I must be older than I thought because I know most of the originals that were covered !!! Great job giving credit to the originals! This just proves how much luck & timing can mean success in the quirky pop music biz and how many r&b groups were unfortunately passed over.
Thanks for your kind words. Hey, better late than never. I got surprised when this video suddenly blew up in popularity about six months ago. It did nothing in its first four years. Cheers.
@@NewFalconerRecords Wanted to thank you for creating this :)...it was fascinating! I have covered several of these songs as a bassist and singer, and they always bring me joy...thanks again, you're awesome. Respect from Canada :)
You might also like my Under the Covers series that takes a different approach to the same subject. New Falconer Records are happy for my to share this link, ua-cam.com/play/PLWYKeQDkRtAd27MnHlZqk4UekygHVV8eR.html. Sound quality poor on first two, presentation and depth of content improves with time!
Perhaps they objected to the poor use of terminology, confusing the word "cover" with the word "remake". I posted a correction to this but still clicked like.
@Dragomir Ronilac The style of music was around LONG BEFORE any of those lyric and music composers were even born. The music was called “race music.” It began back in the 1920s and its roots are even earlier. It was rhythm and blues music. In the US, radio stations would not even play that type of music and black artists had very little to no success in the US. Only black Jazz artists playing in nightclubs in the north and overseas had any real financial success, but not rhythm and blues artists. In the South some DJs would play “race”music late at night well after midnight when most adults were not listening to the radio. That is when white teens would get a chance to listen to few records by black artist. This is how Buddy Holly listened to black music and became influenced as a teen by black artists. But in England, this was not the case. Music by black artists was not banned from the radio and their records were readily available in record stores. This is how The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, etc became acquainted with and influenced by black music. Elvis was the forerunner back in the 1950s, adopting the sound of black rhythm and blues. In England record sales of black music rose during the same period. When white businessmen saw the potential profits on black music due to its acceptance by white teens, records companies rose up everywhere to capture the sound and market any artists who could produce that sound. This included songwriters who could write in that vein, reproducing the sounds of black music. Carol King, one of the songwriters featured in this video, stated this very fact in an interview. There were many songs already written by black artists. But there was no money to be made from those publishing rights. So these white record companies solicited other white songwriters to write new music in the style of black music in order to capitalize on songwriting publishing credits and profits which is where the real money was to be made. This is the reason that early white artists such as The Rolling Stones and the Beatles, and even the Kinks, who began as “cover “ bands, covering songs by black artists, including Little Richard and Howling Wolf, began writing their own music so that they could make much more money with songwriting publishing profits. There is even a point in this video where the narrator states that one of the bands featured here fell away because there were no songwriters in the group and they couldn’t do much other than be a cover band. I’m 60 years old and know a great deal more about rock and roll than you do. I’m not “confusing” anything. Black artist are and always will be the foundation of rock and roll. PS Another reason for the success of rock and roll was the fact that white artists could be promoted much easier than black artists around that time of the 1950s through the early 1960s. In the US, such shows as Ed Sullivan could not feature black artists because sponsors believed that showing blacks in a positive manner would alienate white Southerners. That was pure racism. Elvis Presley and the Beatles were acceptable to be featured on TV as well as any concert hall although black acts were not. This is the main reason for the British Invasion phenomenon of the 1960s. Over time, such acts as Motown artists the Supremes, the Temptations became so profitable that restrictions against black artists lifted. Also, with Motown, Barry Gordy was inspired to create a black-owned company with black songwriters in the same vein as white-owned with white songwriters who were merely copying the black sound. Do your research. You don’t know the true history of rock and roll. Just because you saw some white songwriters doesn’t mean there isn’t a backstory as to why and how they got to be in that position. John Lennon once said all he wanted to do was play "the Negro music" and didn't care if he ever got paid for it. African Americans are the originators of rock and roll. The rest are imitators and innovators. It's sad to see that there are people still so ignorant of the history of rock and roll.
There is a lot of truth in what your telling. So not to exclude it should be noted that not only have there been both black and white artist / songwriter contributions through out popular music of the 20th century but also more then one origin. Scottish, English, Irish folk and church music was loaded with syncopations, micro pitches and line out singing which blended well with the similar African traditions. Really a combo of the two with some classical and other continental European folk helped to give birth to popular music. OK I’ve probably have written similar statements enough online already. Thanks for the opportunity All the best
@@joshuaperkins9916 The particular brand of music labeled as "rock and roll" really has its beginnings in music in the African American church prior to 1900 along with additions from ragtime music, also and African American tradition which included modifications of Sousa. Those styles of music are easily seen in Little Richard and Chuck Berry's musicianship which was an evolution of those older styles of music. Heretofore, this style of music was not mainstream but considered "race" music. Certain aspects of African American church music and ragtime developed into rhythm and blues and also into jazz which became mainstream in the 1930s and 1940s as white artist and filmmakers adopted its style. Elvis, the Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Rolling Stones and other artist of the British Invasion, etc. adopted the styles of African American music which became what is known as "rock and roll" of today. As to folk music, it is as you say, rooted in various traditions from Scotland, England, and Ireland mostly and evolved in the US to produce groups like Peter, Paul and Mary, the Kingston Trio, etc. But another evolution in folk happened with groups like the Byrds, the Lovin' Spoonful, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, the Cowsills, etc who took folk music, blended with rock and roll elements and turned it into a hybrid of sorts. One might even consider Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac to be groups exhibiting folk and rock elements of the highest order. Classical music has also been interwoven with rock music with such groups as the Electric Light Orchestra and Pink Floyd. I would describe Jimi Hendrix and derivative heavy metal as based on Chuck Berry's style amped up with innovative guitar riffs And now Hip Hop elements are reaching as far as country music. Pop music takes elements from all these genres to create a certain range of sounds. Nevertheless, there is no escaping the true roots of "rock and roll" in a technical sense. I enjoyed your comment. Thanks.
I respectfully some what disagree on the segregated view of American music. It’s true in the past music was often separated by class or race but the actual blending and elements happened through out the working class early on. Second beat syncopation of early Anglo / Celtic folk dance ( example contra dance ) and romantic area classical strongly influenced ragtime and early jazz. You also have Scottish psalms singing with a presenter and a chanting microtone response. Then there are waulking songs a call and response style sung by Scottish women while washing wool. There is the Lombard rhythm or scotch snap which is a dialect thing some what unique to parts of England, Scotland and America,. The scotch snap is in everything from fiddle music to rap music. Many Bach progression are in jazz, rock, Motown etc. Polkas? Think Charlie Brown by the Coasters and many more. But yes of course there are African influences ( Mali music, call and response etc example ) and many African American artist that help shape all this. Thank you for the great conversation. All the best Josh
This should be on bbc4 too.. this nicely concise no filler style is what television should be doing in today. Wish tv people understood that and watched this.
Often these lists are just nonsense. Not this. Great information, fun to listen to and well done! This list highlights how great the British Invasion bands were, with their interpretations of the great American songs that often were not originally appreciated in The USA
One of the absolute BEST presentations of Record History I've ever seen. As a lifelong Singer/Songwriter/Producer I have always been interested in the backstories of songs, records and bands. You did a GREAT job! Thank You!
Gumbi, you might be interested in "Top 2000" back stories of hits thru the years. Well researched interviews with the music makers. In particular, Dancing in the Moonlight, I love Rock n Roll, Tinsel Town in the Rain, and Fat Boy Slim are recommended. . . if the algo didn't already find you ;)
I'm currently working on a Part 2 follow-up to this video. Just hope I don't get blocked with copyright infringements, which is why I quit doing this series -- even though I was enjoying doing them -- and I was more than happy to let the publishers and writers of the original songs to have any money to be earnt -- a couple of my videos got taken down almost immediately, so I lost the will to do them any more. Fingers crossed that the follow-up will stay on UA-cam for a while, like this one has. Thanks for watching.
How about a follow-up of British acts covering the songs of US blues artists that had failed to find a white audience (but often claiming the songwriting credits, forcing the likes of Willie Dixon to sue for royalties).
Bill Faulkner you could do British and Irish cover versions also. You currently have The Pogues Fairytale of New York doing its Christmas rounds and the controversy it entails every year with the word "Faggots" in the lyric. It's an old term that has nothing in relation to today's meaning of the word. It has been covered and murdered by a few recently altering the word. Why fix something that is not broken and when people start to criticise a version without doing their homework on what they are criticising they should stay away. I'm sure there are tons of songs out their with similar problems...years ago the quickest way to get to number one without merit was write a song that would not be appropriate for alleged air play and then have the B.B.C ban it...then in the era of Pirate Radio. These stations were over it like a hot Rag. Oh on a end note. Well done great compilation and opened my eyes to classics songs I did not know most were reboots. Hope we see more from you in the future. Your hardest problem is Copyright.
This is fascinating, and so much more authoritative and smartly presented than the vast majority of UA-cam videos of this kind, which tend to be clickbait-centric first and informative a distant second.
I agree. This is one of the best "top 10" videos I've seen. This was a great trip to the past as well as great info about the originals. I remember the classic recordings as well as some of the originals. Thanks!
Hi there! Thanks for this. I knew just about all the originals and British Invasion is my favourite era of music. I love both versions. How lucky are we to have music and singing? Imagine life without it, really friggin boring.
Good stuff. Funny and illuminating, that I wondered why Twist and Shout was included, because in the other cases I was surprised by a preceding original, but everyone knew about the Isley Bros Twist and Shout. It was a big hit in it's own right. Then you came up with the original to that! Well done.
Mostly Jewish songwriters penning songs for black artists which got covered by British bands. Until the Beatles came along, most artists did not write their own songs. And early rock n roll was always a cultural blending of blues, R&B, gospel, folk and C&W (as it was known then)
The Spaniels, an early doo wop group, most of their songs were written by Pookie Hudson, their lead singer. So much for doo wop groups not writing their own songs.
Hippy Hippy Shake. First record I purchased. 6 shillings and 8 pence. Three for a quid. In those days the groups had to sell a shed load of records to get to number 1. Thanks for putting this together. Keep safe.
Many of the greats, written by New York, Jewish songwriters, originally performed by young, black Americans and made into smash hits by working class Englishmen.. this was part of the energy of the '60's
Terrific video, thanks, great sleuthing! I spent a year in England from June 63 to June 64 (as a 9/10 year old) and have been fascinated/haunted by the music of that period ever since. BTW, It's All Over Now had a couple of pretty salty expressions for the day: "she had my nose open, that's no lie" and "playin her half-assed games"! Best to all in England in this extremely difficult time.
Goes to show you're never too old to learn!! At nearly 70, I'm amazed to know that some of my favourites weren't original...also brings to light lesser known groups who have faded into history ...thank you..
Thanks for that, really enjoyed seeing some of my favourite bands of all time ... i was 12 in 1960 when the Beatles first appeared, so lived through the musical "revolution". Happy happy days!! (i'm now a singer/guitarist/songwriter in my own right ... and still loving it!!)
Sorry but you mean 62, not 60. The Beatles didn't cut 'Love me do' until 62 when Ringo joined. They'd been playing as The Beatles since 57 though. When people mention important events in world history I'm terrible at remembering the year, but if you tell me what records were out I'll know, especially the 60's. It was definitely a golden period.
Excellent video. I didn't know many of these, which makes it all the more interesting, particularly with a lot of additional background information. Kudos to you.
This makes one thing so prominently in your face. The Beatles just blew the doors off of everyone else,even when doing some of their early cover songs. This was a great expose. I doubt there would be many that would argue when the Beatles Twist and Shout came in at number one, it just flew out of your speakers or headphones.
john lennon almost ruined his voice for life doing that song in the studio. he was screaming the lyrics. he damaged his vocal chords, but luckily , they healed.
From the first second on it was obvious that the Beatles had a far superior quality than the rest of the bands. It´s not only Lennon´s solo vocals or the effectiveness of their harmony vocals, it´s also the band, the compact sound, the groove - just everything.
Enjoyed this immensely. Great choice of songs, and the presentation pays due to the original versions and the covers. Really well researched and narrated as well.
I heard all of these on The Big 11-10, KRLA Pasadena, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Indeed, they are magical musical memories still turning in the windmills of my mind.
Well done! Though I was aware of most of these being 'non-originals', it was great to hear some of the very first versions, and will pursue the next episodes with great enthusiasm, indeed! Thanks much for this post, very enjoyable.
I am thankful for this new knowledge completing my piecemeal understanding of the origins of these great tunes. Some I knew were covers, with others I hadn't the foggiest. Well done!
Thanks for this informative list of british pop band cover versions. One of the most interesting band cover versions came from the Ventures no 1 hit Walk Dont Run in 1960. I have a recording of Jazz Guitarist Johnny Smith, who wrote it in 1954 basing it on the tune" Softly as in a Morning Sunrise",proving there are no limitations in music and the success that comes from an idea.
The Ventures did TWO cover version recordings of Johnny Smith's Walk, Don't Run. The well known, often played 1960 version, and a later 1964 recording, which incorporated keyboard sounds, as well as guitars and drums, as opposed to the earlier 1960 version which only had the latter two. The second Venture's recording is called Walk, Don't Run '64 ua-cam.com/video/IaW_n_D0Hzo/v-deo.html
Really nicely put together video. Good music choices, informative, enthusiastic but balanced delivery, non-repetitive and gets on with it... no self-indulgent faffing about like you get so much elsewhere! Professional, in fact. Thanks.
Probably the most enjoyable and informative music video I’ve seen on UA-cam. I clicked on it thinking “Oh yeh let’s see if there is any I don’t know” and now I’m shame-faced to admit I didn’t know any..I even thought Twist and Shout was a Little Richard song. Fantastic detail and great narrative. 👍
As a fellow Aussie, thanks mate for this video. Very well done and quite informative. You remind me of a younger version of Glenn A. Baker. The Doris Troy version of Just One Look is so soulful and funky. Love it. I can't fathom how some of these original versions failed to chart. Some of them are really good. You must have re-uploaded this video because a lot of the comments have come in the last 2 weeks or so, hopefully this means they pass the UA-cam sensors. If that's the case please keep making videos! You have a willing audience
Thanks mate. I appreciate your comments. Funny you should mention Glenn A. Baker, 'cos I have a connection (tentative) to him due to a book that I co-wrote (he did a blurb on the back --- the book is called Wild About You!, it's about Aussie & NZ 60s garage punk). No, I haven't re-uploaded this video, something weird has happened in the last week or so that has suddenly made this four year old video go nuts. Thanks for your great comments. I agree about Doris Troy too.
@@NewFalconerRecords Something happened in the Algo..It just appeared in my suggestion box and I quickly reached for the click..Didn't know about Twist & Shout..although i like the original version...
I must be old... I not only remember every one of these covers, but most of the originals as well. But it's better to be old than just someone's memory.
I'm glad you divided this concept into sections. This "British Invasion" portion is just the tip of the iceberg. I often search UA-cam for an old remembered tune and about a third of the time I find an earlier version by an obscure artist when I thought the remembered version was the original. Two that come to mind, "November Snow" and "Always Something There to Remind Me."
What a great video!! extremely interesting, all thru, with nonstop facts that are so fascinating, I was transfixed by this video. I was a teenager in the 1960's, in a London suburb, family home, and all these groups were on the telly all the time, onshows like 'Ready, steady, go' and 'top of the pops' etc. I had no idea these songs were not theirs. So interesting to hear the originals. Love the quick way you narrate this, keeping the facts rolling.Very well done, best wishes from England.
The groups and performers did a great job covering these wonderful songs. If they had not, they would never have reached my ears - as I live on the outskirts of civilization in Norway.
Exceptional production in every aspect. Much enjoyed the watch and listening, every single one of these were a total unknown they were covers. Liked and subscribed, well done mate.
I Really Enjoyed This Buzzing Video Honouring The Beat Music Era, The Video Is Well Crafted, Polished And Really Informative With A Super Narration. So 5 Stars And A Big Thank You From Me.
It’s worth noting that The Nashville Teens provided stellar punk backup to one of the greatest live rock albums of all time; Jerry Lee Lewis Live at The Star Club from 1964. Essential to any collection.
Nice video, I learnt a lot there. It's amazing how many 'young folk of today' always think their idols are original and don't believe you when you try to enlighten them. I remember playing Guns N Roses 'Since I don't Have You' on a radio rock show, (a long time ago), and telling my audience that it was a cover. of a 1959 song by The Skyliners. Ah, I love music.
John D. Loudermilk should have his own documentary made about him. It's a name that kept popping up in pop music history. It's probably long forgotten now, because we've become accustomed to the internet, but something that itself pops up in conversation occasionally of late, is that cover versions were once an introduction to us, of the original (-and some times the best-) versions of these songs. I used to go to a few inner city pubs and clubs, where the DJ would play rare Northern Soul and Ska music, that took me years to find myself. Thanks for the memories.
Back in the '60s when these songs were popular, I was unaware of how much of this was going on. When I heard the original of "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" I thought IT was the cover of the British Invasion original...but on the other hand, the only version of "Just One Look" that I remember hearing was Doris Troy's original, not the cover by the Hollies.
Brilliant stuff . No waffle and really excellent analysis of the various bands and songs . It's still one of the great ironies of popular music that white working class British young people were more influenced by black American music than their counterparts in America and ended up introducing the latter to music from their own country .
...and that white working class Americans like me weren't instantly on board applauding this wonderfully brilliant British derivative... I'll never forget!
@@kinky_Z But there was brilliant music being produced by small Southern independents but the only chance they had was for a major big player to promote it. That is why so much great music fell by the wayside.
You might also enjoy my series that takes a different approach to the same subject. New Falconer Records are happy for my to share this link, ua-cam.com/play/PLWYKeQDkRtAd27MnHlZqk4UekygHVV8eR.html Sound quality poor on first two, presentation and depth of content improves with time!
Great stuff -- thanks! Didn't know Twist & Shout was a cover *twice* removed -- it belongs at #1 though (changed my life when I heard the Beatles version at age 6) -- one of the true underpinnings of what became 'rock 'n roll' . . .
Very well researched and presented. The consistency in the format was professional and greatly appreciated. You've thrown a spotlight on many deserving artists and songwriters and gave me a glimmer of what came before.
What a wonderful first episode , very well done ! I'm now in my late 60s , and have been a music buff for close to 60 years . After watching this , I have 2 things to note ; Firstly , I know much less than I thought . Secondly , I don't blame Gerry Goffin ! ;) I look forward to episode 2 !
A very nice presentation. A few of the songs I knew about, most I would have to have followed up on the song writers names. One later example, a personal favorite song, but since it was not from British Invasion period and involved both a British and American band so it really would not qualify for the list is "Black Magic Woman" (1968), originally written and recorded by Fleetwood Mac and soon rearranged into a mega hit by Santana. Carlos Santana and band added Salsa and Jazz to Fleetwood Mac's Blues song!
The Walker Brothers cover of the Bacharach a / David song “Maje it Easy On Yourself “ knocked The Rolling Stones Satisfaction out of the top spot on the British Charts and stayed there for several weeks. Has to be one of the most successful covers of all time!!
Thanks for this I really didn't know most of these were covers! It's lead me to seek out some of the originals that I like even better than the popular versions! Great video
As a person in the US about the right age to hear these originals when they were current, I will say that many of these were not as unfamiliar at the time as the statistics may seem to say. An average 50's teen cared not at all about the name of the tune, the writers, the producers, and seldom the artist, because it was completely about the sound, and on to the next sound. Three weeks on the radio and you heard a tune about all you cared to (at least for a while), without ever buying a record. Records that survived 2 months of play were already getting on your nerves even if you loved them, and you'd turn off the radio as you heard the first note in recognition. I recall Dick Clark (then famous TV DJ) supposedly demonstrating to an amazed older TV talk show host that teenagers, far from being musical illiterates, could give you the name of popular records and the artist with 5 notes or less played. For one tune, only the first note. No teenagers missed any. (Answers were written.) It's not that kids cared to memorize the tune name and artist, kids just have phenomenal memories, and these great records were on the radio a long time (over a month?) Knowing the first notes is very useful for turning off the radio in case you've heard the tune too much, or turning it up if you love it. All the British covers definitely sounded like imitations and the rhythm a little wrong, like imitations are, at the time. It took time to adjust to the sound, and then that's all anyone wanted to hear. People may not know that (at the time) very little R&B crossed-over to R&R stations. Average teenagers listened only to R&R stations. R&B stations did not play R&R at all (no Chuck Berry, yes James Brown), except they would not take off crossovers if that happened. But since two R&B stations were next to some of the R&R stations, I accidentally tuned to them at times, and later regularly. R&B stations did not only play the same limited playlist over and over, and tunes would be played once in a while indefinitely. I don't remember "Go Now" at all until the Moody Blues covered it. I don't know if "Go Now" ever was a crossover. But I absolutely believe the story that "Go Now" was still being played and began to take off before the Moody Blues version. It is a really unusual tune, and that's the way it happens, if it happens at all. However, at the time, the tune could not have gone far in R&R, even if not covered, because the British Invasion that was going on obliterated anything but the British style. It was very hard on black artists for a while, not being British.
I must be older than I thought because I know most of the originals that were covered !!! Great job giving credit to the originals! This just proves how much luck & timing can mean success in the quirky pop music biz and how many r&b groups were unfortunately passed over.
Only thing I'm mad at is UA-cam waiting 5 years to recommend this to me.
Thanks for your kind words. Hey, better late than never. I got surprised when this video suddenly blew up in popularity about six months ago. It did nothing in its first four years. Cheers.
@@NewFalconerRecords Wanted to thank you for creating this :)...it was fascinating! I have covered several of these songs as a bassist and singer, and they always bring me joy...thanks again, you're awesome.
Respect from Canada :)
You might also like my Under the Covers series that takes a different approach to the same subject. New Falconer Records are happy for my to share this link, ua-cam.com/play/PLWYKeQDkRtAd27MnHlZqk4UekygHVV8eR.html. Sound quality poor on first two, presentation and depth of content improves with time!
How on earth can 271 people dislike this!? What, they dislike facts? or music? or both?
They are the same ones who think we live on a flat earth. They just have no idea and they have a lot of that.
Those that dislike facts voted for 45
Perhaps they objected to the poor use of terminology, confusing the word "cover" with the word "remake". I posted a correction to this but still clicked like.
Can't escape the African American roots of rock and roll. Kudos !!!!
@Dragomir Ronilac The style of music was around LONG BEFORE any of those lyric and music composers were even born. The music was called “race music.” It began back in the 1920s and its roots are even earlier. It was rhythm and blues music. In the US, radio stations would not even play that type of music and black artists had very little to no success in the US. Only black Jazz artists playing in nightclubs in the north and overseas had any real financial success, but not rhythm and blues artists. In the South some DJs would play “race”music late at night well after midnight when most adults were not listening to the radio. That is when white teens would get a chance to listen to few records by black artist. This is how Buddy Holly listened to black music and became influenced as a teen by black artists. But in England, this was not the case. Music by black artists was not banned from the radio and their records were readily available in record stores. This is how The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, etc became acquainted with and influenced by black music. Elvis was the forerunner back in the 1950s, adopting the sound of black rhythm and blues. In England record sales of black music rose during the same period. When white businessmen saw the potential profits on black music due to its acceptance by white teens, records companies rose up everywhere to capture the sound and market any artists who could produce that sound. This included songwriters who could write in that vein, reproducing the sounds of black music. Carol King, one of the songwriters featured in this video, stated this very fact in an interview. There were many songs already written by black artists. But there was no money to be made from those publishing rights. So these white record companies solicited other white songwriters to write new music in the style of black music in order to capitalize on songwriting publishing credits and profits which is where the real money was to be made. This is the reason that early white artists such as The Rolling Stones and the Beatles, and even the Kinks, who began as “cover “ bands, covering songs by black artists, including Little Richard and Howling Wolf, began writing their own music so that they could make much more money with songwriting publishing profits. There is even a point in this video where the narrator states that one of the bands featured here fell away because there were no songwriters in the group and they couldn’t do much other than be a cover band. I’m 60 years old and know a great deal more about rock and roll than you do. I’m not “confusing” anything. Black artist are and always will be the foundation of rock and roll. PS Another reason for the success of rock and roll was the fact that white artists could be promoted much easier than black artists around that time of the 1950s through the early 1960s. In the US, such shows as Ed Sullivan could not feature black artists because sponsors believed that showing blacks in a positive manner would alienate white Southerners. That was pure racism. Elvis Presley and the Beatles were acceptable to be featured on TV as well as any concert hall although black acts were not. This is the main reason for the British Invasion phenomenon of the 1960s. Over time, such acts as Motown artists the Supremes, the Temptations became so profitable that restrictions against black artists lifted. Also, with Motown, Barry Gordy was inspired to create a black-owned company with black songwriters in the same vein as white-owned with white songwriters who were merely copying the black sound. Do your research. You don’t know the true history of rock and roll. Just because you saw some white songwriters doesn’t mean there isn’t a backstory as to why and how they got to be in that position. John Lennon once said all he wanted to do was play "the Negro music" and didn't care if he ever got paid for it. African Americans are the originators of rock and roll. The rest are imitators and innovators. It's sad to see that there are people still so ignorant of the history of rock and roll.
There is a lot of truth in what your telling. So not to exclude it should be noted that not only have there been both black and white artist / songwriter contributions through out popular music of the 20th century but also more then one origin. Scottish, English, Irish folk and church music was loaded with syncopations, micro pitches and line out singing which blended well with the similar African traditions. Really a combo of the two with some classical and other continental European folk helped to give birth to popular music.
OK I’ve probably have written similar statements enough online
already.
Thanks for the opportunity
All the best
@@joshuaperkins9916 The particular brand of music labeled as "rock and roll" really has its beginnings in music in the African American church prior to 1900 along with additions from ragtime music, also and African American tradition which included modifications of Sousa. Those styles of music are easily seen in Little Richard and Chuck Berry's musicianship which was an evolution of those older styles of music. Heretofore, this style of music was not mainstream but considered "race" music. Certain aspects of African American church music and ragtime developed into rhythm and blues and also into jazz which became mainstream in the 1930s and 1940s as white artist and filmmakers adopted its style. Elvis, the Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Rolling Stones and other artist of the British Invasion, etc. adopted the styles of African American music which became what is known as "rock and roll" of today. As to folk music, it is as you say, rooted in various traditions from Scotland, England, and Ireland mostly and evolved in the US to produce groups like Peter, Paul and Mary, the Kingston Trio, etc. But another evolution in folk happened with groups like the Byrds, the Lovin' Spoonful, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, the Cowsills, etc who took folk music, blended with rock and roll elements and turned it into a hybrid of sorts. One might even consider Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac to be groups exhibiting folk and rock elements of the highest order. Classical music has also been interwoven with rock music with such groups as the Electric Light Orchestra and Pink Floyd. I would describe Jimi Hendrix and derivative heavy metal as based on Chuck Berry's style amped up with innovative guitar riffs And now Hip Hop elements are reaching as far as country music. Pop music takes elements from all these genres to create a certain range of sounds. Nevertheless, there is no escaping the true roots of "rock and roll" in a technical sense. I enjoyed your comment. Thanks.
I respectfully some what disagree on the segregated view of American music. It’s true in the past music was often separated by class or race but the actual blending and elements happened through out the working class early on. Second beat syncopation of early Anglo / Celtic folk dance
( example contra dance ) and romantic area classical strongly influenced ragtime and early jazz. You also have Scottish psalms singing with a presenter and a chanting microtone response. Then there are waulking songs a call and response style sung by Scottish women while washing wool. There is the Lombard rhythm or scotch snap which is a dialect thing some what unique to parts of England, Scotland and America,. The scotch snap is in everything from fiddle music to rap music. Many Bach progression are in jazz, rock, Motown etc. Polkas? Think Charlie Brown by the Coasters and many more. But yes of course there are African influences ( Mali music, call and response etc example ) and many African American artist that help shape all this.
Thank you for the great conversation.
All the best
Josh
By the way Roz, I really like your telling of folk all the way through classic rock!
Well done
Thanks again you added a lot to this comment section.👍
This should be on bbc4 too.. this nicely concise no filler style is what television should be doing in today. Wish tv people understood that and watched this.
Often these lists are just nonsense. Not this. Great information, fun to listen to and well done! This list highlights how great the British Invasion bands were, with their interpretations of the great American songs that often were not originally appreciated in The USA
One of the absolute BEST presentations of Record History I've ever seen.
As a lifelong Singer/Songwriter/Producer I have always been interested in the backstories of songs, records and bands. You did a GREAT job! Thank You!
Wow! Thanks for the kind words.
Very informative, thank you.........
Gumbi, you might be interested in "Top 2000" back stories of hits thru the years. Well researched interviews with the music makers.
In particular, Dancing in the Moonlight, I love Rock n Roll, Tinsel Town in the Rain, and Fat Boy Slim are recommended. . . if the algo didn't already find you ;)
@@reuireuiop0 Personally I don't really like to be found out by the algo,but must admit I would not have been here otherwise.
@@jaapvandertuuk9307 I know exactly what you mean and ditto.
A wonderfully done short Doc of the 60s era...only FACT-CHECKED!
I'm currently working on a Part 2 follow-up to this video. Just hope I don't get blocked with copyright infringements, which is why I quit doing this series -- even though I was enjoying doing them -- and I was more than happy to let the publishers and writers of the original songs to have any money to be earnt -- a couple of my videos got taken down almost immediately, so I lost the will to do them any more. Fingers crossed that the follow-up will stay on UA-cam for a while, like this one has. Thanks for watching.
You did an excellent job in the compilation :)
A very excellent job! I hope they will allow you to continue!!
Yeah.. I stopped doing videos because you don't know what will be taken down until it is...
How about a follow-up of British acts covering the songs of US blues artists that had failed to find a white audience (but often claiming the songwriting credits, forcing the likes of Willie Dixon to sue for royalties).
Bill Faulkner you could do British and Irish cover versions also. You currently have The Pogues Fairytale of New York doing its Christmas rounds and the controversy it entails every year with the word "Faggots" in the lyric. It's an old term that has nothing in relation to today's meaning of the word. It has been covered and murdered by a few recently altering the word. Why fix something that is not broken and when people start to criticise a version without doing their homework on what they are criticising they should stay away. I'm sure there are tons of songs out their with similar problems...years ago the quickest way to get to number one without merit was write a song that would not be appropriate for alleged air play and then have the B.B.C ban it...then in the era of Pirate Radio. These stations were over it like a hot Rag. Oh on a end note. Well done great compilation and opened my eyes to classics songs I did not know most were reboots. Hope we see more from you in the future. Your hardest problem is Copyright.
This is fascinating, and so much more authoritative and smartly presented than the vast majority of UA-cam videos of this kind, which tend to be clickbait-centric first and informative a distant second.
"fascinating" is exactly what I was thinking as I watched this.
Well impressed - my “folk club”s gonna get inflicted with these lol
I agree. This is one of the best "top 10" videos I've seen. This was a great trip to the past as well as great info about the originals. I remember the classic recordings as well as some of the originals. Thanks!
Succinct and highly informative. Loved it.
@@mchaggis622 keeps saying England when he means Britain
Hi there! Thanks for this. I knew just about all the originals and British Invasion is my favourite era of music. I love both versions. How lucky are we to have music and singing? Imagine life without it, really friggin boring.
Great series. Keep up the good work.
Just One Look. What a great original version by Doris Troy! Even better than the cover. Putting it the rotation.
Good stuff. Funny and illuminating, that I wondered why Twist and Shout was included, because in the other cases I was surprised by a preceding original, but everyone knew about the Isley Bros Twist and Shout. It was a big hit in it's own right. Then you came up with the original to that! Well done.
Mostly Jewish songwriters penning songs for black artists which got covered by British bands. Until the Beatles came along, most artists did not write their own songs. And early rock n roll was always a cultural blending of blues, R&B, gospel, folk and C&W (as it was known then)
The Spaniels, an early doo wop group, most of their songs were written by Pookie Hudson, their lead singer. So much for doo wop groups not writing their own songs.
Hippy Hippy Shake. First record I purchased. 6 shillings and 8 pence. Three for a quid. In those days the groups had to sell a shed load of records to get to number 1. Thanks for putting this together. Keep safe.
3 dollars for a quid too, back then.
@@Bryt25 quite right. I went to USA in 1971, went in February pre decimal. Got one cent to one penny 2 dollars 40 to a pound. Thanks for reply.
me too and the song was so short! not even 2 minutes! then they did good golly miss Molly which was more or less the same song with different words!
First record I bought too
Thank god you included the Top Notes version of Twist and Shout. Most people don't realize that even the Isley's version was a cover.
Many of the greats, written by New York, Jewish songwriters, originally performed by young, black Americans and made into smash hits by working class Englishmen.. this was part of the energy of the '60's
This is really good, thanks for reaching way back to find these.
Thank you for putting this together. Well done!
Terrific video, thanks, great sleuthing! I spent a year in England from June 63 to June 64 (as a 9/10 year old) and have been fascinated/haunted by the music of that period ever since. BTW, It's All Over Now had a couple of pretty salty expressions for the day: "she had my nose open, that's no lie" and "playin her half-assed games"! Best to all in England in this extremely difficult time.
Goes to show you're never too old to learn!! At nearly 70, I'm amazed to know that some of my favourites weren't original...also brings to light lesser known groups who have faded into history ...thank you..
The back stories of each of these makes this video an incredible compilation. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for that fascinating background to all those classic British covers.
Thanks for that, really enjoyed seeing some of my favourite bands of all time ... i was 12 in 1960 when the Beatles first appeared, so lived through the musical "revolution". Happy happy days!! (i'm now a singer/guitarist/songwriter in my own right ... and still loving it!!)
Sorry but you mean 62, not 60. The Beatles didn't cut 'Love me do' until 62 when Ringo joined. They'd been playing as The Beatles since 57 though. When people mention important events in world history I'm terrible at remembering the year, but if you tell me what records were out I'll know, especially the 60's. It was definitely a golden period.
@@rexterrocks you are probably correct, a long time ago !!! X
@@maevemcmahon4286 It certainly was
Excellent video. I didn't know many of these, which makes it all the more interesting, particularly with a lot of additional background information. Kudos to you.
This makes one thing so prominently in your face.
The Beatles just blew the doors off of everyone else,even when doing some of their early cover songs.
This was a great expose.
I doubt there would be many that would argue when the Beatles Twist and Shout came in at number one, it just flew out of your speakers or headphones.
no,but richie valens la bamba did.
..
john lennon almost ruined his voice for life doing that song in the studio. he was screaming the lyrics. he damaged his vocal chords, but luckily , they healed.
From the first second on it was obvious that the Beatles had a far superior quality than the rest of the bands. It´s not only Lennon´s solo vocals or the effectiveness of their harmony vocals, it´s also the band, the compact sound, the groove - just everything.
@@anonymusum nah. the beatles were playing bubblegum music in the 1st half of the 60's
@@fransmith8992 Hahahaha ..... good joke.
Enjoyed this immensely. Great choice of songs, and the presentation pays due to the original versions and the covers. Really well researched and narrated as well.
I heard all of these on The Big 11-10, KRLA Pasadena, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Indeed, they are magical musical memories still turning in the windmills of my mind.
I always listened to KLOS
Well done! Though I was aware of most of these being 'non-originals', it was great to hear some of the very first versions, and will pursue the next episodes with great enthusiasm, indeed! Thanks much for this post, very enjoyable.
I appreciate the masive amount of research that go into you r productions. Thank you for sharing.
The most informative music video I have ever seen. Fantastic!
I am thankful for this new knowledge completing my piecemeal understanding of the origins of these great tunes. Some I knew were covers, with others I hadn't the foggiest. Well done!
Thanks for this informative list of british pop band cover versions.
One of the most interesting band cover versions came from the Ventures no 1 hit Walk Dont Run in 1960.
I have a recording of Jazz Guitarist Johnny Smith, who wrote it in 1954 basing it on the tune" Softly as in a Morning Sunrise",proving there are no limitations in music and the success that comes from an idea.
The Ventures did TWO cover version recordings of Johnny Smith's Walk, Don't Run. The well known, often played 1960 version, and a later 1964 recording, which incorporated keyboard sounds, as well as guitars and drums, as opposed to the earlier 1960 version which only had the latter two. The second Venture's recording is called
Walk, Don't Run '64 ua-cam.com/video/IaW_n_D0Hzo/v-deo.html
Really nicely put together video. Good music choices, informative, enthusiastic but balanced delivery, non-repetitive and gets on with it... no self-indulgent faffing about like you get so much elsewhere! Professional, in fact. Thanks.
Great research and excellent article.
So much of my music listening life experience covered.
So many good memories.
Fascinating insight. I remember/love all those songs but never realised they were cover versions - until now. :)
Probably the most enjoyable and informative music video I’ve seen on UA-cam. I clicked on it thinking “Oh yeh let’s see if there is any I don’t know” and now I’m shame-faced to admit I didn’t know any..I even thought Twist and Shout was a Little Richard song.
Fantastic detail and great narrative. 👍
As a fellow Aussie, thanks mate for this video. Very well done and quite informative. You remind me of a younger version of Glenn A. Baker. The Doris Troy version of Just One Look is so soulful and funky. Love it. I can't fathom how some of these original versions failed to chart. Some of them are really good. You must have re-uploaded this video because a lot of the comments have come in the last 2 weeks or so, hopefully this means they pass the UA-cam sensors. If that's the case please keep making videos! You have a willing audience
Thanks mate. I appreciate your comments. Funny you should mention Glenn A. Baker, 'cos I have a connection (tentative) to him due to a book that I co-wrote (he did a blurb on the back --- the book is called Wild About You!, it's about Aussie & NZ 60s garage punk). No, I haven't re-uploaded this video, something weird has happened in the last week or so that has suddenly made this four year old video go nuts. Thanks for your great comments. I agree about Doris Troy too.
@@NewFalconerRecords Something happened in the Algo..It just appeared in my suggestion box and I quickly reached for the click..Didn't know about Twist & Shout..although i like the original version...
When you factor in racism you will be able to fathom why many of the originals were hindered in reaching the audience their quality deserved.
@@kurtflamer-caldera8368 yes so true
Nice work. Love the snappy editing and the reams of trivia (squeaky bass pedal indeed). Choice photos too. Great stuff!
Enjoy it? I luv'd it; an old man, I was a teen in the U.S, and remember the original versions. Thank you sooo much for posting!
I must be old... I not only remember every one of these covers, but most of the originals as well.
But it's better to be old than just someone's memory.
I'm glad you divided this concept into sections. This "British Invasion" portion is just the tip of the iceberg. I often search UA-cam for an old remembered tune and about a third of the time I find an earlier version by an obscure artist when I thought the remembered version was the original. Two that come to mind, "November Snow" and "Always Something There to Remind Me."
What a great video!! extremely interesting, all thru, with nonstop facts that are so fascinating, I was transfixed by this video. I was a teenager in the 1960's, in a London suburb, family home, and all these groups were on the telly all the time, onshows like 'Ready, steady, go' and 'top of the pops' etc. I had no idea these songs were not theirs. So interesting to hear the originals. Love the quick way you narrate this, keeping the facts rolling.Very well done, best wishes from England.
Fabulous! really enjoyed this post, thanks for putting it together
Great, lot of research gone into this, well done buddy
The groups and performers did a great job covering these wonderful songs.
If they had not, they would never have reached my ears - as I live on the outskirts of civilization in Norway.
A splendid way to pass a few minutes. Very interesting, well-compiled and presented, thank you!
Loved this. Thanks for putting it together.
Some great backstory on this rundown. This is what DJs used to do back when these songs were becoming hits.
Great list, mate...nice listening to one of these lists being created by a fellow Aussie 👍
Exceptional production in every aspect. Much enjoyed the watch and listening, every single one of these were a total unknown they were covers. Liked and subscribed, well done mate.
Awesome piece of work thanks for taking the time
Nicely done. Thank you for your scholarship. Looking forward to more.
Thought this was really interesting, well researched and put together .
Yes, really nicely put together and great well researched (and pretty accurate) information.
Best commentary on these bands I have ever heard.
Bloody amazing. I heard every single one of these in its popular release.
Glad that Trist and Shout was included
Trist is spelt with a Y
I Really Enjoyed This Buzzing Video Honouring The Beat Music Era, The Video Is Well Crafted, Polished And Really Informative With A Super Narration.
So 5 Stars And A Big Thank You From Me.
You made an excellent production of this. Informative, interesting, and well produced. Excellent selection, too.
It’s worth noting that The Nashville Teens provided stellar punk backup to one of the greatest live rock albums of all time; Jerry Lee Lewis Live at The Star Club from 1964. Essential to any collection.
Wow, I just discovered how ignorant I REALLY am about music I thought I knew! Never too old to learn something new!
This is awesome! Very well done and a great selection of songs.
Fantastic, what a great compilation of facts and connections to other performers. Thank you!
The best Narrated I've heard in a long time.
Nice video, I learnt a lot there. It's amazing how many 'young folk of today' always think their idols are original and don't believe you when you try to enlighten them. I remember playing Guns N Roses 'Since I don't Have You' on a radio rock show, (a long time ago), and telling my audience that it was a cover. of a 1959 song by The Skyliners. Ah, I love music.
Impressive montage and choice of cuts. Well researched. I am now better educated on quite a few tracks. Thank you!
Good work finding all the material. I was there when this all happened!
John D. Loudermilk should have his own documentary made about him. It's a name that kept popping up in pop music history.
It's probably long forgotten now, because we've become accustomed to the internet, but something that itself pops up in conversation occasionally of late, is that cover versions were once an introduction to us, of the original (-and some times the best-) versions of these songs.
I used to go to a few inner city pubs and clubs, where the DJ would play rare Northern Soul and Ska music, that took me years to find myself.
Thanks for the memories.
Never heard of him. But now that I have I want to hear more from him.
Great work mate. Well written and researched commentary.
I didn't know any of those were covers so it made for an enjoyable watch, thanks
Great stuff, sir, you know what you're talking about and you understand music - fab!
Back in the '60s when these songs were popular, I was unaware of how much of this was going on. When I heard the original of "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" I thought IT was the cover of the British Invasion original...but on the other hand, the only version of "Just One Look" that I remember hearing was Doris Troy's original, not the cover by the Hollies.
Yeah "Just One Look" is the only one on there where the original is better known than the cover, at least in America.
HF?hgg😊
I was in radio for years. Very interesting video and I learned a lot, for a 67 year old retired DJ...
Not Jimmy "Bud" Weiser?
Superb editing and info. Great stuff
I quite enjoyed this video. Thanks for producing it.
Brilliant stuff . No waffle and really excellent analysis of the various bands and songs .
It's still one of the great ironies of popular music that white working class British young people were more influenced by black American music than their counterparts in America and ended up introducing the latter to music from their own country .
...and that white working class Americans like me weren't instantly on board applauding this wonderfully brilliant British derivative... I'll never forget!
@@kinky_Z But there was brilliant music being produced by small Southern independents but the only chance they had was for a major big player to promote it. That is why so much great music fell by the wayside.
I just got edulacated! "Twist & Shout" I always thought was The Isley's song originally.
Agree, that's the only one in this video I wasn't aware of.
I admit
I hope baby it's a you by you Smith is on there
@@calgaile9021 There were several versions of "Baby It's You" before Smith. Think the first was The Shirelles. At least the first I remember.
@David Millar Believe it was Popeye who said it that way. Was kidding around, But, yeah, did not know that the Isleys didn't do it first.
This was so well done. Thank you 👍
This just popped into my UA-cam feed, and what a lovely treat it is. I've liked and subscribed; more please and thank you!
You might also enjoy my series that takes a different approach to the same subject. New Falconer Records are happy for my to share this link,
ua-cam.com/play/PLWYKeQDkRtAd27MnHlZqk4UekygHVV8eR.html
Sound quality poor on first two, presentation and depth of content improves with time!
Great stuff -- thanks! Didn't know Twist & Shout was a cover *twice* removed -- it belongs at #1 though (changed my life when I heard the Beatles version at age 6) -- one of the true underpinnings of what became 'rock 'n roll' . . .
Very well researched and presented. The consistency in the format was professional and greatly appreciated. You've thrown a spotlight on many deserving artists and songwriters and gave me a glimmer of what came before.
I enjoyed that, look forward to the next one :)
What a wonderful first episode , very well done ! I'm now in my late 60s , and have been a music buff for close to 60 years . After watching this , I have 2 things to note ;
Firstly , I know much less than I thought .
Secondly , I don't blame Gerry Goffin ! ;)
I look forward to episode 2 !
Excellent, very enjoyable and informative.
A very nice presentation. A few of the songs I knew about, most I would have to have followed up on the song writers names. One later example, a personal favorite song, but since it was not from British Invasion period and involved both a British and American band so it really would not qualify for the list is "Black Magic Woman" (1968), originally written and recorded by Fleetwood Mac and soon rearranged into a mega hit by Santana. Carlos Santana and band added Salsa and Jazz to Fleetwood Mac's Blues song!
Excellent! Thank you for transporting me back to my youth.
Also I do think the video is very well presented and mercifully clear and I formative. Thank you - bonza mate.
This was excellent-thanks!
Very professional production.
This is what UA-cam is for! A really great informative video. Great Upload!!!
The Walker Brothers cover of the Bacharach a / David song “Maje it Easy On Yourself “ knocked The Rolling Stones Satisfaction out of the top spot on the British Charts and stayed there for several weeks. Has to be one of the most successful covers of all time!!
Thanks for this I really didn't know most of these were covers! It's lead me to seek out some of the originals that I like even better than the popular versions! Great video
As a person in the US about the right age to hear these originals when they were current, I will say that many of these were not as unfamiliar at the time as the statistics may seem to say. An average 50's teen cared not at all about the name of the tune, the writers, the producers, and seldom the artist, because it was completely about the sound, and on to the next sound. Three weeks on the radio and you heard a tune about all you cared to (at least for a while), without ever buying a record. Records that survived 2 months of play were already getting on your nerves even if you loved them, and you'd turn off the radio as you heard the first note in recognition. I recall Dick Clark (then famous TV DJ) supposedly demonstrating to an amazed older TV talk show host that teenagers, far from being musical illiterates, could give you the name of popular records and the artist with 5 notes or less played. For one tune, only the first note. No teenagers missed any. (Answers were written.) It's not that kids cared to memorize the tune name and artist, kids just have phenomenal memories, and these great records were on the radio a long time (over a month?) Knowing the first notes is very useful for turning off the radio in case you've heard the tune too much, or turning it up if you love it. All the British covers definitely sounded like imitations and the rhythm a little wrong, like imitations are, at the time. It took time to adjust to the sound, and then that's all anyone wanted to hear.
People may not know that (at the time) very little R&B crossed-over to R&R stations. Average teenagers listened only to R&R stations. R&B stations did not play R&R at all (no Chuck Berry, yes James Brown), except they would not take off crossovers if that happened. But since two R&B stations were next to some of the R&R stations, I accidentally tuned to them at times, and later regularly. R&B stations did not only play the same limited playlist over and over, and tunes would be played once in a while indefinitely. I don't remember "Go Now" at all until the Moody Blues covered it. I don't know if "Go Now" ever was a crossover. But I absolutely believe the story that "Go Now" was still being played and began to take off before the Moody Blues version. It is a really unusual tune, and that's the way it happens, if it happens at all. However, at the time, the tune could not have gone far in R&R, even if not covered, because the British Invasion that was going on obliterated anything but the British style. It was very hard on black artists for a while, not being British.
Great little video packed with interesting insight 😁👌
Fabulous compilation. Well done.
Lots of stuff I didn’t know, great video.
Brilliant, really enjoyed that, thanks.
Really good clip. Well presented, without the usual over the top nonsense, just very informative.
Nice video. I shall look out for future ones from you.