My British Invasion: The Inside Story on the Yardbirds, the Dave Clark Five, Manfred Mann, Herman's Hermits, the Hollies, the Troggs, the Kinks, the Zombies, and More

by Harold Bronson

Co-founder of Rhino Records, Harold Bronson, tells his story. As a passionate music fan who explored the British music scene and met many of the performers whose music he loved, and in some cases got to know them as a music journalist, music executive, or friend, Harold gives an insiders account of London's 1970s music scene.

With chapters on Harold's immersion in London's rock scene in the early 70`s and others on significant music makers from the 60`s and 70`s, My British Invasion gives both large and small scopes of the scene that brought us Herman's Hermits, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Johnny Rotten, and Pirate Radio.

A must for all music fans of the British Invasion of the 1960s and 70s.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2017

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Originally made by teenagers for teenagers, [this music] resonates fifty years later, and it's not just with the people who experienced it when it was first played on the radio. [.] These artists of the British Invasion made great music, and we're all the better for it." -- in summation, on page 310

Perhaps the divided focus of this book is most obvious when concentrating on its title - My British Invasion, with the accent on the 'my' part. Author Bronson, who legitimately worked as a rock journalist in the early 1970's (his articles appeared in the periodicals Rolling Stone and Creem) and later co-founded the Rhino record label, spins a number of essay-like chapters on those U.K.-based groups - see the subtitle for a partial listing - who landed in America on the heels of the Beatles in early 1964. So the sections centering on acts like the Spencer Davis Group, the Kinks, Hollies, the Zombies, and the Dave Clark Five (I now realize that I really need to get a CD copy of their greatest hits) were of much interest . . . but the author dilutes the formula when mixing in a 50-page (!) early chapter on his senior year at UCLA - the mention of concerts he attended quickly grows tedious and show-offish - and extended travelogues on his three trips to London. (Additionally, a late chapter featuring the Sex Pistols was interesting but an odd inclusion, as said punk rock band came years afterwards and vocally railed against the Beatles and Stones.) More sustained and sincere journalistic bent and less diary-like entries would have made this a great, instead of an often good, collection.

[Mary Lou]

I read the first half of My British Invasion before skimming the rest and giving up. Some of it was interesting, but I quickly realized I just don't need that level of detail about most of these bands, despite my love for their music. Bronson's layout zigzagged between chapters that were more like past-tense diary entries, and the more interesting chapters about specific bands - an approach that didn't hold my interest.

As another reader noted, this book caters to a very specific audience. For those, like me, who love the British Invasion, find this book at your local library. Once you've browsed through it, I think you'll quickly be able to decide if it's something you want to pursue.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

The co-founder of Rhino Records pens an interesting memoir about his impressions of the British Invasion and his adventures as a writer around the music business personalities and the artists who crossed his path. An interesting read for anyone who's a fan of music from the 60's up to the present. Lots of inside information on The Kinks, The Hollies, Herman's Hermits, Spencer Davis, The Zombies, The Dave Clark Five, 10CC, Badfinger, Manfred Mann and many others as well as songwriters like Godley & Creme and Chapman and Chinn. There's even a section on the clothing store Granny Takes A Trip. - BH.

[Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kimley and I will discuss this book on BOOK MUSIK. Here's our podcast of BOOK MUSIK on this book: Book Musik Podcast.

[Kimley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tosh and I discuss this on our Book Musik Podcast.

Bronson is one of the co-founders of the legendary Rhino Records label. This memoir/travel journal is his unique behind-the-scenes take on many of the most influential British Invasion bands. He has worked as a music journalist, a label rep in his college days and, of course, as the guy who just wants to put out some seriously good vinyl on the much-loved Rhino Records. But rock stars and/or their managers don’t always want to cooperate…

[Richard West · Rating 4 out of 5]

If 1960's Brit-Pop from the British Invasion isn't your thing, you probably won't care for this book. Within its 310 pages, you'll find stories about some of the bigger stars of that era - the Dave Clark 5, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Troggs, Manfred Mann and others. And some of the stories are ones you've never heard before although if you're a fan of any of those groups, you probably already know the historical context. This however, centers on the author's interactions with these groups while trying to decide if he wanted to be a writer, record company executive, singer, or what (he eventually went on to co-found one of the premier re-issue labels around, Rhino Records).

Sadly, there is too much time spent on the author's love life - or lack of same while in college and interacting with some of these groups. If you lived through that time, you can probably empathize with his female difficulties, I know I could, but many people would no doubt find it boring.

All in all, this is a pleasant little journey back to the days when rock was worth listening to (you could actually understand the words!), nobody was rapping (always something to be thankful for) and music was enjoyable. Music fans - particularly if you're a fan of the British Invasion of the '60's - you'll love this, or at the very least enjoy it. If you're more into something else, go read a Stephen King novel or something and let us old-timers enjoy re-living the memories.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's really two books here: 1) a look at specific British bands from the 60s and early 70s, and 2) a personal history describing select periods in the author's life. The personal history stuff read like a college kid's diary but the band segments are generally pretty readable. There's also a distinct lack of criticism: things are either "great" or he "didn't like" them. No real explanation why or any impartiality. Also, this book made me like the British Invasion less which feels like the opposite of what the book was going for.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The meat of this book for music fans is in the middle chapters (and the closing one) which cover the individual bands Bronson met and interviewed. The chapters regarding his personal life are a bit less intriguing, but not to the point of one losing interest in the narrative. Some sense of the personalities of the bands are revealed, and in some instances, one gets a sense of either liking or disliking certain musicians. A worthwhile read, but not necessarily an essential one.

[John Ballin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lefsetz sent me. Read the first part and then some of the chapters on bands I cared about but skipped the rest. As I read it I was just shaking my head on the mind numbing detail. I went to a ton of concerts back in the day, saw many of these bands, and even if I wrote stuff down it would be a 10th of the detail he has on his day to day going to concerts. All in all a fun read going back in time.

[Raymond Parish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining book for the content, not the writing style. Part fan, part rock journalist, part music exec, Bronson is brimming with stories and trivia about a pivotal time in music. I expected a more cohesive flow from a former journalist. Rather, the book shifted from memoir to personal diary to professional point of view.

[Rick Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I picked up this book on Bob Lefsetz's recommendation. The writing is a bit stilted at times, but the author's dedication to the topic is undeniable, and there are some fascinating bits of info scattered throughout. Worth your time.

[Logan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t have a lot of knowledge on some of the bands so found it counfusing. It didn’t have good flow

[Phil Miglioratti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eyewitness Details

The author has an amazing recall of, unknown to me, a diary of details about some of my favorite British Invasion bands.