http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&category=genre&genreId=317&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rssTop Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody OnlineMerseybeaten720Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:00:31 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&category=genre&genreId=317&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.62064&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss British Invasion Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:08:04 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.62064 art.62064 The Hollies art.62064 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.62064&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.62064&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss
The Manchester-bred quintet's early U.K. hits were watery versions of American R&B discs such as Maurice Williams and the Zodiac's "Stay" and Doris Troy's "Just One Look." When they began melding their vocal harmonies with more thumping band sounds and songs that better reflected their distinctly English sensibility, the Hollies' records became something truly special. Writer-for-hire Graham Gouldman (who also gave "Heart Full of Soul" to the Yardbirds and later became a focal point of 10cc) provided unstoppable smashes like "Bus Stop" and "Look Through Any Window," which snugly fit in the band's repertoire alongside originals such as "Carrie Anne" and "Pay You Back With Interest."

The Hollies' slightly fey quality perfectly fit the psychedelic-influenced pop of 1967, and they made one of the most timeless singles of that genre with "King Midas in Reverse." Nash was unhappy to see it stall at No. 18 in Britain, however, and was further disillusioned when the group rejected his "Marrakesh Express." Upon his departure, the Hollies recruited Terry Sylvester and went on to some of their biggest American successes. They introduced "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," a standard on the talk show and Vegas circuits, and later hit with the 180-degree turnaround of "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," which repackaged Creedence's "Travelin' Band" into an anthem with an incomprehensible vocal. Their final big U.S. hit came two years later with 1974's "The Air That I Breathe," another big ballad that proved hard for listeners to resist. Personnel changes continued, with singer Allan Clarke notably in and out in the mid-'70s. Nash rejoined for one album, What Comes Around, in 1983; past glories, though, were hard to regain. Clarke retired in the '90s, to be replaced by Move singer Carl Wayne, who died in 2004. Though now a hobbling concern, the Hollies will forever be remembered by hardcore fans and casual admirers as the makers of a high stack of rock 'n' roll classics. - Jaan Uhelszki]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.61025&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss British Invasion Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:45:15 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.61025 art.61025 The Beatles art.61025 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.61025&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.61025&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Abbey Road, was arguably the most advanced popular music of the time. They had the resources, the talent, the producer ("fifth Beatle" George Martin) and the desire to push the boundaries of their music. Even more amazing is that it has maintained such a grip on the public's ear and imagination. - Will Lerner]]> http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3239&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss British Invasion Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:45:03 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.3239 art.3239 Herman's Hermits art.3239 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3239&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3239&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.30459&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:45:28 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.30459 art.30459 The Searchers art.30459 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.30459&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.30459&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69190&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:54:41 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.69190 art.69190 Peter and Gordon art.69190 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69190&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69190&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4378&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:30:56 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4378 art.4378 Gerry and the Pacemakers art.4378 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4378&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4378&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.47418&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss British Invasion Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:42:30 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.47418 art.47418 The Fortunes art.47418 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.47418&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.47418&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.2765&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:14 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.2765 art.2765 Freddie and the Dreamers art.2765 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.2765&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.2765&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22037&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:13 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.22037 art.22037 The Easybeats art.22037 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22037&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22037&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60879&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss British Invasion Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:16 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.60879 art.60879 The Mindbenders art.60879 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60879&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60879&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1395&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss British Invasion Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:45:33 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.1395 art.1395 The Dave Clark Five art.1395 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1395&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1395&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4095&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:08:21 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4095 art.4095 Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas art.4095 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4095&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4095&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5617&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:55:17 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.5617 art.5617 The Creations art.5617 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5617&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5617&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.42861&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:01:18 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.42861 art.42861 The Undertakers art.42861 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.42861&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.42861&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6482&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Garage Rock Revival Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:48:49 -0800 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.6482 art.6482 The Milkshakes art.6482 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6482&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6482&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60314&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:15 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.60314 art.60314 Jeannie & the Big Guys art.60314 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60314&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60314&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.64399&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:15 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.64399 art.64399 Gregory Phillips art.64399 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.64399&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.64399&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53414&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:25:09 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.53414 art.53414 Pete Best art.53414 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53414&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53414&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.64395&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:15 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.64395 art.64395 Erkey Grant & The Eerwigs art.64395 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.64395&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.64395&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6177&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Merseybeat Thu, 6 Sep 2007 05:38:47 -0700 Top Merseybeat Artists on Rhapsody Online art.6177 art.6177 The Swingin Blue Jeans art.6177 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6177&variant=play&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6177&variant=data&rws=%2Foldies%2Fbritish-invasion%2Fmerseybeat%2Fartist-chart.rss Nuggets or Pebbles compilations ever did a collection of British Invasion Merseybeat bands, the Swinging Blue Jeans would have to be one of the first outfits featured. Sure, they only had one American hit in 1964 with a cover of "Hippy Hippy Shake," but they played it so well. OK, maybe not as upbeat and adrenalin-charged as the Fab Four's version, but the Swinging Blue Jeans certainly stuck closer to the skiffle-influenced, singsong formula of a purist's Merseybeat. They were a Liverpool band who also had some minor success in the U.K. by dressing up Betty Everett's "You're No Good" with all the vibes that came from around the Mersey River in the early '60s. What's really interesting about them is that they proudly stuck to their roots, even after the Beatles abandoned that particular sound. - Eric Shea]]>