Various Artists - Los Angeles Soul Volume 2: Kent-Modern's Black Tracks 1963-1971

UK collection.

Here are 24 more tracks from the deep reserves of Kent/Modern '60s and early '70s soul. The selection is a thorough cross-section of the company's favored stylings - blues, funk, straight soul, jazz-tinged ballads and deep wailers along with a handful of appropriate soul dancers for those with a pulse. Prolific performers like Z. Z. Hill, Johnny Copeland and Clay Hammond are alongside one-off 45 artists such as Jeanette Jones, Earl Foster and Chuck Walker. Walker's little-known deep soul ballads open and close the compilation and there are stunning slow soul performances from Jimmy Bee and Venetta Fields. Blues meets soul with Larry Davis, Al King, Lowell Fulson and Millie Foster, whose version of 'Rock Me Baby' is sensual and previously unissued.

Moody, early soul dance tracks come from Bobby John and the Other Brothers, while uptempo offerings are sung by Z. Z. Hill, Vernon Garrett and Stacy Johnson. The newly discovered 'Honey' by Felice Taylor was penned by Steve Cook and Charles Tate of 'Too Darn Soulful' fame and gospel choir BPS Revolution contribute a terrific, largely unknown, mid-tempo LP track. Funkateers will undoubtedly dig the Rudy Love, Charles Taylor and Four Tees sides.