Check out videos of your favorite British Invasion performers right here.
This week: The early days of the British Invasion
November 21, 1963: “We could have quite a run.”
The Beatles’ first television exposure in the U.S., a profile by Alexander Kendrick on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Note the date on which this story was broadcast — it was the day before President Kennedy was assassinated. Beatlemania would have to take a back seat to the American tragedy until early the next year.
February 7, 1964: The Beatles Arrive in America
Herman’s Hermits: Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat — Live
Dave Clark Five
In those days the Beatles’ biggest competition was the Dave Clark Five. Here’s a video of the DC5 on the British program Ready, Steady, Go.
Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas: Little Children
This 1965 clip is from either Shindig or Hullaballoo, the two big American pop music shows at the time.
Peter and Gordon: World Without Love
In 1964, recording a Beatles song was a sure way to stardom. Paul McCartney was dating Peter Asher’s sister, Jane, in those days… and while Peter and Gordon Waller were genuinely talented, having access to a great Lennon-McCartney song didn’t hurt.
That’s it for now. Coming up on future video walls — female stars of the British Invasion… one-hit wonders… and lots more.
