JAMIE JAMES (THE KINGBEES, HARRY DEAN STANTON) CONTINUES HIS ARCHIVAL JOURNEY WITH ‘STEPPIN’ BACK 2004,’ OUT NOW VIA OGLIO ENTERTAINMENT

Best known as the frontman of cult-favorite rockabilly trio The Kingbees, as well as for his work alongside the late Harry Dean Stanton and Dennis Quaid & The Sharks, James has spent decades building a reputation as a master songwriter whose music bridges rockabilly, roots rock, blues, Americana, and classic rock & roll. With Steppin’ Back 2004, he strips those influences down to their bare essentials.

Originally conceived under the title Powerless, the collection features acoustic performances built around little more than guitars, voices, and harmonica. Joining James throughout the sessions is Michael Rummans, the original bassist of The Kingbees, whose musical chemistry with James remains as natural and compelling as ever.

“Steppin’ Back 2004 was originally going to be titled ‘Powerless,’ simply because it’s just two unplugged guitars, two voices, and a harmonica,” says James. “The other acoustic guitar, voice, and harmonica belong to Michael Rummans, the original bass player in The Kingbees. These songs are a collection I felt didn’t need any other instrumentation to be complete, so I kept things simple.”

James credits the recordings’ intimate feel to renowned engineer Warren Dewey, whose work helped bring the performances to life.

“A big part of why they work without drums and the rest comes down to recording engineer extraordinaire Warren Dewey. It was a joy for Michael and me to record these tracks with him. A huge thank you also goes to John Miller for his impeccable remastering work. Lastly, I’m thrilled these songs will be available through Oglio Entertainment. Thank you for listening.”

The result is one of the most intimate releases in the Steppin’ Back series to date. Free from the distractions of a full band, songs such as “Find Our Way Home,” “Impossible Love,” “The Girl I Love,” and “Find Your Faith” place James’ songwriting front and center, revealing the emotional core of compositions that are equal parts reflective, hopeful, and heartfelt.

Elsewhere, tracks like “Hollywood Superstar,” “Run Out Of Time,” and “Dead Man’s Pride” demonstrate that even in an acoustic setting, James retains the grit, wit, and storytelling instincts that have defined his work for more than four decades.

The Steppin’ Back Series

Curated in partnership with Oglio Entertainment, the Steppin’ Back series shines a light on previously unreleased and overlooked recordings spanning multiple decades of Jamie James’ career.

The series began with Steppin’ Back 1988, a collection of ten original recordings that captured the raw, untamed energy of a young rock & roll band plugged in and playing live in the room. Featuring tracks including “Pieces,” “Canadian Blues,” and “Rox Off,” the release offered a snapshot of James’ early songwriting and the gritty, no-frills approach that has remained a hallmark of his music.

The second installment, Steppin’ Back 1999, revisited sessions from the period surrounding James’ 2000 release Crossroads. Rather than reissuing the original album, James and Oglio Entertainment assembled eight standout tracks from those recordings, including “Country Girl Blues,” “Fame and Love,” and “The Sun’s Goin’ Down.” The collection showcased a more seasoned songwriter while retaining the rootsy rock & roll spirit that defined his work.

Now, with Steppin’ Back 2004, James turns inward, presenting an intimate acoustic collection featuring original Kingbees bassist Michael Rummans. One final volume is planned, completing a four-part retrospective that traces the evolution of a songwriter, guitarist, and performer whose contributions to Los Angeles rock & roll continue to resonate decades after he first emerged on the scene.

Steppin’ Back 2004 Track Listing

1. Find Our Way Home
2. Hollywood Superstar
3. Run Out Of Time
4. Impossible Love
5. We’re Gonna Get Through
6. The Girl I Love
7. Mother Earth (She Waits For You)
8. Dead Man’s Pride
9. Free Your Soul
10. Find Your Faith

Steppin’ Back 2004 is available now digitally via Oglio Entertainment.

Stream the series here: https://link.content360.io/JamieJames