Kent Records Explained

Kent Records was a Los Angeles–based record label, launched in 1958 by the Bihari brothers.[1] It was a subsidiary of Crown Records Corporation.[2] Kent was a follow-up to Modern Records, which ceased operations in 1958. The label reissued Modern's singles, including recordings by B.B. King. By 1964, Kent had signed acts such as Ike & Tina Turner and released new material. Other acts signed to the label included Z.Z. Hill, Johnny Otis, and Lowell Fulsom. Modern Records was revived in 1964 with successful singles from the Ikettes.[3]

Initially, Kent issued only singles, but issued albums from 1964 until the early 1970s. Kent was later bought by Ace Records, England, which uses the label name to release Motown and Northern Soul music.[4]

Selected Discography

Albums

Singles

!Catalog No.!Releasedate!US!USR&B!Single (A-side, B-side)!Artist
315Oct 195816"You've Been An Angel"B.B. King
9"Please Accept My Love"
330Dec 19592"Sweet Sixteen, Pt. 1"b/w "Sweet Sixteen, Pt. 2"B.B. King
3451960"Roll With Me Henry"b/w "Good Rockin' Daddy" [reissues]Etta James
346Jul 1960"Good Man Gone Bad"B.B. King
8"Partin' Time"
378Apr 1962"Drifting"b/w "Love You Baby"Bobby "Blue" Bland, Ike Turner and His Orchestra
393Apr 19643412"Rock Me Baby"b/w "I Can't Lose"B.B. King
394Apr 1964"Dust My Blues (I Believe)"b/w "Happy Home"Elmore James and The Broom Dusters
396Aug 1964107"You're Gonna Miss Me"B.B. King
11015"Let Me Love You"
402[5] Oct 196495"I Can't Believe What You Say (For Seeing What You Do)"b/w "My Baby Now"Ike & Tina Turner
409Nov 1964"Please, Please, Please"b/w "Am I A Fool In Love"Ike & Tina Turner
4241965"Before Day (Big Mama's Blues)"b/w "Me and My Chauffeur"Big Mama Thornton
431[6] Nov 196511"Black Nights"b/w "Little Angel"Lowell Fulson
456Dec 1966525"Tramp"b/w "Pico"Lowell Fulson
462Feb 19679417"The Jungle"b/w "Long Gone Baby"B.B. King
463Mar 19679120"Make a Little Love"b/w "I'm Sinking"Lowell Fulson
474Aug 19679738"I'm A Drifter"b/w "Hobo Meetin'"Lowell Fulson
501Dec 1968"Merry Christmas Baby"b/w "3 O'Clock Blues"Charles Brown
506Feb 196929"Country Girl"b/w "Bye Bye Baby (Until We Meet Again)"The Johnny Otis Show
512May 1969"Love Ain't Nothin'"b/w "10 - 20 - 25 - 30"Big Joe Turner
4514[7] Jul 1970"Please, Please, Please - Pt. 1"b/w "Please, Please, Please - Pt. 2"Ike & Tina Turner
45201970"You Must Live It"b/w "Are You Ready"Merryweather
4522Apr 1970"Shop Around"b/w "Lucille"Momma And Pappa Rock'n Family (with Neil Merryweather)
4538Jan 1971"The Hunter"b/w "Long Handled Shovel"Pacific Gas & Electric
4547May 19718630"I Need Someone (To Love Me)"b/w "Oh Darling"Z.Z. Hill

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Modern Records Story. www.bsnpubs.com.
  2. March 23, 1958. Kent Launches R-B Label . Billboard. 3.
  3. Book: Broven, John. Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. University of Illinois Press. 2011. 9780252094019. 303. 785781204.
  4. Web site: Kent - Ace Records. acerecords.co.uk.
  5. October 17, 1964. Hot 100. Billboard. 22.
  6. Lowell Fulsom Chart History. https://web.archive.org/web/20190928031844/https://www.billboard.com/music/lowell-fulsom/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs. dead. September 28, 2019. Billboard.
  7. July 18, 1970. Spotlight Singles - Top 20 Soul. Billboard. 72.