1964 in Music

British invasion began in earnest. Beatlemania exploded in America. They arrived at Kennedy Airport to screaming throngs and then appeared on Ed Sullivan three times in February. Meanwhile, Elvis transitioned to motion pictures and enters into a musical wilderness. Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones released their debut album. Pete Townshend accidentally broke his first guitar and created a sensation. The Kinks made their American debut. On the American side, Bob Dylan releases his anthem "The Times They Are-A Changing", Simon and Garfunkel record for Columbia, The Supremes score five straight number ones, and Sam Cooke is murdered.

#1 song:
I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles.

Important recordings:
All Day and All of the Night by The Kinks
Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles
Dancing in the Streets by Martha and the Vandellas
Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey
Hello, Dolly! by Louis Armstrong
I Get Around by The Beach Boys
The Way You Do The Things You Do by The Temptations
Twist and Shout by The Beatles
A World Without Love by Peter and Gordon
You Really Got Me by The Kinks
She Loves You by The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles

Other notable hits:
As Tears Go By by Marianne Faithfull
Come See About Me by The Supremes
Do Wah Diddy Diddy by Manfred Mann
Gloria by Them
I'm Into Something Good by Herman's Hermits
Little Red Rooster by The Rolling Stones
My Guy by Mary Wells
Rag Doll by The Four Seasons
She's Not There by The Zombies
Tobacco Road by The Nashville Teens
Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five