The British Invasion: January 9th, 1965

The Beatles held on to the top spot for the third week and several Invaders entered the charts, all of which had experienced previous chart hits.  Dusty’s “I Live It Up” was the flip side of “Guess Who” neither of which would rise very far.  Peter and Gordon entered the charts with the Del Shannon composition “I Go to Pieces”.

Stones - Peter & Gordon - Zombies

The Rolling Stones were still seeking a monster hit – but would only reach #19 with “Heart of Stone”, their fifth chart entry.  The picture sleeve pictured above is semi-rare but can be located and fetches in excess of $500 on Ebay.  The Zombies’ “Tell Her No” would be their final top 40 entry.  They would continue on into the late 1960’s but with little U.S. chart action.

The Dave Clark Five Strike Twice

The Dave Clark Five – you might recall – charted in 1964 with “Everybody Knows” doing quite well at number 15.  But few recall the re-entry of the same song (backed with a different song than the original in December of 1967 – peaking at number 43 the second time around.  I haven’t seen the 1967 issue of the picture sleeve very often – but won this one recently for a moderate price.

Here’s American-born P.J. Proby performing his 1964 “hit” “Hold Me” – doing his best Brit Invasion Impersonation complete with Beatle “ooooohs”.

Invaders on the Charts – January 9th, 1965

#1 – I Feel Fine – The Beatles (3rd consecutive week at Number 1)
#4 – Love Potion #9 – The Searchers (up from 5)

Debuts:
#77 – Heart of Stone – The Rolling Stones (peaks #19)
#81 – Tell Her No – The Zombies (peaks #6)
#85 – I Go to Pieces – Peter & Gordon (peaks #9)
#128 – Live it Up – Dusty Springfield (peaks #128)
#132 – Somewhere – P.J. Proby (peaks #91)
#134 – Long Tall Sally – The Kinks (peaks #129)

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The British Invasion: Back Beat Number 23

Curious Meanderings among the Invaders

Christmas - Halloween & Proby

1964 saw the release of many straining to join the Invaders.  Date record’s released this single and picture sleeve by “London & the Bridges”.  In actuality the group was American out of Great Neck, NY coming together initially in 1964 and then later taking on the name “London and the Bridges” as so-dubbed by an executive at Date Records – looking to cash in on the Invasion.  You can read all about them at “Beyond the Beat Generation” in an interesting interview.  The site has tons of information on many very obscure garage bands from the mid 60’s era as well.

Gene Moss was comedy and novelty all the way (Eugene Harold Mashontz).  The illustrated picture sleeve surfaced in 1964 and is hard to find and costly.  You can read more about Gene’s Monster adventures at WFMU’s Blog.

The VJ Record Company Beatle sleeve was released during the holidays in 1964 and according to Perry Cox’s “Price Guide for the Beatles” was used for Vee Jay, Tollie and Oldie label releases (all Beatles of course).  This one is available at auction but does fetch a pretty good price.  These go for a range from about $40 up to $80 depending on condition.

The Boston Pops scored with a novelty minor hit – as featured earlier on this Blog site.  “I Want to Hold Your Hand” went to number 55 in the summer of 1964.

Boston goes Mop Top - and Rare Honey!

“Colour Slide” by the Honeycombs was released in 1965 actually, after the group had quickly faded from memory.  Price guides underestimate this record and picture sleeve listing it in the $25 range.  U.S. copies scarcely ever come up on EBay.  I have seen one in the last four years.  It sold for well over $400!

Finally, P.J. Proby was another one of those back-door/front-door Invaders, migrating to the U.K. from the U.S. to become a “turncoat” of sorts.  He was born in Texas – real name James Marcus Smith.  He enjoyed 11 top 40 hits in the U.K. four landing in the top 10.  In the U.S. he charted barely 8 times – mostly “bubbling under the Hot 100” with a lone top 40 single “Niki Hoeky”.

Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas’ “Bad to Me”

Swinging Blue Jeans – “Good Golly Miss Molly”

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The British Invasion: August 22nd, 1964

The Week the Beatles Came to Red Rocks!

This was the big week for Denver.  The ampitheater at Red Rocks – although a small venue by comparison, could not be resisted by the Fab Four.  They appeared on August 25th.  Reports would have it later that Red Rocks was the one concert that did not sell out on the Beatles’ first U.S. Tour.  I have recently spoken with three people who were there that day, and each of them said the seats and side steps were absolutely packed.

What actually transpired was when the gate chains were lowered the crowd stormed past the ticket takers in many cases because seating was first-come-first serve, and there were simply not enough ticket takers.  My wife was there that day and she still has her in-tact ticket from the event.  The photo below is a fantastic history capturing moment snapped by my wife (black and white) and another by a friend (in color).  Oh well.  At least they were in about the 15th row up.

Red Rocks Yeah Yeah Yeah August 1964

Jackie DeShannon appeared with the Beatles as did the Righteous Brothers that evening long ago.  That night my wife and her friend attempted to book a room at Denver’s Brown Palace where the Beatles resided.  The best they could do was the adjoining hotel which had a connecting upper tunnel.  They attempted to cross into the Brown, but were intercepted by security and sent back to their rooms.

“I Touched the Beatles”!!

The next morning early, hundreds of screaming girls gathered at the main entrance to the hotel to watch the Beatles depart for the airport (Stapleton).  My wife and her friend were on the opposite side of the Brown – noticing that the hotel staff were looking down onto the back street from windows.  So the girls hung around and sure enough in a few minutes a large limo pulled up at the side entrance and the four lads burst from a door toward the car.  The girls had them all to themselves.  My wife touched John as he ran by and then grabbed George’s coat.  He yanked it away and jumped into the limo.  Her friend threw herself across the hood of the limo and had to be removed.  Those were the days!

Billy J. Kramer hit the charts this week with “From a Window” as did American P.J. Proby who joined the Invaders by coming to the U.S. through the U.K. where he was much more popular.  “Hold Me” was his only London label chart record.  He would later appear on the Liberty label.

Billy J. Kramer and P.J, Proby

 British Invasion on the U.S. Billboard Charts – August 22nd, 1964

(Visit Joel Whitburn’s Record Research website presenting Billboard Charts)

(Number 1 Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go)

Top Invaders:
Number 3 – A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles
Number 5 – Animals – The House of the Rising Sun
Number 7 – Dave Clark Five – Because
Number 9 – Wishin & Hopin – Dusty Springfield
Number 10 – Gerry & Pacemakers – How Do You Do It

Debuts:
Billy J. Kramer & Dakotas – From a Window – #92
P.J. Proby – Hold Me – #134

Invaders on the Billboard Charts
Chad & Jeremy – A Summer Song #85
Peter & Gordon – Nobody I Know – #41
Billy J. Kramer & Dakotas – I’ll Keep You Satisfied – #30
Millie Small – Sweet William – #51
Rolling Stones – Tell Me – #27
Beatles – Ain’t She Sweet – #19
Beatles – I’ll Cry Instead – #29
Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Bachelor Boy – #109
Beatles – And I Love Her – #17
Beatles – If I Fell – #57
Gale Garnett – We’ll Sing in the Sunshine #62
Brian Poole – Someone Someone – #106
Searchers – Someday We’re Gonna Love Again #67

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