Three More Hits from The British Invasion

A lot of great  songs that came out of the 1960's 'British Invasion" were done from bands which might not be household names among baby-boomers and music fans of all ages today, but they deserve a rehearing  in my view. 

   There's no way three songs could even begin to do justice to the popular songs of that era, but here are three favorites I selected from the soundtrack of the 1998 film "Rushmore", a film that proves the "invaders" have never left us. 

 This song hit Number Seven on the US Pop Charts in the Summer of 1964, and was the biggest US hit for this pair, whose success in the States surpassed their musical clout in their home country. 

(from Wikipedia) The duo starred in the West End production of Pump Boys And Dinettes from 1984–1985, before returning to the US in 1986 for a nostalgia tour with other British Invasionartists. In 1987 they performed in short residencies at both Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe, and the Reno Hilton before again breaking up.

In 2003, PBS reunited Chad & Jeremy in the 60s Pop-Rock Reunion special, which also prompted a tour the next year. They have been touring ever since. In 2008, the group released Ark-eology, an album featuring re-recordings of their 1960s hits and selected cuts from their original albums. In September 2010, Chad & Jeremy marked 50 years of performing together with a limited-edition CD entitled Fifty Years On.

  

 

1965 brought another transAtlantic hit for a group from Hertfordshire, a song given a boost by Pirate Radio Stations off shore near Britain: 

"Concrete and Clay" was a worldwide hit, and the group suddenly found themselves on radio playlists across the globe.^[2] In America, a competing cover version by Eddie Rambeau (produced by Bob Crewe) split sales, with Rambeau reaching #35 on the Billboard charts and Unit 4 + 2 placing at #28. Cash Box charted the two versions together, and they reached a combined #12.

Decca released a hastily put together album, also entitled Concrete and Clay, to capitalise on the success, but it was not as notable in style or content as the single.^[2] Nevertheless, the next single release "You've Never Been in Love Like This Before" reached the Top 20 in the UK,^[2] and #95 on the Billboard chart in the US "Concrete and Clay" returned to the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart in 1976, courtesy of Randy Edelman's cover version.^[3] More recently, the original song appeared in the soundtrack to the film, Rushmore (1998).

  

This final entry is also on the "Rushmore" soundtrack, but was done by the composer, the great Cat Stevens.  I decided to go with a version that had a little more "beat" to it from 1967. (from Wikipedia)  On New Years Day, 1962, Decca, looking for a "Beat" group, auditioned two promising young bands: Brian Poole and the Tremeloes and a somewhat similar combo (also heavily influenced by Buddy Holly) from Liverpool called The Beatles.Decca chose the Tremeloes over The Beatles. 

The original quintet consisted of lead vocalist Brian Poole, lead guitarist Ricky West, keyboardist Alan Blakely, bassist Alan Howard and drummer Dave Munden.]When Poole and Howard left the band in 1966, Alan Blakely took over leadership of the group, and Len "Chip" Hawkes, father of 1990s hitmaker Chesney Hawkes, replaced Howard. Poole pursued a career as a solo artist.After switching from Decca to CBS Records, the Tremeloes started a successful hit run from 1967 onwards with Cat Stevens' "Here Comes My Baby.