Kent 397 - various Artists - Romark Records - Kent Harris' Soul Sides (2013) - Rare Soul (FLAC) + Booklet

Back in the day when i was collecting one of my fave labels was Romark out of L.A. The quality of the recordings was top notch and it gave birth to some stunning dancers that graced the floors of NSS. But what i loved was it covered all genres of soul,uptempo,deep & sweet. Kent Harris’ remarkable and long-lived career has never been fully documented. This CD spotlights his main soul label, Romark, and features most of the 20 or so 45s that were issued, none of which are common and all of which have musical value. The extensive booklet explores an area of Los Angeles’ black music that has never before been fully charted. Kent Harris continued his productions into the 80s, several appearing on the Sheridan House label(that i will be reviewing later)kent have included a fine Deborah Foster ballad from that period and an alternate version of ‘I Can’t Hold Back This Feeling’, on which she duets with Marshall McQueen, who also sings the great self written dancer ‘Any Fool Can Feel It’ and the original demo of C.B. Overton’s ‘If I Can’t Stop You’. sheer class!..The Kent Harris tape archive also revealed previously unissued recordings, including O’Malley Jones’ ‘Pay And Be On My Way’, a stomping instrumental called ‘South Central Slide’ and Larry Atkins’ version of Towana’s ‘Help Me Get This Feeling Back Again’. Larry’s Northern Soul rarities ‘Have Mercy On Me’ and ‘Ain’t That Love Enough’ are here, as is ‘Dream Girl’ by magnificent soul vocal group the Lon-Genes, a super rare mid-tempo beauty that is still fetching staggering sums with collectors & dancers alike. Early soul/R&B comes from Donoman, Eddie Bridges and the Ike & Tina-inspired Phillips Sisters, while Kent Harris,s sister Marcene “Dimples” Harris has a side of each of her three Romark releases featured. Blues fans will be happy with the Ray Agee, Cry Baby Curtis and Jimmy “Preacher” Ellis offerings, while the Francettes, Faye Ross and Kent’s talented wife Ty Karim will please female soul fanciers. The breadth of Kent’s productions is impressive, with modern soul dancers also featured, and even a shade or two of funk (check out Marcene Harris’ ‘Work It Out’) sneaking into the mix. Pure quality with this album and essential for any soul fan. I was going to post this up yesterday but my CD is scratched so a good friend kindly stepped up.At least my booklet is ok...lol!

AMM

                                                         Review Courtesy Of Oldsoulrebel

                                                                      The Tasters!