(Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil)
Australia
Last single, on Sunshine, by New Zealand band that had relocated to Sydney. By the time of Kicks, The Librettos were based in Melbourne, but it was recorded at Festival Studios in Sydney with producer Pat Aulton.
The band was down to a trio after the return of Lou Parun (front of photo) to New Zealand. The Librettos broke up when two other members, Rod Stone and Brian Peacock, left to join Normie Rowe’s Playboys in England (see Ooh La La, It’s Not Easy and Going Home).
Later, Rod Stone was a founding member of the Groove and Brian Peacock co-formed Procession.
Further reading: Bruce Sergent’s history of The Librettos, covering numerous personnel changes from their formation in Wellington in 1962. Rod Stone’s website includes a complete Librettos discography.
Thanks to Rod Stone.
Suggested by Terry Stacey.
(Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil)
USA
Later version
Recorded by Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork of The Monkees in 1986 [YouTube].
In some people’s minds, Kicks is associated primarily with The Monkees (lyrics sites often list it as a Monkees song), and there is a common misconception that this is a Monkees oldie from the 60s. It isn’t, but it was added to a 1986 Monkees oldies album, Then And Now: The Best Of The Monkees, so the confusion is understandable.
See the discussions at alt.music.monkees from May
2005 and January
2004. Peter Tork is quoted as saying, I was so annoyed
with them having us do ‘Kicks.’ I told them it would be like making the Beatles do ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ on their reunion album.
(Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil)
USA
On the Liberty album This Is My Bag.
Some other artists who covered Kicks in the 60s:
• The Challengers (reissued 1994 on
Killer Surf: The Best Of The Challengers)
• The Gants (2000 bonus track to 1986’s retrospective
I Wonder)
• The Wheels, a Belfast band with Them connections (reissued 1997 on Ace Records’ Belfast Beat Maritime Blues).
Recommended reading: And The Music Plays On, Rene De Bruin’s guide to
Del Shannon at Soundscapes.
(Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil)
USA
Later version
Bonus track on 2000 album Skin It Back [YouTube].
Also recorded, for example, by:
• rock band
Earth Quake (late 70s)
• punk revivalists Naz Nomad & The Nightmares (1984 on Give Daddy The Knife, Cindy)
• jazz guitarist Mimi Fox (1999 on Kicks)
• hard rockers Razmanaz (2003 on Razmanaz).
Paul Revere & The Raiders’ bassist Paul ‘Fang’ Volk also released Kicks with his band Fang & The Gang in 2005 on Fang Reveres The Raiders.
—
For more versions see the Kicks Follow-up Songs list at Cover.info.
(Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil)
USA
Original version
#33 Perth
Single on Columbia written by Brill Building veterans Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
The Raiders were formed in Boise, Idaho in the late 1950s. They moved to Portland, Oregon, after releasing nine singles on LA area label Gardena, one of which was a moderate instrumental hit, Like, Long Hair (1961. #38 USA). Their last big hit was, Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) (1971, #1 USA), written by John D. Loudermilk. They were known for their 18th century costumes (worn in keeping with their historical name) and for their weekly appearances on the TV pop show Where The Action Is.
There was a Paul Revere, on keyboards, the foundation member and a moving force in the band, but the lead singer was Mark Lindsay, who had a career of his own, charting in 1970 with Arizona and Silver Bird.
By the time of Indian Reservation the band had split, leaving Lindsay and Revere with new personnel as simply The Raiders..
See also: Mo’reen and Louie, Louie.
Further reading: Bruce Eder’s Raiders history at All Music Guide.
Pop Archives
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Website by Lyn Nuttall. © Lyn Nuttall 2004-2024. Chart positions courtesy of Gavin Ryan’s Australian Chart Books and Dean Scapolo’s Complete NZ Music Charts. Special thanks to Terry Stacey for information, corrections and suggestions. Thanks also to Tony Watson, Philippe Edouard, Dave Overett.., More…