"It's Not You, It's Not Me" by KBC Band

Song#:  2947
Date:  11/29/1986
Debut:  94
Peak:  89
Weeks:  4
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Over the years there have been various offshoot bands and solo efforts that had their roots planted in Jefferson Airplane. The KBC Band was another group that featured previous members of that famous 60s outfit. Made up of Paul Kantner (K), Marty Balin (B), and Jack Casady (C), the trio slowly came together after each were doing their own thing after departures from Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship. By 1985 they had a full band together and Arista Records signed them up. Their self-titled debut album would be issued in the fall of '86 preceded by this first single. The track did well at Rock getting to #6, but it couldn't quite make it at Pop. It fizzled out after a quick month on the chart. A second single, "America," was another Rock hit (#8), but it failed to reach the Pop chart. The album would sell a few copies and get to #75. Even though the results were fairly positive, the trio quickly began to have issues and by '87 they had split.

ReduxReview:  Well, this wasn't Jeff Airplane. It wasn't Jeff Starship either. In some ways it had more in common with then then-current Starship. It was a slab of 80s pop/rock with a keyboard-heavy production. Written by Van Stephenson and Phil Brown, it was probably selected to add some commercial viability to the album. It kind of work since the track did well at Rock, but it wasn't as good or as memorable as other pop/rock tunes that were climbing the chart. It's good to hear Balin's vocals, but it's also odd that he's fronting a track that could have been on a Starship album.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Even though the KBC Band would break up after their debut album, it was the catalyst for a full reunion of Jefferson Airplane. In 1988, the trio got back together along with Grace Slick and Jorma Kaukonen. It was nearly the full lineup of Jefferson Airplane during their heyday. The only member missing was drummer Spencer Dryden. The reunited band recorded a new self-titled album co-produced by Ron Nevison, who had helmed albums by Jefferson Starship (and Heart). While it produced no Pop singles, One track, "Summer of Love," got to #15 at AC while "Planes" made it to #24 at Rock. The album would make it to #85. The accompanying tour was a success, but the reunion would be short-lived and members would go their various ways once again. A mini reunion would take place in 1996 (with Dryden, but without Slick who was recovering from an illness) for a performance at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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