The Kingsmen in Person


The Kingsmen in Person is the first album by American rock band the Kingsmen, released in 1963. The album contains the single "Louie Louie", the band's biggest success.

Recording

The Kingsmen recorded "Louie Louie" at Northwestern Inc. recording studio on April 6, 1963. After being reissued by Wand, "Louie Louie" debuted in the Billboard Hot 100 at #83 on November 9 and quickly began ascending the charts. Trying to capitalize on the success of the song, the Kingsmen decided to release an entire album, and gigs at the Chase nightclub were booked on November 15 and 16 to record what was to become The Kingsmen in Person.
Jack Ely, the singer of "Louie Louie", and bassist Bob Nordby appeared on no other tracks on the album because they quit before it was recorded. The album liner notes presented an abridged group history with no mention of Ely or Nordby, instead showcasing Lynn Easton as the group’s sole founder and creative force.

Release and reception

After adding an announcer intro and "live audience" overdubbing, Wand quickly released the album for the Christmas purchasing season, and it first appeared on the Billboard Top LPs on January 18, 1964, eventually peaking at #20 and remaining on the chart for over two years until 1966.
The January 18, 1964 issue of Cash Box magazine reviewed the album:
Record Mirror's 1964 review described the Kingsmen as "a group with a lot more imagination and blues orientation than most."
Gold records for $1 million in sales were presented to group members in December 1965 at a "gold album party" hosted by Scepter-Wand Records. Attendees included Scepter-Wand president Florence Greenberg and guests Angie Dickinson, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, the Shirelles, George Maharis, Huntington Hartford, Gardner McKay, and Andy Warhol.
The LP was released in both mono and stereo versions. International releases included Canada, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and United Kingdom. A 1964 French release, En Public - Dansez Le Surf avec The Kingsmen, included a mix of tracks from the first two albums.
In 1993, Sundazed and Bear Family reissued the album on CD with bonus tracks "Haunted Castle", "The Krunch", and " The Gamma Goochee", and with crowd noise and announcer intro removed. In 2016 the album was reissued in Japan by Old Days Records with bonus tracks "Little Latin Lupe Lu", "Death of an Angel", and "The Jolly Green Giant".
In 2012, Jack Rabid of AllMusic awarded the album 3.5 stars and said,
In 2018, Paste Magazine ranked the album No. 18 in a list of "50 Best Garage Rock Albums of All Time" and described it as "a raw, dynamic romp from start to finish, highlighted by the live, crowd-heavy recording" and that it is "exactly what garage rock should be – acceptably messy and rousingly energetic."

Track listing

  1. Louie, Louie - 2:44
  2. The Waiting - 3:08
  3. Mojo Workout - 2:28
  4. Fever - 3:07
  5. Money - 2:24
  6. Bent Scepter - 2:59
  7. Long Tall Texan - 2:44
  8. You Can't Sit Down - 2:59
  9. Twist & Shout - 4:55
  10. J.A.J. - 2:20
  11. Night Train - 2:18
  12. Mashed Potatoes - 2:33
  13. Haunted Castle† - 2:47
  14. The Krunch† - 2:18
  15. (You Got) The Gamma Goochee† - 2:09
† CD bonus tracks
The 8-track tape release divided the track list into four programs and altered the track order to 1-10-12, 3-4-6, 8-7-2, 11-9-5. Reel-to-reel, 4-track, and cassette versions were also released.

Musicians and production

  • Lynn Easton: vocals, saxophone, drums
  • Mike Mitchell: guitar
  • Don Gallucci: keyboards
  • Norm Sundholm: bass
  • Gary Abbott: drums
  • Jack Ely: vocals, guitar
  • Bob Nordby: bass
  • Liner notes: Dick Zimmerman
  • CD booklet layout: Jeff Smith