Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

"Peter - thanks for opening up this thread other than just UK music."

Mike recently stated above and I would like to think the forum is not just restricted to UK music, though forum aim's were that initially.

This got me thinking however and perhaps we can discuss why you felt 60'S American groups that were very successful over in US never made It in UK.

Bands like Paul Revere, Grassroots,Jay & The Americans meant nothing over here, even The Byrds only managed 3 top 20 records.

My own theory would be that here in UK we became perhaps obsessed with the beat boom of UK groups and had little time for US groups, plus I do not recall ever hearing any tracks by some of these I have mentioned on UK radio, which essentially was only way they would be brought to the attention of UK audience.

Beach Boys managed it, mainly due to coming over to do popular UK TV shows.

Roy: I think you have hit the nail on the head when you make the comment

"I do not recall ever hearing any tracks by some of these I have mentioned on UK radio"

Without going into a debate about the role of the pirate radio stations offshore, I consider that airplay was generally the major determinant of success. Groups that visited the UK would get more exposure leading to more airtime and I would argue greater success as a result.

I would argue that artists in the UK were written out of US history mainly because the US audience never got the chance to hear them. Cliff Richard and the Shadows are two good examples of this.

As has been so often said, history is written by the winners and the winners in the 1960s, as today, were those in control of the airwaves.

On XM Radio's The Sixties, one of their weekly programs is, Here and There, which plays the music that were on the UK charts.

Cliff Richard had a big hit here, Devil Woman, was a good song. Of course that was much later than the beat boom, mid 70's.

76 Bob, made number 6 though in 59 he made top 30 just with Living Doll and in 64 made top 30 with It's All In The Game but as Peter says they made no impact stateside. They did come over and tour the states in about 62 but a few gigs here and there in States really means nothing.

It was Radio that in my view broke The Beatles in the US initially, had they come over and not had the extensive airplay prior would they have had an impact, people will say of course they would , knowing what we know now so to speak but,who can say.

I agree 100% with you Roy, I remember it, it was all the publicity which was spearheaded by radio. You couldn't open a magazine, ride in a bus or turn on the TV without hearing about The beatles in 1964 here. Was just like the writing on the back of the Capitol Meet The Beatles LP. I think also (even though many people disagree, for what? no idea) that Murry The K had a lot to do with them becoming so well known, that's all you heard on his show: It's 3:55 Beatle time, etc, he must have said their name ten times a minute. Also The Ed Sullivan Show had a huge impact over here when they were on those first three times. My whole family gathered around the TV set that first Sunday night, it was a phenomenon like nothing before. I think Murry the K whipped up everyone with his incessant Beatle this and Beatle that, he was like a one man completely obsessed publicity machine for them. I feel very fortunate to have experienced those years even though I was only 11 when they broke here.

The American music I heard in the 60s was mainly via Radio Luxembourg. I bought Shakin All Over by The Guess Who and Easier Said Than Done by The Essex. I like Jay and The Americans singing Livin Above your Head.