You Don't Need an Invitation - Step Inside!

Often considered the British band that could only follow the Beatles and the Stones in terms of success, Manchester's Hollies began when childhood friends Graham Nash and Allan Clarke discovered how well their voices blended on their first day of school in 1947. When the two discovered rock'n'roll and became swept up in the skiffle craze that gripped England in the mid '50s, Nash and Clarke performed as a duo in Manchester's clubs under a variety of names. After the addition of Eric Haydock on bass, Vic Steele on lead guitar and Don Rathbone on drums, the band evolved from the Deltas into the Hollies, so named for the Christmas decoration rather than rock icon Buddy Holly. The band's fame began to grow, leading them to the coveted spot at the Cavern that was once held by the Beatles. In January 1963, they were invited to audition for the Parlophone label.

Steele dropped out of the band because he did not want to go professional, which turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to The Hollies. Tony Hicks, an amazingly skilled lead guitarist, was soon asked to join. When Bobby Elliot joined as the new drummer, the classic Hollies line-up was in place. After a slow start, the Hollies began having hit after hit in their homeland, yet failed to replicate that success in the U.S., due in part to their record label's failures. Yet another line up change led to Haydock being replaced by Bernie Calvert on bass. Despite the set back, the Hollies finally found their American breakthrough hit single - "Bus Stop," written by Graham Gouldman (who also wrote "Heartful of Soul," "For Your Love," and "Evil Hearted You"for the Yardbirds, plus many other hits). Thus began their string of hits in the U.S.: "Stop Stop Stop," "Pay You Back with Interest," "On a Carousel," and "Carrie-Anne." Even when Nash left the Hollies at the end of 1968 to form Crosby, Stills and Nash, the Hollies continued to have great success with singles like "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and "Long Cool Woman."

I may be in the minority, but my favorite Hollies excursions are their lovely ventures into purely British psychedelia, which some might find a bit "twee" (I love twee myself). I adore Evolution, particularly in mono, and Butterfly, which is probably their most realized and cohesive psychedelic album.

I've included a live performance of one of my favorites of theirs, one that isn't heard as often as it should be, "I Can't Let Go"...enjoy!

Calling All You Ravers!

British Invasion - Small Faces from Naxos of America on Vimeo.

The above is a trailer for the Small Faces documentary, All or Nothing, which is a part of the brilliant new set that also includes docs on Dusty, Herman's Hermits, and Gerry & The Pacemakers.

This excellent review by the well-respected Gene Sculatti was passed on to me by Mr. Bob Merlis:

http://www.sonicboomers.com/shelflife/british-invasion

The British Invasion

Gerry & the Pacemakers, Dusty Springfield, The Small Faces and Herman’s Hermits

Reelin’ In The Years/Voyage Digital Media

By Gene Sculatti

Well, as F. Zappa put it at one time or another, this is a tasty little sucker. Available as four individual volumes (on Dusty Springfield, Gerry & the Pacemakers, the Small Faces and Herman’s Hermits) or as a deluxe box set (which adds a fifth, two-and-a-half-hour disc), it’s a welcome addition to the documentation of mid-’60s music. If its scope is limited--let’s hope for additional volumes--this set is a giant leap forward from the usual fare, which has tended to be thin on footage and way too long on a short list of talking heads. Indeed, British Invasion’s chief assets are the abundance and quality of its visuals (all full performances, from vintage TV appearances) and the insights and brevity of its commentaries (from artists and associates; no critics).

Watching these, it’s hard to dispel the notion that the Invasion’s first wave was its freshest splash, that after the Summer of Love the waters got overly roiled. Supporting evidence: the Pacemakers set, It’s Gonna Be All Right 1963-1965 and the Hermits’ Listen People 1964-1969. If “Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey” still sounds drippy, Gerry’s pop-rockers (most of the 17 clips) are alive and kicks-filled: “I Like It,” “Shot of Rhythm and Blues,” “I’m the One,” “Pretend.” As for the Hermits, admittedly the stories about producer Mickie Most and how the band came to cut stuff like “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” are as interesting as some of the tracks themselves, but the Shindig, Ed Sullivan Show and other-sourced performances of “I’m Into Something Good,” “Wonderful World,” “Dandy,” “There’s a Kind of a Hush,” etc. convey perfectly the innocent joy of the era. In footage from a 1964 Cavern Club performance of “Fortune Teller,” Peter Noone looks like, and dances about as well as, Jagger did at the same stage.

The Small Faces obviously rate as a more important outfit than Herman’s or Gerry’s. For Steve Marriott’s singing and guitarring alone, All or Nothing 1965-1968 is essential. This is also the most music-dense volume, packing 27 performances into its set list. “Watcha Gonna Do About It,” “Sha La La La La La Lee” and the impossibly great “All or Nothing” burn, as do “Here Come the Nice” and “Itchycoo Park,” but the nine primitively psychedelic clips from 1968’s Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake tend to run on. Still, such footage retains an edge, a real go-for-broke adventurousness that was the later 60s’ defining quality, and it’s something the merely pop-leaning Pacemakers and Hermits clips conspicuously lack.

No such distinctions mar Dusty Springfield’s Once Upon a Time 1964-1969. She’s on target throughout the period, singing superbly and, just as crucial, selecting her material with unerring instincts. Here the former Mary O’Brien is seen in almost two dozen TV performances (a great “All Cried out” from a ’66 Sullivan show, a ’65 “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself”) and amply analyzed--by herself in a 1978 interview and in a recent sit-down with Burt Bacharach. Once Upon a Time may be The British Invasion’s most consistently enjoyable view. Dusty also occupies the lion’s share of the box set’s bonus disc: 10 more TV performances (including “I Only Want to Be with You” and “24 Hours from Tulsa”) and additional Australian interview footage. The Hermits pop in for seven more performances (all from 1967), and there are 90 minutes of interviews with Noone, Marsden, Bacharach and various Faces (including the last filmed Q&A with Ronnie Lane). Two thumbs up. Now, how about volumes on the rest of the armada--Kinks, Zombies, Animals, Hollies and let’s not leave out the Pretty Things--for starters?

— 03/05/2010

Stay tuned for more information about this set, which is also featured in the latest Goldmine and the next Ugly Things!

The scans above are from the August 1966 issue of Rave, the '60s music and fashion magazine.

A New Entry Soon...

Greetings, Fellow Brit Invasion Fans - Sorry for the lack of updates recently...far too busy for the moment. I will update very soon with a special entry on the amazing new British Invasion DVD set featuring Small Faces, Dusty Springfield, Herman's Hermits, and Gerry and the Pacemakers! Stay tuned...

Pieces from a Cherished Collection

For my birthday, my friend (and patron!) Jeff sent me a parcel containing original copies of the first 20 issues of BEAT (later BEAT Instrumental) Monthly. These issues were lovingly owned by a young girl from Sussex who managed to snag autographs from Sounds Incorporated, Tony Jackson (of the Searchers) and a couple of members of the Dakotas. I imagine she saw all the bands as they came through her town. She had an obvious affection for the Rolling Stones, long before their chart success, evidenced by the arrow-pierced hearts in red. I hope that wherever she is, there is a way for her to know that her cherished collection is in good hands.

These scans were all taken from 1963 and 1964 issues of BEAT Monthly, and (obviously) all focus on the Rolling Stones. They don't seem so scary, do they?

Uh-Huh, It Was the Manfreds!

This week in Wonderland we're paying tribute to one of the finest R&B/jazz bands of the era, Manfred Mann. Known primarily in the States for their hit single "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," the Manfreds' repertoire spanned various genres of music from blues to pop. Their story is divided into distinct eras, each with their own unique contributions to the band's history.

Manfred Mann (born Manfred Lubowitz) was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to wealthy parents. At the age of six, he became intrigued by the family piano and expressed a desire to learn to play. He spent up to five hours a day intensely practicing. Manfred's talent led him to study classical music at Johannesburg Witwatersrand University, while simultaneously receiving lessons from American jazz pianist John Mehegan. Manfred despised the racism he witnessed living in Apartheid South Africa, so in 1961, he left home and boarded a boat for England, where he taught music theory and played jazz piano in local London clubs in an attempt to gain permanent residence.

By 1962, Mann had met drummer/vibes player Mike Hugg in Butlins while playing the summer club season, which led to the formation of the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers. Tom McGuinness soon joined on bass, followed by Mike Vickers on horns and guitar. It wasn't until vocalist Paul Jones joined that the band's singles began to take off. Producer John Burgess insisted on a name change for the group, eventually convincing them that their best choice would be "Manfred Mann," much to the entire band's chagrin (Mann included).

In Feb. of 1964, Manfred Mann released "5-4-3-2-1," (the song in the video above) which became a massive hit in England, and served as the theme song for the pop show "Ready Steady Go!" (This song is sort of their take on "The Charge of the Light Brigade.") Other hit singles followed, including "Hubble Bubble," "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," "Sha La La," and "Come Tomorrow." By 1965, McGuinness was playing lead guitar, and former Graham Bond Organization/future Cream bassist Jack Bruce joined the band for live appearances. Bruce can be heard on their UK number 1 "Pretty Flamingo," which was also Paul Jones' last hit with the group. With the handsome lead singer gone, the band considered several replacements, including Rod Stewart and Wayne Fontana, before choosing Mike D'Abo. Manfred Mann then moved to the Fontana record label where they continued to experience chart success. Bruce left the band in 1967, and was replaced by Beatles friend and Revolver cover artist, Klaus Voorman.

Some of the Manfreds' best work were their Dylan covers, particularly "With God on Our Side" and the hit "The Mighty Quinn." My personal favorite Manfred Mann album is the 1968 soundtrack to the Paramount film, Up the Junction, with its swirling psychedelic sounds, tape effects, and jazz elements. Their debut, The Five Faces of Manfred Mann, displays the band's deft transition to pop while still retaining their jazz and blues influences - each track is a winner, and it's certainly a classic album.

(References: Mannerisms: The Five Phases of Manfred Mann by Greg Russo and British Beat by Chris May and Tim Phillips)

Fabulous Forty-Fives

Presented here is a selection of single picture sleeves from popular British Invasion artists.

I miss 45s and the unique mixes, picture sleeves and artwork they often provided. Downloading a song from iTunes, though convenient, just doesn't have the same appeal as holding a tangible object in one's hands while savoring the sounds emanating from the speakers.

Check out the three Yardbirds picture sleeves - one with Clapton, one with Beck, and one with Beck and Page. Upcoming trips to Wonderland will include a Yardbirds scrapbook of vintage articles and promo pictures, as well as features on more groups from the British Invasion and beyond. Happy New Year!

A British Invasion Christmas!