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| Here's some great footage of Sharon Jones performing with the Dap-Kings at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem. |
Daptone issues 20th anniversary 2LP edition of Sharon Jones' Naturally album
The 2005 release of Sharon Jones’ Naturally was a pivotal moment in the history of soul music. The album has sold over 200,000 copies, 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. It was also the genesis for the Dap-Kings’ collaboration with Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, the fruits of which having a lasting, indelible influence on soul, R&B and pop music in general.
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.
Recording for Naturally began in 2004 and holds the distinction of being the first Daptone session 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. (Sharon famously tackled much of the electrical wiring herself.)
Around this time, the Dap-Kings were really coming into their own as a band. With years of relentless, econoline-style touring under their belt, and the additions of Tommy “TNT” Brenneck (Diamond West Records, Menahan Street Band, Charles Bradley) on guitar, and Dave Guy (The Roots, Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon) on trumpet, the group was not only the flagship group on Daptone Records, but also the very foundation upon which the label would build their empire.
Naturally altered the musical landscape of the era, eclipsing imitators and the soulfully challenged, wholesale. It made Daptone a household name, helped open doors for many musicians and family who have gone on to do remarkable things, and sparked a renaissance that is still vibrating today. A testament to Sharon Jones’ legacy as the undisputed, reigning Queen of heavyweight soul.
The 20th Anniversary remastered edition of Sharon Jones' Naturally album includes a second LP with instrumental mixes of all tracks! Get a copy via your platform of choice right here. Listen to a couple of instrumental tracks below.
