Photographers: Gilles P‚tard; Ady Croasdell; Roger Armstrong.
Arrangers: Teddy Reynolds; John Sharkey; Louis C. Thomas; Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis ; Miles Grayson; Arthur Wright.
The British Ace Records label continues its impressive series of vintage R&B reissues with this collection of little-heard items from the archives of Los Angeles-based soul specialists Kent Records and its sister label, Modern Records. While this disc is dominated by lesser-known acts, there are a few recognizable names here, including the Ikettes, who take the spotlight from bandleader Ike Turner on the sassy "Don't Feel Sorry for Me"; Johnny Copeland, best known as a bluesman but showing off some strong Southern soul vocals on "You Must Believe in Yourself"; and Los Angeles soul veteran Vernon Garrett, who sounds fine on the tough but moody "I'm Guilty." However, the more obscure acts deliver music every bit as strong; Billy Watkins kicks off the show with the hard-twisting "Beverly," Freeman King (a regular on Sonny & Cher's television variety show) delivers the fine country-flavored "Working for the Woman I Love," Al King's "My Name Is Misery" is a first-class soul-blues side, "Poor Sad Child" by the Windjammers borrows shamelessly from the Temptations but is strong enough to get away with it, Little Henry & the Shamrocks generate a subtle but grooving New Orleans-style rhythm on "The Ta Ta Song," and there's some savage rhythm guitar on Frank Armstrong & the Stingers' gutsy "Feel Like I Want to Holler." As usual, Ace's studio staff have done a fine job of remastering this material, and Ady Croasdell's liner notes provide plenty of valuable information on the two-dozen acts featured here. If you're looking for hits of the soul era, For Connoisseurs Only, Vol. 3 doesn't have them, but R&B fans who enjoy digging for lost classics will certainly find a few on this CD. ~ Mark Deming
