1964 was the year of Beatlemania and the British Music Invasion of America.
In the U.S. the year began with “There, I’ve Said It Again” written by Redd Evans & David Mann which was sang by Bobby Vinton.
The Beatles followed with three consecutive number ones “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “She Loves You” and “Can’t Buy Me Love”. They had three further U.S. number one singles that year “Love Me Do”, the title song of the film “A Hard Day’s Night” and the final song of the year on both sides of the water “I Feel Fine”. All the songs were written by Lennon & McCartney as was the March number one which topped in the U.K. for Peter & Gordon “A World Without Love”.
The Supremes had three number one’s in the U.S. all written by Holland, Dozier and Holland. “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Come See About Me” and the record which topped both the U.S. and U.K. charts “Baby Love” which was Motowns first U.K. Number one.
Two other British groups which topped the U.S. and U.K. charts in 1964 were the Animals with “House Of The Rising Sun” and the Barry & Greenwich composition “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” recorded by Manfred Mann.
Roy Orbison reached number one on both sides of the Atlantic with “Oh Pretty Woman”and he also had a U.K. number one in 1964 with his self penned composition “It’s Over”.
The U.K. Started 1964 with “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles which was then taken over by the Dave Clark Five’s “Glad All Over” written by Dave Clark the drummer and the group’s keyboard player Mike Smith.
The Searchers had two number ones in 1964 “Needles and Pins” written by Sonny Bono of ( Sonny & Cher fame) and the Jackson & Wisner composition “Don’t Throw Your Love Away”.
Cilla Black who was signed by Brian Epstein had two number ones with “You’re My World” and the Bacharach and David composition “Anyone Who Had A Heart”. They also wrote the Sandie Shaw single “There’s Always Something There To Remind Me” which reached the top in October that year.
The Kinks had a number one with the excellent Ray Davies composition “You Really Got Me”.
Manchester group Herman’s Hermits took the Goffin & King song “I’m Into Something Good” to the top.
The Honeycombs with their female drummer Anne (Honey) Langtree had a top single with the Howard & Blaikley song “Have I The Right”.
The Rolling Stones had two number ones in 1964 with “It’s All Over Now” and “Little Red Rooster” which was composed by Willie Dixon.