Reg King RIP

Posted by Mike Nipper on Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 5:14 PM
http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/ ... g-king-rip

Not so well known, but highly regarded, singer Reginald "Reg" King passed away yesterday (or perhaps a couple weeks ago, depending who you ask), with no details shared beyond that he died from an "illness." King is best known as being the frontman for The Action, a proper Mod group from North London in the mid '60s. They were real Mods, right, not like say, the Who, who were tailored by management to be Mods. Yet, beyond their marks of coolness, the Action never saw much success, they were a club band with no chart hits, even as they were produced by George Martin. As proper Mods they played R&B/Motown, but with a Blue Eyed smoothness only they possessed, due in a large part to King's soulful voice. The Action, as all '60s groups were keen on covers (no pilled up 15 year old Mod wanted to hear 'original Britsh soul'), and being Mods they chose well, like the Marvelettes'..."I'll Keep Holding On." Um, so you know, Reg doesn't want "a chance to make you" his, like the Marvelettes hope for, he just wants a chance to make you. Dang.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUuaVWIPG6g[/youtube]

After the scene drifted into hazier waters, at least in London, the Action began experimenting, reaching past their buttoned down R&B roots. The result was an album's worth of demos that would take thirty years to be published. Here is a couple standouts tracks (hard to pick tho', the entire LP is stunning) from the recordings, in album known as Rolled Gold (aka Brain).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4sRBiJxvw8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d1YGy6kVG4[/youtube]

King left the band soon after, c. '68, and the rest of the Action morphed into Mighty Baby. He then dabbled with studio work, but didn't do much of anything until he began recording tracks for a solo LP, Reg King (dig the clip). It was issued in 1971 on United Artists. On it he was backed by members of BB Blunder, Mighty Baby AND Mick Taylor, Brian Auger, Doris Troy, and Steve Winwood. HUBBA HUBBA. It's a good record, of its time, but not cliché...King's voice is radiant. However, no one bought it, and his career as a singer faded.

The Action had reformed on occasion recently, starting in the late '90s, brought together by none other than PHIL COLLINS, to play events in the UK and Europe. King will be missed.

Thanks for the deep cut band and tribute. Hah! Was just about to add YouTubing when I looked again and boom there they are.

One of my favorite bands, and Reg's voice was among the great throaty blue-eyed soulsters, legitimately mentioned in the same breath as Paul rodgers (before he became a punchline) and Mike Smith of the DC5. Reg's vocal on Since I Lost My Baby is at least the equal of David Ruffin's.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsKljWTHYHE[/youtube]

On their minor-key, fast version of Harlem Shuffle, Reg sounds menacing, like he knows he's the biggest badass in the room.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw23Y7t0N3w[/youtube]

I highly recommend their live collection Uptight & Outasight, which has a disc of BBC recordings, and another disc of a '90s reunion show. It's amazing how well his voice held up.

Thanks for all the grooves, Reg.

I should also add that Reg's brother and Action-mate, Alan "Bam" King, went on to be in Ace (of "How Long" fame) with Paul Carrack.

Good stuff, thanks for the tip, Linda. I'd heard of the band name before, but didn't know of their music, even though one of their songs appears on the Nuggets II (UK) box which I have. 3 of their CD's are still in print and available from Amazon, isle bee taking the plunge...

TWO songs..."I'll keep [on] holding on" and "Shadows and Reflections.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgqn8vvdT0c[/youtube]

Shazam, I need to play my nuggets more often, and pay attention to what I'm listening to...