Joe Moretti
Encyclopedia
Joe Moretti is a British guitarist renowned for his work on seminal UK rock n' roll records such as Vince Taylor
's "Brand New Cadillac
" and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' "Shakin' All Over
". He currently lives in South Africa.
, Vince Eager
, Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys and other skiffle acts and nascent rock n' roll outfits. It was in the 2i's, in early 1959, that Moretti discovered guitarist-singer Tony Sheridan
had quit Vince Taylor's band, The Playboys, and was asked to take his place. Moretti toured with Taylor in the UK and cut the iconic "Brand New Cadillac" in the spring of 1959. Shortly after, Moretti left the band to take up with Johnny Duncan's Bluegrass Boys. The following year, 1960, Moretti was to play guitar on another legendary rock n' roll session after being called into the studio by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' guitarist Alan Caddy
to play leads on two songs: UK #1 single "Shakin' All Over" and its follow-up "Restless".
, Ronnie Jones & The Nightimers and Eddie Calvert
. In addition, Moretti was in demand as a session player and, along with other legendary UK guitarists such as Big Jim Sullivan
, future Led Zeppelin
guitarist Jimmy Page
and Vic Flick
, often himself having played guitar at a recording date without being credited. Moretti claims to have played guitar on hits for Jet Harris and Tony Meehan ("Scarlet O'Hara" and "Applejack") and Donovan
's number one record "Mellow Yellow
".
It is now accepted that he played guitar on at least two more UK number one records: Tom Jones
' "It's Not Unusual
" and Chris Farlowe
's Rolling Stones cover "Out Of Time".
Vince Taylor
Vince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
's "Brand New Cadillac
Brand New Cadillac
"Brand New Cadillac" is a 1959 12-bar blues song by Vince Taylor, and was originally released as a B-side. Featured musicians on the released recording were: Joe Moretti , Lou Brian , Brian Locking and Brian Bennett ....
" and Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' "Shakin' All Over
Shakin' All Over
"Shakin' All Over" is a rock and roll song originally performed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. It was written by frontman Johnny Kidd and reached #1 in the United Kingdom in August 1960...
". He currently lives in South Africa.
Career
Moretti moved from Glasgow to London in 1958 with his wife Pina and instantly became part of the burgeoning rock n' roll scene based around the The 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho. There he found opportunities backing up singers such as Gene VincentGene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, Vince Eager
Vince Eager
Vince Eager is a British pop singer.As a teenager, he formed the Harmonica Vagabonds, later the Vagabonds Skiffle Group, with Roy Clark, Mick Fretwell, and bassist Brian Locking. The group reached the final round of a televised "World Skiffle Championship", and were offered a residency at the 2...
, Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys and other skiffle acts and nascent rock n' roll outfits. It was in the 2i's, in early 1959, that Moretti discovered guitarist-singer Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
had quit Vince Taylor's band, The Playboys, and was asked to take his place. Moretti toured with Taylor in the UK and cut the iconic "Brand New Cadillac" in the spring of 1959. Shortly after, Moretti left the band to take up with Johnny Duncan's Bluegrass Boys. The following year, 1960, Moretti was to play guitar on another legendary rock n' roll session after being called into the studio by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' guitarist Alan Caddy
Alan Caddy
Alan Caddy was a guitarist, arranger, record producer and session musician.He was born in Chelsea, London and educated at Emanuel School, and the Royal Academy of Music...
to play leads on two songs: UK #1 single "Shakin' All Over" and its follow-up "Restless".
Session Work and Uncredited Appearances
Throughout the 60s Moretti continued to tour and record with artists such as Nero & The GladiatorsNero and the Gladiators
Nero & the Gladiators were a British instrumental rock and roll band in the early 1960s. The group was led by keyboard player Mike O'Neill as "Nero", and had two minor hits in the UK, "Entry of the Gladiators" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King"....
, Ronnie Jones & The Nightimers and Eddie Calvert
Eddie Calvert
Eddie Calvert was an English trumpeter, who enjoyed his greatest successes in the 1950s. Calvert had his first United Kingdom, number one instrumental single in 1954, with "Oh Mein Papa".-Biography:...
. In addition, Moretti was in demand as a session player and, along with other legendary UK guitarists such as Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan
Big Jim Sullivan is an English musician, whose career started in 1959. He is best known as a session guitarist. In the 1960s and 1970s, Sullivan was one of the most "in-demand" studio musicians in the UK, and performed in more than one thousand charting singles over his career...
, future Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
and Vic Flick
Vic Flick
Victor Harold Flick is an English guitarist, most famous for playing the guitar riff in the "James Bond Theme".-Biography:...
, often himself having played guitar at a recording date without being credited. Moretti claims to have played guitar on hits for Jet Harris and Tony Meehan ("Scarlet O'Hara" and "Applejack") and Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
's number one record "Mellow Yellow
Mellow Yellow
"Mellow Yellow" is a song and single release by Donovan. It reached #2 on the Billboard charts in the U.S. in 1966 and #8 in the UK in early 1967....
".
It is now accepted that he played guitar on at least two more UK number one records: Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
' "It's Not Unusual
It's Not Unusual
"It's Not Unusual" is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, first recorded by a then-unknown Tom Jones after having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the...
" and Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
's Rolling Stones cover "Out Of Time".
Singles
- "Pledgin' My Love"/"Brand New CadillacBrand New Cadillac"Brand New Cadillac" is a 1959 12-bar blues song by Vince Taylor, and was originally released as a B-side. Featured musicians on the released recording were: Joe Moretti , Lou Brian , Brian Locking and Brian Bennett ....
" - Vince Taylor and his PlayboysVince TaylorVince Taylor was a British rock and roll singer. As the frontman for The Playboys, Taylor was successful primarily in France and the Continent during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse.-Early life:Born Brian Maurice Holden,...
(April 1959) - "Shakin' All OverShakin' All Over"Shakin' All Over" is a rock and roll song originally performed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. It was written by frontman Johnny Kidd and reached #1 in the United Kingdom in August 1960...
"/"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (August 1960) - "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" - Nero & The GladiatorsNero and the GladiatorsNero & the Gladiators were a British instrumental rock and roll band in the early 1960s. The group was led by keyboard player Mike O'Neill as "Nero", and had two minor hits in the UK, "Entry of the Gladiators" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King"....
(July 1961) - "It's Not UnusualIt's Not Unusual"It's Not Unusual" is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, first recorded by a then-unknown Tom Jones after having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the...
" - Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
(January 1965) - "Snakes and Snails" - Alma CoganAlma CoganAlma Cogan was an English singer of traditional pop music in the 1950s and early 1960s. Dubbed "The Girl With the Laugh/Giggle/Chuckle In Her Voice", she was the highest paid British female entertainer of her era...
(July 1965) - "Out of Time" - Chris Farlowe (June 1966)
- "Aggravation" - Chris Curtis (June 1966)
Albums
- Own Up - Twice As MuchTwice as MuchTwice as Much was composed of David Skinner and Andrew Rose and were harmony singers who also wrote much of their own material...
(1966) - Oscillation 67! - The Leading Figures (1967)
- Don Partridge - Don PartridgeDon PartridgeDonald Eric Partridge was an English singer and songwriter, known as the "king of the buskers". He performed from the early 1960s as a busker and one-man band, and achieved unexpected commercial success in the UK in the late 1960s with the songs "Rosie" and "Blue Eyes".-Life and musical career:Don...
(1968) - Would You BelieveWould You Believe (Billy Nicholls album)Would You Believe is an album by Billy Nicholls recorded in 1968.Billy Nicholls was originally hired by Andrew Loog Oldham as a staff writer for Oldham's Immediate Records. Oldham was so entranced by the Beach Boys' 1966 album, Pet Sounds that he enlisted songwriter Billy Nicholls to record a...
- Billy NichollsBilly NichollsBilly Nicholls is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and musical director, who first gained fame in the 1960s while still a teenager with his Pet Sounds influenced album, Would You Believe, originally released on Immediate Records.Nicholls' compositions have been covered by many...
(1968) - Pick Up A Bone - Rupert HineRupert HineRupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
(1971) - Sing Children SingSing Children SingSing Children Sing is an album by English singer-songwriter Lesley Duncan, released in 1971."Love Song" was covered by Elton John on his album Tumbleweed Connection.-Track listing:All songs by Lesley Duncan unless otherwise noted....
- Lesley DuncanLesley DuncanLesley Duncan was an English singer-songwriter, best known for her work during the 1970s. She received a lot of airplay on British radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, but never achieved great commercial success.Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees...
(1971)