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
- 1964: B.B. King, Rock Me Baby...14 Great Hits (compilation)
- 1964: B.B. King, Let Me Love You
- 1964: Ike & Tina Turner Revue Live
- 1965: Live! B.B. King on Stage
- 1965: Lowell Fulson, Soul
- 1965: Z.Z. Hill, The Soul Stirring Z.Z. Hill
- 1966: Ike & Tina Turner, The Soul of Ike & Tina
- 1967: Lowell Fulson, Tramp
- 1967: B.B. King, The Jungle
- 1967: Z.Z. Hill, A Whole Lot of Soul
- 1967: B.B. King, Boss of the Blues (compilation)
- 1967: Lowell Fulson, Now!
- 1968: B.B. King, From the Beginning (compilation)
- 1968: The Johnny Otis Show featuring Mighty Mouth Evans & Shuggie Otis, Cold Shot!
- 1970: Ike & Tina, Festival of Live Performances
- 1970: Preston Love's Omaha Bar-B-Q
- 1970: Big Joe Turner, Turns on the Blues
- 1970: Various Artists – Rock and Roll Festival, Volume 1
- 1970: Neil Merryweather, John Richardson And Boers
- 1970: B.B. King, Turn on to B.B. King (compilation)
- 1970: Guitar Slim Green featuring Johnny and Shuggie Otis, Stone Down Blues
- 1971: The Greatest Hits of B.B. King, Volume 1 (compilation)
- 1971: The Great Roy Milton, Roots Of Rock, Vol. 1 (compilation)
- 1971: Z.Z. Hill's Greatest Hits: Dues Paid in Full (compilation)
- 1973: B.B. King, The Original Sweet Sixteen (compilation)
Singles
| Catalog No. | Release date | US | US | 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 | ||
| 424 | 1965 | "Before Day (Big Mama's Blues)" b/w "Me and My Chauffeur" | Big Mama Thornton | ||
| 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 | |
| 512 | May 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 | ||
| 4520 | 1970 | "You Must Live It" b/w "Are You Ready" | Merryweather | ||
| 4522 | Apr 1970 | "Shop Around" b/w "Lucille" | Momma And Pappa Rock'n Family (with Neil Merryweather) | ||
| 4538 | Jan 1971 | "The Hunter" b/w "Long Handled Shovel" | Pacific Gas & Electric | ||
| 4547 | May 1971 | 86 | 30 | "I Need Someone (To Love Me)" b/w "Oh Darling" | Z.Z. Hill |