Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, “Soul of a Woman”Available: Friday, Nov. 17, via Daptone Records in various exclusive bundles. The album will presumably be made available digitally in most formats, on compact disc, and in a standard black vinyl LP version. The aforementioned exclusive bundles include a CD or the record on a limited run of turquoise vinyl (limited to one per customer) and one of two AMAZING turntable slipmats: the first featuring the “Soul of a Woman” album art (pictured) and the second is Sharon Jones’ high school portrait (amazing).
“Soul of a Woman” is the final studio record and posthumous release from the great Sharon Jones and her stellar backing band, the Dap-Kings. Just over a year ago, nearly to the exact day of this release, Jones died at the age of 60 after a relatively public three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Jones was so much larger in life than her voice and barely five-foot frame physically portrayed. Give credit to Jones and the Daptone record label with revitalizing modern funk, soul, and R&B within our collective consciousness and awareness. Like many, I considered Jones the cornerstone of the record label, and with the tracks on “Soul of a Woman,” I am both painfully and joyfully reminded just how much talent she had. I have a greater-than-decent comprehension of her discography and truly, with no hesitation, believe that some of the cuts on this final record are the best work she had done.
Recommended for fans Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, James Brown, Charles Bradley, or Lee Fields & the Expressions.
Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
