Tuesday, November 02, 2021

The Tooth of Crime (An Occasional Series): Special "Martinis and Shark-Skin Suits" Edition

From 1977, please enjoy amazing Brit-rock pioneers The Pirates -- featuring genius guitarist Mick Green -- and their killer (heh) rendition of Henry Mancini's theme for the classic early 60s detective series Peter Gunn.

In case you're unfamiliar with those guys, they were hugely influential (particularly on The Who and Dr. Feelgood) and most notably they wrote and recorded the original version of "Shakin' All Over," for which alone they deserve to be immortal.

BTW, the album the above track derives from was their comeback effort, which they did in the wake of the early Brit punk/New Wave movement of the late 70s. I was lucky enough to see them perform that song, and others, live at the old Bottom Line at the time. If memory serves, it had something to do with a Stiff Records tour.

4 comments:

Alzo said...

Great version, showing off Mick Green's finger-picking mastery. I will always stop and listen to any version of 'Peter Gunn' because it's such a perfect groove– from Roy Buchanan to the Cramps and even ELP. All hail the Great Mancini!

MJConroy said...

Ha! Was just listening to some Dr. Feelgood recorded with Mick Green.

Alzo said...

I know this is a Mick Green Pirates post and not a Peter Gunn post, but ya gotta check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMb_hmn4RI

cthulhu said...

The best version of the Peter Gunn theme is the Art of Noise with Duane Eddy!
Here’s a live version, with the Twang King himself resplendent in a fringed buckskin jacket and a white Stetson - only a Nudie suit could have topped that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-PiWgXbOp4