addition to their six Top 40 songs, the Yardbirds will be remembered as having produced the top three English blues-based guitarists of the Sixties: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. The Yardbirds formed in June 1963, with Keith Relf on vocals and harmonica, Chris Dreja on guitar, Jim McCarty on drums, Paul Samwell-Smith on bass and Anthony “Top” Topham on guitar.
The Yardbirds – Wikipedia
A blues-based band noted for their signature “rave-up” instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s, such as feedback, distortion and ” fuzztone”.
Heart Full of Soul – Wikipedia
” Heart Full of Soul” is a song recorded by English rock group the Yardbirds in 1965. Written by Graham Gouldman, it was the Yardbirds’ first single after Jeff Beck replaced Eric Clapton as lead guitarist. Released only three months after ” For Your Love”, “Heart Full of Soul” reached the top ten on the charts in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Yardbirds
British rock band established 1963 in London. Members were Keith Relf (voc), Paul Samwell-Smith (b), Chris Dreja (g, b) and Jim McCarty (dr) with lead guitarists: Top Topham, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Inducted into Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 (Performer).
