King wasn’t the only independent label in the early rock era to dabble in various sounds and musical genres; nevertheless, it’s still pretty hard to beat King for its sheer stylistic breadth. While never really considered much of a “rock” label, King nevertheless signed another Beatle-sounding group (besides Them) called The Impacs, who – judging by the Fender guitars on their two King album covers – look like they might also have a little west coast surf in their sound.
King LP 886
The Impacs first recording session on December 10, 1963 yielded 28 songs, of which 12 (including “Cat Walk”; “The Grab”; “Hamburger”; “Ambush”; “Love Struck” & “The Breeze”) would remain unreleased. One more round of recording on May 12-13, 1964 would yield eight more songs, all of them seeing light of day as single and/or album tracks. All recording was done “principally” in Miami.
An avid collector of 45s once described The Impacs as “surf rock” within the context of “pre-65 garage” music. Of the five King 45s released, only one is available for preview, however, on YouTube, but it’s classic — “Your Mama Put the Hurt on Me“:
“Your Mama Put the Hurt on Me”
The Impacs (1964)
I suspect the B-side, “Cape Kennedy Fla,” and album track, “Music for a Space Station,” are both instrumentals, as I know “Kool It” and “Zot” both to be.
Vic Waters — Lead vocals
Jay Lee Angello — Lead guitar
Chuck Kaniss — Rhythm guitar & vocals
Tony Brown — Bass
Bobby Barnes — Drums & vocals
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The Impacs –
King Discography
King 45 #5851 “Two Strangers” b/w “Jo-Ann” [1964]
King 45 #5863 “Shimmy Shimmy” b/w “Zot” [1964]
King 45 #5891 “Kool It” b/w “She Didn’t Even Say Hello” [1964]
King 45 #5910 “Ain’t That the Way Life Is” b/w “Don’t Cry Baby” [1964]
King 45 #5965 “Your Mama Put the Hurt on Me” b/w “Cape Kennedy Fla” [1964]
King LP #886 Impact [1964]
King LP #916 A Week-End with The Impacs [1964]