Background: The term "British Invasion" describes a musical period in the mid-1960s, during which British pop and rock artists dominated the American pop charts. While the actual 'invasion' to America didn't begin before late 1963, the dominance of homegrown groups in the UK charts began about a year earlier. It immediately sparked great interest in British groups among record labels and led to the development of a diverse musical scene on the Isles, before crossing over to the American market and making its impact on pop culture worldwide. The release of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in mid-1966 marked the point when American pop managed to surpass its British counterparts on an artistic level, making the album the new defining medium. The release of The Beatles' Revolver less than three months later effectively started a new era in British pop.
Criteria: Only songs released from October 5, 1962 (the Love Me Do single) to August 4, 1966 (the day before Revolver) are eligible. The songs must have been recorded by British artists. They are ranked according to their chart performance in the US and UK, their lasting popularity, influence and acclaim.
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- She Loves You – The Beatles (1963)
- You Really Got Me – The Kinks (1964)
- My Generation – The Who (1965)
- I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (1963)
- The House of the Rising Sun – The Animals (1964)
- Yesterday – The Beatles (1965)
- I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles (1963)
- Heart Full of Soul – The Yardbirds (1965)
- A Hard Day's Night – The Beatles (1964)
- Wild Thing – The Troggs (1966)
- She's Not There – The Zombies (1964)
- Gloria – Them (1964)
- Glad All Over – The Dave Clark Five (1963)
- Twist and Shout – The Beatles (1963)
- Help! – The Beatles (1965)
- In My Life – The Beatles (1965)
- Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones (1966)
- All Day and All of the Night – The Kinks (1964)
- Ticket to Ride – The Beatles (1965)
- I Feel Fine – The Beatles (1964)
- Get Off of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- Please Please Me – The Beatles (1963)
- For Your Love – The Yardbirds (1965)
- Can't Buy Me Love – The Beatles (1964)
- We've Gotta Get Out of This Place – The Animals (1965)
- Sunshine Superman – Donovan (1966)
- I Can't Explain – The Who (1964)
- Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann (1964)
- Needles and Pins – The Searchers (1964)
- We Can Work It Out – The Beatles (1965)
- Day Tripper – The Beatles (1965)
- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) – The Beatles (1965)
- Eight Days a Week – The Beatles (1964)
- From Me to You – The Beatles (1963)
- Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks (1966)
- Under My Thumb – The Rolling Stones (1966)
- Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals (1965)
- Shapes of Things – The Yardbirds (1966)
- Love Me Do – The Beatles (1962)
- All My Loving – The Beatles (1963)
- Bus Stop – The Hollies (1966)
- Tired of Waiting for You – The Kinks (1965)
- Paperback Writer – The Beatles (1966)
- Bits and Pieces – The Dave Clark Five (1964)
- I Only Want to Be with You – Dusty Springfield (1963)
- Substitute – The Who (1966)
- The Last Time – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- The Kids Are Alright – The Who (1965)
- I Should Have Known Better – The Beatles (1964)
- 19th Nervous Breakdown – The Rolling Stones (1966)
- Nowhere Man – The Beatles (1965)
- Go Now! – The Moody Blues (1964)
- It's My Life – The Animals (1965)
- Rain – The Beatles (1966)
- A Well Respected Man – The Kinks (1965)
- Time Is on My Side – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- Over Under Sideways Down – The Yardbirds (1966)
- Downtown – Petula Clark (1964)
- She's a Woman – The Beatles (1964)
- It's All over Now – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- A World Without Love – Peter and Gordon (1964)
- You Don't Have to Say You Love Me – Dusty Springfield (1966)
- Because – The Dave Clark Five (1964)
- As Tears Go By – Marianne Faithfull (1964)
- P.S. I Love You – The Beatles (1962)
- I'm into Something Good – Herman's Hermits (1964)
- Catch the Wind – Donovan (1965)
- Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group (1965)
- Have I the Right? – The Honeycombs (1964)
- How Do You Do It? – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1963)
- Hippy Hippy Shake – The Swinging Blue Jeans (1963)
- Tell Her No – The Zombies (1964)
- Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey (1964)
- It's Not Unusual – Tom Jones (1965)
- Sweets for My Sweet – The Searchers (1963)
- Baby Please Don't Go – Them (1964)
- Ferry Cross the Mersey – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1964)
- Roll over Beethoven – The Beatles (1963)
- You've Got to Hide Your Love Away – The Beatles (1965)
- Mother's Little Helper – The Rolling Stones (1966)
- A Groovy Kind of Love – The Mindbenders (1965)
- Drive My Car – The Beatles (1965)
- Tobacco Road – The Nashville Teens (1964)
- Bad to Me – Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1963)
- I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself – Dusty Springfield (1964)
- Till the End of the Day – The Kinks (1965)
- Catch Us if You Can – The Dave Clark Five (1965)
- The Game of Love – Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (1965)
- Michelle – The Beatles (1965)
- Here Comes the Night – Them (1965)
- Yeh, Yeh – Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (1964)
- Love Potion No. 9 – The Searchers (1963)
- Heart of Stone – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- You'll Never Walk Alone – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1963)
- And I Love Her – The Beatles (1964)
- Dedicated Follower of Fashion – The Kinks (1966)
- Can't You See That She's Mine – The Dave Clark Five (1964)
- If I Fell – The Beatles (1964)
- (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me – Sandie Shaw (1964)
- A Summer Song – Chad & Jeremy (1964)
- I Go to Pieces – Peter and Gordon (1964)
- I'm Henry VIII, I Am – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- Wishin' and Hopin' – Dusty Springfield (1964)
- It Won't Be Long – The Beatles (1963)
- Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann (1966)
- See My Friends – The Kinks (1965)
- Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1964)
- This Boy – The Beatles (1963)
- Don't Bring Me Down – The Animals (1966)
- Anyone Who Had a Heart – Cilla Black (1964)
- I Can't Let Go – The Hollies (1966)
- Do You Want to Know a Secret – The Beatles (1963)
- Little Children – Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1964)
- Little Red Rooster – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- I'm Telling You Now – Freddie & the Dreamers (1963)
- Concrete and Clay – Unit 4 + 2 (1965)
- With a Girl Like You – The Troggs (1966)
- I'm Crying – The Animals (1964)
- Evil Hearted You – The Yardbirds (1965)
- Out of Time – Chris Farlowe (1966)
- You're Going to Lose That Girl – The Beatles (1965)
- Sha-La-La-La-Lee – Small Faces (1966)
- Not Fade Away – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- Look Through Any Window – The Hollies (1965)
- You've Got Your Troubles – The Fortunes (1965)
- Set Me Free – The Kinks (1965)
- When You Walk in the Room – The Searchers (1964)
- The Pied Piper – Crispian St. Peters (1966)
- Over and Over – The Dave Clark Five (1965)
- Mystic Eyes – Them (1965)
- I'm a Man – The Yardbirds (1965)
- Thank You Girl – The Beatles (1963)
- As Tears Go By – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- You're My World (Il mio mondo) – Cilla Black (1964)
- I'm Alive – The Hollies (1965)
- Colours – Donovan (1965)
- Girl – The Beatles (1965)
- Any Way You Want It – The Dave Clark Five (1964)
- My Love – Petula Clark (1965)
- Can't You Hear My Heartbeat – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- Whatcha Gonna Do About It – Small Faces (1965)
- Play with Fire – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- Just One Look – The Hollies (1964)
- I Like It – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1963)
- No Reply – The Beatles (1964)
- Don't Throw Your Love Away – The Searchers (1964)
- Girl Don't Come – Sandie Shaw (1964)
- I Know a Place – Petula Clark (1965)
- Where Have All the Good Times Gone? – The Kinks (1965)
- Do You Want to Know a Secret – Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1963)
- Listen People – Herman's Hermits (1966)
- Sorrow – The Merseys (1966)
- What's New Pussycat? – Tom Jones (1965)
- Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere – The Who (1965)
- Long Live Love – Sandie Shaw (1965)
- That's How Strong My Love Is – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- Stay Awhile – Dusty Springfield (1964)
- Silhouettes – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- Inside-Looking Out – The Animals (1966)
- Shout – Lulu and the Luvers (1964)
- I'll Cry Instead – The Beatles (1964)
- A Must to Avoid – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- I Couldn't Live Without Your Love – Petula Clark (1966)
- Here I Go Again – The Hollies (1964)
- You Were on My Mind – Crispian St. Peters (1965)
- Sugar and Spice – The Searchers (1963)
- Somebody Help Me – The Spencer Davis Group (1966)
- Sha La La – Manfred Mann (1964)
- I'm a Loser – The Beatles (1964)
- Here It Comes Again – The Fortunes (1965)
- Goin' Back – Dusty Springfield (1966)
- Rosalyn – The Pretty Things (1964)
- Do You Love Me – The Dave Clark Five (1963)
- Woman – Peter and Gordon (1966)
- Bring It On Home to Me – The Animals (1965)
- Thunderball – Tom Jones (1965)
- If You Gotta Go, Go Now – Manfred Mann (1965)
- We're Through – The Hollies (1964)
- I Wanna Be Your Man – The Rolling Stones (1963)
- Do You Love Me – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes (1963)
- Some of Your Lovin' – Dusty Springfield (1965)
- Take Me for What I'm Worth – The Searchers (1965)
- It's Good News Week – Hedgehoppers Anonymous (1965)
- Don't Bring Me Down – The Pretty Things (1964)
- Hold Tight! – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (1966)
- Who'll Be the Next in Line – The Kinks (1965)
- Foot Tapper – The Shadows (1963)
- You Can't Do That – The Beatles (1964)
- You're No Good – The Swinging Blue Jeans (1964)
- Everybody Knows (I Still Love You) – The Dave Clark Five (1964)
- From a Window – Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1964)
- Terry – Twinkle (1964)
- It's Gonna Be All Right – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1964)
- Just a Little Bit Better – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- Goodbye My Love – The Searchers (1965)
- The Crying Game – Dave Berry (1964)
- Come On – The Rolling Stones (1963)
- You Were Made for Me – Freddie & the Dreamers (1963)
- Things We Said Today – The Beatles (1964)
- Summer Nights – Marianne Faithfull (1965)
- Making Time – The Creation (1966)
- I Like It Like That – The Dave Clark Five (1965)
- I Put a Spell on You – Alan Price Set (1966)
- Atlantis – The Shadows (1963)
- Come and Stay with Me – Marianne Faithfull (1965)
- Losing You – Dusty Springfield (1964)
- Baby Let Me Take You Home – The Animals (1964)
- Lady Jane – The Rolling Stones (1966)
- He's in Town – The Rockin' Berries (1964)
- Just Like Eddie – Heinz (1963)
- See See Rider – The Animals (1966)
- I'll Keep You Satisfied – Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1963)
- I Don't Want to Spoil the Party – The Beatles (1964)
- Nobody I Know – Peter and Gordon (1964)
- Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy – The Kinks (1965)
- Tossing and Turning – The Ivy League (1965)
- Try Too Hard – The Dave Clark Five (1966)
- Everyone's Gone to the Moon – Jonathan King (1965)
- Yesterday's Gone – Chad & Jeremy (1963)
- Diamonds – Jet Harris & Tony Meehan (1963)
- Stay – The Hollies (1963)
- Tell Me (You're Coming Back) – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- A Sign of the Times – Petula Clark (1966)
- What Have They Done to the Rain – The Searchers (1964)
- Yesterday Man – Chris Andrews (1965)
- Come Tomorrow – Manfred Mann (1965)
- I Think of You – The Merseybeats (1963)
- Universal Soldier – Donovan (1965)
- Message Understood – Sandie Shaw (1965)
- Rock and Roll Music – The Beatles (1964)
- Wonderful World – Herman's Hermits (1965)
- This Little Bird – Marianne Faithfull (1965)
- Get Away – Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (1966)
- Come Home – The Dave Clark Five (1965)
- It's for You – Cilla Black (1964)
- Yes I Will – The Hollies (1965)
- I'm the One – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1964)
- Some Day We're Gonna Love Again – The Searchers (1964)
- 5-4-3-2-1 – Manfred Mann (1964)
- Summer Holiday – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1963)
- Matchbox – The Beatles (1964)
- Juliet – The Four Pennies (1964)
- Out of Time – The Rolling Stones (1966)
- Midnight to Six Man – The Pretty Things (1965)
- This Door Swings Both Ways – Herman's Hermits (1966)
- Twist and Shout – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes (1963)
- Dance On! – The Shadows (1962)
- I (Who Have Nothing) – Shirley Bassey (1963)
- Slow Down – The Beatles (1964)
- True Love Ways – Peter and Gordon (1965)
- Tell Him – Billie Davis (1963)
- I'm Not Like Everybody Else – The Kinks (1966)
- He's Got No Love – The Searchers (1965)
- I Wish You Would – The Yardbirds (1964)
- Tell Me When – The Applejacks (1964)
- I Don't Want to See You Again – Peter and Gordon (1964)
- Funny How Love Can Be – The Ivy League (1965)
- Take a Heart – The Sorrows (1965)
- Before and After – Chad & Jeremy (1965)
- (Ain't That) Just Like Me – The Hollies (1963)
- Michelle – The Overlanders (1965)
- Turquoise – Donovan (1965)
- Where Are You Now – Jackie Trent (1965)
- I'm Down – The Beatles (1965)
- I'll Be There – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1965)
- Bumble Bee – The Searchers (1965)
- Good Golly Miss Molly – The Swinging Blue Jeans (1964)
- Everything's Al'right – The Mojos (1964)
- Trains and Boats and Planes – Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas (1965)
- She's Coming Home – The Zombies (1965)
- I'll Follow the Sun – The Beatles (1964)
- Hey Girl – Small Faces (1966)
- Alfie – Cilla Black (1966)
- It's All over Now, Baby Blue – Them (1966)
- You'd Better Come Home – Petula Clark (1965)
- From the Bottom of My Heart (I Love You) – The Moody Blues (1965)
- Reelin' and Rockin' – The Dave Clark Five (1965)
- Sunny Goodge Street – Donovan (1965)
- Do the Freddie – Freddie & the Dreamers (1965)
- Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – The Yardbirds (1964)
- You Turn Me On (Turn On Song) – Ian Whitcomb & Bluesville (1965)
- It's All in the Game – Cliff Richard (1963)
- Still I'm Sad – The Yardbirds (1965)
- Boom Boom – The Animals (1964)
- Wishin' and Hopin' – The Merseybeats (1964)
- I'm Free – The Rolling Stones (1965)
- Lucky Lips – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1963)
- Stop Your Sobbing – The Kinks (1964)
- Willow Weep for Me – Chad & Jeremy (1964)
- Please Stay – The Cryin' Shames (1966)
- Come See Me – The Pretty Things (1966)
- A Little Loving – The Fourmost (1964)
- A Legal Matter – The Who (1965)
- This Strange Effect – Dave Berry (1965)
- Leaning on the Lamp Post – Herman's Hermits (1966)
- Round Every Corner – Petula Clark (1965)
- Golden Lights – Twinkle (1965)
- You've Got to Hide Your Love Away – The Silkie (1965)
- Honey, I Need – The Pretty Things (1965)
- To Know You Is to Love You – Peter and Gordon (1965)
- To Whom It Concerns – Chris Andrews (1965)
- The Rise and Fall of Flingle Bunt – The Shadows (1964)
- I've Just Seen a Face – The Beatles (1965)
- Michelle – David and Jonathan (1966)
- Bachelor Boy – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1962)
- The Next Time – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1962)
- With These Hands – Tom Jones (1965)
- Please Tell Me Why – The Dave Clark Five (1966)
- I Understand (Just How You Feel) – Freddie & the Dreamers (1964)
- If I Loved You – Chad & Jeremy (1965)
- Don't Talk to Him – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1963)
- Cry to Me – The Pretty Things (1965)
- One Way Love – Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1964)
- That's the Way – The Honeycombs (1965)
- Shindig – The Shadows (1963)
- Someone, Someone – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes (1964)
- Girl on a Swing – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1966)
- At the Scene – The Dave Clark Five (1966)
- Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um – Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (1964)
- Leaving Here – The Birds (1965)
- Distant Shores – Chad & Jeremy (1966)
- I Want You Back Again – The Zombies (1965)
- Candy Man – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes (1964)
These are the greatest songs released by British pop and rock artists from 1955 (the year rock & roll reached Britain) to October 4, 1962 (the day before the Love Me Do single was released). They, too, are ranked according to their chart performance in the US and UK, their lasting popularity, influence and acclaim.
- Rock Island Line – Lonnie Donegan (1955)
- Shakin' All Over – Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (1960)
- Move It! – Cliff Richard and the Drifters (1958)
- Telstar – The Tornados (1962)
- Apache – The Shadows (1960)
- Living Doll – Cliff Richard and the Drifters (1959)
- Brand New Cadillac – Vince Taylor and His Playboys (1959)
- Rock with the Caveman – Tommy Steele and the Steelmen (1956)
- Johnny Remember Me – John Leyton (1961)
- What Do You Want? – Adam Faith (1959)
- Wonderful Land – The Shadows (1962)
- Petite fleur – Chris Barber's Jazz Band feat. Monty Sunshine (1958)
- Maybe Tomorrow – Billy Fury (1959)
- Walkin' Back to Happiness – Helen Shapiro (1961)
- The Young Ones – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1961)
- Singing the Blues – Tommy Steele and the Steelmen (1956)
- Freight Train – Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group (1956)
- Please Don't Touch – Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (1959)
- Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O – The Vipers Skiffle Group (1956)
- Cumberland Gap – Lonnie Donegan (1957)
- Bad Boy – Marty Wilde (1959)
- Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?) – Lonnie Donegan (1959)
- Last Train to San Fernando – Johnny Duncan & the Blue Grass Boys (1957)
- Man of Mystery – The Shadows (1960)
- You Don't Know – Helen Shapiro (1961)
- Gamblin' Man – Lonnie Donegan (1957)
- A Picture of You – Joe Brown and the Bruvvers (1962)
- F.B.I. – The Shadows (1961)
- Poor Me – Adam Faith (1960)
- Putting On the Style – Lonnie Donegan (1957)
- Endless Sleep – Marty Wilde and His Wildcats (1958)
- Kon-Tiki – The Shadows (1961)
- Lost John – Lonnie Donegan (1956)
- Travellin' Light – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1959)
- Sailor – Petula Clark (1961)
- The Frightened City – The Shadows (1961)
- Tribute to Buddy Holly – Mike Berry with The Outlaws (1961)
- Halfway to Paradise – Billy Fury (1961)
- Cumberland Gap – The Vipers Skiffle Group (1957)
- Wild Wind – John Leyton (1961)
- Please Don't Tease – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1960)
- Someone Else's Baby – Adam Faith (1960)
- Jealousy – Billy Fury (1961)
- A Teenager in Love – Marty Wilde (1959)
- Only Sixteen – Craig Douglas (1959)
- My Old Man's a Dustman (Ballad of a Refuse Disposal Officer) – Lonnie Donegan (1960)
- Guitar Tango – The Shadows (1962)
- Wondrous Place – Billy Fury (1960)
- Don't Treat Me Like a Child – Helen Shapiro (1961)
- Do You Want to Dance – Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1962)
You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry – The Caravelles (1963)
Bambino – The Springfields (1961)
Silver Threads and Golden Needles – The Springfields (1962)
Island of Dreams – The Springfields (1962)
Say I Won't Be There – The Springfields (1963)