When Britannia Ruled The Air Waves

The first British (cultural) Invasion of the US was primarily musical, but was part of a broader counter-cultural movement. During the fifties, American records dominated British popular music. The traditionally-based UK skiffle scene felt the influence of American Rock and Roll, creating the “beat boom”. Liverpool was the first focus, producing a new “Merseybeat” music style. Along with The Beatles, a number of male quartets found local and transatlantic success, including the Searchers and Gerry and The Pacemakers. Groups and singers sprung up in London (e.g. the Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, the Dave Clark Five), Manchester (e.g. Herman's Hermits and the Hollies), Newcastle (The Animals), Birmingham (e.g. Moody Blues and Spencer Davis Group) and beyond.

By April 1964, songs released by The Beatles held an unprecedented top five positions on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and “Beatlemania” took hold.

But it wasn't only The Beatles. During 1964-1966 many more UK groups and singers topped the US Hit Charts. Here is just a small selection of the most chart-successful (non-Beatles) UK musicians during those years:

Manfred Mann (“Do Wah Diddy Diddy”), Peter and Gordon (“A World Without Love”, “I Go To Pieces”, “True Love Ways”, “Woman”), Dusty Springfield (“Wishin’ and Hopin’”, “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”), Petula Clark “Downtown”, “I Know A Place”, “My Love”) The Animals (“House of the Rising Sun”, “We Gotta Get Out of this Place”), The Dave Clark Five (“Bits and Pieces”, “Because”, Can’t You See That She’s Mine”, “Do You Love Me”, Catch Us If You Can”, “I Feel It Like That” ), Gerry and the Pacemakers (“Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”, “How Do You Do It?”, “Ferry Cross the Mersey”), The Kinks (“You Really Got Me”, I’m Tired of Waiting for You”, “All Day and All of the Night”, “A Well-Respected Man”), The Searchers (“Don’t Throw Your Love Away”, “Needles and Pins”), The Rolling Stones (“[I Can’t Get No] Satisfaction”, “The Last Time”), Herman’s Hermits (“Can’t you Feel my Heartbeat”, “Mrs Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter”, “Silhouettes”, “Wonderful World”, “Dandy”).

Can you remember which was actually the first UK release to top the US Singles Charts? Have think before checking your answer here.