Kent Records was a Los Angeles–based record label, launched in 1958 by the Bihari brothers.[1] It was subsidiary of Crown Records Corporation.[2] Kent was a follow-up to Modern Records, which ceased operations in 1958.[2] 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.[1] 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. Release

date

US US

R&B

Single (A-side, B-side) Artist
315 Oct 1958 16 "You've Been An Angel" B.B. King
9 "Please Accept My Love"
330 Dec 1959 2 "Sweet Sixteen, Pt. 1"

b/w "Sweet Sixteen, Pt. 2"

B.B. King
345 1960 "Roll With Me Henry"

b/w "Good Rockin' Daddy" [reissues]

Etta James
346 Jul 1960 "Good Man Gone Bad" B.B. King
8 "Partin' Time"
378 Apr 1962 "Drifting"

b/w "Love You Baby"

Bobby "Blue" Bland, Ike Turner and His Orchestra
393 Apr 1964 34 12 "Rock Me Baby"

b/w "I Can't Lose"

B.B. King
394 Apr 1964 "Dust My Blues (I Believe)"

b/w "Happy Home"

Elmore James and The Broom Dusters
396 Aug 1964 107 "You're Gonna Miss Me" B.B. King
110 15 "Let Me Love You"
402[5] Oct 1964 95 "I Can't Believe What You Say (For Seeing What You Do)"

b/w "My Baby Now"

Ike & Tina Turner
409 Nov 1964 "Please, Please, Please"

b/w "Am I A Fool In Love"

Ike & Tina Turner
431[6] Nov 1965 11 "Black Nights"

b/w "Little Angel"

Lowell Fulson
456[6] Dec 1966 52 5 "Tramp"

b/w "Pico"

Lowell Fulson
462 Feb 1967 94 17 "The Jungle"

b/w "Long Gone Baby"

B.B. King
463[6] Mar 1967 91 20 "Make a Little Love"

b/w "I'm Sinking"

Lowell Fulson
474[6] Aug 1967 97 38 "I'm A Drifter"

b/w "Hobo Meetin'"

Lowell Fulson
501 Dec 1968 "Merry Christmas Baby"

b/w "3 O'Clock Blues"

Charles Brown
506 Feb 1969 29 "Country Girl"

b/w "Bye Bye Baby (Until We Meet Again)"

The Johnny Otis Show
4514[7] Jul 1970 "Please, Please, Please - Pt. 1"

b/w "Please, Please, Please - Pt. 2"

Ike & Tina Turner

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Modern Records Story". www.bsnpubs.com.
  2. ^ a b "Kent Launches R-B Label" (PDF). Billboard. March 23, 1958. p. 3.
  3. ^ Broven, John (2011). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. University of Illinois Press. p. 303. ISBN 9780252094019. OCLC 785781204.
  4. ^ "Kent - Ace Records". acerecords.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. October 17, 1964. p. 22.
  6. ^ a b c d "Lowell Fulsom Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019.
  7. ^ "Spotlight Singles - Top 20 Soul" (PDF). Billboard. July 18, 1970. p. 72.


Categories