NP: From Sixties research. What was the first 'British invasion" song, so to speak, to hit #1 in the US?

[Mark Kohut]

"A clavioline sounded across the sky. It had never happened before".

The very first image which Telstar relayed was that of an American flag
flying in the wind at the ground station at Andover in Maine. The launch of
Telstar caused enormous excitement worldwide. Britain, like many other
countries, experienced “Telstar mania”. Although it was primarily an
American project there was British involvement as its General Post Office
was part of the multinational agreement to develop transatlantic satellite
communications. And what really fixed the satellite’s name and place in
history was a space-age instrumental pop record.

Telstar by The Tornados, featuring a picture of the satellite on its cover,
became a huge hit, staying at No1 for five weeks and also became the first
record by a British group to get to No1 in the US.

The track, which featured a clavioline – an unusual electronic keyboard
instrument – sold more than five million copies worldwide and had famous
admirers. It was later listed by prime minister Margaret Thatcher as her
favourite pop record. “Telstar was just the right title for a time when
people were becoming conscious of sudden scientific advances,” pop
historian Tony Jasper writes.


Kennedy's Telstar announcement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j_xoETaiww