Al Kent Book

[Roburt]

Anyone got the book on the Detroit soul scene written by Al Kent.    Recommend it ??

Edited December 18, 2017 by Roburt

[David Meikle]

At £40 plus I thought this was a no goer. Then I discovered it had over 600 pages to it.

A sample of 109 pages is available via Google books.

I’ve seen most of the images on display except those of Joanne Bratton and Bob Hamilton. Very interesting to see those.

For a first glance I think this looks well written.

The names and record labels are discussed aplenty. NYC, Chicago and Detroit too.

All the way back to 1955.

After GW was sold Al’s name was on most 45’s as either a songwriter or producer.

I’ve always wanted to know why Bob met a violent end and hopefully this will be discussed. I believe it was a drive by shooting in 1969.

Interestingly on a number of pages Al refers to his other brother as Ronnie Savoy rather than Eugene Hamilton.

I’m going to plunk for the ebook at circa £28.

I think it will be well worth it.

 

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Looks like it David. That label still holds its head up high doesn't it! Al Kent's 'Ooh! Pretty lady' was a track I analysed back in the early 90s when I was planning to become a song writer. A great yardstick. 

[Roburt]

A bit from the book about Al's part in Jackie Wilson's early career ...

 

[David Meikle]

I wonder if Al kept the RicTic cap he’s sporting in the OP?

Edited December 20, 2017 by David Meikle
Cap instead of hat

[Chalky]

I got the book from wordery for £36

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Baseball cap - I wonder David. Imagine having a dance at an event with that on, to a Ric Tic track.

[David Meikle]

I ended up buying the book which arrived today.

At first glance I am excited about the detail but I wish he had done a bit of proof reading on the spelling of names and places. 

When I saw  “Teroshima”, for example, I thought he had been recording in Japan and not on Livernois. Tera Shirma Studios to us fanatics!

Anyway, seems like every other page is dissing Ed Wingate so it’s worth the money alone to get his opinion on his old boss. If Ed was still alive...I wonder.

I glimpsed Aretha Franklin being touted for “The whole world is a stage”. That would have been an interesting version. 

Al talks about potential stars such as Winnie Webb...who? Detroit was full of them.

Norma Toney his wife gets a mention too. I’ll let you read that yourself.

If you are into Detroit facts as much as me then I think you’ll find this book fascinating. More than 600 pages of it too!

Edited December 31, 2017 by David Meikle

[Robbk]

On 12/27/2017 at 13:19, David Meikle said:

I ended up buying the book which arrived today.

At first glance I am excited about the detail but I wish he had done a bit of proof reading on the spelling of names and places. 

When I saw  “Teroshima”, for example, I thought he had been recording in Japan and not on Livernois. Terra Shirma Studios to us fanatics!

Anyway, seems like every other page is dissing Ed Wingate so it’s worth the money alone to get his opinion on his old boss. If Ed was still alive...I wonder.

I glimpsed Aretha Franklin being touted for “The whole world is a stage”. That would have been an interesting version. 

Al talks about potential stars such as Winnie Webb...who? Detroit was full of them.

Norma Toney his wife gets a mention too. I’ll let you read that yourself.

If you are into Detroit facts as much as me then I think you’ll find this book fascinating. More than 600 pages of it too!

If Mr. Wingate were still alive now, you can be 100% certain that Al wouldn't be saying anything but nice things about him.

[Robbk]

On 12/27/2017 at 13:19, David Meikle said:

I ended up buying the book which arrived today.

At first glance I am excited about the detail but I wish he had done a bit of proof reading on the spelling of names and places. 

When I saw  “Teroshima”, for example, I thought he had been recording in Japan and not on Livernois. Terra Shirma Studios to us fanatics!

Anyway, seems like every other page is dissing Ed Wingate so it’s worth the money alone to get his opinion on his old boss. If Ed was still alive...I wonder.

I glimpsed Aretha Franklin being touted for “The whole world is a stage”. That would have been an interesting version. 

Al talks about potential stars such as Winnie Webb...who? Detroit was full of them.

Norma Toney his wife gets a mention too. I’ll let you read that yourself.

If you are into Detroit facts as much as me then I think you’ll find this book fascinating. More than 600 pages of it too!

600 pages of 1st hand memories of Detroit music during the '50s through the '70s is well £40, even with misspellings.

[David Meikle]

2 hours ago, RobbK said:

600 pages of 1st hand memories of Detroit music during the '50s through the '70s is well £40, even with misspellings.

Perhaps you couldn’t see the Teroshima bit as tongue in cheek?

Labaron Taylor my ass.

Only joking Robb. This book IS well worth the money.

But if this extremely good read is seen as gospel then Ed Wingate’s obituary is possibly in tatters.

I only discovered The Detroit Sound in 1967, but it changed my life COMPLETELY.

It hurts me to read that BG and EW are remembered as less than decent.But they weren’t the only ones in that cut throat industry.

I’m pissed so I must STFU

Buy the book!

 

Edited December 30, 2017 by David Meikle

[Robbk]

2 minutes ago, David Meikle said:

Perhaps you couldn’t see the Teroshima bit as tongue in cheek?

Labaron Taylor my ass.

Only joking Robb. This book IS well worth the money.

But if this extremely good read is seen as gospel then Ed Wingate’s obituary is possibly in tatters.

I only discovered The Detroit Sound in 1967, but it changed my life COMPLETELY.

It hurts me to read that BG and EW are remembered as less than decent.But they weren’t the only ones in that cut throat industry.

I have no sense of humour.  That's why I'm a comedy writer! 

The sad thing is that there were many, many record company owners a LOT worse than Gordy.  He was a saint compared to Goldner, Levy, Tarnopol and the like.

[David Meikle]

Thanks Robb and respect to you for para 2 as I know you were around then.

Have a good one.

David

 

,

[Robbk]

I find it interesting that of Gordy's 3 songs given to Kent, Chess only released "That's Why....." (Printed as "Dat's Why..."), while "Am I The Man" was only released by a tiny New York indie label, Wizard, and Kent's "Lonely Teardrops" never came out.