Historians often talk of ‘the long 18th century’ and ditto of the 19th century, with a few years either side of the calendar century deemed to belong with the hundred-year period in terms of style, innovation, industry, values, etc. The 60s, as we understand them as a cultural decade, are similarly not quite calendrical. But what can we say vis a vis British history (the US is a separate case, let’s not bring it in here) – as a bit of fun but also as something useful to the study of history – are the start and end points?

Phillip Larkin’s poem referencing ‘the Beatles first LP’ (March 1963) is helpful. One could make a case for October 1962 (‘Love Me Do’ becomes a hit – a month after skiffle sensation Lonnie Donegan’s last UK hit, which is conveniently baton-passing in retrospect). I’m tempted by 1963, maybe even beginning in January 1963 – the Marquee Club in London beginning its weekly R&B nights, initially with the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers (soon to be Mannfred Mann) and ex-trad jazzer (who saw which way the wind was blowing) Big Pete Deuchar’s Country Blues, but soon ushering in the likes of the Rolling » Continue Reading.