In 1960, they released "Shakin' All Over", which topped charts and became their biggest hit. Though they never released a full-length album, they released more than twenty singles. The band dissolved after the death of Kidd in a car crash on 6th October 1966. However, the classic lineup reformed as an R 'n' B group in 1976 and would perform sporadic tours until their ultimate disbandment in 2010.
Johnny Kidd (born Frederick Albert Heath, 23 December 1935 – 7 October 1966) was an English singer and songwriter, best remembered as the lead vocalist for the rock and roll band Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. He was one of the few pre-Beatles British rockers to achieve worldwide fame, mainly for his 1960 hit, "Shakin' All Over".
Frederick Albert "Freddie" Heath was born in 1935 in Willesden, North London. He began playing guitar in a skiffle group in about 1956. The group, known as "The Frantic Four" and later as "The Nutters", covered primarily skiffle, pop and rockabilly. Simultaneously Heath was proving to be a prolific writer; penning most of 30 songs in over three months. Heath's 31st song would prove to be the group's break.
In 1959 Heath and his band were given a recording test for their first single, a rocker titled "Please Don't Touch". A contract with HMV quickly followed and the group were then informed during the session that their name "Freddie Heath and the Nutters" would be changed to Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. "Please Don't Touch" would reach the low twenties of the music charts. Although it is not as well known as Kidd's later song "Shakin' All Over", it is a stand-out among other British rock songs of the time. Unlike Billy Fury or Marty Wilde, Kidd does not sing in an imitation voice of Elvis Presley or one of his American contemporaries. The song also bears a smooth harmony and contains no clear references to the rockabilly style.
Kidd's most famous song as a composer was "Shakin' All Over", which was a No. 1 UK hit and the band's finest hour in 1960. Kidd's own version did not chart outside of Europe, but two cover versions did: The Guess Who topped the Canadian charts (and hit No. 22 US) with their 1965 version of "Shakin' All Over", and in Australia, Normie Rowe topped the charts with it later the same year. The song was originally to be a B-side to the Ricky Nelson cover "Yes, Sir That's My Baby". Kidd was told that a self-penned song could be used and together with The Pirates the new number was written in the basement of the Freight Train coffee bar the day prior to recording.[1]:55 In addition to Kidd (vocals), Alan Caddy (guitar), Clem Cattini (drums) and Brian Gregg (bass) session guitarist Joe Moretti was called in by Kidd and Caddy to play lead guitar. It was Moretti who created the songs signature sound by sliding Brian Gregg's cigarette lighter up and down the fret-board of his guitar.
"Shakin' All Over" was a UK no 1. It has been covered by The Who on the classic Live at Leeds album. Iggy Pop also included it on his solo album Avenue B. Other covers have included Vince Taylor and the Playboys, the rock group Humble Pie and The Swinging Blue Jeans. The fact that the song continues to be covered some 50 years after its first recording is a testimony to Kidd and the Pirates.
"Shakin' All Over" marked the peak which Kidd would not reach again. Future records did not fare as well in the charts. In 1961 Cattini, Caddy and Gregg left the band and would later play for Joe Meek in The Tornados. Kidd now assembled a new band of Pirates. Johnny Spence was now added to bass, Frank Farley to drums and later Mick Green would become guitarist. The band now toured extensively throughout England and into Europe. Adopting a more beat-influenced style, the group reached the British Top 5 with "I'll Never Get Over You" (#3) and split chart action with The Searchers with "Hungry For Love" (#20) in 1963; both songs were penned by future pop impresario Gordon Mills, then of The Viscounts. The four piece band would prove to have a profound effect on another touring band at this time. Watching Kidd perform in the center front of the stage, with Farley directly behind him on drums and Spence and Green flanking him on either side, inspired Roger Daltrey the then guitarist of "The Detours" to lay aside his own guitar, dismiss his own group's singer and concentrate on vocals. This allowed rhythm guitarist Pete Townshend to concentrate more on playing lead. In time a stage act had also emerged with Kidd and the Pirates dressed as actual Pirates. Kidd would don an eye-patch and carry a cutlass which he would swing around on stage, damaging the wooden framework, and high kick in time with the music of the band. By 1964 the "British Invasion" was taking shape and Kidd was left in the shadows.[1]:59 Kidd had another new group by this stage "The New Pirates" but recordings had now become covers of R&B and pop songs. By 1966 it would seem that Kidd was on the verge of a re-emergence but this was soon to be cut short.
Kidd died at age 30 in 1966, in a motor car collision on the A58, Bury New Road, Breightmet, Bolton, Lancashire. The car in which he was travelling as a passenger had a head-on collision with one driven by Peter Metcalfe. Metcalfe's 17-year-old girlfriend, Helen Read, also died in the accident. Pirates' bassist Nick Simper, who later became an original member of Deep Purple, was also in the car with Kidd but he suffered only some cuts and a broken arm.
Kidd was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, London.
In hindsight Kidd was both musically and visually important for the rock music genre. Long before the likes of Paul Revere and the Raiders and Alice Cooper and other such performers dressed up for a performance, Kidd and his contemporary Screaming Lord Sutch were already doing so. Kidd and the Pirates were a transitional band. In a time before bands like The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and The Animals, Kidd was recording music that placed increased emphasis on electric blues and R&B. His records circa 1961–64 included Willie Dixon's "I Just Want To Make Love To You", Bo Diddley's "I Can Tell", Willie Perryman's "Dr Feel-good" and Richie Barrett's "Some Other Guy". These are songs that are not sung in imitation of the original recording artists but instead Kidd puts his own stamp upon the song. These were the types of changes that would become more crucial as British blues gained more ground in the early 1960s.[1]:57–60 Many rock historians consider Kidd's UK Top 50 disc "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" c/w "I Can Tell" (HMV POP 1088, December 1962) to be the sonic bridge between British rock and roll and British beat/British R&B.
I Can Tell
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can tell the way you look at me
The way you know, you hold my hand
Yes, pretty baby I can understand
I can tell, I can tell
I know you don't love me no more
No more, no more
I can tell, I can tell
I know you don't love me no more
I asked your mama and your papa, too
What more can a poor man do?
Now, you been runnin' with a heart-breaker child, around
Yes, a new boy's why you put me down
I can tell, I can tell
I know you don't love me no more
Well, you won't answer your telephone
When I knock on your door
They say that you ain't home
Your sister let me in
And tell me I can wait
When you come home
You show up real late
Now, I can tell
Oh, I can tell
I know you don't love me no more
No more
I said, no more
No more
No more
Baby, I can give you romance
Only if you give me another chance
I'll cook your food and wash your clothes
I promise I'll keep your warm when it get cold
I can tell
I can tell
I know you don't love me no more
No more
No more
A-no more.
"I Can Tell" is a rock and roll song by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, released in 1962. It’s about a man who realizes that the woman he loves no longer loves him. The opening lyrics "I can tell because it's plain to see, I can tell the way you look at me" suggest that the singer is able to discern the emotional distance between himself and his partner. He can tell that her love has diminished by the way she looks at him and the way she holds his hand. He comes to the realization that she has found somebody else and that he has been replaced by a new boy. He questions her mother and father, but doesn’t find any satisfaction. He is faced with the reality that his love has left him and he has nothing left to give.
The verses go on to explain how he tries to win her back, but can't even reach her on the phone or get an answer at her doorstep. He asks for a chance to cook her food, wash her clothes, and keep her warm on a cold night, but it seems the relationship is over. The song is classic rockabilly, with a strong beat and a catchy guitar riff. The overall tone is one of sorrow and heartbreak, but it's countered by the upbeat tempo and Kidd’s strong vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
I can tell because it's plain to see
I can see very clearly that something is wrong
I can tell the way you look at me
The way you look at me says it all
The way you know, you hold my hand
The way you hold my hand shows me something is different
Yes, pretty baby I can understand
I understand what's going on, pretty baby
I know you don't love me no more
I know that you don't love me anymore
No more, no more
Not anymore, not anymore
No more, a-no more
Not anymore, not anymore
I asked your mama and your papa, too
I asked your parents what's going on
What more can a poor man do?
I don't know what else to do as a poor man
Now, you been runnin' with a heart-breaker child, around
You've been running around with someone who breaks hearts
Yes, a new boy's why you put me down
You put me down because of another guy
Well, you won't answer your telephone
You're not answering your phone when I call
When I knock on your door
When I come to your door and knock
They say that you ain't home
Someone else says that you're not home
Your sister let me in
Your sister allowed me to come in
And tell me I can wait
She told me that I could wait for you
When you come home
When you finally come back
You show up real late
You come back at a very late time
Baby, I can give you romance
I can give you romance, baby
Only if you give me another chance
But only if you give me another chance
I'll cook your food and wash your clothes
I'll take care of your practical needs
I promise I'll keep your warm when it get cold
I'll keep you warm when it's cold outside
No more
Not anymore
I said, no more
I said, not anymore
No more
Not anymore
No more
Not anymore
A-no more
Not anymore
Writer(s): SAMUEL SMITH
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexanderwebb7582
About time a film was made about Johnny Kidd & The Pirates as a recognition for how big they were in early 60's.
@brianmantel2724
That would be great. But who would do it? Maybe someone who was influenced by them would back it. It's a film I'd love to see.
@heathstjohn6775
No,no;can understand why you'd want to,but no;there's never a replacement for the original;they're always either sycophantic,wrong,maudlin or embarrassingly attention seeking.
@alfching2499
Definately
@john111257
@@brianmantel2724 independent guy
@jofrad
The only band from the South of England that could hold a candle to the the northern beat groups (at this time). An absolutely blistering version of the Bo Diddley classic. The Pirates at their very best.
@BrianCarnevaleB26
and then such a tragedy when Kidd is killed in a car crash at the age of 30.
@user-ri9cc3ge6j
They had so much talent to last as long as they did!
@MrPlectrist
The great Mick Green had a truly unique sound. in 1962 no other guitarist in the world sounded as cool and modern as this. This can be considered the birth of modern funky guitar style, some years before any other attempt. What a great musician.
@migliorinibernard4232
"JOHNNY KID " Merveilleux Rockeur " trop tôt disparu "!!! mais ou sont les neiges d"antant "je hais la mort qui a ouvert sa frontière , et qui de son souffle de froideur , nous a pris nos merveilleux 'Rockeurs ,