In 2008, Toby Pazner and a group of New York City’s most sought-after musicians found themselves in a Brooklyn bedroom, gathered around a Tascam 388 tape machine. There, they recorded what would become the debut 45 of a project he named The Olympians—initially released on Truth & Soul Records.

Eight years later, while on tour in the Greek Islands, Pazner had a fever dream in which he was visited by a toga-clad, curly-haired figure. The mysterious presence urged him to return across the great sea to build a "Temple of Sound"—a vision that ultimately materialized as the group’s self-titled album, released in 2016 on Daptone Records. The record featured a long list of elite musicians from the Daptone family, allof whom contributed their talents to help realize Pazner’s creative vision.

The album was met with widespread acclaim, quickly earning a reputation as one of the finest instrumental soul records of the decade–gaining reviews from Pitchfork, American Songwriter, Brooklyn Vegan, KUTX and many others. In the digital space, the project has been backed by unbelievably strong organic growth at DSPs, with streaming numbers exceeding all expectations, turning it into a breakout success for both Daptone and Pazner.
Following the success of his debut solo effort, Pazner spent the next several years exploring the musical cosmos—writing songs with Lee Fields as well as joining him on the road as his keyboardist (whom he has also managed for 16 years),. During this time he also started a family. This series of transformative life events set the stage for the forthcoming album, In Search of a Revival (Daptone Records).

In Search of a Revival revisits the original dream that inspired The Olympians but with a more introspective and evolved approach. This time, and a whole 10 years since the self-titled debut was released, Pazner composed, arranged, and produced the entire album on his own. Featuring a mix of returning musicians from his debut as well as a handful of friends and collaborators he has met on his musical journey–forming a 17 person ensemble of the scene’s top players. While The Olympians drew heavily from the classic soul stylings of Curtis Mayfield and James Brown, In Search of a Revival leans into the golden era of the Wrecking Crew, the lush textures of Gold Star Studios, vintage film scores, and the more obscure corners of cinematic soundscapes.

From the cascading harps which open the “Sirens of Jupiter” to the driving horn coda of “Sagittarius By Moonlight,” The Olympians deliver a new sound all of its own: an ancient dream of far away Greece painted out in lush cinematic arrangements over the tough rhythms. In Search of a Revival is poised to be yet another Daptone classic—an album that not only honors the traditions of instrumental soul, but sets a bold new standard for the genre in the years to come.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Another superb outfit to spring from the much-welcomed modern soul resurgence, Thee Olympian strike a perfect balance between the staggered beat of traditional soul and the more athletic production we hear from modern producers. A beautifully fluid, head-noddingly funky orchestral soul journey.

TRACK LISTING

1. In Search Of A Revival Part 1
2. Strawberry Kiwi
3. Thunderball
4. California
5. A Little Something
6. Here Comes Ben
7. In Search Of A Revival Part 2
8. Saraswati Puja
9. Hollywood Cold
10. Tall Grass
11. Wildfire
12. Honey Bea

Soul singer supreme, Jalen Ngonda and producer/veteran keyboardist, Victor Axelrod join forces to deliver the collaboration we all needed- the impossibly soulful, reggae banger 'All About Me'.

Having worked together on the sessions for 'Come Around and Love Me', Axelrod recalls being inspired by the similarities between Jalen’s voice and a young Bitty Mclean. He had the beds to a track already recorded, but needed the right singer. With Jalen on board, the two wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocals in one night.

Written from the perspective of an arrogant lover, the track’s party-forward swing and stellar vocal performance make for a pop-forward gem poised to be massive on both the soul and reggae scenes.

TRACK LISTING

1. All About Me
2. All About Me (Dub)

With 'Hourglass', Antibalas returns to its instrumental roots. Previous albums featured lyrics that addressed topics like patriarchy, climate change, militarism, late stage capitalism, oligarchy, white ethnonationalism, and the genocide of Native Americans. In this album the group rearticulates these themes, however speaking through melody and rhythm.

“Once a song has lyrics, everyone who doesn’t speak that language is on the outside. We use rhythm and melody to translate the emotions in the album and make it universally accessible,” explains the co-producer/founder Martin Perna.

The new album draws on compositions written by several current and emeritus members of the group. 'Hourglass' begins with a plaintive and ecstatic tenor saxophone solo before digging into an intense 12-8 groove. The group pivots with 'Lo-Life' highlighting the group’s ability to swing a lá Machito or the 1970s Ghanaian dance band leaders like Guedu Blay-Ambolley.

Others like 'Solace', 'Escape' and 'Lo Ceiba', conjure echoes of the classic Lagos afrobeat sound, albeit spoken with a Brooklyn accent. 'Oasis', the album's finale, is a step into a psychedelic unknown future, with a deep sense of liberatory funk eternally at its core. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Solace
2. Lo Life
3. Escape
4. Hourglass
5. La Ceiba
6. Oasis 

Esteemed multi-instrumentalist who's played with Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse, Quincy Jones, John Batiste, Run The Jewels.

The 3rd and final chapter in Cochemea's epic quest to explore and express the spiritual connection between his art and ancestry. For Vol 3: Ancestros Futuros, Cochemea entrusted his vision to a core group of longtime collaborators—a powerful octet composed of New York-based percussionists and members of Daptone’s famed rhythm section. Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann) reprised his role as producer, recording and mixing the album live to 8-track analog tape. Cochemea continues to push the boundaries of his sound, blending past, present, and future into a ritual offering—an evolving sonic narrative where memory, survival and creativity converge.

TRACK LISTING

1. Transmisión Del Soñar
2. Otros Mundos
3. Ancestro Futuro
4. Omeyocan
5. Pyramid Of The Sun
6. The Land Swallowed Them Whole
7. Seeing
8. Procession Of Spirits
9. Chiokoe

Very very excited to introduce you to the newest member of the Daptone family, The Womack Sisters.

They're the granddaughters of the legendary Sam Cooke, daughters of renowned songwriters and producers Cecil and Linda Womack (of Womack & Womack,) and nieces of singer-songwriter and R&B icon Bobby Womack.

The debut single from Soul Music nobility, The Womack Sisters, is a one-two punch of soulful excellence. “If You Want Me” displays uncompromising rawness with pop-sensible control in equal measure. Propelled by the percussive attack of the piano and the hard-hitting call and response vocals, the track has a satisfyingly feel-good swing, allowing the groove to accentuate the hook. Sure to be a universally filed disc for DJs looking to bring some life to the dancefloor.

On “I Just Don’t Want You” sisters Kujcha and Zeimani’s plaintive background vocals and BG’s powerful lead come together like a harmonic bouquet in full bloom. A deeply soulful ballad at its core, it tells a tale of someone coming to terms with the pain of being in love with Mr Wrong when you know you deserve Mr Right.

2005’s Naturally was a pivotal moment in the history of soul music. It was the first Daptone album tracked at the renowned “House of Soul”, a recording studio handbuilt by Sharon and the rest of the Daptone family in a two story rental in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The album has gone on to sell over 200,000 records, with hit singles 'How Long Do I Have To Wait?' and 'This Land is Your Land' streaming in the hundreds of millions- staggering figures for a wholly independent release.

Up to this point Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings had yet to reach an audience outside of dingy, hole-in-the-wall clubs, dive bars, and underground DJ parties, attended by only the most in-the-know. This was the scene where the band began to flourish, developing the sound that would forever alter the musical landscape and set a lofty new bar for what could be considered real-deal soul music. It made Daptone a household name and opened doors for countless musicians and record labels to come. Naturally sparked a renaissance that is still vibrating today- a testament to Sharon Jones’ legacy as the undisputed, reigning Queen of Heavyweight Soul.

TRACK LISTING

1. How Do I Let A Good Man Down?
2. Natural Born Lover
3. Stranded In Your Love (Featuring Lee Fields)
4. My Man Is A Mean Man
5. You’re Gonna Get It
6. How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?
7. This Land Is Your Land
8. Your Thing Is A Drag
9. Fish In The Dish
10. All Over Again
11. How Do I Let A Good Man Down? (Intrumental)
12. Natural Born Lover (Instrumental)
13. Stranded In Your Love (Instrumental)
14. My Man Is A Mean Man (Instrumental)
15. You’re Gonna Get It (Instrumental)
16. How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? (Instrumental)
17. This Land Is Your Land (Instrumental)
18. Your Thing Is A Drag (Instrumental)
19. Fish In The Dish (Instrumental)
20. All Over Again (Instrumental)

After several wildly popular singles out on Penrose Records, alongside labelmates Thee Sacred Souls, The Altons gear up to release their debut album on Daptone Records.

With lead vocals shared between Adriana Flores and Brian Ponce the interplay between their unique timbres brings a romantic quality to the music that is absent in many of today's soul offerings.

Steeped with moody ballads, soulful, tejano-kissed duets and Bond theme psychedelia–Heartache In Room 14 is poised to be a "must have" album of 2025.

TRACK LISTING

1 Waiting
2 Tangled Up In You
3 I Try I Try
4 Perdóname
5 Float
6 Where Did She Go
7 Del Cielo Te Cuido
8 Your Light
9 Over And Over
10 Show You Love

It is our distinct pleasure to present another massive double-sider from Jalen Ngonda and Co.. After taking the UK airwaves by storm with “Illusions” making it onto the BBCR2 A-List and “Rapture” featured on the BBC Radio 6 list we knew we had to offer these sides on 45. With their sophisticated arrangements and infallible, soulful grooves courtesy of some of the best musicians in the game, Jalen’s voice shines through- exuding the class and maturity of an artist who has refined their craft on the road. Two sides sure to fill dancefloors at discerning soul nights around the globe.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
Illusions

Side B
Rapture

The highly anticipated follow-up to Thee Sacred Souls's breakout 2022 self-titled debut, ‘Got A Story To Tell’, features 12 all original new songs, a soaring statement of exquisite craftsmanship from this young band from San Diego whose story grows bigger by the day. Recorded and produced by Gabriel Roth at Penrose Recorders, in Daptone’s Riverside, CA studio, and written in the throes of supporting their 2022 album, which was met with significant excitement and major touring that brought them across the world.

What swirls together on ‘Got A Story To Tell’ is an appreciation of decades of soul music, and beyond - a sound and feel that is timeless, lived in, and very much in the now. Album opener “Lucid Girl” champions independent women, set to some of the toughest sounding drums and bass the band has yet to put to tape. “Waiting On The Right Time” slinks with a touch of slow-burning psychedelia. A plea for empathy punctuates “One and the Same,” with Lane singing: “We’re one and the same, I feel one day / We learn to live with each other / In love, not fear / Just for a moment, why can’t we be together.” “On My Mind” is a sweeping orchestration, with Lane navigating the complexities of finding happiness while balancing the good with the bad. The album is punctuated with strings and squelching guitar, trundling piano, pops of conga, horns - it makes for a thrilling, layered listen that rewards with multiple spins. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: We've had a couple years now of people asking for the last Sacred Souls album (and for good reason) so there's definitely some excitement surrounding the new one. It absolutely does not disappoint either, beautifully rich soulful melodies and perfectly produced grooves from this San Diego trio. A perfect home on Daptone too. Brilliant.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Lucid Girl
2. Price I’ll Pay
3. Live For You
4. On My Mind
5. Waiting On The Right Time
6. Losing Side Of Love
Side B
7. Somebody Knew
8. My Heart Is Drowning
9. Stuck In The Mud
10. In The Mirror
11. One And The Same
12. I’m So Glad I Found You, Baby

On this, their third album, they combine talents with Cuban lyricist, singer and composer Kiko Ruiz, who has toured and recorded with Pancho Amatʼs illustrious Estrellas del Buena Vista Social Club as well as having a longstanding history as a singer, composer and arranger with Orquesta Maria Alejandra y Cubanía.

Caracoles ushers (GRAMMY-award nominated) Orquesta Akokánʼs unique brand of mambo into the 21st century, imbuing it with the groupʼs signature sense of akokán–a Cuban Yoruba word meaning “from the heart”.

Back at the helm are producer and multi instrumentalist, Jacob Plasse and virtuosic pianist, composer and arranger Michael Eckroth - a collaboration that continues to lead Orquestaʼs exploration of the sublime mambo in all its depth and breadth. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Con Licencia
2. Pan Con Tibiri
3. Caracoles
4. Suave Suave
5. Cha-Cha-Cha Pa’ca
6. La Fiera
7. Pregonero
8. Las Sieta Vidas Da Inés
9. Flor De Mi Campo
10. Dona Felipa

A modern, mid-tempo masterpiece whose lush arrangement and laser-sharp groove provide the perfect foundation for Jalen’s profoundly soulful vocals. The track exudes charm and manifests positivity in a way rarely captured on today’s soul scene.

On the flip is the moody, previously unreleased beat-ballad, “What is Left to Do”, whose gorgeous strings, plaintive, call and response chorus and tasteful delay create the kind of subdued psychedelic that was coming out of Motown in the early 70’s. But contrary to the trends of that era, both sides of this disc are presented in glorious mono.

TRACK LISTING

Side A – Come Around And Love Me
Side B – What Is Left To Do

If youʼre a fan of Daptone Records, chances are youʼve read or heard the name Victor Axelrod, and even if you havenʼt, youʼve heard music from his hand. As a producer, arranger, recording and mixing engineer, and keyboardist, his creativity has extended across more than two decades of the labelʼs releases, even dating to its prehistory with Desco Records.

If You Ask Me To..., the first LP under his name for the label, is a collection of singles released between 2007-2023 as well as unreleased tracks from Sugar Minott and Binky Griptite. The genesis of which came via an 11th hour request from Daptone for a Sharon Jones remix (2007) that resulted in the reggae version of “How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?” found here.

This opened the door to additional explorations of reggae/soul synergies within the catalog, affirming the musical and cultural link between Daptoneʼs core soul sound and Axelrodʼs passion for Jamaican music. While previous projects like Ticklah Vs. Axelrod and Roots Combination (produced under the alias Ticklah) were inspired by the Jamaica of the 1970s and 80s, this set specifically channels an earlier period in the 1960s when Jamaica was both strikingly original in its continuum of genres but also closely and empathetically attuned to Black American music.

Through Axelrodʼs exceptional taste and the notable contributions of guitarist Tom Brenneck, original tapes from Bob & Gene's MoDo discography, members of The Frightnrs, and others from the NYC reggae community, the legacy of trailblazing Jamaican artists like Alton Ellis, Tony Gregory, and Ken Parker continue to resonate and inspire a whole new generation of reggae and soul enthusiasts.

TRACK LISTING

One Step Ahead - Sugar Minott
If You Ask Me To - Leon Dinero
Whatcha Doing (to Me) - Charles Bradley
Icanbecool - Bob & Gene
Lover Like Me - Binky Griptite
I’d Rather Go Blind - The Frightnrs
I Can’t Stand These Lonely Nights - Bob & Gene
It’s Not What You Know (it’s Who You Know) - Bob & Gene
How Long Do I Have To Wait For You - Sharon Jones
Conscience Is Heavy - The Inversions

Artists like Jalen Ngonda come around once in a lifetime, so it is our privilege and distinct pleasure to announce the release of his debut album ‘Come Around and Love Me’.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing Jalen perform live knows that he is one of the most captivating performers on today's soul scene. His voice, equal parts raw feeling and elegance, exudes confidence and charm—disarming packed rooms of rowdy concert goers, leaving them silent as they hold fast to every syllable sung.

Plans for the album were struck just months before the COVID 19 pandemic shut the world down. Notwithstanding, Jalen eventually made it to Hive Mind Studios in Brooklyn, NY where he began writing and recording with the help of producer/arrangers Mike Buckley and Vincent Chiarito (both members of Charles Bradley's Extraordinaires) and a crack team of a-list musicians from the Daptone family. The team skilfully blends heavy arrangements and introspective lyrics with Motown sophistication, leaving the listener in a blissful wash of wonderment.

Jalen has been writing songs since he was 14, and his compositions are also very much of these times. He explains, “I love music from the 20th century— I listen to it all the time, but I'm in this world and the 21st century. ...to a stranger, I'd describe my music as modern soul and R&B, while trying to ft in the Beach Boys and the Beatles somewhere in between.” ‘Come Around and Love Me’ reveals how he creates a classic approach that is rooted in the sounds of revered pioneers, without falling into imitation–leaving no doubt that Jalen will continue to shine within the superlative, timeless musical tradition that is Daptone's hallmark.

STAFF COMMENTS

Laura says: Born and raised on the East Coast of the USA, just outside Washington DC and now resident in Liverpool, Jalen Ngonda’s debut album is released on Daptone, which is reason enough to take note - let’s face it, they rarely put a foot wrong do they? The album kicks off with the title track “Come Around And Love Me”, that brings to mind ‘What’s Going On’ era Marvin, and then runs through a collection of pristine 2-3 minute gems that perfectly capture the golden era of soul, from the mid 60s to mid 70s.

Jalen is the real deal, with a voice that ranges from raw soul power to sweet falsetto, and songwriting skills to match. There isn’t a bad track here, in fact pretty much every song could be a single in its own right. You can pick out a whole host of influences, from the aforementioned Marvin Gaye, to the psychedelic soul of Isaac Hayes, the Motor City sound of The Four Tops and sweet harmonies of The Temptation but there’s a fresh modern feel to the production too, it’s not some tired pastiche. I guess if you’re looking for a contemporary comparison, Michael Kiwanuka springs to mind in the way that he fuses the old and new so seamlessly. So to sum up, if you’re a fan of modern soul, full of romance and heartbreak and infused with classic Motown and Philly Soul ingredients, then this is for you.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Come Around And Love Me
2. If You Donʼt Want My Love
3. Lost
4. Thatʼs All I Wanted From You
5. Please Show Me
Side B
6. Just Like You Used To
7. What A Difference She Made
8. Give Me Another Day
9. So Glad I Found You
10. It Takes A Fool
11. Rapture

Soul great Lee Fields signs to Daptone and announces a new album.
Lee Fields is arguably the greatest soul singer alive today. In an age when the shelf life of an artist largely depends on posturing and trends, he has proven to be an unassailable force of nature. His prolific, decade-spanning career continues to reign supreme on the modern soul scene.

In early 2022, Lee reunited with Daptone Records and producer Gabriel Roth to record Sentimental Fool, a deep, blues-tinged, wholly-conceived soul album. From his first line to his final plaintive lyric, the beauty, power, and raw humanity of Leeʼs voice is on full display here; the culmination of an astounding career that has seemed to defy gravity, rising to only greater and greater heights.

Soul music pours out of Lee Fields, as free and unstinting as God's love.
It was ever since the 1960's, when he was a teenager in North Carolina sweating it out on juke joint stages, crumpled dollars hailing at his feet. It continues now that the living legend is in his late sixties, ushering in the most successful and fruitful period of his career.

Like any living legend worth their salt, Fields has suffered despair, obscurity, defeat. Although he now tours stages around the world, and although he helped fellow soul legends like Sharon Jones (who was once Fields' backup singer) and Charles Bradley (whom Fields took on his first tour) get their first break, he did not always have this position. There were years—they were known as "the 1980's"—when Fields nearly gave up. His success these days, then has a bittersweet tinge: His dear friends Bradley and Jones have both passed, leaving Fields to outlive them and carry their legacy forth.

With all these years, and all this life, comes a sort of divine wisdom, and Fields has it in spades. "I am a sinner, just like everybody else," he says gravely. He is no "holier—than—thou guy," he adds. He just believes in people's ability to love and be loved, and he understands that music is the divine bridge to these places.

TRACK LISTING

1. Forever
2. I Should Have Let You Be
3. Sentimental Fool
4. Two Jobs
5. Just Give Me Your Time
6. Save Your Tears For Someone New
7. The Door
8. What Did I Do?
9. Without A Heart
10. Ordinary Lives
11. Your Face Before My Eyes
12. Extraordinary Man

Longtime Daptone Hammond ace, Adam Scone was seduced when his travelling performances brought him from Brooklyn, New York to Brooklin, Brasil, where he found a trove of new love and music. Produced by Bosco Mann, and featuring Jimmy James (True-Loves, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio) on guitar and Neal Sugarman (Sugarman 3, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings) on tenor sax the group took this newfound inspiration into the studio and tracked some of the freshest soulful music we've heard in some time.
With help from his intergalactic choir, the opening track, "Cold 40's", leaps out of the speakers with the screaming organ sound that has put Scone on the short list of goto organ players. The Hammond then gives way to a dreamy, funky groove that's perfectly seasoned with ethereal background vocals that will transport you to a place where summer is on repeat. "Brooklyn to Brooklin” brings you deep into a fever-dream of tropical rhythms and seductive flourishes of psychedelia, sure to delight dancers and dreamers alike. Come take a trip!

TRACK LISTING

1. Cold 40's
2. In Your Hands
3. Anadira
4. Brooklyn To Brooklin
5. All These Bad Things
6. What's Her Name?
7. It Wasn't Meant To Be
8. Night Ballads
9. Golden State
10. Laughing Because

For Thee Sacred Souls, the first time is often the charm. The band’s first club dates led to a record deal with the revered Daptone label; their first singles racked up more than ten million streams in a year and garnered attention from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and KCRW; and their first fans included the likes of Gary Clark Jr., The Black Pumas, Princess Nokia, and Timbaland. Now, the breakout San Diego trio is ready to deliver yet another landmark first with the release of their self-titled debut on Daptone records.

“Every step of the way has just been so organic,” says drummer Alex Garcia. “Things just seem to happen naturally when the three of us get together.”

Indeed, there’s something inevitable about the sound of Thee Sacred Souls, as if Garcia and his bandmates—bassist Sal Samano and singer Josh Lane—have been playing together for a lifetime already. Produced by Bosco Mann (aka Daptone co-founder Gabriel Roth), Thee Sacred Souls is a warm and textured record, mixing the easygoing grace of sweet ’60s soul with the grit and groove of early ’70s R&B, and the performances are utterly intoxicating, with Lane’s weightless vocals anchored by the rhythm section’s deep pocket and infectious chemistry.

Hints of Chicano, Philly, Chicago, Memphis and even Panama soul turn up here, and while it’s tempting to toss around labels like “retro” with a deliberately analog collection like this, there’s also something distinctly modern about the band that defies easy categorization, a rawness and a sincerity that transcends time and place.

TRACK LISTING

Can I Call You Rose
Lady Love
Easier Said Than Done
Overflowing
A Trade Of Hearts
Weak For Your Love
Future Lover
Sorrow For Tomorrow
For Now
Once You Know (THEN You'll Know)
Happy And Well
Love Comes Easy

Daptone Records presents The James Hunter Six's latest offering, With Love: a heart-shaped collection of candle-lit ballads and love songs.

Plucked like so many "he loves you" petals from the vast and sumptuous garden of his Daptone Recordings, these twelve lilting melodies have been selected and sequenced with great care, tenderness, and intention by Daptone staff for the solitary purpose of compiling some of the criminally overlooked treasures in the James Hunter Six's critically acclaimed catalog.

TRACK LISTING

1. Something’s Calling
2. I Don’t Wanna Be Without You
3. Who’s Fooling Who
4. If I Only Knew
5. Carina
6. Take It As You Find It
7. This Is Where We Came In
8. Heartbreak
9. It Was Gonna Be You
10. Never

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are here to help music fans get into the holiday spirit. The band provide a soulful soundtrack to the holidays this year with new album 'It’s A Holiday Soul Party', released on Daptone Records.

And we're not just talking Christmas here either, as other faith-based seasonal celebrations are catered for as well. Kicking off with “8 Days (Of Hanukkah)” - the band’s ode to The Festival of Lights - the 11-song set of original and classic holiday songs is the group’s first holiday record and follows their Grammy-nominated 2014 album 'Give The People What They Want'.

Get your menorah lit, your Xmas tree decorated and then stick this record on - happy holidays ya'll!

TRACK LISTING

8 Days (Of Hannukah) 
Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects 
White Christmas 
Just Another Christmas Song 
Silent Night 
Big Bulbs 
Please Come Home For Christmas 
Funky Little Drummer Boy
Silver Bells 
World Of Love 
God Rest Ye Merry Gents

Daptone celebrates it's 20 year anniversary with this new album, recorded and filmed live at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem NYC 2014!
Performed and recorded over three nights in front of a sold out crowd at The World Famous Theater in Harlem, NY (December 4th - 6th, 2014), this album brings the electrifying performances that helped put Daptone on the map directly to your living room!

Featuring live sets from: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley And His Extraordinaires, Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, Antibalas, The Budos Band, Menahan Street Band, Saun & Starr, The Sugarman 3, as well as MC, Binky Griptite; it’s a rambunctious, star-studded and celebratory affair which almost takes you right into the heart of the action!

Pour yourself a rum daquiri, put on your finest clobber, and get settled for a high-glitz, high-glamour Saturday night! By golly you deserve it! Bring the party to your living room and experience the incredible vibe of this incendiary night over and over again at your leisure. 

TRACK LISTING

Side One:
1. Introduction By Binky Griptite - The Dap-Kings
2. Hot Shot - Saun & Starr
3. Confess It - Saun & Starr
4. In The Night - Saun & Starr
5. Witch's Boogaloo - The Sugarman 3
6. Love Went Away - The Sugarman 3

Side Two:
1. Thank You Lord - Naomi Shelton And The Gospel Queens
2. Stranger - Naomi Shelton And The Gospel Queens
3. Higher Ground - Naomi Shelton And The Gospel Queens
4. Make The Road By Walking - Menahan Street Band
5. Out Of The Wilderness - The Como Mamas

Side Three:
1. Heartaches And Pain - Charles Bradley (And His Extraordinaires)
2. The World (Is Going Up In Flames) - Charles Bradley (And His Extraordinaires)
3. Lovin' You Baby - Charles Bradley (And His Extraordinaires)
4. Slip Away - Charles Bradley (And His Extraordinaires)
5. How Long - Charles Bradley (Featuring The Menahan Street Band)

Side Four:
1. Let Love Stand A. Chance - Charles Bradley (And His Extraordinaires)
2. The Sticks - The Budos Band
3. Ain't It A Sin - Charles Bradley (Featuring The Budos Band)
4. Sáré Kon Kon Pt. 1 - Antibalas

Side Five:
1. Sáré Kon Kon Pt. 2 – Antibalas
2. Miss Sharon Jones' Intro - The Dap-Kings
3. He Said I Can - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
4. If You Call - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
5. Tell Me - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
6. Get Up And Get Out - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Side Six:
1. Making Up And Breaking Up (And Making Up And Breaking Up Over Again) - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
2. I'm Not Gonna Cry - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
3. Calamity - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
4. Every Beat Of My Heart - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
5. There Was A Time - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (And Friends)
6. Family Affair / Outro - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

The Dap-Kings' electro-sax space warrior returns with a groove-heavy sequel to All My Relations. Vol. II: Baca Sewa, an expressive, transcendental voyage through the archives of his indigenous roots and beyond. Drawing on ancestral memories and family histories to wrap new flesh around the bones of history, this album is a bold, semi-autobiographical work that leads us deeper into the annals of family histories, mythology and the cultural imaginary.

“Baca Sewa” is Cochemeaʼs original family name prior to Spanish colonization and the fracturing or erasure of ancient knowledge and ways. The melody for the title track was composed by Anthony Gastelum and features vocals and drumming by the Baca Sewa Singers- a group composed of several generations of family members. The album runs thick with sonic tributes and remembrances. “Chitoʼs Song” is a contemplative, ethereal tribute to a beloved uncle. “Curandera” conjures the memory of the irrepressible healing power of medicine women. “Black Pearl” recalls his great grandfather, heir to a legacy of indigenous peoples enslaved as pearl divers in the Sea of Cortez.

Leading a 7-piece ensemble composed of New Yorkʼs top percussionists and members of Daptoneʼs rhythm section, Cochemea recombined ancient elements of drums, winds, and voice, creating his own world of emotional textures and rhythmic possibilities. His musical and spiritual synthesis is made possible through his deep reverence of the horn and of the music and traditions preceding him. Vol II: Baca Sewa - is an offering and continuation of Cochemeaʼs explorations, part of a musical process of cultural reclamation and healing through connection, relations, memory and imagination. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Burning Plain
2. Tukaria
3. Mimbreños
4. Chito’s Song
5. Nahsuareo Bwikam
6. Black Pearl
7. Peace Prayer
8. Curandera
9. Baca Sewa (Chant)
10. Baca Sewa (Song)

Formed in NYC, this grammy-nominated group of Moroccan expats has been making waves locally and abroad with their hypnotic live shows. The group is led by Ma'alem Hassan Ben Jaffar, a master musician and spiritual elder of the ensemble who plays a three-stringed african bass known as a guembri. Ben Jaffar is accompanied by a brotherhood of musicians – (Amino Belyamani, Ahmed Jeriouda, Samir Langus and Nawfal Atiq) – all playing the qraqeb, metal castanets that represent the shackles and chains of slaves and also singing chorus responses. Gnawa music is a spiritual tradition rooted in Moroccoʼs ancient history. Often referred to as “Sufi Blues”, Gnawaʼs African influence originated from West African slaves brought to Morocco centuries ago. Not unlike blues music in the American South, Gnawa music is revered throughout Morocco as treasured indigenous soul music.

After seeing a performance at a mutual friend's party, producer and local Gnawa enthusiast, Bosco Mann, invited Innov Gnawa to come record some tracks at The Daptone House of Soul. The invitation was accepted and over a five-hour session, the group tracked an entire albumsʼ worth of material - all in one take. The session tracked that evening is what we humbly offer up to you, the beloved Daptone Family. Lila, literally meaning "night" is a traditional ceremony in which the Ma'alem and his qraqeb ensemble dedicate an evening of healing through music. This all-night rhythm fest is a spiritual ritual which cleanses the body, mind, and spirit. We invite you to immerse yourself in Lila. Experience Freedom, Liberation and the power of healing through music. The spirit of Gnawa is people. Experience the freedom, liberation, and power of healing through music. You are not alive if this music doesn't move you. 

TRACK LISTING

LP Tracklisting (please Note That Songs Are Broken Down Into Groups Of Tracks)
1. Chorfa (made Up Of The Tracks L’3fou, Salaw 3lik, Jilala)
2. El Kouhel (made Up Of The Tracks Mimouna, L’Ghumami, Gnawi Baba Mimoun, Baba L’Ghumami, Fofo Denba)
3. El Ghaba (made Up Of The Tracks El Hadiya, El Hadiya Sala Nabina)

CD Tracklisting
1. Youmala / Zidelmal
2. Chorfa
3. El Bouhala
4. El Kouhel
5. El Ghaba
6. Hamdouchia

"A split-screen maelstrom of Fela Kuti, Led Zep, Morricone, psych and dub" The Budos Band - MOJO - Rising - August 2019 Celebrating 15 years from the release of their debut album, Daptone's Royal Court from Staten Island delivers a truly epic collection of new material that finds the group further bridging the gap between the farfisa-fueled Ethio-Funk stylings of their early recordings, with the psychedelic, Sabbath-inspired hellfire of late. “In some ways, itʼs reminiscent of our first two albums The Budos Band and Budos II,” says Tom Brenneck. “We branched off on Burnt Offering and Budos V. Now, weʼre still moving forward.

You can play these songs on the dance-floor. We knew the horns had to stand out too. Thinking about hip-hop allowed us to put the bounce back into The Budos.” This is evident from needle drop to final rotation. Heavy drum breaks, reminiscent of the B-Boy approved grooves of their early output reign supreme, setting the stage for the pulsating, hallucinatory wall of organ, menacing horns, and rugged guitar riffs to permeate your soul - leaving the listener in a rhythmic wash of Budonian rapture. Long in the Tooth represents the culmination of a 15-year journey by a band that has consistently carved its own distinct path through the grooves of history.

TRACK LISTING

1 Long In The Tooth
2 Sixth Hammer
3 Snake Hawk
4 Dusterado
5 Silver Stallion
6 Haunted Sea
7 The Wrangler
8 Gun Metal Grey
9 Mierda De Toro
10 Budonian Knight Renegade

Back in the spotlight with a sublime new rhythm and blues record, James Hunter follows up six critically acclaimed albums with his latest recording, Nick of Time, set for release on Brooklyn’s renowned soul label Daptone Records.

Nick of Time is a shining testament of how a master songsmith continually draws fresh water from a bottomless well. Recorded and produced by Bosco Mann, Nick of Time features one of today’s foremost soul singers at the top of his game performing with musicians who’ve backed some of the biggest contemporary music stars including Daptone artists Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley. Nick of Time will be internationally released on March 6, 2020.

For Nick of Time, Hunter and Daptone co-founder Bosco Mann hunkered down in the label’s Penrose Studios in Riverside, California for what certainly will be one of 2020’s standout soul recordings. Unmistakably another stunning James Hunter album, Nick of Time is a voyage between beautiful, mid-tempo rumba recalling early King/Federal releases, while lush arrangements summon lost tracks from early '60s Burt Bacharach sessions. Nick of Time is steeped in an era when soul records were driven by earth-shattering vocal performances. James Hunter hands down ushers classic soul music into the 21st Century with a sense of timelessness that’s rare these days.

James Hunter is an everlasting writer of compelling narratives sung with true grit while backed by an ace band of New York City’s finest musicians. Nick of Time finds Hunter in the company of Victor Axelrod (piano), Adam Scone (organ), Rudy Petschauer (drums), Myles Weeks (bass), Michael Buckley (baritone saxophone), and Freddy DeBoe (tenor saxophone). On the road for an extensive U.S., U.K., and European tour in support of Nick of Time, Matt Slocum (keyboards) takes the reins on keys for a hearty James Hunter Six ensemble ready to electrify soul music fans as they hit venerable stages in a city near you in spring 2020.

TRACK LISTING

1. I Can Change Your Mind
2. Who's Fooling Who
3. Till I Hear It From You
4. Never
5. Missing In Action
6. Nick Of Time
7. Brother Or Other
8. Ain't Goin' Up In One Of Those Things
9. Take It As You Find It
10. Can't Help Myself
11. How 'Bout Now
12. Paradise For One
13. He's Your Could've Been

For the better part of 15 years Helsinki's own Timmion Records has released some of the most exciting soul sides happening today. To help spread the Timmion love, Daptone staffers and brass made a list of their favorite Timmion tracks from the past couple years. Presented here is Bad Education, Vol. I, the culmination of weeks of deliberation and infighting (mainly due to their unusually high batting average) - 10 tracks that best represent the eclectic wealth of soulful riches Timmion Records has to offer.

Side 1 one gets cracking with "This is What Love Looks Like", a mid-tempo, breezy dancer by NYC's own Carlton Jumel Smith whose recent album, 1634 Lexington Ave, is poised to be one of the top Soul releases of 2019. Johnny Benavidez, the Texas-born, California-raised balladeer showcases his heartfelt falsetto with "Tell Me That You Love Me" - a beat ballad of the highest order, and a must for fans of Texas giants The Commands. Pratt & Moody, a vocal duo who have been making waves for sometime in their native Finland, serve up another heart-wrenching, head-bobbing ballad with "Lost, Lost, Lost". Picking up the tempo we have the undisputed queen of Finnish Soul, Miss Nicole Willis! The New York native is already a household name on the UK Northern Soul scene, but now it's time for this expat to make some noise Stateside. Closing out the side we have the leather-clad-fringed flute phenom know as Ernie "Scorpio Man' Hawks. The Scorpio Walk's deep groove laced with murmuring fuzz bass and surf guitar rushes the listener like a maniacal villain in an art house spy movie.

Side 2 two packs even more soulful punches, starting with the unreleased track "Until You’re Mine" by Wanda Felicia. Equal parts slick, Big City street harmony and raw, southern soul, the track evokes the ver y best of Fame-era Candi Staton. Next up, we have Bobby Oroza whose featured track "This Love" took the Soul scene by storm upon its release in 2016. His understated, earnest vocal let's the sparse arrangement and heavy beat take you to a place where the sun shines bright and the low-riders shine brighter where the Sunday afternoon sun dances off the gold flecks of custom paint jobs. "Bad Education" the funky, afro-latin soul monster with a message (whose title graces the cover of this album) tips the hat to legends like Joe Bataan and Ray Barreto. The debut single by Bardo Martinez, already known for his work with Chicano Batman, lays down a fier y indictment of the educational system defining it as a mouthpiece for the militar y industrial complex. A heavy tune with a heavier message! From top to bottom Bad Education, Vol. I is a feast for discerning funk & soul freaks alike!

TRACK LISTING

This Is What Love Looks Like!
Tell Me That You Love Me
Lost Lost Lost
Paint Me In A Corner
Scorpio Walk
Until You're Mine
This Love
Bad Education
Don't Believe You Like That
I'm Still A Man

Direct from Cuba! Daptone Records is proud to introduce Orquesta Akoka?n, a big band collective of Havana's top musicians both young and old, joining forces with some of the most creative and spirited talents of New York's Latin music scene.

Born out of a shared vision by singer Jose? "Pepito" Go?mez, producer Jacob Plasse, and arranger Michael Eckroth, the group reinvigorates the sound of the golden era of Cuban mambo with a bold new energy.

Featuring all-original music cut live to tape over a three day session at Havana's hallowed state-run Estudios Areito - one of the longest operating studios in the world and where seminal Cuban records have been made since the early '40s, and more contemporarily with the 1997 release of the Buena Vista Social Club album - the group's self titled debut feels like a heartfelt gift from the band to listener. Which is no coincidence being that Akoka?n is a Yoruba word used in Cuba meaning "from the heart", and indeed every song presented here is just that.

This is a fascinating next step for Daptone, which released the final album by Sharon Jones and the Dap- Kings and mourned the loss of Charles Bradley in 2017. ‘Orquesta Akoka?n’ finds the label branching outside its own studios to release its first Spanish language album.

With overwhelmingly poignant timing, the celebratory and life affirming "Miss Sharon Jones! OST" arrives not a week after the unique artist's untimely passing. The film, directed by two-time Academy Award winner, Barbara Kopple, follows the dynamic front-woman through her 2013 battle with cancer and her triumphant return to the stage around the release of "Give The People What They Want". The soundtrack, featuring the exclusive "I'm Still Here" and a live recording of "His Eye On The Sparrow" in Sharon's local church in Georgia, boasts a nice selection of tracks ranging from her early singles on Daptone alongside tracks from the band's 2014 release - Give the People What They Want. Much like the film, the soundtrack gives you an intimate, candid look into the life of a woman who refused to be defined by the challenges she faced. Packed to the rafters with the full range of emotions, this set presents an artist at her peak and a fitting farewell to fans everywhere. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Tell Me
2. Retreat
3. Genuine Pt. 1
4. Longer And Stronger
5. If You Call
6. 100 Days, 100 Nights
7. People Don't Get What They Deserve
8. Humble Me
9. I'll Still Be True
10. Let Them Knock
11. Stranger To My Happiness
12. Keep On Looking
13. Mama Don't Like My Man
14. I Learned The Hard Way
15. Slow Down Love
16. I'm Still Here (exclusive)