Charles Bradley by ipickmynose is licensed with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Five essential Daptone albums to check out now
The woman who wrote the book on the soul label lists her favorite titles
Music journalist Jessica Lipsky’s new book “It Ain’t Retro: Daptone Records & The 21st-Century Soul Revolution,” chronicles the history of Brooklyn-based Daptone Records through in-depth interviews with the label’s founders, producers and musicians. Daptone was the home to Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley, and continues to churn out monster soul, funk, Afrobeat and more in a seemingly endless stream of wax.
We asked Lipsky to list her five favorite Daptone albumes. Your wallet should be worried, but your ears will thank you.
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: “100 Days, 100 Nights”
On SJDK’s third LP, the band really hit their stride writing originals cloaked in that mid 60s sound.
Menahan Street Band: “Make The Road By Walking”
A gorgeous instrumental album put out on Dunham Records, a then-new Daptones subsidiary, that netted many samples by prominent hip-hop artists.
The Frightnrs: “Nothing More to Say”
This Queens four piece was Daptone’s first foray into rocksteady and became an instant classic chock-a-block with elegance and excellence.
Charles Bradley: “No Time For Dreaming”
Bradley’s raw, heartfelt debut album for which he got the moniker “the screaming eagle of soul.” Check out the documentary about him if you haven’t yet.
Antibalas: “Fu Chronicles”
This Grammy nominated Afrobeat album is the culmination of two decades of work, sweat and funk by frontman Duke Amayo.
For more on Lipsky’s book, click here.
