Kent Records

Kent Records was a Los Angeles-based record label, launched in the late 1950s by the Bihari brothers. It was a follow-up to the bankrupted Modern Records and reissued Modern's records. It was later bought by Ace Records, England, which uses the label name to release Motown and Northern Soul music.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links To Peel[]

As a young blues fan, Peel would no doubt have been aware of the L.A.-based Kent label, which put out records by B.B. King and others, well before arriving in California himself to work at KMEN radio station in early 1966. Back in the UK, the self-proclaimed "original blues label" of the Bihari brothers also became known for its soul releases, before eventually falling into the orbit of British reissue specialist Ace Records.

Under Ace, Kent offered a Peel a continuing source of vintage soul material for his shows over two decades from the early 1980s, from the UK label's very first LP, the Northern Soul collection "For Dancers Only". As well as much-appreciated career retrospectives bringing together the scattered releases of lesser known artists such as Eddie & Ernie, the DJ gave extensive airtime to various artist (v/a) compilations on the label's Kent Soul imprint, including the acclaimed “Deep Soul Treasures” series put together by genre expert Dave Godin. In late 2003, Peel played one track per show from the themed release A Soldier's Sad Story, which examined “Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1966-73.”

Compilations[]

(The following list features only tracks played from various artist (v/a) releases put out by the Kent group of labels of Ace Records, including the Kent Soul and Kent Dance imprints, as indicated. Plays listed by release, in order of first play. Please add more information if known.)

1980s

(LP - For Dancers Only) Kent

21 September 1982: Ikettes: I'm So Thankful
22 September 1982: Willie Hutch: Your Love Has Made Me A Man

(LP - Slow 'N' Moody, Black And Bluesy) Kent

17 August 1983 (BFBS): Little Richard: Directly From My Heart
07 September 1983: ZZ Hill: Nothing Can Change This Love
10 December 1994: ZZ Hill: Nothing Can Change This Love

(LP - Floorshakers) Kent

05 December 1983: Earl Grant: Hide Nor Hair
05 December 1983: Margaret Mandolph: Something Beautiful
06 December 1983: Earl Jackson: Soul Self Satisfaction
12 December 1983: Sapphires: Gonna Be A Big Thing
15 December 1983: Margaret Mandolph: Something Beautiful
02 January 1984: Sapphires: Gonna Be A Big Thing

(LP - Soul Class Of 66) Kent

25 January 1984: Sam And Bill: I'll Try

(LP - Where The Girls Are!) Kent

03 April 1984: Bernadette Peters: We'll Start The Party Again

(LP - Moving On Up) Kent

24 April 1984: Dells: My Life Is So Wonderful (When You're Around)

(LP - Footstompers) Kent

10 May 1984: Lada Edmund Jr.: The La Rue
10 May 1984: 7th Avenue Aviators: You Should O' Held On

(LP - Club Soul) Kent

03 October 1984: Moods: Rainmaker
04 October 1988: Moods: Rainmaker

(LP – Kent Stop Dancing) Kent

07 January 1985: Kingsmen: Louie Louie

(LP - The Soul Of A Man) Kent

MARVIN_PREYER_-What_can_i_call_my_own — MARVIN PREYER -What can i call my own

03 June 1985: Marvin Preyer: What Can I Call My Own
04 June 1985: Gene Chandler: The Girl Don't Care

(LP - Mystery...Terror...Suspense! It's Torture And 15 Other Great Soul Destroyers) Kent

11 November 1985: Maxine Brown: It's Torture

(LP - Smart!) Kent

15 April 1986: Dean Parrish: Skate (Part II)
02 March 2000: Jimmy Reed: Two Ways To Skin A Cat

(LP - Stand-In For Love) Kent

04 June 1986: Aaron Neville: Every Day
25 June 1986: Irma Thomas: Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)

(LP - Think Smart Soul Stirrers; Jerk It At The Party In Chinatown) Kent

03 February 1987: Gypsies: Jerk It
09 February 1987: Lester Young: Barefootin Time In Chinatown

(LP - Kent Stop Dancing - The Sequel) Kent

06 May 1987: Joe Arnold: Cooking Gear

(LP – The Deep South) Kent

24 May 1988: O.V. Wright: Afflicted
25 May 1988: Tony Borders: Cheaters Never Win
14 June 1988: O.V. Wright: Afflicted
21 June 1988: Leroy & The Drivers: I Wake Up Crying
28 June 1988: Sam And Bill: I Feel Like Cryin'
18 July 1988: Sam And Bill: I Feel Like Cryin'
27 July 1988: Eddie & Ernie: Thanks For Yesterday

(LP - Black Music Is Our Business (A Galaxy Of Soul)) Kent

02 January 1989: Claude Baby Huey: Drifting
09 January 1989: Little Johnny Taylor: Zig Zag Lightning

1990s

(CD - Carnival Of Soul - Volume 2: Feelin' Good) Kent Soul

15 September 1995: Phil Terrell: I'm Just A Young Boy
11 November 1995: Harry Caldwell: Please Come Back

(CD - Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures (Taken From The Vaults...) Volume 1) Kent Soul

Zerben_R_Hicks_And_The_Dynamics_Lights_Out — Zerben R Hicks And The Dynamics Lights Out

07 May 1997: Zerben Hicks & The Dynamics: Lights Out
08 May 1997 (BFBS): Zerben R Hicks & The Dynamics: Lights Out
15 May 1997: Timmy Willis: Easy As Saying 1-2-3
21 May 1997: Brendetta Davis: I Can’t Make It Without Him
29 May 1997: Kenny Carter: Showdown
29 May 1997 (BFBS): Timmy Willis: Easy As Saying 1-2-3
19 June 1997: Eddie & Ernie: I'm Goin' For Myself
03 July 1997 (BFBS): Incredibles: Standing Here Crying
16 July 1997: Ruben Bell & The Casanovas: It's Not That Easy
25 July 1997 (BFBS): Reuben Bell & The Casanovas: It's Not That Easy
31 July 1997: Jean Stanback: I Still Love You
11 September 1997 (BBC World Service): Eddie & Ernie: I'm Goin' For Myself
09 October 1997: Lee Moses: How Much Longer (Must I Wait)

(CD – Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label) Kent Soul

28 July 1998: Epsilons: I'm So Devoted

(CD - Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood) Kent Soul

03 December 1998: Joe Graham: Something Wrong With Our Love
09 December 1998: Arthur Alexander: You Better Listen To Me
10 December 1998: Randolph Walker: Got My Plans Squared Away
11 December 1998 (BBC World Service): Joe Graham: Something Wrong With Our Love
07 January 1999: Charlie Thomas: Don't Let Me Know

(CD - Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures Vol 2) Kent Soul

Bobby_Moore_And_The_Formosts_-_It_Was_A_Lie.wmv — Bobby Moore And The Formosts - It Was A Lie.wmv

26 January 1999: Bobby Moore & The Formosts: It Was A Lie
27 January 1999: Jimmy & Louise Tig And Company: A Love That Never Grows Cold
04 February 1999 (Radio Eins): Jimmy & Louise Tig And Company: A Love That Never Grows Cold
10 February 1999: Arthur Conley: Let Nothing Separate Us
14 February 1999 (BFBS): Johnny Adams: If I Could See You One More Time
18 February 1999 (Radio Eins): Arthur Conley: Let Nothing Separate Us
20 February 1999 (BFBS): Ruby Johnson: I'll Run Your Hurt Away
25 February 1999 (Radio Eins): Johnny Adams: If I Could See You One More Time
04 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Big John Hamilton: How Much Can A Man Take?
17 March 1999: Eddie & Ernie: Hiding In Shadows
30 March 1999: Toussaint McCall: Nothing Takes The Place Of You
06 April 1999: Lisa Richards: Let's Take A Chance

(CD - Birth Of Soul - Volume Two) Kent Soul

October 1999 (FSK): Betty Harris: Cry To Me
October 1999 (FSK): Falcons: I Found A Love
04 November 1999: Cookies: I Never Dreamed
11 November 1999: Eddie & Ernie: Time Waits For No-One
16 November 1999: Betty Harris: Cry To Me

2000s

(CD - When A Man Cries - The Deep Soul Of Scepter/Wand And Musicor/Dynamo) Kent Soul

Tommy_Hunt_-_The_Complete_Man_-_DYNAMO — Tommy Hunt - The Complete Man - DYNAMO

31 May 2000: Tommy Hunt: The Complete Man
14 June 2000: Lee Mitchell: You and You Alone
22 June 2000: Marvin Preyer: What Can I Call My Own

(CD - Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures Taken From The Vaults... Volume 3) Kent Soul

30 November 2000: Eddie & Ernie: Thanks For Yesterday
February 2001 (FSK): Barbara & The Browns: I Don't Want To Have To Wait
08 February 2001: Enchanters: I Paid For The Party
20 February 2001: Barbara & The Browns: I Don't Want to Have to Wait
22 February 2001: Irma Thomas: Wish Someone Would Care

(CD - Our Turn To Cry) Kent Soul

22 May 2001: Soul Brothers Six: What Can You Do When You Ain't Got Nobody
23 May 2001: Ned Towns: How Can You Babysit A Man?
10 June 2001 (BBC World Service): Soul Brothers Six: What Can You Do When You Ain't Got Nobody?

(CD - So Soulful 70s) Kent Dance

16 August 2001: Persuaders: Thin Line Between Love And Hate

(CD - King's Serious Soul: Too Much Pain) Kent Soul

26 July 2001: Gloria Walker: When My Baby Cries
August 2001 (FSK): Eugene Evans: Too Much Pain
30 August 2001: Eugene Evans: Lonely Man
27 September 2001: Sam Baker: Why Does A Woman Treat A Man So Bad
27 September 2001 (Radio Eins): Gloria Walker: When My Baby Cries
18 October 2001 (Radio Eins): Jimmy Braswell: Your Love Is Out Of Reach

(CD – New Breed R&B: Soulful 60s Blues For Today's Dancers) Kent Dance

11 October 2001: ZZ Hill: No More Doggin’
17 October 2001 (BBC World Service): ZZ Hill: No More Doggin'

(CD - The Goldwax Story Volume 1) Kent Soul

29 January 2002: Wee Willie Walker: There Goes My Used To Be
31 January 2002: James Carr: I Don't Want To Be Hurt Anymore
17 February 2002 (BBC World Service): Wee Willie Walker: There Goes My Used To Be
10 April 2002: Ben Atkins: I've Been Loving You Too Long

(CD - Birth Of Soul, Vol. 3) Kent Soul

26 February 2002: Enchanters: I Wanna Thank You
16 April 2002: Ann Cole: Don’t Stop The Wedding
30 April 2002: Pat Lundy: Play It Again
21 May 2002: Sunny & The Sunglows: Talk To Me

(CD - If Loving You Is Wrong - 20 Cheatin’ Heartbreakers) Kent Soul

DENISE_LaSALLE_Married,_but_not_to_each_other-0 — DENISE LaSALLE Married, but not to each other-0

18 June 2002: Denise Lasalle: Married But Not To Each Other
25 June 2002: Loleatta Holloway: Part Time Lover, Part Time Fool
July 2002 (FSK): Loleatta Holloway: Part Time Lover, Full Time Fool
03 July 2002: Irma Thomas: She'll Never Be Your Wife
11 July 2002: Ann Peebles: Breaking Up Somebody's Home
11 July 2002 (Radio Mafia): Ann Peebles: Breaking Up Somebody's Home

(CD - The Beat Goes On) Kent Dance

May 2003 (FSK): Archie Bell & The Drells: (There's Gonna Be A) Showdown
01 May 2003: Coasters: Shoppin' For Clothes
28 May 2003: Wilson Pickett: I'm Gonna Cry

(2xCD - The Dial Records Southern Soul Story) Kent Soul

28 August 2003 (Radio Eins): Bobby Marchan: I Gotta Sit Down And Cry

(CD - A Soldier's Sad Story - Vietnam Through The Eyes Of Black America 1966-73) Kent Soul

November 2003 (FSK): Monitors: Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)
November 2003 (FSK): Players: He'll Be Back
04 November 2003: Monitors: Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)
05 November 2003: Players: He'll Be Back
06 November 2003: William Bell: Marching Off To War
11 November 2003: Eddy G Giles & The Jive Five: While I'm Away (Baby Keep The Faith)
12 November 2003: Big Amos: Going to Vietnam
13 November 2003: Mike Williams: Lonely Soldier
15 November 2003 (BBC World Service): Monitors: Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam)
18 November 2003: Joe Tex: I Believe I'm Gonna Make It
19 November 2003: Johnny & Jon: Christmas In Vietnam
20 November 2003: Jimmy Holiday: I'm Gonna Help Hurry My Brothers Home
22 November 2003 (BBC World Service): Mike Williams - Lonely Soldier
25 November 2003: James Carr: Let's Face Facts
26 November 2003: Zerben R. Hicks & Dynamics: Lights Out
27 November 2003: Richard Barbary: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
29 November 2003 (BBC World Service): James Carr: Let's Face Facts
02 December 2003: Tiny Watkins: A Soldier's Sad Story
03 December 2003: Emmanuel Laskey: A Letter From Vietnam
04 December 2003: Gloria Edwards: Something You Couldn't Write About
04 December 2003 (Radio Eins): Zerben R Hicks & The Dynamics: Lights Out
09 December 2003: Mel & Tim: Mail Call Time
11 December 2003 (Radio Eins): Mel & Tim: Mail Call Time