Johnny Kidd – So What?!
(The Brits Are Rocking Vol.7)
Bear Family BCD17638
Feelin’ – So What – Linda Lu – I Can Tell – Longin’ Lips – I Want That – A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues – Weep No More, My Baby – Shakin’ All Over – Restless – Growl – Hurry On Back To Love – Let’s Talk About Us – Please Don’t Touch – Big Blon’ Baby – You Got What It Takes – Please Don’t Bring Me Down – Yes Sir, That’s My Baby – Magic Of Love – If You Were The Only Girl In The World – That’s All You Gotta Do – My Babe – Growlin’ Growl – I Go Ape – Brian Matthew Talks To Johnny – Restless – Setarip – Never Mind – Please Don’t Touch – Brian Matthew Talks To Johnny – Weep No More, My Baby – Brian Matthew Talks To Johnny – If You Were The Only Girl In The World – Shakin’ All Over
Despite his talent and almost flawless repertoire, Johnny Kidd is best known for two songs, two concentrates of Rock’n’Roll and pure adrenaline: Shaking All Over and Please Don’t Touch. These two songs have been covered by artists as diverse and varied as the Who, Vince Taylor, Suzi Quatro, Billy Idol, Wanda Jackson and Iggy Pop for the first and Motorhead, the Meteors and the Stray Cats for the second. And this list is far from exhaustive.
This compilation, which is part of the Brits Are Rocking collection, is an opportunity to give Johnny Kidd and his musicians (among whom we find Clem Cattini, Joe Moretti, Alan Caddy, Mick Green, and Johnny Spence) the place they deserve by highlighting the importance, quality and consistency of their Rock’n’Roll, and showing that Kidd is much more than the man of two songs (which some would quickly tend to reduce him to).
Despite a few missteps (Yes Sir That’s My Baby, which doesn’t fit and is surely attributable to the record company), Kidd and his Pirates’ brand of Rock’n’Roll maintains throughout his all too brief career a purity and integrity that many could envy. The tension is always palpable both in the vocals and in the nervous and sharp guitars. We can only regret that the “pirate” gimmick quickly made him look like a Novelty act, perhaps distancing him from greater success. We can especially regret that a stupid car accident put an end to a career whose evolution seemed rich in promise. While his partner Cliff Richards began a pop turn with the success we know, Kidd was evolving his music towards a tenacious and aggressive Rhythm’n’Blues, a precursor of what was to come and from which groups like Doctor Feelgood would remember the lesson.
So delve into this compilation that contains all of his best studio recordings as well as BBBC recordings complete with bits of interviews and introductions.
Available here
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
