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"Shakin' All Over" (1998)
Apart from the fairly rare picture on the cover there seems not a lot more to recommend this CD in the light of the "25 Greatest Hits" package that was put together the same year. That was the first impression I received. On second inspection, it's actually a reasonably good enough collection for the newbie, a chance to taste the groups' sound with an interesting cross-section of slightly rarer stuff. By that, I mean apart from the opening track, the all-too-familiar (but yet extremely welcome) chart topper from 1960, there is not another chart entry to be found, although another five good a-sides keep it company here.
The cover picture is striking, one from a session around early 1964, the same time presumably in preparation for the forthcoming album which was then shelved. The photo - like others that must exist - has rarely if ever been seen before, and the red background is part of the original photo - not something that was digitally added later.
"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" is probably the most unusual inclusion here if only to illustrate how British bands at the turn of the 1960's may have been viewed by their recording companies. In Kidd's case, HMV didn't quite know what to do with the band after their chart breakthrough with their debut, the rock 'n' roll classic "Please Don't Touch" (omitted from this CD). The second record was an unsuitable ballad, and it bombed, maybe the reason why it is omitted, perhaps not. At only twelve tracks and a rather short running time it is a bit of a waste of the CD capacity. In the shadow of some of the major releases from the 1990's onward, getting hold of this one is really a case of a new fans' first taste of the band on a budget, or simply another one for the completist collector.
The Twelve tracks from the "Lost Album sessions in 1964 (all right then, eleven tracks maybe with the latest hit added) have never been released on their own terms, so EMI or another enterprising archive CD issue specialist please take note. Although in 1964 plans were probably never taken as far as preparing an album cover, with the addition of period-style notes it would make a fascinating curio to actually have the "LP That Never Was" in your collection.
As of January 2004 this CD was still listed on Amazon UK's site, albeit with the legend "We are currently unable to offer this title. The label may be out of stock" beside it.