Five Forgotten Oldies From The British Invasion

The British Invasion exploded on our shores on February 9, 1964 when The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and continued pretty much unabated through 1966. It only lasted about three years, but its influence was both vast and intense. The only big movement that rivaled them for chart dominance came from Motown.

The Invasion's first wave gave birth to a second one with the newer groups often featuring stars from the bands that preceded them. Some of the earlier artists survived that initial assault into 1967 and beyond even though pop music trends began changing again, but others - like Herman's Hermits and The Dave Clark Five - stopped having hits in America while maintaining successful careers back home.

The list of artists from the United Kingdom that found success in the United States from 1964 through 1966 was extensive, and many of them were quite prolific. Perhaps that's why there are so many forgotten gems.

Here are five British Invasion oldies you may not remember listed below in no particular order.

Manfred Mann - Pretty Flamingo (1966) (#1 UK, #29 Hot 100)
"Pretty Flamingo" was written by Amercian songwriter Mark Barkan who apparently intended it for The Drifters. Eventually, it was given to Manfred Mann, who during the mid-60s was best known for "Do Wah Diddy Diddy." "Flamingo" is an upbeat ballad about a pretty girl the singer wants to get to know. When I first heard it on the radio, I was surprised it didn't sound at all like their most famous American single that is still heard on radio stations that play 60s oldies today. Jack Bruce - who later became famous as the bassist and lead singer for Cream - was briefly part of this quintet, and he played on this pleasant piece of forgotten gold. The recording engineer was Geoff Emerick who earned an outstanding reputation working with The Beatles. In the mid-70s Manfred Mann's Earth Band had a couple of stateside hits covering Bruce Springsteen songs, most notably "Blinded by the Light."

Gerry and The Pacemakers - It's Gonna Be Alright (1964)(#24 UK, #23 Hot 100)
Gerry Marsden was the leader of The Pacemakers. His band hailed from Liverpool, and not coincidentally, they were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin at Abbey Road. The Beatles knew The Pacemakers well before the four-piece became popular not long after the Fabs struck it big. Their two biggest hits in the USA were well-sung and well-played ballads that reached the top ten: "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" and "Ferry Across the Mersey." The latter is also the title song for the only movie the group ever filmed. They also charted a couple of up-tempo rockers. "How Do You Do It" became big for them after the Beatles rejected it. (Their long-time unreleased version appears on Anthology One.) The Pacemakers also had another fast-paced hit with the mostly forgotten "It's Gonna Be Alright," composed by Marsden." It's another rocker that appeared in their movie. Today, the late Marsden is mostly remembered for his softer ballads.

Crispian St. Peters - The Pied Piper (1966) (#5 UK, #4 Hot 100)
"Crispian St. Peters (real name: Robin Peter Smith) had a huge American hit with "The Pied Piper," a unique, folk-rock 45 RPM that featured flute as a lead instrument. It showcased a musical device often used by grunge bands about twenty-five years later: quietly sung, low-key verses coupled with a rocking chorus. I'm not saying St. Peters influenced Nirvana in any way - I'm sure he didn't - but the contrasting song parts made it one of the more interesting imports to cross the Atlantic during that time. Sadly, St. Peters' career waned not long after "The Pied Piper" reached the top ten because of comments he made that claimed he was a better composer than Lennon and/or McCartney, and that his stage performance made Elvis Presley look like he was the Statue of Liberty. In 1966, it was never a smart move to say anything negative about The Beatles, so the English press turned on him. His remarks and some future, unforeseen mental problems quickly stalled his career. Regardless, it would have been hard for St. Peters to top this excellent piece of work that still holds up well today.

The Animals - I'm Crying (1964) (#8 UK, #19 Hot 100)

"I'm Crying" was The Animals' top twenty follow-up to "The House of the Rising Sun and was their first original work to be released as an a-side to a single. Written by organist Alan Price and lead singer Eric Burdon, it typical of the quintet's songs of the era as Price's keyboard work was just as important to the band's overall sound as electric guitar and Burdon's vocals. Along with the Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds, The Animals represented the tougher side of the British Invasion. A case could be made that Burdon's singing was earthier than Mick Jagger's. The original band broke up by the end of 1966, and Burdon returned with a new group that expanded their repertoire into psychedelia and other sub-genres a year later using the name of Eric Burdon and The Animals. The second lineup was good, but I prefer the blues-rock and R&B configuration of the early years.

The Searchers - When You Walk in the Room (1964) (#3 UK, #35 Hot 100)
The Searchers were another early British Invasion quartet from Liverpool, but unlike Gerry and the Pacemakers this group had no obvious connection to The Beatles. Most people who listened to American top forty radio in the 60s remember "Needles and Pins" and "Love Potion #9," two of their top twenty hits in the United States. This single was released between those two bigger hits, and due to its melodic exuberance, it's just as good - if not better - than either of them. "Room" was written by American Jackie DeShannon whose own version previously stalled at #99. It has been recorded many times after the Searchers charted it. Two notable covers were by Paul Carrack and Chris Hillman.