Whilst stuck in traffic the other day I was lucky enough to be accompanied by Dave Godins' 'DST' vol 4 cd and the wonderful Jaibi unreleased track filled the old VW with deep joy, it was only then I realised just how many unreleased tracks the Steele Road Sherlocks have been responsible for over the years. The list is huge, San Franciscian TKOs, Jeanette Jones, Ben E King, Eddie and Ernies ' You make my life a sunny day' the ubitqitous Melba Moore (which will always remind me of the 'Northern' special that the Whistle test did in the eighties) Maxines 'Torture' and 'I want a guaurantee' what about Chuck Jacksons ' Millioniare', Lavern Bakers' 'Im gonna get you', Tommy Hunts' 'Pretty part of you' The Platters' ' not my girl', Garland Greens' 'Come through me', The Mayberry Movement and who can forget the RCA fest that was Rare Collectable and Soulful!? Kenny Carters 'Whats that on your finger' defies description, all with incredible sound quality.

But thats just the dancers, the two Big City Soul lps of mine are worn down to a matte finish now! Jnr Lewis' 'The man who had everything', and Chucks version of Van Mcoys ' I cant stand to see you cry' are, (IMO!) two of the best records I have ever heard.

These are not thrown together to make a quick buck out of the current 'Big Spin' , but are compiled with a respect for the art of the music itself, the punters and most importantly perhaps, the artists. Sermon over.

Cheers Chaps

Jim.

Totally agree!

If it wasn't for all those classy Kent LP's in the 80's I don't think I'd still be around on the scene and definately wouldn't be collecting like I do today.

In fact Ady, the wife want's a word - it's all your fault that I've got no money left to do the house up!!!

Off to dig out my VERY worn copy of Floorshakers from under the stairs!!

Anyone still got a copy of Kent 50 on red vinyl?????

I may be a fan of the best music in the world (but on re-reading my blurb) I can't bloody spell can I!?

Off to dig out my VERY worn copy of Floorshakers from under the stairs!!

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Top album, one of my favs was Dancing 'Til Dawn!

In total agreement with the comments above. Kent, IMHO, and Ady in particular have put out some of the finest examples of Soul music, not just northern dancers, of any UK label and is on a par with the Grapevine2000 releases. As stated previously, it's always been done with an ear for the music and not just for what happens to be in - as they used to say about Stafford, the soul preceedes the payroll at Kent. Keep up the good work Ady and don't forget to spell my name right on the Barry CD!!!!!

Edited February 21, 200520 yr by TheBigO

Kent got me and my mates into northern and I'm still buying their stuff 20 years later. Hardly a bad release (well, the Arock one's average). Still got me red vinyl Kent 50, still got me Floorshakers. What about Footstompers...that was a great LP...Dancing Till Dawn was ace, Stemmons Express used to send shivers up my spine. And I have a strange memory of singing Torture over and over to myself while fielding at extra-cover one saturday in the summer of 1987...just stuck in my head.

I think Ady and Kent are largely responsible for the northern scene still being around.

Now I read Kent are throwing out the Doris Duke Canyon album on cd with extra tracks, just when you think it can't get any better, it does!

Bloody marvellous

Jim.

Kent...top of the stack no question, always top quality a real joy.

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Kent is truly a top class operation and I very much look up to Ady and respect all of his musical endeavors. Top quality material and the sound quality and packaging is unparalleled. One of my dreams is to someday own my very own reissue label, very much in the mold of Kent, if anything, just for my own satisfaction-no matter how well it does financially. I would rather put out three CDs a year done right instead of taking loads of fluff with no background notes on the tracks and spreading it out over many CDs, without proper remastering or proper licensing. Umm...why did ANOTHER Shrine comp come out? Can somebody please tell me? Vol. 1 and 2 on Kent were sufficient enough, thank you. We, the punters are mostly connisseurs of music who deserve to be educated and enlightened when we purchase one of these things. I hate buying the same tracks over and over, too. Kent has always maintained a high standard of excellence that can always be depended on and rarely ever repeat tracks. Who did Dave Godin want to work with to make CDs...that's right-only Kent. Couldn't have been anyone else. There's a lot to be said for that.

Well done Ady. Your tops in my book and your CDs are the best! Can't say enough good things about you and your operation. I think it goes without saying that you're in this truly for love of the music and not for a quick buck...and that's keeping it REAL my friend!

Thank you.

KTF

Jas

Top album, one of my favs was Dancing 'Til Dawn! 

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Some of the sleeves are just fantastic!,never get that more of same kinda thing,you learn something new every time you buy from Kent,its started more dance craze`s than Chubby checker/Major lance put together,love to see kent doin`lp`s again,quick question soul-sourcer`s,is there or as there been any boots of any kent stuff?.yours Ken.

Obviously the myriad of Kent releases include many incredible musical gems, but one area of them that i particulary enjoy are the tremendous notes that accompany their releases. Put together they would make a fantastic book, even without the music.

Kent and Ace Records the undisputed king.

Very interesting topic, I'm a great fan of the Kent series of releases (singles, LPs and CDs), top quality materials, packaging and notes as Brett says.

Just one question that puzzles me - why are Kent compilation LPs always applauded yet Casino Classics and Grapevine LPs sneered at?

Brian

Very interesting topic, I'm a great fan of the Kent series of releases (singles, LPs and CDs), top quality materials, packaging and notes as Brett says.

Just one question that puzzles me - why are Kent compilation LPs always applauded yet Casino Classics and Grapevine LPs sneered at?

Brian

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The Grapevine lp's are brilliant - all of them, especially the second...absolute top quality. But no sleeve notes, maybe thats why

Umm...why did ANOTHER Shrine comp come out? Can somebody please tell me? Vol. 1 and 2 on Kent were sufficient enough, thank you. We, the punters are mostly connisseurs of music who deserve to be educated and enlightened when we purchase one of these things. I hate buying the same tracks over and over, too.

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It was a budget price release which whittled out all the chaff from the two previous volumes, or what, are you saying that every note that came out on Shrine was genius?

Does anyone remember the following?

I remember getting on a music mag (NME or Sounds or something else) in the 80's two cassettes. One was Pogo-a-Gogo a punk/new wave compilation, the other was Kent-a-Gogo. Which was a compilation of tracks from the Kent albums, I distinctly remember it had Your Little Sister - The Marvelows(?) on it. Was this the only time Kent released anything on cassette?

I lent them both to my mate, never to see them again!

Does anyone remember the following?

I remember getting on a music mag (NME or Sounds or something else) in the 80's two cassettes.  One was Pogo-a-Gogo a punk/new wave compilation, the other was Kent-a-Gogo.  Which was a compilation of tracks from the Kent albums, I distinctly remember it had Your Little Sister - The Marvelows(?) on it. Was this the only time Kent released anything on cassette?

I lent them both to my mate, never to see them again! 

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Not only do I remember it but I actually got a letter printed in the NME! Someone slagged it off saying it was dull music by Northern vikings or some such shite, I replied and said basically that much NS is as soulful as the people he'd quoted (can't remember who) and obviously I won the argument ... claim to fame there!

Not only do I remember it but I actually got a letter printed in the NME!  Someone slagged it off saying it was dull music by Northern vikings or some such shite, I replied and said basically that much NS is as soulful as the people he'd quoted (can't remember who) and obviously I won the argument ... claim to fame there!

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:graynone:

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I know you're impressed really

Some of the sleeves are just fantastic!,never get that more of same kinda thing,you learn something new every time you buy from Kent,its started more dance craze`s than Chubby checker/Major lance put together,love to see kent doin`lp`s again,quick question soul-sourcer`s,is there or as there been any boots of any kent stuff?.yours Ken.

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Can't agree more Kenny, worth the cost of the cd for the sleeve notes alone.

As for boots, not seen any boots in venues but you can get every Kent track on the net if you no where to look, along with Grapevine, Goldmine etc.

Pete - definitely not saying everything on Shrine is brilliant. I'm just saying that it seems redundant to do something like that. After all of Andy Rix's legwork and Kent's final result, it seems kind of cheap to stroll on up soon after, with something that offers the same stuff and doesn't bring any new light to the situation. Plus, Shrine is obviously a connisseur's label and not for everyone, so more than likely, those who buy it will probably want the whole thing-both Kent volumes.

There's loads more stuff to put out. i'm tired of seeing the same stuff over and over again.

KTF

Jas

Can't agree more Kenny, worth the cost of the cd for the sleeve notes alone. 

As for boots, not seen any boots in venues but you can get every Kent track on the net if you no where to look, along with Grapevine, Goldmine etc.

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Cheers Chalkie,way the prices are goin`,it wont be long?,check out the sleeve notes on "black music is our buisness" very ironic,cause people think i got mainly white taste in music!!,ho and g******e! keep your dirty mitts well off?.ken

,

Kent is truly a top class operation and I very much look up to Ady and respect all of his musical endeavors. Top quality material and the sound quality and packaging is unparalleled. One of my dreams is to someday own my very own reissue label, very much in the mold of Kent, if anything, just for my own satisfaction-no matter how well it does financially. I would rather put out three CDs a year done right instead of taking loads of fluff with no background notes on the tracks and spreading it out over many CDs, without proper remastering or proper licensing. Umm...why did ANOTHER Shrine comp come out? Can somebody please tell me? Vol. 1 and 2 on Kent were sufficient enough, thank you. We, the punters are mostly connisseurs of music who deserve to be educated and enlightened when we purchase one of these things. I hate buying the same tracks over and over, too. Kent has always maintained a high standard of excellence that can always be depended on and rarely ever repeat tracks. Who did Dave Godin want to work with to make CDs...that's right-only Kent. Couldn't have been anyone else. There's a lot to be said for that.

Well done Ady. Your tops in my book and your CDs are the best! Can't say enough good things about you and your operation. I think it goes without saying that you're in this truly for love of the music and not for a quick buck...and that's keeping it REAL my friend!

Thank you.

KTF

Jas

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JAS,

Roger Armstrong agrees with everything you say. You are a true SOUL DISCIPLE. Ever thought of forming a label with Ady?

Kent is truly a top class operation and I very much look up to Ady and respect all of his musical endeavors. Top quality material and the sound quality and packaging is unparalleled. One of my dreams is to someday own my very own reissue label, very much in the mold of Kent, if anything, just for my own satisfaction-no matter how well it does financially. I would rather put out three CDs a year done right instead of taking loads of fluff with no background notes on the tracks and spreading it out over many CDs, without proper remastering or proper licensing. Umm...why did ANOTHER Shrine comp come out? Can somebody please tell me? Vol. 1 and 2 on Kent were sufficient enough, thank you. We, the punters are mostly connisseurs of music who deserve to be educated and enlightened when we purchase one of these things. I hate buying the same tracks over and over, too. Kent has always maintained a high standard of excellence that can always be depended on and rarely ever repeat tracks. Who did Dave Godin want to work with to make CDs...that's right-only Kent. Couldn't have been anyone else. There's a lot to be said for that.

Well done Ady. Your tops in my book and your CDs are the best! Can't say enough good things about you and your operation. I think it goes without saying that you're in this truly for love of the music and not for a quick buck...and that's keeping it REAL my friend!

Thank you.

KTF

Jas

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even the best ie:Kent/Ace,cant please all the people all the time,but 99.99%,will do for me!,but they do try,anyway can any other outfit do better,probley not?.your`s ken

even the best ie:Kent/Ace,cant please all the people all the time,but 99.99%,will do for me!,but they do try,anyway can any other outfit do better,probley not?.your`s ken

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Well said Dolland

Well said Dolland

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