ARTIST: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings 

TITLE: Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

YEAR RELEASED: 2002

CHART ACTION:  None

SINGLES: Got a Thing on My Mind, What Have You Done for Me Lately, Make It Good to Me, Got to Be the Way It Is

OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: It’s a shame you don’t.

LINEUP: Sharon Jones, Bosco Mann, Leon Michels, Jack Zapata, Binky Griptite, Fernando Velez, Earl Maxton, Homer Steinweiss, Anda Szilyagi

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Debut album featuring a powerhouse retro-soul singers and the house bands for the defunct Desco Records burns fire on turntables, CD players, and MP3s.

SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: This record is an old-fashioned soul revue, from the introduction from hype-man and guitarist Binky Griptite, to new dances “The Dap Dip”, to scorching covers (Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done for Me Lately” done 60’s style), to an absolute burner in “Got a Thing on My Mind”, this debut is absolutely dynamite.

Jones and her band are lock step, tight, and funky. The group, made up of members of the Soul Providers and Mighty Imperials, know their funk and soul inside-and-out, while Jones’ voice is the dream of every soul and R&B fan. She’s a powerful dynamo that demands attention.

Daptone Records (formed by Desco’s Bosco Mann to release this material) started a neo-soul and funk empire with these tasty sides. While it’s a debut, it sounds so well formed and tight that you’d think they’d have been at this for 20 years.

NOTES & MINUTIAE: Jones was a prison guard. No, really, she was.

IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No

GRADE A: It’s smoking hot. My headphones are on fire now.