Johnny Never is F.K.D

In 2001 three musicians from Hartlepool thought the pub rock scene was in need of a full on psychedelic 60’s rock show. They were wrong. After a dozen gigs being told to: turn down, play more nicely, play like the record, and play something modern, they fell apart; Johnny Never entered a Monastery whilst Chas Groovy and Der Knoxter reverted to obscurity. Not however before spending a couple of hours at Pigpen rehearsal Studios whilst Alex Morris made a live recording of their set.

TO BE CLEAR: These are rather splendid interpretations of other people’s magnificent songs. We urge to you check out the originals.

I Need You – was written in 1965 by Ray Davies as he hit his first purple patch of songwriting for The Kinks. In the same mould as the rather more celebrated ‘You Really Got Me’, the rock template for all bands from thereon.

Wait Until Tomorrow – Jimi Hendrix Experience in poppy mode from their 2nd album, 1967’s Axis Bold as Love

Instant Karma – when The Beatles ended in 1970 John Lennon apparently wrote recorded and released this song 10 days.

Misty – an instrumental version of the Errol Garner 1954 standard, covered by Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, and creepily used in the Clint Eastwood 1971 film Play Misty for Me.

I Can’t Control Myself – and now some proper pop, written by singer Reg Presley and first released by The Troggs, although a hit it was actually banned because of its errr suggestive lyrics.

Catfish – first released by Mississippi delta bluesman Robert Petway in 1941, this has been notably covered by Jimi Hendrix and Rory Gallagher.

Heaven and Hell – Pete Townshend was the principal songwriter and driving force behind The Who, however complimenting him were the insidious and devilish songs of bassman John Entwistle. This is one of them which was the opening song of their live set for many years.

I Get a Kick – a bit of class from Cole Porter, which he wrote for the 1934 Musical Anything Goes. It includes the line ‘I get no kick from cocaine’ – good thing as well.

Manic Depression – another song from the first Jimi Hendrix Experience album, 1967’s Are You Experienced. The FKD version brings out its jazziness.

Itchycoo Park – The Small Faces hit from August 1967, written by singer Steve Marriott and bassman Ronnie Lane. Although not included on an album at the time it has since been included on several compilations.

What’s Going On? – this was a popular song by Rory Gallagher’s first group Taste, from their 1970 second album On the Boards

Little Wing – and then he came up with a song of love, from the Jimi Hendrix Experience second album released December 1967. A popular song to play for all pub rock groups of a certain age.

She Said She Said – apparently John Lennon was at a groovy Los Angeles party in 1966 in which some of the participants were a bit far out maan.

Just Like a Woman – a Bob Dylan anthem from his 1966 Blonde on Blonde album, quickly a hit for Manfred Mann and still a staple of The Rolling Stones live set.

Come on Part 1 – Let The Good Times Roll – not to be confused with the Louis Jordan song with a similar name. This was written by Earl King and released in 1960, but more famously by Jimi Hendrix Experience on the 1968 album Electric Ladyland.

The Last Time – Mick Jagger and Keith Richards hitting their stride as song-writers with the Rolling Stones third hit single in 1966