Kent Soul Vinyl & CDs

Review: Mickey Stevenson signed to Venture Records and soon set to work on laying down a great collection of new music. The best of it is now collected together on this spec compilation which focusses on works made between 1967 and 1969. The title comes from his tune of the same name which also happened to the label's first big hit, despite not getting much play on national radio because it has the word 'funky' in the title, and has since been covered by Rufus Thomas for Stax, Tommy Strand for Fame and Jimmy Bee for Kent. The rest of the tunes are just as raw and impressively funky.

Review: Sweet Soul Harmony From the Golden Era is a new album from The Lowriders that amalgamates two previous This Is Lowrider Soul CDs. The Kent Soul label has put together the 14 tunes they think best represent the sounds Los Angelenos, often of Mexican descent, love so much and are famous for having blasting from their low riding motors. This is the sort of music you can hear in East LA or Van Nuys Boulevard in the northwest of the city and is made up of sweet soul sounds that have been carefully dug out and unearthed over the years.

Review: Atlanta's GRC Records nurtured a thriving soul music scene, producing a wealth of unreleased gems now available through tape discoveries. This compilation Atlanta: Hotbed Of 70s Soul, showcases the exceptional artistry of Sam Dees, whose collaborations with Joe Hinton and Louvain Demps yield standout tracks. Louistine's original rendition of 'Con Me' and Wes Lewis's rendition of 'Paperman' exhibit the emotional spectrum of soul music, Dorothy Norwood, King Hannibal, and Jean Battle contribute notable performances, while the revelation of Dees' songwriting credits adds historical significance. Extensive sleeve notes and rare photos enhance the packaging of this essential compilation, capturing the vibrant soul music legacy of Atlanta.