Was in a record shop yesterday and they were playing a live Johnny Kidd and the Pirates album which I really liked. (I know, I should have bought it). Now I want to buy a compilation and looking on Amazon there are too many to choose from and a seeming difference in quality. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
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Moose the Mooche says
Don’t Munchen It is great. Came out in about 1993, recorded in about 1978 somewhere in Germany I believe 😉 RPM records.
Moose the Mooche says
I should say that this might well be the album that you heard – it’s The Pirates rather than JK and the Ps, the one-eyed one having long since walked the plank.
Not necessarily the best thing if you want a compo but…. it’s ace, trust me.
Colin H says
Surely it can’t have been JK & the Pirates? You mean just ‘The Pirates’? JK died in 1966 – is there a live album?!?
SteveT says
I know Johnny Kidd died many years ago – I didn’t know if they had recorded a live album or not but I think Moose might be right it was most likely just the Pirates but it was very good.
Colin H says
I’ve no doubt it was good, Steve. I have a couple of Pirates LPs. I ought to look at their CD output…
Johnny Concheroo says
And as we’ve discussed here a long time ago Colin, there are/were no albums by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, other than posthumous compilations.
The first “best of” LP appeared in 1971, following a solitary EP and number of singles from 1959-66
Johnny Concheroo says
Sorry, that’s TWO EPs in 1960 and 1963
ianess says
Saw The Pirates in a small club in Glasgow late ’70s. Mick Green was terrific. They had a curious resurgence in that punk era.
count jim moriarty says
I saw them innumerable times around then. Probably the most vital, tight, energetic band I ever saw. Manys the time I stood no more than 4 feet from Mick Green, and I still have absolutely no idea how he did that simultaneous lead/rhythm thing he did. Bloke was a genius, and a thoroughly lovely, modest bloke to boot.
Still a bit scared of bassist Johnny Spence though. Wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of him.
Don’t think they ever did a full live album. Their first album of the 70’s reunion , Out Of Their Skulls, was one side live, one side studio, and the second, Skull Wars, had 2 0r 3 live tracks sprinkled amongst the studio material.
I did get CD versions of those 3 albums with the usual bonus tracks on a small London indie label, Zircon, but they came out in 1999 and are almost certainly long deleted.
ianess says
Agree with all that. Saw them in small club above Glasgow Apollo and, as was often the case there, had the pleasure of having a good natter with them afterwards. Lovely blokes who were enjoying the added interest they were attracting at the time. It was mesmerising watching Green in action and the rhythm/ lead thing was astonishing to watch. Stupendous player.
mikethep says
Me too, at Dublin Castle or Hope & Anchor generally. Boy, they were loud and exciting.
Here’s a curiosity – I had no idea they’d ever troubled the States. Terrific sound.
https://youtu.be/-w4S6owuDsk
Jorrox says
Above the Apollo? Shuffles was the name I think. I was there too and also made my way into the wee changing room behind the stage. Mick gave me the remains of a can of Tennants that he was drinking and I kept it for years.
ianess says
We must have both been there at the same gig. ’77? I saw Rich Kids there too and had a good chat with Matlock about his sacking. Rusty Egan was good fun – complete motormouth. Met Rusty again years later and was staggered to discover that he hadn’t been a speed freak at that time, as I’d suspected.
Jorrox says
Same gig for sure. I’d go with 78 but there or thereabouts.
I spent at least as much time above the Apollo as I did in the main hall. It was a great room. You could mingle with all the acts as they had to come in the same door as the audience to get to the changing space. Costello was the only act that cleared the area between door and dressing room. No-one was allowed to get near the great man!
Also saw Simple Minds first gig there after they stopped being Johnny & The Self Abusers and on the same bill was the first incarnation of Orange Juice. (The Nu-Sonics I think they were).
Moose the Mooche says
Nothing curious about the resurgence – anyone who digs Wilko would dig Green. Two guitarists for the price of one.
Looking at the pics I’m pleased to note he was still rocking the pirate boots in 1978…!
Rigid Digit says
I read an interview with Wilko who said the the first bit of common ground between him and Roger Daltrey was an admiration of Mick Green. After that, recording was a doddle.
This from Reading Festival 1978.- Shakin All Over
Wiggy says
I saw loads of bands at Erics in Liverpool during that era. Unlike a lot of bands of that era, the Pirates were tight and totally focused.
Saw them again in 90s – only difference was Mick’s son was in the band!
SixDog says
Saw The Pirates support an AC/DC tribute band at the Railway Tavern Worcester Park in the mid 90’s. Unbelievably good.
Moose the Mooche says
Of course Mick was on Run Devil Run. Along with Gilmour, Ian Paice, Geraint Watkins, Pete Wingfield, Dave Mattacks…. bloody hell, way to pull rank, Macca!
Jorrox says
Could they be the most modern band that has no film footage in existence? Unless you can come up with such footage or find a band that came after them in the same position.
Colin H says
I was under that impression as well (the producer of the 90s C4 ‘Juke Box Heroes’ edition on JK told me he was astounded not to find any), but there WAS a short original JK & Pirates B&W clip (synched to ‘Shakin All Over’ in a recent/newly made BBC4 doc, though I can’t recall which one. it was a bit left-field – not a ‘[Whatever] Britannia’ but something else – like a general doc about the 50s, something like that. Wish I could remember… but being BBC4 it’ll come around again…
Jorrox says
I missed that. As you say, it will come again!
Colin H says
I just took delivery today of an ebay copy (a fiver!) of a 1961 EP by Bob Miller & the Millermen featuring vocalists Duffy Power and Roy Young. One of the tracks Roy sings is ‘Linda Lu’, and the arrangement is extraordinarily like JK & the P’s ‘Shakin’ All Over’ (from 1960). I couldn’t find Roy’s version on youtube but here is a 1959 US version by someone else – not sure who performed the original (Bobby Fuller?) but this ’59 arrangement/recording is still pretty redolent of SAO. What do you reckon?
mikethep says
It’s also pretty redolent of Johnny Kidd’s recording of Linda Lu! Ray Sharpe’s was the original.
Colin H says
What a sensational vocal! It’s an interesting song – tricky to get the vocal rhythm right, and a great ‘A’ section… followed by a bit of a limp B section (and no solo).
It certainly feels like a part of the Shakin All Over jigsaw, giving creedence to the story that they made it up in the studio on the spot as a B side – you can imagine it: the bassline from Linda Lu with Joe Moretti’s immortal guitar lick and solo…
Junior Wells says
Just played that on A tablet and the sound just leapt out. Remarkable .
Wonder why the title says Linda Lu when he sings Lindy Lu ?
Screw up I guess.
Mike_H says
Of course the song itself (but not the distinctive riff) is adapted from “Speedo” by The Cadillacs, recorded in 1955.
Fintinlimbim says
Johnny Kidd and the Pirates were Britain’s best Rock’n’roll act by a mile. Beat Larry Parnes’ execrable “stable” into a cocked hat. Apart from Joe Brown, who never really fitted in.
Johnny Concheroo says
And Georgie Fame who NEVER really fitted in.
ruff-diamond says
I always forget that Georgie Fame (or Clive, to his mother) was ‘discovered’ by Mr Parnes Shillings and Pence because he was so different from the others, being a singer, musician AND bandleader.
Which I suppose illustrates your point perfectly!
mikethep says
Old fart alert (I have DEFINITELY mentioned this before): I saw Georgie Fame (‘singing pianist sensation’) in this show, mostly channelling Jerry Lee Lewis IIRC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bradford_timeline/sets/72157629228736933/with/6840532273/
Can’t honestly say he stood out from the crowd (unlike Billy Fury). The groovesome GF we know and love was a few years off.
Johnny Concheroo says
Covered by many bands in Australia, but very remiss of you @colin_h not to pick up on the Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs version from 1966
The record label pictured here is a mock-up BTW. Thorpe’s version was only ever an album track and the single version pictured here has been photoshopped from another record. The catalogue number relates to the single Sick And Tiredc.
They also got the composer credit wrong. Eddie Quinteros released a record titled Lindy Lou in 1960, but although similar to the 1959 Ray Sharpe song it’ not the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehah9yS5ho0
Johnny Concheroo says
Sorry, that’s @colin-h