Conch Records
UPCOMING: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Soul Time! (DAPTONE)
Due out late October on CD & LP+mp3, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have developed an international reputation as the #1 group on today’s soul scene. Soul Time! is an exploration of the full range of their dynamic sound through twelve songs handpicked by the Daptone Records gang, each one a precious exclusive.
The needle drops on Genuine Pts. 1 & 2, a supercharged funk arrangement that evokes the late Godfather not only with the spirited syncopation of the Dap-Kings rhythms, but also with the raw power of Jones’ voice. It is performances such as these that have earned her the moniker “the Female James Brown.” Though it has long been one of their best-selling singles, it makes it’s album debut here. Longer and Stronger, written for her 50th birthday, is a deep mid-tempo soul celebration of the strength and determination with which Sharon Jones has earned her long overdue success. It is heard here for the first time, but will undoubtedly join other Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings songs in the canon of great soul music. The theme of empowerment pushes on through “He Said I Can”, an energetic stomper belted over an arrangement reminiscent of the Isley Brothers early-seventies heyday, and “I’m Not Gonna Cry” brings us back to the raw funk intensity of Genuine with a squealing tenor solo and a fiery vocal. Side one wraps with a scorching studio performance of “When I Come Home”, long a highlight of the band’s live show but rearing its head on album here for the first time as well.
“What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?” kicks the second side off with a bang. A strong anti-war message pours over a revolutionary mid-tempo groove, accentuated by the conga work of the legendary Johnny Griggs of JB’s fame, while Settling In is a greasy rhythm and blues grinder. And who says Christmas can’t be soulful? Jones et al. make it so over their sought after holiday exclusive, “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects.” Next is an energetic romp into Motown intensity with “New Shoes”, a walking-out-the door belter that picks up where These Boots Were Made For Walking left off. Without A Trace shows yet another dimension of the band, stretching a dreamy mid-tempo groove down the road to Memphis and back. The record winds up with a deep laid back cover of Shuggie Otis’ psychedelic soul jam “Inspiration Information.” From the first note to the last, Soul Time! confirms this band’s place at the head of the table as the world’s greatest funk and soul showband. Whether you’re a lifetime fan, or just getting turned on, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ have yet again made a record that will blow your mind. Get ready world, because It’s Soul Time!
Track List & Sound Clips:
01 | Genuine Pt. 1 | clip | ||||
02 | Genuine Pt. 2 | clip | ||||
03 | Longer and Stronger | clip | ||||
04 | He Said I Can | clip | ||||
05 | I’m Not Gonna Cry | clip | ||||
06 | When I Come Home | clip | ||||
07 | What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes? | clip | ||||
08 | Settling In | clip | ||||
09 | Ain’t No Chimneys In the Projects | clip | ||||
10 | New Shoes | clip | ||||
11 | Without a Trace | clip | ||||
12 | Inspiration Information | clip |
GIG: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Sat 18th Dec @ The Powerstation
SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS
After winning the hearts of New Zealand audiences in 2008 with their incendiary performances at WOMAD in New Plymouth, soul-funk sensations Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are returning in December to play two dynamite shows in Auckland and Wellington. Now in her 50s, ex-prison guard Sharon Jones has been singing all her life. Born in James Brown's hometown of Augusta Georgia, Jones moved to New York at an early age, but often stayed with family down south and learned to sing gospel in church. She worked as a backing vocalist in the 1970s but was knocked back at every attempt to further herself in the music industry. She drifted back into regular paid day-jobs, working as an armoured security guard and as a corrections officer at New York's Rikers Island prison. It was only when she hooked up with an early incarnation of Brooklyn-based eight-piece soul act the Dap-Kings that she was thrust well and truly into the spotlight. That band was the Soul Providers, a late nineties New York soul act whose roster included guitarist Binky Griptite and bassist Bosco Mann.
From this nucleus of players they recruited more members, including drummer Homer Steinweiss from The Mighty Imperials and saxophonist Neal Sugarman of the Sugarman 3. With the vocal powerhouse of Sharon Jones out front they released Daptone Records' first long player, 2002's Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. They're now acknowledged as being the leaders of a global soul revival and Jones has legions of fans all over the world. Little wonder, for onstage she not only sings up a storm, she's a prowling, gyrating ball of energy and she's fronting a true soul revue.
As for the Dap-Kings, who also backed Amy Winehouse on her 2006 hit album Back To Black, they're every inch a classic soul-funk house band. They come on stage dripping in cool, wearing 1960s suits and skinny ties, and throwing down a fast-paced, funky instrumental groove before their MC and guitarist Binky Griptite welcomes the "Queen of Funk" Sharon Jones onto the stage. Over four albums, including Dap-Dippin', Naturally, 100 Days, 100 Nights and their 2010 release I Learned the Hard Way, this extraordinary band, led by bassist producer Gabe Roth (AKA Bosco Mann) has remained completely authentic, like they dropped right in from the sixties and landed on a vinyl groove. They are the genuine article, a contemporary band playing timeless soul originals that will transport you to Harlem's Apollo Theater, to the relative isolation of Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee, and from James Brown to Aretha Franklin to Ray Charles in one fantastic set. File them under Soul, sure -- but more importantly, you can file Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings under NOT TO BE MISSED!!
SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER // THE POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND w/ guests and DJ Murray Cammick Pre-sale tickets available from Thursday 23rd September 9am until Sunday 27th September Midnight General tickets on sale Monday 27th September 9am from Ticketmaster & Real Groovy Ticketmaster purchase page link Go to www.muchmoremusic.co.nz for all show and ticketing info and to register for presales. FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER // OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON w/ guests and DJ Riki Gooch Pre-sale tickets available from Thursday 23rd September 9am until Sunday 27th September Midnight General tickets on sale Monday 27th September 9am from Ticketek & Real Groovy Ticketek purchase page link:
Comments
0 Comments