‘If real cool is achieved by not trying to be cool at all, Kingbee is really, effortlessly cool...’ Cult consumers - Kingbee Records, Chorlton.
Cult Manchester's Andy Murray visits a copper-bottomed Manchester music legend - and the twist is, it's a shop.
Back in Autumn 1987, local Northern Soul enthusiast Les Hare - formerly of leading tractor manufacturers Massey Ferguson - graduated from running a small music market stall in Chorlton-cum-Hardy to opening a permanent record shop just up the road. At the time, Les also DJ'd under the name 'King Bee Discos', after the song 'I'm a King Bee' by swamp blues maestro Slim Harpo. So it was that the new shop became christened 'Kingbee'.
The shop in question, still open today, is now spoken of in some quarters as legendary. Initially, it sold new chart releases alongside second-hand stock, but over time it found its place as a collector's mecca. It's long sold CDs alongside vinyl, but it's the latter that's at its heart and soul. Kingbee has existed through a tumultuous period for the record industry. Worldwide CD production peaked in 2000, whereas vinyl hit an all-time low in 2006 - but since then, vinyl's gone through a massive revival whereas CD sales have declined sharply.
Kingbee's prices are set at 'reasonable' rather than 'exorbitant', and consequently the stock changes constantly - which means that customers keep on coming back. The cognoscenti come from far and wide to find what might be waiting in the racks.
Gradually, tastes change, and individual sub-genres rise and fall in popularity. Since the shop first opened its doors, genres like grunge, baggy, shoegaze, Madchester, acid house, acid folk, trip hop, garage and drill have all come and gone (and in some cases come back again). But Kingbee is still going strong, unshowy and dependable, selling to discerning customers, some of whom call in to check the stock every day.
One year, the shop attempted to embrace Record Store Day and all its attendant special limited releases, but it just didn't seem to suit the vibe, so it was quietly dropped by the following year. If real cool is achieved by not trying to be cool at all, Kingbee is really, effortlessly cool.
Now in his early 70s, Les Hare remains the boss, though he's stepped back a little. These days, the shop's mostly manned by two long-term employees, Neil Barker and Mike Edwards. Neil first arrived in 1990 via a YTS scheme, having already known of the shop from visiting his gran who lived nearby. Mike started in 2005, fresh from working in (now long lost) city centre record shops such as Power Cuts and Polar Bear. Both have a deep love for, and knowledge of, music history, but they wear it lightly.
From throughout their long years of service, Neil and Mike can recall a host of Manchester music luminaries passing through as customers, from Martin Hannett and Badly Drawn Boy to 'Funky Si' Wolstencroft and Marc Riley. They count 808 State’s Graham Massey as a regular. Members of The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and The Man from Delmonte have been in, plus several touring U.S. musicians and every single member of The Smiths, albeit separately. Morrissey came by during the late 90s, looking for comedy records, back when they were filed along with folk LPs. As far as the staff can remember, though, Andy Burnham's never been in: maybe he's just not much of a crate-digger?
On the day Cult Manchester called in to Kingbee, customers were buying a Dr. John CD here, a Culture Club's greatest hits on vinyl there. A few were kind enough to talk to us about their purchases and even pose for a picture. (NB: hold onto your hats: things are about to get seriously jazzy...)
Evan- purchase: Bags Meets Wes!, the 1962 collaborative LP by Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery.
I was into jazz a lot a few years ago and I kind of went off it until recently. I'm really into hip-hop, though, and I'm always interested in where samples came from.
Are you a regular here?
I've come a few times. Yeah. I don't live nearby, though, I live in Prestwich.
What do you do for a living?
I'm a musician.
Robert - purchase: 1961 John Coltrane LP My Favourite Things
I'm a bit of a jazz head, you see. It's not something I've been looking for, but I always enjoy checking out the jazz section in a record shop.
How often do you come here?
This is my first time ever! I've just moved in down the road.
What do you do for work?
I drive vans for a living.
Jude - purchase: posthumous John Coltrane album Sun Ship, released in 1971
Do you come here often..?
I come in here probably once every few months just to check what's new. I do usually find something in the second-hand jazz. I've been wanting this album for a while - I've been waiting - and when I saw it was on for £12, I thought that was very reasonable.
What do you do for a living?
I just finished my Master's degree yesterday.
Robin - purchases: Van Dyke Parks' 1984 Brer Rabbit-themed LP, Jump!, plus Adventures in Utopia, the 1979 album by Todd Rundgren's spin-off band
I know some of Van Dyke Parks' stuff, but not all of it, and as I'm seeing Todd Rundgren soon [on tour at Manchester Opera House], I thought I might as well check this out.
Do you come here a lot?
Yeah, I come in every week, I reckon. They have a pretty good turnaround and I've got quite a wide interest in music.
What do you do for a living?
I'm retired, I live in Didsbury.
Oh, and a quick PS here: with comic timing that the man himself might appreciate, Cult Manchester called in to Kingbee on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, just after comedian and music obsessive Stewart Lee had been in the shop. Lee is one of the country's most prominent record collectors and was in town for a show at Castlefield Bowl. He’d spent a tidy sum (on albums by the likes of The Limiñanas, Hawkestrel, White Noise Sound and Brainticket, if you're asking). Sorry to miss you, Stewart.
Like we said, though: the cognoscenti come from far and wide to shop at Kingbee. Long may it reign.
Kingbee Records, 519 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton. Website here. With thanks to Neil Barker and Mike Edwards at Kingbee and to cult consumers Evan, Robert, Jude and Robin for letting us be so nosey. Got a cult business and fancy letting us hang out? Get in touch.
