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