Kent Harris' R&B Family Various Artists (Songwriter Series)

£12.56

Genre:
Rhythm & Blues
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1334

This product is also available in these versions:
Kent Harris' R&B Family (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

Kent Harris’ strong point was undoubtedly his witty and topical lyrics, allied to having his ear to the ground for the latest trends in black music. His most famous work – ‘Clothes Line’, recorded under his alias Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew – was plundered by Leiber and Stoller for the Coasters’ ‘Shoppin’ For Clothes’ and is already out on an Ace compilation. All four of his Crest sides are humorous, streetwise and down with the groove of the day. ‘Big Fat Lie’ concerns a visit to the pawnbrokers, which a lot of black audiences could relate to in the 50s. Other novelty songs include ‘Big Chief Hug-Um An’ Kiss-Um’ by James Shaw, later to be known more grandly as the Mighty Hannibal, and the newly-discovered Boogaloo recording ‘I’m In The Dog House Again’. He’s so late back his woman won’t let him into the house and he has to kip down with the dog. ‘Double Locks’, which Kent wrote for Johnny Gosey, deals with an angry landlady putting locks on the tenant’s crib until the back rent is paid.

Kent’s arrangements were innovative too. On the Francettes’ ‘He’s So Sweet’, he and group manager Frances Gray combined to get the backing girls calling and responding and throwing in their own seemingly ad-libbed comments rather than just filling in the harmony.

The CD embraces the whole of the Harris family and the notes describe what an influential Los Angeles clan they were. The much missed sister Dimples is a major contributor, rocking it up with her sisters on ‘Kissin’ Bug’ from 1955 and also recording solo and accompanying her big brother under his pseudonym of Ducky Drake. She cut as a solo under her married name of Dimples Jackson in 1960 and with her new husband Harold, helping him out on his astonishing ‘The Freedom Riders’ 45.

New Breed R&B lovers will appreciate Dimples’ ‘Love Came Tumbling Down’, while the new version of Donoman’s ‘I’m The Only One’ by the Phillips Sisters is a big bonus. The whole mysterious Donoman / Cry Baby Curtis story is related in the booklet. His ‘Monday Is Too Late’ has a New Orleans meets ‘Turn On You Lovelight’ vibe that will thrill traditional R&B lovers.

Though Kent Harris had many high quality soul productions (they’ll feature on a future Kent CD) he always had a bias towards the blues and you feel that the ‘You Ain’t Right’ wailer from Faye Ross was the side the musicians had their hearts in, rather than the Motown-esque ‘Faith, Hope And Trust’. Kent’s partner, and love of his life, Ty Karim, was primarily a soul singer but when they worked on a blues like ‘Take It Easy Baby’, it was as intense as anything they cut together.

Vocal group collectors will be pleased with the new version of ‘Diddy Bop’ that predates the Valaquons’ Rayco release and the splendid Lon-Genes provide an incredibly rare harmony ballad as well as a new twist on an old dance craze.

We have chased tapes, 45s and label scans all across the world to get the productions and recording facts of a seriously overlooked R&B producer into an accurate history. Though a large amount of information has been discovered, we are positive there are more obscure 45s out there featuring Kent’s work. If you know of any, please do let us know.

Footnote: I’ve been chasing the missing Romark 103 release by the Phillips Sisters ‘After Tonight’ / ‘The Wiggle’ for months but only tracked down a copy after this CD’s deadline had gone. I clicked on the soundfile with great hope of finding a previously unissued R&B gem, but sadly it was a disappointment. The vocals on ‘After Tonight’ leave a lot to be desired on an, at best, average song while the flip is an instrumental; at least it’s not a crucial omission on here.

By Ady Croasdell

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Big Fat Lie - Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew

  • 02 Preview Kissin' Bug - The Harris Sisters

  • 03 Preview Long Lean Lanky Juke Box - Dimples Harris & Her Combo

  • 04 Preview Saint Or Sinner - Ducky Drake with Dimples Harris & Her Combo

  • 05 Preview Big Chief Hug-Um An' Kiss-Um - Jimmy Shaw

  • 06 Preview The Freedom Riders - Harold Jackson & The Jackson Brothers

  • 07 Preview Love Came Tumbling Down - Dimples Jackson

  • 08 Preview Double Locks - Johnny Gosey

  • 09 Preview I'm The Only One - The Phillips Sisters

  • 10 Preview He's So Sweet - The Francettes

  • 11 Preview Show Me How To Shake Like That - The Lon-Genes

  • 12 Preview Diddy Bop - The Valaquons

  • 13 Preview So Far Away - Rooty Poots

  • 14 Preview Our Love Is Like The Sea - The Lon-Genes

  • 15 Preview I'm In The Dog House Again - Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew

  • 16 Preview Monday Is Too Late - Donoman

  • 17 Preview Someday I Won't Be Blue - The Phillips Sisters

  • 18 Preview You Stayed Away Too Long - The Francettes

  • 19 Preview Lover Supreme - Kent Harris

  • 20 Preview Take It Easy Baby - Ty Karim

  • 21 Preview Don't Just Stand There - Cry Baby Curtis

  • 22 Preview I Can't Work And Watch You - Ray Agee

  • 23 Preview Pay And Be On My Way - Eddie Bridges

  • 24 Preview Recession Blues - Adolph Jacobs

  • 25 Preview You Ain't Right - Faye Ross

Delivery & Returns

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You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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