Action: Reaction - American Bands and American Society Respond to the English Invasion

Get in touch! First of all, Happy Independence Day everybody! I'm so pleased to publish another episode of American Song on America's birthday! Back in America, ever since the plane crash in the winter of 1959 that ended the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the Big Bopper, American rock and roll had been sort of losing steam. By 1964, it very easily could have just petered out. Certainly, the likes of Frankie Avalon, and post-army Elvis were not going anywhere exciting. It was a new day, what was needed was music for a new generation. The British Invasion shot a whole new attitude, excitement and energy right into the veins of American culture. Just like American culture changed England, the Brits changed American music. You can see that play out in the competition between the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and the Beatles. The English band's changed American culture, too. Sex was prolific. Drugs were everywhere. On the Merv Griffin show, Timothy Leary told his audience he'd used LSD 311 times and predicted a coming age when kids would be educated through the use of psychedelic drugs, unlocking their internal Smithsonian Institutes or Libraries of Congress. The British Invasion also caused a chain reaction all across America when local musicians formed new bands, for instance Roger McGuinn and David Crosby who formed the Byrds. It was a powerful response to the excitement, new sounds, perspectives, and inspiration that bands like the Beatles, the Stones, and the Who injected back into our rock scene. All this, and lots more, in this month's episode of American Song! IN THIS MONTH'S EPISODE: The Who - My Generation Bob Dylan - 4th Time Around The Beatles - Norwegian Wood The Beatles - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away Bob Dylan - Got to Serve Someone John Lennon - Serve Yourself The Rolling Stones - Crackin' Up The Beatles - Rain The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice The Beatles - Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations Brian Wilson - Our Prayer/ Gee John Lennon - Promo for Tower Records Elton John - Texan Love Song Led Zepellin - Whole Lotta Love John Lennon - Cold Turkey Paul McCartney - Interview 1967 The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years from Home Dr. Timothy Leary - Interview 1967 Blind Faith - In the Presence of the Lord John Lennon - God John Lennon - Interview 1966 The Byrds - Eight Miles High The Standells - Dirty Water The Monkees - The Last Train to Clarksville Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man Paul Revere and the Raiders - Indian Reservation The Turtles - Happy Together The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson The Young Rascals - Good Lovin' The Mama's and the Papa's - California Dreaming Tommy James and the Shondells - Hanky Panky The Beatles - Revolution 9 The Doors - The End Vedder/ Tierney/ Krieger/ Manzarek - Doors Induction to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Velvet Underground - Heroin The Strokes - Walk on the Wild Side Sonic Youth - European Son U2 - Satellite of Love REM - Femme Fatale David Byrne - Candy Says Bowie/ Reed - Waiting for the Man Queen - God Save the Queen