The Pirates - Out Of Their Skulls
Studio and Live Soundboard Recordings @256
Plus 39 Bonus Tracks
{Out of Print}
The death of frontman Johnny Kidd derailed the Pirates back in 1966, but the band's contributions to British rock were not forgotten, and their influence on punk-era pub rock bands like Dr. Feelgood encouraged the remaining players to re-form for this blistering comeback album. Out of Their Skulls pairs a raucous live set with six studio cuts, and if the new tunes don't match up to tough classics like "Please Don't Touch" and "Shakin' All Over," the band's uncompromising strength overrides any weaknesses. Over a decade past their hitmaking prime, the Pirates embrace the aggression and energy of the era and deliver a blazing, no-nonsense set of signature songs and early rock classics with all the lusty abandon, joy, and defiance that defines great rock & roll. Bassist Johnny Spence debuts as lead vocalist, and his big, leathery bellow is occasionally cartoonish but appropriate nonetheless. Mick Green shows off the idiosyncratic lead/rhythm guitar style that made him so influential, pulling buzzing solos out of each chord without losing the riff. Tub man Frank Farley is locked in solid with Spence to produce a rhythm section that is simultaneously metronome tight and bar-fight loose. The studio recordings lack the live set's searing heat, but the sound is cleaner, allowing for a more nuanced appreciation of Green's ringing guitar work; as a result, some of the sillier numbers (like "Do the Dog" and "Gibson Martin Fender") are still useful. American rockers unfamiliar with this very British trio should do a little digging and get their hands on Out of Their Skulls, a truly vibrant album that proves that youth alone is not what fuels the rock & roll engine.
~AMG
Nearly two-and-a-half hours of madman rockin' music from the late Johnny Kidd's backing band, dating from their successful resurrection in 1976 at the behest to faithful disciple Wilko Johnson. Including all three reunion albums as well as several rare singles and previously unissued material, this is ear-opening stuff for the most part. A generation older than their punk contemporaries, legendary Mick Green and his men make most of that breed sound like pretenders. Listen to All In It Together and you hear a great single. Listen to Please Don't Touch or Something Very Strange and you hear where Dr Feelgood got their act. Though bassist Johnny Spence's vocals sometimes flirt with blackface this is largely ace stuff, perfect to accompany that sixth pint!
Disc 1:
01. Please Don't Touch (2:24)
02. I Can Tell (3:00)
03. Peter Gunn (2:05)
04. Sweet Love On My Mind (3:17)
05. Lonesome Train (3:04)
06. Gibson, Martin, Fender (3:35)
07. Don't München It (3:27)
08. Honey Hush (2:27)
09. Tear It Up (3:22)
10. I'm In Love Again (3:09)
11. You Don't Own Me (3:14)
12. Four To The Bar (3:02)
13. Shakin' All Over (2:33)
14. Milk Cow Blues (3:12)
15. All In It Together (4:15)
16. Jonny B. Goode (4:08)
17. Talkin' 'Bout You (3:22)
18. Witch Queen Of New Orleans (3:27)
19. All By Myself (1:45)
20. Peter Gunn (2:57)
21. Just Another Party (2:55)
22. Something Very Strange (3:31)
23. Cap In Hand (3:02)
24. Lights Out (1:47)
25. I'm Into Something Good (2:57)
26. All By Myself (1:49)
Disc 2:
01. Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (2:56)
02. Don't München It (3:35)
03. Do The Dog (2:37)
04. That's The Way You Are (2:41)
05. You Don't Own Me (2:51)
06. All In It Together (3:16)
07. Dr. Feelgood (1:57)
08. Johnny B. Goode's Good (2:27)
09. Shakin' All Over (2:59)
10. Saturday Night Shoot-Out (3:52)
11. Long Journey Home (3:42)
12. Voodoo (2:33)
13. Four To The Bar (2:51)
14. Diggin' My Potatoes (3:35)
15. Shake Hands With The Devil (3:34)
16. You Can't Sit Down (3:04)
17. Hey Mary (3:29)
18. Golden Oldies (3:30)
19. Alarmer (2:52)
20. Lady (Put The Light On Me) (3:46)
21. Happy Birthday Rock & Roll (4:48)
22. Going Back Home (3:14)
23. Lemonade (2:47)
24. 1.30, 2.30. 3.35 (2:34)
25. Hard Ride (3:24)
01. Please Don't Touch (2:24)
02. I Can Tell (3:00)
03. Peter Gunn (2:05)
04. Sweet Love On My Mind (3:17)
05. Lonesome Train (3:04)
06. Gibson, Martin, Fender (3:35)
07. Don't München It (3:27)
08. Honey Hush (2:27)
09. Tear It Up (3:22)
10. I'm In Love Again (3:09)
11. You Don't Own Me (3:14)
12. Four To The Bar (3:02)
13. Shakin' All Over (2:33)
14. Milk Cow Blues (3:12)
15. All In It Together (4:15)
16. Jonny B. Goode (4:08)
17. Talkin' 'Bout You (3:22)
18. Witch Queen Of New Orleans (3:27)
19. All By Myself (1:45)
20. Peter Gunn (2:57)
21. Just Another Party (2:55)
22. Something Very Strange (3:31)
23. Cap In Hand (3:02)
24. Lights Out (1:47)
25. I'm Into Something Good (2:57)
26. All By Myself (1:49)
Disc 2:
01. Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (2:56)
02. Don't München It (3:35)
03. Do The Dog (2:37)
04. That's The Way You Are (2:41)
05. You Don't Own Me (2:51)
06. All In It Together (3:16)
07. Dr. Feelgood (1:57)
08. Johnny B. Goode's Good (2:27)
09. Shakin' All Over (2:59)
10. Saturday Night Shoot-Out (3:52)
11. Long Journey Home (3:42)
12. Voodoo (2:33)
13. Four To The Bar (2:51)
14. Diggin' My Potatoes (3:35)
15. Shake Hands With The Devil (3:34)
16. You Can't Sit Down (3:04)
17. Hey Mary (3:29)
18. Golden Oldies (3:30)
19. Alarmer (2:52)
20. Lady (Put The Light On Me) (3:46)
21. Happy Birthday Rock & Roll (4:48)
22. Going Back Home (3:14)
23. Lemonade (2:47)
24. 1.30, 2.30. 3.35 (2:34)
25. Hard Ride (3:24)




























