Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What was it about the beginnings of the British Invasion that first tipped you off that it was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, going to be something very big?

When I first saw the Dave Clark 5 on TV. I thought they were a Beatles copy band. They weren't, really. Then all of a sudden, kids were boning up on their Liverpool slang...and everyone was singing and playing "House of the Rising Sun" like The Animals. Oh, and group names...The Beatles, The Animals, The Byrds...

JimK

Good points Jim. I certainly had a similar experience. For me the hint that music was changing was the introduction of a very different style that did not have the big production of an orchestra and background vocals.

It soon became apparent that less was more and further that there was a steady stream of original material introducing us to a different way of life.

I will never forget the refreshing harmonies (no discredit to the Everlys here) and the very real possibility that the guys on our block might be able to emulate this sound. Oh the possibilities.

Although I was too young to remember the beginning of the British Invasion, I'm eternally proud of my first favorite pop/rock song. At the tender age of 6 (in 1966 or 1967), I heard 'And Your Bird Can Sing' on the Beatles cartoon show and thought it was very cool. It's still one of my favorites!

Beatle Boots and Nehru Jackets.....Everywhere!

I was told by our band manager to go to North America to be a part of the action.

Fortunately for us Brian, you did!

Fortunately for us Brian, you did!

Who knows, who knows... who knows what could have been if he wouldn't...
As far as the "tips" are concerned - i cannot remember the time for obvious reasons, but in early and not-so-early childhood, "all British" was synonymous to "humorous, smart and in good taste" to me, but "remote" at the same time. And when i've first heard some BI bands, i didn't even know such words, as it seems. Old bobbin tapes and so on.

Just to clarify, my comment regarding Brian was a compliment.

Good point Sheena, in spite of cultural and language differences the Invasion had its impact in a most significant way.

My older brother was huge Beatles fan, I was born in '61 so my memory of those early years is vague. I remember Ed Sullivan having multiple British bands on when I was a kid.

I vaguely remember the Beatles at Shea. We lived just a short drive away and my brother managed to get all the Beatles autographs on an album cover. Sad to say, I lost that album cover when I was about 14 to the guitarist in my first band. We were doing some Beatles songs and I LOANED all my Beatles LP's to the guitarist, including the one with the autograph. I NEVER got them back.

My FIRST introduction was the Beatles, then the Dave Clark Five. MY first British Invasion record purchase of my own was The Moody Blues "Nights in White Satin" was and IS one of my favorites to this day.

Knew I was watching something big when the Beatles appeared on Sullivan. Being thirteen at the time, I seldom if ever had watched the Ed Sullivan show. I obviously wasn't disappointed. Their appearance opened the gateway for many of the others. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Exactly Stan. Ed Sullivan had a completely new meaning for me too. The Fabs appearance there made the process more transparent to "would be" musicians as well.

Tony: Not too worry, that album wouldn't be worth more than a thousand or two today! Keep your eye on Antique's Road Show.

Thanks Peter,

Only a thousand or two? GULP.

Oh well, no use crying over lost autographs....

Memories are worth more, Tony. Imho.

True Sheena, very true.