Romark Records - Kent Harris' Soul Sides

 

Kent Levaughn Harris (October 15, 1930 – April 9, 2019) was an American songwriter and record producer, who is best known as the writer of novelty tunes such as "Shoppin' for Clothes" (a hit for The Coasters, featured on Broadway’s Musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe) credited to Harris, Leiber and Stoller), and "Cops and Robbers" (a hit for Bo Diddley, The Rolling Stones, George Thorogood and Wayne Fontana) . He recorded under various pseudonyms including Ducky Drake and Boogaloo and his Gallant Crew.

Kent Harris’ remarkable and long-lived career has never been fully documented. This compilation spotlights his main soul label, Romark, and features most of the 20 or so 45's that were issued; none of which are common and all of which have musical value. 

1 Ty Karim– All At Once

2 Marcene Harris– Work It Out

3 Obie Jessie Seeds Of Freedom*– Beautiful Day My Brother (Keep Moving On)

4 Ray Agee– It's Hard To Explain

5 The Mighty Hannibal– I'll Come Back To You

6 Billy Williams – Too Much

7 Larry Atkins– Have Mercy On Me

8 Donoman– I'm The Only One

9 The Phillips Sisters– Where Did You Stay Last Night

10 Romark's Wrecking Crew– South Central Slide

11 Larry Atkins– Ain't That Love Enough

12 Faye Ross– Faith, Hope & Trust

13 The Francettes– I'm Leaving You

14 Lon-Genes*– Dream Girl

15 Dimples Harris*– Do I Need You

16 Deborah Foster– Bye Bye Baby (I'm Leaving You)

17 Marshall McQueen*– Any Fool Can Feel It

18 Larry Atkins– Help Me Get This Feeling Back Again

19 Eddie Bridges And His Lowriders– Peekaboo

20 Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis*– Tough Competition

21 Cry Baby Curtis– There Will Be Some Changes Made

22 O'Malley Jones– Pay And Be On My Way

23 Marshall McQueen*– If I Can't Stop You

24 Deborah Foster & Marshall McQueen*– I Can't Hold Back This Feeling

25 Marcene "Dimples" Harris*– Talking Old Soldiers Aka I Know How It Feels (To Grow Old)

Kent Harris' Soul Sides

Crème De La Crème (Philly Soul Classics And Rarities From The Vaults Of Atlantic, Atco And Warner Bros. Records)

 

Spinners– I'll Be Around 3:12

Major Harris– Loving You Is Mellow 4:28

Bettye Swann– Kiss My Love Goodbye 3:24

Blue Magic– Welcome To The Club 5:12

The True Reflection– That's Where I'm Coming From 2:35

Vivian Reed– Save Your Love For Me 3:20

Clyde Brown – You Call Me Back 3:05

First Choice– Yes, Maybe No 2:52

The Persuaders– Hold On (Just A Little Bit Longer) 3:16

Sons Of Robin Stone– Got To Get You Back 3:13

The Trammps– Can We Come Together 5:36

The Aristocrats*– Let's Get Together Now 3:06

Dianne Steinberg– One More Time 3:12

Blue Magic– Maybe Just Maybe (We Can Fall In Love Again) 4:21

Major Harris– Love Won't Let Me Wait 3:47

Spinners– You're All I Need In Life 4:31

Anglo Saxon Brown– Gonna Make You Mine 6:29

Blue Magic– Sideshow 4:11

Dionne Warwick– Once You Hit The Road 4:04

First Choice– I Got A Feeling 5:15

Blue Magic– Look Me Up (Album Version) 5:51

Sister Sledge– Pain Reliever 3:40

Impact – Happy Man (Pt. 1) 2:51

Jackie Moore– Both Ends Against The Middle 2:29

Terry Collins– Action Speaks Louder (Than Words) 2:44

First Choice– First Choice Theme (Single Version) 3:12

Black Ivory– What Goes Around (Comes Around) 5:10

Bettye Swann– When The Game Is Played On You 3:06

The Major Harris Boogie Blues Band– Each Morning I Wake Up 3:47

Jackie Moore– What A Man 2:36

Ben E. King– No Danger Ahead 3:59

Moving Violation*– Spinnin' Top 2:07

Sister Sledge– Mama Never Told Me (Tom Moulton Remix) 5:26

Blue Magic– Answer To My Prayer 3:05

Vivian Reed– Vivian's Theme (Instrumental) 2:59

Aristocrats– Loving You Is Mellow 5:01

Holly Maxwell– Never Love Again 2:44

The Persuaders– Some Guys Have All The Luck 3:30

Vivian Reed– Tired Of Being Alone 3:14

Margie Joseph & Blue Magic– You & Me (Got A Good Thing Going) 3:04

Spinners– Are You Ready For Love (Single Version) 3:34

Dee Dee Bridgewater– That's The Way Love Should Feel 4:23

Crème De La Crème

The Everly Brothers – Heartaches & Harmonies

 

1-1 Don't Let Our Love Die (1951 Version) 3:11

1-2 Keep A' Lovin' Me 2:27

1-3 Bye Bye Love 2:23

1-4 I Wonder If I Care As Much 2:16

1-5 Hey, Doll Baby (Demo) 2:16

1-6 Wake Up Little Susie 2:03

1-7 Maybe Tomorrow 2:08

1-8 All I Have To Do Is Dream 2:21

1-9 Claudette 2:16

1-10 Brand New Heartache 2:18

1-11 Bird Dog 2:17

1-12 Devoted To You 2:25

1-13 Problems 1:58

1-14 Long Time Gone 2:26

1-15 I'm Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail 3:37

1-16 Kentucky 3:09

1-17 Poor Jenny 2:11

1-18 Take A Message To Mary 2:28

1-19 ('Til) I Kissed You 2:24

1-20 Let It Be Me 2:38

1-21 Since You Broke My Heart 1:57

1-22 When Will I Be Loved 2:03

1-23 Like Strangers 2:00

2-1 Cathy's Clown 2:26

2-2 Always It's You 2:31

2-3 So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) 2:36

2-4 That's What You Do To Me 2:04

2-5 Sleepless Nights 2:24

2-6 Carol Jane 1:52

2-7 Lucille 2:34

2-8 Made To Love 2:06

2-9 Stick With Me Baby 1:57

2-10 Love Hurts 2:23

2-11 So How Come (No One Loves Me) 2:18

2-12 Donna, Donna 2:16

2-13 Ebony Eyes 3:07

2-14 Walk Right Back 2:19

2-15 Why Not 2:46

2-16 Temptation 2:14

2-17 Don't Blame Me 3:28

2-18 Muskrat (Single Version) 2:20

2-19 Crying In The Rain 2:02

2-20 I'm Not Angry 2:03

2-21 Step It Up And Go 2:00

2-22 That's Old Fashioned (That's The Way Love Should Be) 2:25

2-23 How Can I Meet Her? 1:51

2-24 Nancy's Minuet (Alternate Version) 2:22

2-25 Nice Guy (Alternate Version) 2:03

2-26 Don't Ask Me To Be Friends 2:29

2-27 No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile 2:07

2-28 (So It Was...So It Is) So It Always Will Be 1:57

2-29 I'm Afraid 1:52

2-30 The Girl Sang The Blues 2:13

2-31 Love Her 2:21

2-32 The Ferris Wheel 2:19

2-33 Things Go Better With Coke 1:29

3-1 Gone, Gone, Gone 2:05

3-2 Torture 2:26

3-3 You're My Girl 2:27

3-4 The Price Of Love 2:07

3-5 It Only Costs A Dime 1:57

3-6 Love Is Strange 2:55

3-7 Man With Money 2:22

3-8 To Show I Love You 2:35

3-9 I'll See Your Light 2:44

3-10 It's All Over 2:22

3-11 I Used To Love You 2:35

3-12 And I'll Go 2:17

3-13 (You Got) The Power Of Love 2:40

3-14 Leave My Girl Alone 2:23

3-15 Somebody Help Me 2:06

3-16 So Lonely 2:39

3-17 Kiss Your Man Goodbye 2:36

3-18 The Collector 2:58

3-19 Even If I Hold It In My Hand (Hard Luck Story) 3:29

3-20 Bowling Green 2:46

3-21 I Don't Want To Love You 2:43

3-22 Mary Jane 3:16

3-23 Love Of The Common People 3:08

3-24 You're Just What I Was Looking For Today 2:56

4-1 Empty Boxes 2:46

4-2 Love With Your Heart 3:01

4-3 Milk Train 2:48

4-4 Lord Of The Manor 4:51

4-5 Mama Tried 2:20

4-6 T For Texas 3:34

4-7 I Wonder If I Care As Much (Version Two) 2:58

4-8 You Done Me Wrong 2:16

4-9 Turn Around 2:49

4-10 Omaha 3:22

4-11 I'm On My Way Home Again 2:23

4-12 Cuckoo Bird 2:45

4-13 Carolina In My Mind 3:19

4-14 My Little Yellow Bird 2:05

4-15 Stories We Could Tell 3:22

4-16 Green River 4:44

4-17 Poems, Prayers And Promises 4:02

4-18 Paradise 3:36

4-19 On The Wings Of A Nightingale 2:37

4-20 Why Worry 4:49

4-21 Arms Of Mary 2:30

4-22 Born Yesterday 4:05

4-23 Don't Let Our Love Die (1990 Version) 2:18

Heartaches & Harmonies - one

Heartaches & Harmonies - two

Heartaches & Harmonies - three

Heartaches & Harmonies - four

The Right Direction - 20 Northern Soul Stormers

 

1 Evelyn Thomas– Weakspot

2 Carol Jiani– Make Sure (You Have Someone Who Loves You)

3 Frances Nero– Out On The Floor

4 Edwin Starr– Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache

5 Betty Lavette*– Let Me Down Easy

6 Richard "Popcorn" Wylie– With This Ring

7 Marv Johnson– The Night

8 Laura Pallas & The Reputations – Skiing In The Snow

9 The Exciters– Reaching For The Best

10 Fantastic Four, The – Ain't No Soul (Left In These Old Shoes)

11 Kim Weston– You Hit Me (Where It Hurt Me)

12 Barbara McNair– You're Gonna Love My Baby

13 The Velvelettes– That's When The Tears Start

14 Earl Van Dyke– Six By Six

15 Hattie Littles– The Right Direction

16 The Lovetones*– The Key To My Happiness

17 L.J. Johnson– Your Magic Put A Spell On Me

18 Doris Jones– He's So Irreplaceable

19 The Elgins– Look What You've Done To My Heart

20 The Valadiers– What's Wrong With Me Baby

The Right Direction

Ray Campi...The Rollin' Rock Singles Collection

Rockabilly wildman, Ray Campi, recorded several classic singles during the music's prime era in the 1950's, and later staged a comeback that earned him a substantial cult audience over the '70s and '80s. Campi was born in New York in 1934 and moved with his family to Austin, TX, at age ten. He started listening to country music, learned the guitar, and formed his first band in high school, which played on local radio stations. Campi made his first recordings in 1951, but it wasn't until 1956, when he cut the single "Caterpillar" b/w "Play It Cool" for the small TNT label, that any of them were released.

Ray Campi formed his first band - Ramblin' Ray and The Ramblers, way back in 1949. He has been playing his brand of American Roots Music on stages all over the world ever since. Though his repertoire includes a substantial dose of Country and Western Swing, it is among Rockabilly enthusiasts that Ray has gained his legendary status. Around 1973, Campi hooked up with Ronny Weiser's revivalist Rollin' Rock label and started making new recordings in the classic, high-energy rockabilly style. A steady stream of albums followed into the '80s, which also brought a couple of sets for Rounder, 1980's Rockin' at the Ritz and 1986's Gone, Gone, Gone!. Campi continued to record into the new millennium, releasing occasional albums on his own label.

Not only did he cut records which are now regarded as Rockabilly classics in the genre's 1950's heyday, he was partly responsible for sparking the 1970's/80's Rockabilly Revival.

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Lou Reed (1942 - 2013) NYC Man ... A Special Tribute to a Genius, Master and Legend

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American rock musician and songwriter. After being guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, his solo career spanned several decades. The Velvet Underground were a commercial failure in the late 1960s, but the group has gained a considerable cult following in the years since its demise and has gone on to become one of the most widely cited and influential bands of the era – hence Brian Eno's famous quote that while the Velvet Underground's debut album only sold 30,000 copies, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band."

After his departure from the group, Reed began a solo career in 1972. He had a hit the following year with "Walk on the Wild Side", but subsequently lacked the mainstream commercial success its chart status seemed to indicate. In 1975, Reed released a double album of feedback loops, Metal Machine Music, upon which he later commented, "No one is supposed to be able to do a thing like that and survive." Reed was known for his distinctive deadpan voice, poetic lyrics and for pioneering and coining the term ostrich guitar tuning.........for more, see the full Lou Reed story at Wikipedia here

His death and tributes

In May 2013, Reed underwent a liver transplant in Cleveland. Afterwards he claimed on his website to be "bigger and stronger" than ever. On October 27, 2013, Reed died at the age of 71 from liver disease at his home in Southampton, New York, on Long Island. His physician Charles Miller noted that Reed "was fighting right up to the very end. He was doing his Tai Chi exercises within an hour of his death, trying to keep strong and keep fighting."

Tributes were paid to Reed on Twitter, including Iggy Pop, Miley Cyrus, Samuel L. Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Gervais, Ryan Adams, Elijah Wood, and many others. David Bowie posted a comment on his Facebook page saying that Reed "was a master". Rock band Pearl Jam dedicated their song "Man of the Hour" to Reed at their show in Baltimore and then covered the Velvet Underground's "I'm Waiting for the Man".

John Cale, his Velvet Underground bandmate, posted on his Facebook: "The world has lost a fine songwriter and poet…I've lost my 'school-yard buddy'". Later, Universal Music revealed Cale's full statement on Reed's death:
"The news I feared the most, pales in comparison to the lump in my throat and the hollow in my stomach. Two kids have a chance meeting and 47 years later we fight and love the same way - losing either one is incomprehensible. No replacement value, no digital or virtual fill ... broken now, for all time. Unlike so many with similar stories - we have the best of our fury laid out on vinyl, for the world to catch a glimpse. The laughs we shared just a few weeks ago, will forever remind me of all that was good between us."

Former Velvet Underground drummer Mo Tucker responded by saying that Reed was "generous, encouraging and thoughtful. Working with him sometimes could be trying to some people, but never to me. I guess we learned from each other. We all learned from each other. Reed became an important influence to numerous singers and songwriters, including British musician Morrissey: He had been there all of my life. He will always be pressed to my heart. Thank God for those, like Lou, who move within their own laws, otherwise imagine how dull the world would be.

Others from outside the music industry also paid their respects, including the Vatican and Salman Rushdie, who wrote, "My friend Lou Reed came to the end of his song. So very sad. But hey, Lou, you'll always take a walk on the wild side. Always a perfect day."

The ultimate tribute is listening to his music and this 31 track collection covers almost his entire career.

NYC Man 001

NYC Man 002

                             

John Lennon...Peace Love & Truth

John Lennon's life and music has been written about and analysed many times over. Movies and documentaries have been made along with tribute albums and concerts. I'm not going to add to that here except to say that his music, not only with The Beatles but his solo work, is timeless and endearing. There have been many compilations released over the years since his death, most of them good, and any serious collector will have at least one Lennon album in their collection.

This compilation is unique as it presents John's finest song writing moments in a showcase that highlights his important ideals regarding, as the title suggests, peace, love and truth. Several of the tracks have been remixed to give them a fresh and new sound and perspective. An essential addition to your collection.

1. Give Peace A Chance (Remix 2005) (Ft The Voices Of Asia)
2. Gimme Some Truth
3. Love
4. Hold On
5. Give Peace A Chance (Y2k+)
6. Imagine
7. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda People)
8. Mind Games
9. I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier (Remix)
10. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
11. Power To The People
12. Real Love (Short Version) (Speech Removed)
13. Help Me To Help Myself
14. I Don't Wanna Face It
15. Bless You
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
17. Listen The Snow Is Falling
18. Give Peace A Chance

ChangesBowie...David Bowie

Known as "The Chameleon" of Rock music, David Bowie's career has seen many "changes". Starting in the early 1960's, he has created some of the most varied and always interesting music of his time and never fails to attract attention. This hits compilation contains 18 of the Thin White Duke's finest from 1969-1990. Includes 'Space Oddity', 'Changes', 'Suffragette City', 'Rebel Rebel', 'Young Americans', 'Golden Years', 'Ashes To Ashes', 'Let's Dance' and 'Blue Jean'.

ChangesBowie

River Rescue: The Very Best of Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder has many influences - from the early days as part of Taj Mahal's backing group (Ryland P Cooder, Rhythm Guitar) to the global success of Buena Vista Social Club. This collection pre-dates the latter and post-dates the former. It features 19 of his best tracks from his recordings on Warner from, 1972-1994. Includes 'Paris, Texas', 'Little Sister', 'The Pearls/ Tia Juana' and more!

Whether serving as a session musician, solo artist, or soundtrack composer, Ry Cooder's chameleon-like fretted instrument virtuosity, songwriting, and choices of material encompass an incredibly eclectic range of North American musical styles, including rock and roll, blues, reggae, Tex-Mex, Hawaiian, Dixieland jazz, country, folk, Rand B, gospel, and vaudeville. The 16-year-old Cooder began his career in 1963 in a blues band with Jackie DeShannon and then formed the short-lived Rising Sons in 1965 with Taj Mahal and Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy. Cooder met producer Terry Melcher through the Rising Sons and was invited to perform at several sessions with Paul Revere and the Raiders. During his subsequent career as a session musician, Cooder's trademark slide guitar work graced the recordings of such artists as Captain Beefheart (Safe as Milk), Randy Newman, Little Feat, Van Dyke Parks, the Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers), Taj Mahal, and Gordon Lightfoot. He also appeared on the soundtracks of Candy and Performance.

Cooder made his debut as a solo artist in 1970 with a self-titled album featuring songs by Leadbelly, Blind Willie Johnson, Sleepy John Estes, and Woody Guthrie. The follow-up, "Into the Purple Valley", introduced long time cohorts Jim Keltner on drums and Jim Dickinson on bass, and it and Boomer's Story largely repeated and refined the syncopated style and mood of the first. In 1974, Cooder produced what is generally regarded as his best album, Paradise and Lunch, and its follow-up, Chicken Skin Music, showcased a potent blend of Tex-Mex, Hawaiian, gospel, and soul music, and featured contributions from Flaco Jimenez and Gabby Pahinui. In 1979, Bop Till You Drop was the first major-label album to be recorded digitally. In the early '80s, Cooder began to augment his solo output with soundtrack work on such films as Blue Collar, The Long Riders, and The Border; he has gone on to compose music for Southern Comfort, Goin' South, Paris, Texas, Streets of Fire, Alamo Bay, Blue City, Crossroads, Cocktail, Johnny Handsome, Steel Magnolias, and Geronimo. Music by Ry Cooder (1995) compiled two discs' worth of highlights from Cooder's film work. (This biography was provided by the artist or their representative.)


1. River Come Down (PKA Bamboo)
2. UFO Has Landed In The Ghetto
3. Low-Commotion
4. Smack Dab In The Middle
5. Tattler
6. Dark End Of The Street
7. The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)
8. Going Back To Okinawa
9. Money Honey
10. Why Don't You Try Me
11. Paris, Texas
12. Chloe
13. The Pearls/Tia Juana
14. I Think It's Going To Work Out Fine
15. Down In Hollywood
16. Which Came First
17. Crazy 'Bout An Automobile (Every Woman I Know)
18. Get Rhythm
19. Little Sister

Ry Cooder