Imogen Moon updates Doug Randle's 1971 eco-activist concept album

Singer/songwriter Imogen Moon enlisted the Dap-Kings to reimagine her grandad's cult classic Songs For The New Industrial State.  

Here's the scoop...

Way back in 1970, Calgary-born, Toronto-based pianist/composer Doug Randle who was working at the CBC and NFB, had an idea for a song-cycle warning of the dire consequences posed by unchecked corporate greed on our Canadian culture and environment. So he rounded up Toronto's first-call session musicians – including Peter Appleyard, Guido Basso, Moe Koffman and Rob McConnell – with sunshine pop vocals contributed by Tommy Ambrose and Laurie Bower and recorded Songs For The New Industrial State. 

Despite the prescient message, tasteful arrangements and incongruously upbeat singing, Randle's clever concept album was a bit too far ahead of it's time in 1971. Without the proper promotional push, and somewhat misleading sleeve art which made it look like pro-industry propaganda of the era,   Randle's well-intended Songs For The New Industrial State failed to ride the wave of Canada's emerging green movement and ironically wound up in landfills. 

It wasn't until the early 2000s that beat diggers – checking for anything CBC-related in the quest for obscure sample material – hit on Randle's overlooked gem. Perhaps sensing that the times had finally caught up with what Randle had put down decades earlier, Seattle-based reissue operation Light In The Attic re-released Songs For The New Industrial State in 2009 which you can get right here. The 81-year-old Randle got some long overdue attention for his work before his passing on August 30, 2013 at the age of 85. 

But the story doesn't end there. Randle's 21-year-old granddaughter, Vancouver singer/songwriter Imogen Moon recognized a timely message in the album's songs about corporate malfeasance, resource extraction and global warming and thought it would be worthwhile to introduced the relevant songs to a new generation by updating the music. 

Cellar Music Group boss Cory Weeds saw merit in the idea and connected her with producer Ian Hendrickson-Smith best known as the saxophonist with The Roots on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Hendrickson-Smith booked time at Diamond Mine Studio in Queens and invited over his pals from the Dap-Kings, namely guitarist Tommy "TNT" Brenneck, drummer Homer Steinweiss, bassist Nick Movshon and trumpeter Dave Guy along with Hammond B-3 ace Adam Scone. To complete the circle, backing vocals were added by Imogen's mom, Joanne Randle who regularly sang on the recordings of her father, Doug Randle. Sweet. 

The resulting 6-track EP, When They Start Rebelling – which could easily pass for a Daptone release – is set for release by Cellar Live on July 21st. Pre-order it via Bandcamp right here. The first single is a dramatic reworking of "Nicolston Dam" – check out Imogen Moon's video followed by an audio clip of Doug Randle's 5th Dimension-style original version. 

Watch the new video for Lee Fields' "Waiting On The Sidelines"

Check out the new clip for Lee Fields' latest Daptone single "Waiting On The Sidelines" penned by Thomas 'TNT' Brenneck. 

Here's the scoop from Daptone HQ...

Since the release of the Sentimental Fool album, Lee Fields has been touring relentlessly, playing to capacity crowds all across the US and EU. The fruits of which have culminated in his song "Forever" being featured in 2023ʼs top rated Super Bowl commercial, further solidifying Lee as the king of contemporary soul. In keeping with the momentum it is our pleasure to announce the release of his brand new single "Waiting on the Sidelines". Written by Thomas 'TNT' Brenneck (MSB, Charles Bradley, Diamond West Records) this beat-ballad grooves low and slow, giving Lee ample room to unleash a heart- breakingly soulful display of vocal acrobatics–an absolute must-have for fans of the Penrose sound. On the flip you'll find "You Can Count on Me", an in demand, upbeat moover previously only available on a limited edition 12" EP. 

Get a copy of "Waiting On The Sidelines" b/w "You Can Count On Me" via Bandcamp right here.Watch David Brocca's video for "Waiting On The Sidelines" below.  
 

Lee Fields shares stripped-down performance of new single "Forever"

"Forever" is off Lee Fields' new album Sentimental Fool due Oct. 28th via Daptone. Check out Bryan Ponce's video below.  

Here's the scoop from Daptone HQ...

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. 

You can pre-order a copy of Lee Fields' forthcoming Sentimental Fool album directly from Daptone or your preferred platform right here. Check out a stripped-down performance of "Forever" with support from Menahan Street Band's Thomas Brenneck on guitar and Josh Lane from Thee Sacred Souls.  

 

Harps weigh heavy on first single off The Olympians debut LP for Daptone

The Olympians
Sirens of Jupiter b/w Apollo's Dream (Daptone Records)

The Olympians' first single on Daptone Records exudes mystery, rhythm and soul with each groove of the record. Produced and engineered by keyboard player Toby Pazner, the two tracks are emblematic of the sound he created for the bands self-titled debut LP out now. After traveling to Greece to play at the foot of the Acropolis and swimming in the Aegian sea, Pazner was visited by a toga-cloaked figure who tasked him with telling the story of the ancient Olympians through song. After the vision reappeared night after night, Pazner had no choice but to fulfill the calling, and work on the LP began.

The A-side, "Sirens of Jupiter" features every instrument at Pazner's disposal right out of the gate. Dueling harps, tough drums, low octave piano and percussive bass are all met with shrill strings that descend into the entrance of the horns played by Daptone session regulars Neal Sugarman, Leon Michels and Michael Leonhart. The B-side, "Apollo's Mood" embodies what Pazner thinks would be playing while Apollo sits in the blazing sun on the beach sipping some wine and watching the waves go by on a day-off. Check out both tracks below.

Philly's finest Low Cut Connie tear up The Drake Hotel, Saturday

Low Cut Connie's latest Hi Honey was produced by Thomas Brenneck and features Greg Cartwright.

See Charles Bradley @ Kool Haus tonight!

Check out Charles Bradley's sweet version of Heart Of Gold backed by TNT Brenneck.

See Charles Bradley @ The Phoenix Saturday

Grab a copy of Charles Bradley's dope new Victim Of Love album featuring "Confusion" below

Menahan Street Band preview new album

The Menahan Street Band, best known as Charles Bradley's backing group – whose song Make The Road By Walking was famously sampled for the track Roc Boys by Jay-Z thinking the Brooklyn ensemble's 2008 recording was some obscure funk 45 from the late 60s (d'oh!) – has announced their new album is finally finished and coming out in October.
In advance of the release of the forthcoming instrumental set called The Crossing, group leader Thomas "TNT" Brenneck has thoughtfully made available the album's title track which he describes as "music to an unreleased Sergio Leone western starring the Wu Tang set in 1992." Or conversely, like an El Michels Affair tune for a planned Wu Tang collabo shelved after a disagreement between the principle members. In any case, you can check it out right here

Naomi Shelton shakes Harbourfront Saturday

Although Naomi Shelton, like many of her gospel singing contemporaries, grew up singing in church, the Albama-raised belter has also spent some time in New York's soul clubs. Her her late 90s sevens on the Desco label – namely 41st St. Breakdown and Wind Your Clock – were essentially the blueprint for Sharon Jones' recordings with the Dap-kings that would follow.

When Desco folded, the label's founders split up and started Soul Fire and Daptone. Shelton joined Gabriel Roth at Daptone who produced her next single, 2002's Promised Land and then eventually re-released Wind Your Clock b/w Talkin' About A Good Thing in 2009 to coincide with Shelton's long overdue debut album What Have You Done, My Brother? backed by the Gospel Queens.

Charles Bradley roars back with new single

In advance of Charles Bradley's long overdue debut album No Time For Dreaming (now scheduled for release January 25, 2011), Daptone's dependable Dunham subsidiary is putting out the motivational Joe Quarterman-penned title track as seven-inch single with the charging Farfisa-fired Golden Rule on the flip.

As with Bradley's previous Dunham scorcher The World (Is Going Up In Flames), both sides are produced by Dap-Kings guitarist Thomas "TNT" Brenneck featuring the instrumental support of his stone-solid Menahan Street Band with vocal enhancement provided by Daptone's own sweet singing Gospel Queens on loan from Naomi Shelton.
Before heading over to Daptone's online store to grab a copy for yourself, check out Mr. Bradley belting out No Time For Dreaming with the Menhan crew at Het Depot in Leuven, Belgium back in February. Some time-saving advice to diggers: Don't bother trying to track down Joe Quarterman's original recording of No Time For Dreaming – it was never issued.



No Time For Dreaming by Charles Bradley

Daptone's ever-expanding funk empire

With Kid Cudi and Billy Blue Fresh taking a sampling tip from 50 Cent and jacking the guitar hook from The Traitor by the Menahan Street Band to nasty-up their own joints, the Dunham label subsidiary of Daptone has decided to capitalize on the hip-hop community's obvious appreciation of the Menahan's dark vibe by releasing a rap record of their own.
But instead of collaborating with  some overpaid MC whose gonna demand that their entire posse get paid for a cloudy studio session, they've gone with some less-expensive rising stars, 3 Titans. Never heard of 'em? Well, they're actually three fresh-flowing fifth graders better known around the school yard as Khalil Jackson, Jorden Plaines and Dallas Ifill who drop some 11-year-old wisdom about the value of education on the message single College b/w The Life Of A Scholar. The tight two-sider is produced by Dunham mainman Thomas Brenneck (of Dap Kings fame) and drummer Homer Steinweiss who enhance the bumpin' grooves with righteous vibes sweetening and a solid boom-bap respectively.  Check it out...

College by 3 Titans


Life Of A Scholar by 3 Titans



At the moment, Brenneck is in the studio putting the finishing touches on the much anticipated debut album from hard-belting soul shouter Charles Bradley whose 2007 single The World (Is Going Up In Flames) is one of the highlights of last year's excellent Daptone Gold collection.

The World (Is Going Up In Flames) by Charles Bradley @ Barrymore Theatre, Madison Wisconsin Dec 3, 2008

While we're on the subject of Daptone, label boss Gabriel Roth recently sat down for an in-depth interview with Wax Poetics contributor Jeff "Chairman" Mao presented by Red Bull Music Academy.
In the lengthy but engaging chat, the producer, arranger, composer, engineer, plumber and musician breaks down the Daptone philosophy, reveals a few Bushwick recording secrets, discusses his tenuous relationship with the music biz and recalls some lessons learned the hard way.
Roth also previews new recordings from the Budos Band (at the Horseshoe April 1) and Sharon Jones (at the Sound Academy May 25) in addition to spinning some of the Dap Kings uncredited moonlighting projects. The bit about Clive Davis asking him to produce the new Rod Stewart album at the 47 minute mark is too good to miss. Incidentally, the new album from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, I Learned The Hard Way is due from Daptone April 6.

Gabriel Roth – The Mathematics Of Soul


LINKS
http://www.daptonerecords.com/
http://dunhamrecords.com/