1960s Music – 1964

1960s Music – 1964,  February 7th the place is New York – JFK Airport, some 5000 fans are all gathered to witness the arrival of the Beatles and the beginning of the British invasion. Their first album “Please Please Me” had stayed at #1 in the U.K. for 30 consecutive weeks but the record company because of licensing problems had not released it in the U.S. Instead they released the single “I Want To Hold Your Hand” which sold 2.6 million copies in the two weeks preceding their arrival. During the course of the year they would subsequently capture nine spots on the Top 100 charts with five of them in the #1 slot (see chart below for titles).

Their 3 consecutive appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show in February were no accident. Timed to coincide with their arrival in the U.S. Sullivan had originally offered the group top dollar to appear once. Their manager Brian Epstein however agreed to take the lowest pay scale in return for doing three shows in a row. Whether it was the brilliant marketing or just their innate talent and likability the Beatles were instant hits in America. Their success led to a desire for anything and everything British. Other British bands would capitalize on this desire. During the year The Animals, Chad & Jeremy, Dusty Springfield, Peter and Gordon, The Kinks and Manfred Mann would all have Top 100 hits with the Dave Clark Five charting five entries during the period.

Groups from the U.K. weren’t the only thing charting however The Supreme’s had their first hit with Motown Records, “Where Did Our Love Go” which was quickly followed by “Baby Love” and “Come See About Me” all three climbed to #1 on the charts. The only other multiple top spot performer was actually a early 1960’s favorite, Bobby Vinton who had “There! I’ve Said It Again” and “Mr. Lonely” both hit #1. Another perennial favorite Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons had three huge hits with “Rag Doll”, “Stay” and “Ronnie”.

Not as well known but certainly influential the Rolling Stones begin their U.S. tour by releasing their first self titled album “The Rolling Stones”. The group got it’s name from a Muddy Waters tune “Rollin’ Stone”. The Stones were the first popular group to mix R&B melodies with rock type rhythms, because of their “dirty” music and the lack of cute clothing and haircuts they received the reputation as being the “bad boys” of rock.

Jazz got a lot of attention this year with Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto’s single “The Girl From Ipanema” and their self titled album both winning Grammy Awards and doing well in the charts. Al Hirt a jazz horn player also had million seller hit with “Java”.

SONG	ARTIST(click to purchase)	# OF WEEKS	DATE
There! I’ve Said It Again	Bobby Vinton	4	1/04
I Want To Hold Your Hand	The Beatles	7	2/01
She Loves You	The Beatles	2	3/21
Can’t Buy Me Love	The Beatles	5	4/04
Hello, Dolly!	Louis Armstrong	1	5/09
My Guy	Mary Wells	2	5/16
Love Me Do	The Beatles	1	5/30
Chapel Of Love	The Dixie Cups	3	6/06
A World Without Love	Peter & Gordon	1	6/27
I Get Around	The Beach Boys	2	7/04
Rag Doll	Four Seasons	2	7/18
A Hard Day’s Night	The Beatles	2	8/01
Everybody Loves Somebody	Dean Martin	1	8/15
Where Did Our Love Go	Supremes	2	8/22
The House Of The Rising Sun	Animals	3	9/05
Oh, Pretty Woman	Roy Orbison	3	9/26
Do Wah Diddy Diddy	Manfred Mann	2	10/17
Baby Love	Supremes	4	10/31
Leader Of The Pack	The Shangri-Las	1	11/28
Ringo	Lorne Greene	1	12/05
Mr. Lonely	Bobby Vinton	1	12/12
I Feel Fine	The Beatles	3	12/26

Click Below For Year by Year Song Charts and Information