Johnny Kidd & The Pirates were a British rock 'n' roll band. Johnny Kidd (b… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Kidd & The Pirates were a British rock 'n' roll band. Johnny Kidd (birth name Frederick Heath), lead singer and primary songwriter, signed a recording contract with HMV and released his first single "Please Don't Touch" in 1959, under the name of Johnny Kidd with his backing band The Pirates. The classic line-up included Frank Farley (drums), Johnny Spence (bass) and legendary guitarist Mick Green.
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.
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.
You Can Have Her
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'You Can Have Her' by these artists:
ANDERSON BILL The one I love found another she ran away with…
B.Cook Tinder message received Hey babe when are you free To go on…
Bill Anderson The one I love found another she ran away with…
Buck T. Edwards One month ago today I was happy as a lark But now…
Charlie Rich Well, you can have her, I don't want her She didn't…
George Jones Well you can have her, I don't want her She…
George Jones & Johnny Paycheck Well you can have her, I don't want her She…
George Jones;Johnny Paycheck Well you can have her, I don't want her She…
Giga H.D Is it still me that makes you sweat? Am I who…
J. D. Crowe & The New South Is it still me that makes you sweat? Am I who…
Jerry Lee Lewis Well you can have her, I don't want her, She didn't…
Jerry Lee Lewis James Burton & Eric Clapton Well you can have her, I don't want her, She didn't…
Jim Ed Brown You can have her, I don't want her She didn't love…
Johnny Paycheck Well you can have her, I don't want her She…
Johnny Paycheck & George Jones Well you can have her, I don't want her She…
Johnny Rivers Cooke Well, you can have her, I don't want her She didn't…
Lenny Welch Well, you can have her, I don't want her, She didn't…
Lorraine Jordan You can have her, I don't want her She didn't love…
Roy Hamilton Well, you can have her, I don't want her, She didn't…
Sam Neely You know the other day, I had a friend of…
Sir Mix-A-Lot [ INTRO: Chris Rock ] ...All this ill shit This fuckin Sir…
The Browns You can have her, I don't want her She didn't love…
The Browns feat. Jim Ed Brown You can have her, I don't want her She didn't love…
The Righteous Brothers You can have her, I don't want her She didn't love…
Tompall Glaser The girl I love Upped and left me She ran away with…
Various Artists Don't know why I'm surviving every lonely day When there's…
Waylon Jennings Funny a woman can come on so wild and free Yet…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates:
All By Myself Little girl don't you want to stay? I want to be…
Always And Ever My heart belongs to you always and ever Just tell me…
Big Blon' Baby Standing on the corner like an old tomcat Yeah humpin' and…
Can't Turn You Loose (Can't turn me loose (Can't turn me loose) (Can't turn me lo…
Doctor Feel Good Hey, all of you women Don't gather around Unless you weigh…
Doctor Feelgood Hey, all of you women Don't gather around Unless you weigh O…
Feelin (You do it to me baby, you do it all…
Hungly For Love I'm so hungry, so hungry for love I'm so hungry, so…
Hungry For Love I'm so hungry, so hungry for love I'm so hungry, so…
I Can Tell I can tell because it's plain to see I can tell…
I Get Around I'll never get over you No, I'll never get over you I…
I Hate Getting Up In The Morning I said I hate getting up in the morning, baby I…
I just wanna make love to you I don't want you to be no slave I don't want…
I Know I know you don't want me no more No more, no…
I Want That I don't want you to be no slave I don't want…
I'll Love You Till I Die Now that you've come back home to me I don't care…
I'll Never Get Over You I'll never get over you No, I'll never get over you I…
If You Were The Only Girl If you were the only girl in the world And I…
It's Got To Be You Some boys say they like your eyes I heard some boys…
Just One Look I don't want you to be no slave I don't want…
Let's Talk About Us Talk about the birdies that fly up in the trees Talk…
Let´s Talk About Us Talk about the birdies that fly up in the trees Talk…
Man of Mystery The loneliest of nights yet I'm not alone The darkness is…
Mind Over Matter My mind is made up 'cause you're so cold I want…
Please Don't Touch (Well, don't you touch me baby cause I'm shakin' so…
Restless You don't know how restless you've made me Don't know baby…
Shakin All Over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Shakin´ All Over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Shakin’ All Over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Shankin' All Over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Shop Around When I became of age my mother called me to…
Teenager In Love Yes it means I'm in love again Had no lovin' since…
This Golden Ring This golden ring's gonna buy me a place in my…
Walking to New Orleans Marie, Marie, La, Voo-doo Yeady She'll put a spell on you Ma…
Where Are You Where are you when there's nobody to call your own Where…
Whole Lotta Woman It takes a whole lotta lovin' Just to keep my…
You Got What it Takes Some boys say they like your eyes I heard some boys…
Your Cheatin' Heart Those street lights are changing as new waves of sorrow…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Kidd:
A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues Oh, when your hands start clapping And your fingers start po…
Always and ever My heart belongs to you always and ever Just tell me…
Big Blon' Baby Standing on the corner like an old tomcat Yeah humpin' and…
Can Can 62 (Can't turn me loose (Can't turn me loose) (Can't turn me lo…
Doctor Feelgood Hey, all of you women Don't gather around Unless you weigh O…
Feelin (You do it to me baby, you do it all…
Hungry For Love I'm so hungry, so hungry for love I'm so hungry, so…
I Just Want To Make Love To You I don't want you to be no slave I don't want…
I Know I know you don't want me no more No more, no…
I Want That I don't want you to be no slave I don't want…
I'll Never Get Over You I'll never get over you No, I'll never get over you I…
If you were the only girl If you were the only girl in the world And I…
It's Got to Be You Some boys say they like your eyes I heard some boys…
I´ll Never Get Over You I'll never get over you No, I'll never get over you I…
Let's Talk About Us Talk about the birdies that fly up in the trees Talk…
Please Don't Touch (Well, don't you touch me baby cause I'm shakin' so…
Restless You don't know how restless you've made me Don't know, baby,…
Shakin All Over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Shakin` All Over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Turn Me Loose (Can't turn me loose (Can't turn me loose) (Can't turn me lo…
Where Are You Where are you when there's nobody to call your own Where…
Whole Lotta Woman It takes a whole lotta lovin' Just to keep my…
You Got What It Takes Some boys say they like your eyes I heard some boys…
You've Got What It Takes Some boys say they like your eyes I heard some boys…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Pirates:
Ain Ain't no sunshine when she's gone It's not warm when she's…
All by myself Little girl don't you want to stay? I want to be…
Do the Dog do the dog, come on baby, come on down. do…
Don (Well, don't you touch me baby cause I'm shakin' so…
Don Munchen It Baby don't you do it, don't do it babe Don't break…
Drinkin Down in New Orlean, where ev'rything is fine All them cats…
Fortune Teller Went to the fortune teller To have my fortune read I didn't…
Goin' back home All streams lie below the sea That's what's been told, that'…
Honey Hush ah let 'em roll like a big wheel in a georgia…
I Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard Your rolled up…
I can tell I can’t breathe I can’t breathe I can’t breathe Someone get …
I'll Love You 'Til I Die Now that you've come back home to me I don't care…
I'm in love again Yes it means I'm in love again Had no lovin' since…
Lemonade Everything is so good in the summer air Just put behind…
Let's Talk About Us Talk about the birdies that fly up in the trees Talk…
Lights Out Is it cruel to be kind not to speak my…
Mind Over Matter My mind is made up 'cause you're so cold I want…
Please don (Well, don't you touch me baby cause I'm shakin' so…
Shakin When you move in right up close to me That's when…
Shakin' all over When you move in right up close to me That's when…
SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Are you ready kids? I said, "Are you ready?" Who lives in…
Sweet Love Of My Mind Well, I'm a man who's got nothing but sweet love…
The Pirates On pue la street mon pote On pue la street mon…
The SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Are you ready kids? I said, "Are you ready?" Who lives in…
The Witch Queen Of New Orleans Marie, Marie, La, Voo-doo Yeady She'll put a spell on you Ma…
You Should Know feat. Shola Am Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard Your rolled up…
You Should Really Know Last week when you were cruisin Your best friend moved…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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