British Invasion: Body and Soul

The musical British Invasion of North America began on February 9, 1964 when the Beatles appeared live on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York City and changed the course of popular music for the next half century. Following Buddy Holly’s death in 1959, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry all went missing in action which allowed British Invasion pied pipers to sweep in and fill the vacuum left in early ‘60s American rock & roll. Our European cousins’ innocent, exuberant, and melodic interpretations of American music thrilled, seduced, and inspired an entire generation- and still excite my body and soul. Imagine how it must have sounded and felt back then! Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy! 

The Beatles

01. The Searchers – “When You Walk in the Room” (1964)

02. The Rockin’ Berries – “He’s in Town” (1964)

03. The Animals – “I Put a Spell on You” (1966)

04. The Swinging Blue Jeans – “Don’t Make Me Over” (1966)

05. Dusty Springfield – “He’s Got Something” (1964)

06. The Beatles – “Good Day Sunshine” (1966)

07. The Searchers – “Goodbye My Love” (1965)

08. David Garrick – “Lady Jane” (1966)

09. The Mindbenders – “Groovy Kind of Love” (1965)

10. The Kinks – “Waterloo Sunset” (1967)  

11. Scott Walker – “Joanna” (1968)

12. The Rolling Stones – “Ruby Tuesday” (1967)

13. The Kinks – “Days (Acoustic Version)” (1968)

14. The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963)

15. The Searchers – “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” (1966)

16. The Move – “Flowers in the Rain” (1967)

17. Peter and Gordon – “Woman” (1966)

18. The Ivy League – “That’s Why I’m Crying” (1965)

19. The Kinks – “Village Green” (1968)

20. Sandie Shaw – “Long Live Love” (1965)

21. The Kinks – “See My Friends” (1965)

“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, ‘The Beatles did.’”

– Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...