Johnny Kidd And The Pirates – A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues / I Can Tell

Johnny Kidd And The Pirates – A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues / I Can Tell

A superb early-1960s British rhythm & blues and rock & roll 7", A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues / I Can Tell captures Johnny Kidd & The Pirates at a pivotal moment in the development of their sound. Released by His Master's Voice as POP 1088 on 9 November 1962, the single reached No. 48 in the UK Singles Chart.

The record introduced one of the most celebrated line-ups of The Pirates to the wider record-buying public. Alongside Johnny Kidd on vocals were Mick Green on lead guitar, Johnny Spence on bass and Frank Farley on drums. Green's distinctive playing – combining rhythm and lead guitar in a remarkably fluid style – became one of the defining characteristics of this version of The Pirates and helped point the way towards the British beat explosion that followed in 1963.

The A-side, “A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues”, was written by American songwriter Terry Thompson and had originally been recorded by R&B singer Arthur Alexander. Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' version brought the song firmly into the British club and beat scene, with a driving performance that contemporary reviewers praised for its combination of rhythm & blues, rock & roll and danceable beat.

The B-side, “I Can Tell”, is arguably just as important to collectors. Written by Samuel Smith and Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley), it showcases Mick Green's extraordinary guitar work and was recorded shortly before the A-side. The track is regarded as one of the key recordings demonstrating the new Pirates line-up and their increasingly hard-edged approach to American R&B material.

The single also has a fascinating connection to the Merseybeat scene. “A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues” became a favourite among Liverpool groups and was subsequently recorded by The Beatles, with John Lennon singing on three BBC performances in 1963. Gerry & The Pacemakers and Cilla Black also recorded versions, demonstrating how widely the song circulated among Britain's emerging beat musicians.

For collectors of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates vinyl, British R&B, early beat, freakbeat and 1960s rock & roll, this is an essential record. It marks the arrival of the classic Kidd/Green/Spence/Farley Pirates line-up on record and captures the band just before the British beat boom transformed the musical landscape.

Tracklist

Side A

1. A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues

Side B

1. I Can Tell