Johnny Kidd & the Pirates

Originally a rock 'n' roll band, The Pirates' greatest days were perhaps behind them when the beat boom began. Formed in 1958 when rock 'n' roll was still in its first flush of youth in Britain, they enjoyed several hit records including the classic "Shakin' All Over", which was written by Kidd and was a British No. 1 in 1960. They managed to sustain a seven-year career without ever releasing an album.



Kidd was a fine R'n'B singer and one of the few credible British pre-Beatles answers to American rock singers and in The Pirates he had one of the toughest-sounding groups in England.



They'd had a couple of barren years between 1960-62 when the music they played was at odds with the public taste for teen ballads, but had something of an indian summer in '63 as "beat" music was emerging in popularity. In 1964 Green left to join Billy J. Kramer's band, the Dakotas and was replaced by John Weider.



After the hits dried up the band continued working until Kidd was killed in a car accident. During the late '70's "pub-rock" fad, The Pirates made a comeback.



Singles



Jan '63



Shot Of Rhythm And Blues/? (UK #48)



Jun '63



I'll Never Get Over You/Then I Got Everything (UK #4)



Nov '63



Hungry For Love/Ecstasy (UK #20)



Apr '64



Always And Ever/Dr. Feelgood (UK #46)



Jun '64



Jealous Girl/Shop Around



Nov '64



Whole Lotta Man/Your Cheatin' Heart



1965



Don't Make The Same Mistake As I Did/The Birds And The Bees



Apr '66



It's Got To Be You/I Hate Getting Up In The Morning



Nov '66



Send For That Girl/Fool



E.P.



1964



I'll Never Get Over You/Then I Got Everything/Hungry For Love/Shot Of Rhythm And Blues



Selected Re-issues



1987



The Best Of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates - A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues/Shakin' All Over/Longing Lips/Restless/Growl/I Want That/Linda Lu/You've Got What It Takes/Your Cheatin' Heart/I'll Never Get Over You/Hungry For Love/I Can Tell/Jealous Girl/Shop Around/Please Don't Touch/Always And Ever



1996



Rarities - I Know/Where Are You/A Little Bit Of Soap/Oh Boy/Steady Date/More Of The Same/I Just Want To Make Love To You/This Golden Ring/Right String Baby But The Wrong Yo-Yo/Can't Turn You Loose/Shakin' All Over/I Hate Getting Up In The Morning/Send For That Girl/Hurry On Back To Love/You Got What It Takes/Fool/Ecstacy/ Shop Around/Weep No More My Baby/Whole Lotta Woman