You know that feeling when a band just hits a groove so hard they can’t seem to miss? That was the Dave Clark Five (DC5) in 1964. They were the "Tottenham Sound" answer to the Beatles, all stomping boots and loud, crashing drums. But then they released "Because." It wasn't a stomper. It didn't have that "Glad All Over" thud that made floorboards shake in London dance halls. It was a ballad. A soft, shimmering, harmony-drenched risk that almost stayed buried as a B-side.
Honestly, it's one of the prettiest things to come out of the British Invasion.
Why Because by the Dave Clark Five Was Such a Huge Risk
In 1964, Epic Records in the U.S. had a specific "product" in mind when it came to the DC5. They wanted hits. Specifically, they wanted loud ones. Dave Clark, who was basically the mastermind and the most business-savvy drummer in rock history, knew his band was more than just a loud rhythm section. He wanted to release "Because" as their fifth American single. Epic fought him. They thought it was too slow. They thought it would kill the momentum.
They were wrong.
The song actually started its life in the UK as the B-side to "Can't You See That She's Mine." While the British fans were flipping the record over and realizing there was gold on the back, Clark was busy convincing the American suits to swap the sides. He eventually won. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1964 at number 60. Within six weeks, it was sitting pretty at number three. It sold over a million copies. Not bad for a song the label was scared of.
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The Magic of the Mike Smith Vocal
We have to talk about Mike Smith. Seriously. If you listen to "Because" today, his voice is what holds the whole thing together. He had this incredible, soulful grit, but on this track, he pulls it back into this vulnerable, breathy delivery.
- The Organ: That Vox Continental electric organ provides the bed.
- The Harmonies: They’re lush and tight, influenced by the group’s love for American R&B.
- The Production: It was recorded at Lansdowne Studios in a basement that used to be a squash court.
The acoustics in that basement were legendary. You can hear it in the way the vocals hang in the air. Adrian Kerridge, the engineer, worked closely with Dave Clark (who produced under the name Adrian Clark) to get a sound that was clean but intimate. They didn't use a pop shield on the mic because Kerridge didn't want to "kill the top end." That's why it sounds like Smith is singing right into your ear.
The Lyrics: Simplicity as an Art Form
The lyrics to "Because" aren't Shakespeare. They aren't even "Strawberry Fields Forever." They're simple.
"It's right that I should care about you / And try to make you happy when you're blue."
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It’s a straightforward confession of love. In the 1960s, that was the currency of the Top 40. But what makes it work is the sincerity. There’s no irony here. When they sing "Because, because I love you," it feels like a genuine plea rather than a pop cliché. It's a "shuffle rock-a-cha-cha," as Cash Box magazine called it at the time. A weird description, sure, but it captures that gentle, swaying rhythm that makes you want to grab someone and slow-dance in a dimly lit kitchen.
A Legacy Beyond the 60s
The song didn't just disappear when the British Invasion faded into psychedelia. Julian Lennon—son of John—covered it in 1985 for Dave Clark's musical Time. It hit the Top 40 in the UK all over again. The Supremes even did a version for their A Bit of Liverpool tribute album.
People keep coming back to it because it’s a perfectly constructed pop song. It’s only two minutes and 23 seconds long. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, breaks your heart a little bit with those "unusual and irresistible" chord changes (as critic Richie Unterberger put it), and then it’s over.
Why You Should Care Now
The Dave Clark Five often gets overshadowed by the Beatles and the Stones. Part of that is because Dave Clark kept a very tight grip on their catalog for decades. They weren't on streaming for a long time. They weren't on the big 90s compilation CDs that everyone else was on.
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But "Because" is the proof that they weren't just a "big beat" gimmick. They had soul. They had harmony.
If you want to really experience what made the mid-60s special, you need to move past the obvious hits. Find a high-quality remaster of "Because." Put on some headphones. Listen to the way the organ swells during the bridge. Notice how the drums—usually Dave Clark's loudest contribution—are played with such restraint. It’s a masterclass in pop dynamics.
Get the Most Out of the DC5 Experience
- Listen to the Mono Mix: Most 60s fans swear the mono version has more "punch" and feels more cohesive than the early stereo pans.
- Check out the Ed Sullivan Performances: The DC5 appeared on Sullivan 18 times. That’s more than any other British act. You can find the "Because" performance online, and it shows a band that was incredibly disciplined.
- Compare it to The Beatles' "Because": Same title, totally different vibe. The Beatles' 1969 track is a three-part harmony experiment; the DC5's 1964 track is a pure, romantic ballad. Both are essential.
The next time someone tells you the Dave Clark Five were just a loud, "militaristic" drum band, play them this song. It’s the sound of a band proving they could be just as tender as they were tough. It’s also a reminder that sometimes the B-side is the real story.
Go find the American Tour album or the History of the Dave Clark Five collection. Look for the track with the simplest title. You'll find a song that, despite being over 60 years old, still feels like a secret someone is whispering just to you. It's right to feel the way you do about it. Because.