Search 'british invasion'
Down The Road Apiece (Their EMI Recordings 1963-1966) (Album of the Day)
The Very Best of Billy J Kramer (Album of the Day)
Introducing the Beau Brummels (Album of the Day)
The Beau Brummels are proof that the San Francisco scene was an exciting one even before anyone had heard of the Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane. With an English-sounding name to capitalize on the British Invasion then dominating U.S. radios, the quintet entered the studio with producer Sylvester Stewart (later known as Sly Stone) and emerged with this 1965 album for Autumn Records. The dozen tracks on INTRODUCING THE BEAU BRUMMELS include ten originals penned by guitarist Ron Elliott, among them the singles “Laugh Laugh” and “Just A Little,” which reached the Top 10. The Beau Brummels' sparkling debut epitomizes 1960s folk-rock in all its jangly goodness.
Rag Doll (Album of the Day)
Vocal group greats The Four Seasons rose to the challenge of the British invasion with RAG DOLL. The 1964 collection was the group's first of all-original material, and songwriter Bob Gaudio really delivers - Top 10 singles “Ronnie,” “Save It for Me” and the classic title track (inspired by a poor girl he'd seen on the streets of Manhattan) are just the tip of the iceberg. Frankie Valli and his fellow Seasons are in terrific voice throughout, and Bob Crewe's adventurous, dynamic production shows him on par with Phil Spector. Track for track, RAG DOLL is perhaps the strongest studio album of The Four Seasons' career, and we'll give it another spin now to wish Gaudio a happy birthday.
The Best Of Manfred Mann's Earth Band (Album of the Day)
During the mid-'60s British Invasion, Manfred Mann gave the world such pop hits as “Do Wah Diddy Diddy”; a decade later, he was back on the charts with a more progressive but equally catchy sound, and a more ecologically aware band name. THE BEST OF MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND collects the cream of the group's '70s output for Warner Bros., displaying dazzling production and instrumental work as well as a keen ear for great songs – the versions here of Dylan's “You Angel You” and Springsteen's “Blinded By The Light” are revelatory (the latter was a No.1 hit). Manfred Mann was born on this day in 1940, and we'll wish him a happy birthday with THE BEST OF MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND.
Radio Fun (Album of the Day)
The title of The Hollies' RADIO FUN is an apt description of the 2012 compilation of BBC recordings. Spanning the U.K. group's early-1960s to early-1970s heyday, these 32 tracks display the evolution of their sound, with enthusiasm, brilliant harmonies and the desire to try new things a constant across the years. While there are plenty of live-at-the Beeb performances of familiar singles here – including “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,” “Bus Stop” and “If I Needed Someone” (which was released by the band on this day in 1965) – the song selection digs a little deeper to reveal The Hollies' love of U.S. R&B and their skill as writers on such less-heralded gems as “I've Got A Way Of My Own.” A terrific complement to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' studio releases, RADIO FUN is a must for any British Invasion fan.
Pin Ups (Album of the Day)
David Bowie scored his second UK No.1 album when PINUPS topped the chart for five weeks in 1973. Bowie's popularity at the time is one reason that a covers album was so successful, but the music is strong enough to stand on its own. “These are all bands which I used to go and hear play down the Marquee between 1964 and 1967,” noted the performer. “I've got all these records back at home.” Versions of songs – not necessarily the biggest hits - by bands including The Pretty Things, The Yardbirds, The Who and others were love letters to the glories of the British Invasion, with arrangements largely faithful to the originals. ZIGGY STARDUST producer Ken Scott and guitarist Mick Ronson helped bring these tracks into the glam era, making PINUPS essential for Bowie fans.
The Best of Eric Burdon and War (Album of the Day)
As the powerhouse vocalist of The Animals, Eric Burdon earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but that's just the beginning of his musical career. Living in California at the end of the 1960s, he joined forces with a funk band called Nightshift, who were soon rechristened War. The brief alliance produced two studio albums plus a later set of unissued recordings, and THE BEST OF ERIC BURDON AND WAR features highlights from all three releases. Along with a few nods to the British Invasion (including a terrific cover of “Paint It Black”), the 13 tracks feature plenty of simmering R&B and a Top 10 hit in “Spill The Wine.” Burdon was born on this day in 1941, and we'll wish the legendary singer a happy birthday with another spin of THE BEST OF ERIC BURDON AND WAR.
Over the Years... (Album of the Day)
Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Graham Nash burst onto the scene during the British Invasion with The Hollies before he formed the legendary supergroup Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1968 with David Crosby and Stephen Stills. Towering above virtually everything that Nash has accomplished in his long and multi-faceted career, there stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of the past half-century. Painstakingly curated by Nash and longtime associate Joel Bernstein, the new anthology OVER THE YEARS... looks back at some of his best-known recordings and features more than a dozen unreleased demos and mixes. Among the classics heard in both familiar versions and demo form on this 2-CD set are “Marrakesh Express,” “Teach Your Children,” “Our House” and “Just A Song Before I Go.”
How Do You Like It? [Mono And Stereo Version] (Album of the Day)
Sharing a manager and a producer with The Beatles, Gerry And The Pacemakers were perhaps the Fabs' greatest rivals during the Merseybeat era, and their 1963 debut, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?, shows why. The quartet's playing is tight and energetic on a mix of covers including rock and R&B chestnuts like “Maybelline” and “A Shot of Rhythm and Blues,” and Gerry Marsden's tenor is appealing throughout. There are also some fine ballads in the line-up, chief among them “You'll Never Walk Alone,” which became the Pacemakers' third No.1 single in a row in their native U.K. (the song has come to prominence again in recent days as a fundraiser for England's National Health Service). The EMI 100th Anniversary remaster of HOW DO YOU LIKE IT? includes both the stereo and mono mixes of the album, and the excitement of the British Invasion comes through loud and clear on each.