The "Because: The Dave Clark Five" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just popped my new CD in the car CD player.  Finished making it about an hour ago and just had to see if it worked.  Gonna have to give it another try, since it couldn't read what I had just recorded from my iTunes program.  That would be 28 tracks from the Dave Clark Five who were one of my favorite bands from the 1960s. In February of 1964 the Beatles appeared three straight weeks on the Ed Sullivan Show to an audience of screaming fans, mostly young girls who had fallen in love with the mop-haired musical artists from across the pond.  

Ed Sullivan and the Dave Clark Five.

Then, in March, another English sensation, the Dave Clark Five, appeared for two more consecutive weeks and it was deja vu all over again.  The Dave Clark Five were the first English group to tour the United States.  During their first two years in the U.S. they had fifteen consecutive Top Twenty hits.  Only other group to top that was ..... The Beatles.  The drummer for the band was Dave and he was Britian's first independent artist and record producer.  

Another appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Dave produced all the groups records as well as helped write the recordings along with fellow band member Mike Smith.  Mike was the band's lead singer as well as playing keyboard and had a fantastic voice for rock music.  Other members of the band were Lenny Davidson on lead guitar, Rick Huxley on bass and Denis Payton on sax.  The Dave Clark Five were considered to be the Beatles' chief British Invasion rival, but couldn't shift with the changing cultural tide in the late 60's and called it quits in 1970.  During their heyday they racked up more visits to Ed Sullivan's stage with 18 appearances than any other rock group.  

Dave and Lenny at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2008

On March 10th, 2008, Tom Hanks introduced the group as one of the newest members into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Later that year a 28-track collection, The Dave Clark Five: The Hits, was released on iTunes.  Happens to be the exact 28 tracks that I thought I had recorded onto my CD for my car.  Some of the groups biggest sellers and most recognizable songs were:  Glad All Over, Bits and Pieces, Can't You See That She's Mine, Catch Us If You Can, Good Old Rock'n Roll, Anyway You Want It, I Like It Like That, Over and Over, and my favorite Because.  Recently "Dave Clark Five: Catch it if you can" was a PBS special.  Really neat production honoring the group that broke onto our musical scene 50 years ago.  Only two members of the band still survive: Dave Clark and Lenny Davidson.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Check out the Youtube video of my favorite song.