The Songs That Shaped Johnny Kidd and The Pirates
- johnaalex
- Sep 13
- 4 min read
The Songs That Shaped Johnny Kidd and The Pirates.
Released 11th July 2025
Record Label- Jasmine Records JASCD1253
Reviewed by Terry Mead 03 /09/2025
Although Johnny Kidd and The Pirates are chiefly remembered for self-penned killers like ‘Shakin’ All Over’, ‘Please Don’t Touch’, ‘Restless’, ‘Growl’ and ‘Feelin’’, they also cut a wedge of powerful cover songs.
This unique collection presents the original versions of many of the songs that they either recorded or were staple elements of their live sets.
Their initial inspirations came from rockers like Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and The Crickets, Little Richard, Brenda Lee, Ray Sharpe, Billy “Crash” Craddock, but they also drew on material from Blues and R&B giants like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Arthur Alexander, Johnny Otis etc.
And when The Pirates reformed in 1976, ten years after Kidd’s death, they kept the flag flying with raucous performances of various Ricky Nelson, Johnny Burnette Trio and Carl Perkins classics.
Album Review:
Kicking off the album Johnnys first penned number “Please Don’t Touch” although released on Parlophone by a duet(Steve & Rikki) known as The Bachelors and not to be confused by the Irish group of the same name before him in the same year of 1959. The story behind this was Johnny was waiting for a recording contract at the time and gave the boys the song to record hoping he would make some money out of it instead he did with his recording a few months later.
There are a whole host of hefty tracks that follow from Marv Johnson, Jerry Lee, Brenda Lee to the master of the blues Muddy Walters. Ray Sharpes “Linda Lu” was covered by Johnny in 1961 giving it a more bluesy feel. The following year he gave Billy “Crash” Craddock’s “I Want That” a more raunchy affair backed by The Michael Sammes Singers.
Although the R&B sound of Arthur Alexanders “A Shot Of Rhythm and Blues” I feel was orchestrated for Johnny to cover both have kept to their roots as the title reminds us, as was the flip side a cover Bo Diddleys “I Can Tell”.
The sixties beat rings through by Johnny on Richie Barretts “Some Other Guy” jointly written by himself along with Leiber & Stoller, which was also covered by The Beatles. Without Johnny The Pirates recorded “Casting My Spell” in 1964 an inspiration to Johnny Otis with Mick Green taking the vocals.
Willie Perryman, or "Piano Red", recording under the name Dr Feelgood & The Interns with the song of the same title “Dr Feelgood” gave Johnny a more upbeat bouncy version whilst in 1971 the Canvey Island group Dr Feelgood gave their name to the record.
The Doo Wop sounds of The Jarmels “A Little Bit Of Soap” is transformed by the group into a more early sixties pop production. Barbara Georges “I Know” from 1961 and her only major hit, keeps Johnny on the R&B trail with a somewhat tribute to Barbara here. “Bad Case Of Love” written & recorded by Jack Lewis in 1962 is a subdued track that Johnny & The Pirates livened up with a tremendous guitar riff.
Billy Grammer had his only major hit in 1959 with the gospel sounding “Gotta Travel On”, we then move onto a few Rockabilly tracks at the end of the album notably Stanford Clarks “The Fool”, Ricky Nelson covering a supped-up version of “Milk Cow Blues” and two classics from Johnny Burnette and Carl Perkins.
So, to Summarise the perfect collection of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates inspired original songs always think music has its roots in these locked away long forgotten tunes that resurface in another life, and this is certainly the case here, another collection from the Jasmine family to show case history.
Track List
1. The Bachelors - Please Don't Touch
2. Marv Johnson - You Got What It Takes
3. Ricky Nelson - Yes, Sir, That's My Baby
4. Jerry Lee Lewis - Big Blon' Baby
5. Brenda Lee - Weep No More My Baby
6. Muddy Waters - Just Make Love To Me (Aka I Just Want To Make Love To You)
7. Ray Sharpe - Linda Lu
8. Jerry Lee Lewis - Let's Talk About Us
9. Brenda Lee - That's All You Gotta Do
10. Billy "Crash" Craddock - I Want That
11. Arthur Alexander - A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues
12. Bo Diddley - I Can Tell
13. Richie Barrett - Some Other Guy
14. Ben E. King - Ecstasy
15. Ricky Nelson - My Babe
16. Johnny Otis - Castin' My Spell
17. Dr Feelgood & The Interns - Dr Feel-Good
18. The Crickets - Oh Boy
19. The Jarmels - A Little Bit Of Soap
20. Dr Feelgood & The Interns - The Right String Baby But The Wrong Yo-Yo
21. Little Richard - Send Me Some Lovin'
22. Barbara George - I Know
23. Jack Lewis - Bad Case Of Love
24. Roy Hamilton - You Can Have Her
25. The Miracles - Shop Around
26. Marvin Rainwater - Whole Lotta Woman
27. Hank Williams - Your Cheating Heart
28. Billy Grammer - Gotta Travel On
29. Sanford Clark - The Fool
30. Ricky Nelson - Milk Cow Blues
31. The Johnny Burnette Trio - Sweet Love On My Mind
32. Carl Perkins - Put Your Cat Clothes On.
Band Bio:
Johnny Kidd & the Pirates (known simply as The Pirates after their reunion) were an English rock band led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd. Their musical journey spanned the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, during which they achieved considerable success with hit songs like "Shakin' All Over" and "Please Don't Touch".
Their stage act was theatrical, including wearing full pirate costumes, echoing their rock 'n' roll contemporaries such as Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages and Nero and the Gladiators. The group disbanded after Kidd's sudden death in a 1966 automobile accident, but former members of the band reunited as The Pirates and continued performing until the late 2000s.
The original group came under the management of Guy Robinson and was signed to His Master's Voice in 1959 under the auspices of producer Walter J. Ridley. Their first single was the raw "Please Don't Touch", penned by Kidd. This became a minor hit, reaching number 25 on the UK singles charts in 1959.
When the group appeared on Saturday Club between 1959 and 1961, Mike West and Tom Brown shared the vocals with Kidd.
Johnny Kidd and the Pirates' most famous song was "Shakin' All Over", memorable for opening guitars and solo from Joe Moretti. It reached number one in the UK singles charts in 1960.
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