The Kingbees
The Kingbees
Omnivore Records / RSO
One hit does not make a career, but one hit IS a hit and not everybody gets that. The Kingbees were a short lived group that flourished in the early days of the LA punk scene. They played rockabilly and sound a good bit like X or The Blasters. The Kingbees weren’t together very long; singer Jamie James had just finished a gig with Steppenwolf and quickly went on to form DQ and The Sharks.
But the Kingbees left behind this single, exceptional album, and had a minor turntable hit with “My Mistake.” There was a second album, and this CD collects the both Kingbees albums on one disc along with the usual outtakes and alternative versions. I’ve been tracking it on my commute and while some of the outtakes are intriguing, they aren’t holding up over a week’s stop and go. “My Mistake” is still the song I cheer, and while this band had potential, it feels like they quit while they were ahead. I enjoyed this for the memories, and it’s not bad but this band is a high quality foot note to a past era.
