Arguably, the most crucial movement in the development of modern popular music is the first British invasion. The rough start date of the movement was in February of 1964, and the movement produced timeless acts such as the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, The Who, The Hollies, and, of course, the biggest band of the movement and maybe of all time, The Beatles.
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Have you ever thought what the music world would look like if The Beatles didn’t exist? Who would be the greatest band of all time, and what other bands would have garnered more notoriety? Well, in this article, we’re going to attempt to answer the latter half of that question. That being so, if it weren’t for The Beatles, we believe these three under-the-radar bands may have been household names.
The Spencer Davis Group
Formed in Birmingham, England, in 1963 by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis, and company, The Spencer Davis Group was a fairly successful band in both the United States and the United Kingdom. However, as the years have rolled by, The Beatles and other acts have overshadowed their integral presence in the first British invasion.
During their heyday, The Spencer Davis Group created hit songs “Gimme Some Lovin’”, “Keep on Running”, and “I’m a Man”. Globally, of those three songs, the group’s biggest hit is “Gimme Some Lovin’”, as it reached the top 10 in both the US and the UK. In 1969, the band disbanded after Steve Winwood went on to form Traffic. Needless to say, if it weren’t for The Beatles’ dominance, this group’s career as a British invasion band could have been a bit more fruitful than it already was.
Gerry and the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers seemingly never had a chance to outperform The Beatles; after all, did any band of the decade? Regardless, Gerry and the Pacemakers lived in the shadow of The Beatles, as they shared the same manager and producer—Brian Epstein and George Martin. Furthermore, like The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers were from Liverpool, England, and formed just a year before The Beatles did.
Despite these similarities, the Liverpool group still had a fairly successful career thanks to their hits, “How Do You Do It?”, “I Like It“, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone“. However, by 1965, their popularity had diminished significantly, and consequently, they broke up in 1966.
Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas
Like The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas was also managed by Brian Epstein. Additionally, Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas actually scored several hits thanks to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who wrote them and never recorded them, including “Bad to Me” and “I’ll Keep You Satisfied.”
Along with The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas was a significant act during the early days of the British invasion. However, by 1966, the band split up as the music industry was turning away from their sound.
Photo by Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
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