It's the day before Christmas and I've stuck to my guns and not posted a single Christmas tune this year. I figure you've got them coming out of your ears at this point, so you probably don't need any more. Instead I'm going to give you a sneak preview into a disc that isn't out until next year, January 25th to be exact.
Listening to Charles Bradley sing, you might think that's he's been on the circuit for decades, playing gigs, recording albums and 45's, building up a back catalog of material on a dozen different local labels, keeping hold of the brand of soul music that he grew up with in the 50's and 60's. But that's not the case at all. He's got exactly one album under his belt, and it's not even out yet. Bradley was "discovered" by Daptone Records' Gabriel Roth and brought into the studio to first record with the Sugarman 3. Since then he's cut a handful of 45's for first Daptone and then its smaller imprint Dunham Records. With No Time For Dreaming, Bradley is finally able to create an entire album of his own and fulfill a goal he's had since hearing James Brown sing at the Apollo in 1964.
Bradley's voice and styling fits into Daptone's roster like a glove. Where as Sharon Jones could be given the title of Queen of Daptone, Bradley is certainly deserving of being the king. His lyrics are sung with a world-weary, gravely intonation that adds believability to his songs about the hardships of life
And while I'm going to stick to not posting any holiday songs, I will say that he's also just put out a brand spankin' new 45, Every Day Is Christmas (When I'm Lovin' You) b/w Mary's Baby (buy it here). I ordered mine and am eagerly awaiting it. If you get around to ordering YOURS before December 31st, along with enough to add up to $25 or more of Daptone goodness, you'll be entered to win an autographed copy of the Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings limited 7” Box Set, plus a t-shirt and a pair of slipmats.
The full album isn't due out until January 25th (catch Bradley and the Menahan Street Band at Southpaw in Brooklyn for the release that day for the ridiculous price of $12 a ticket!), but there are a handful of 45's out now that you can scoop up and spin in the meantime: No Time For Dreaming b/w Golden Rule, The Telephone Song b/w No Fighting, and The World (Is Going Up In Flames) b/w Heartaches And Pain. (as well as the above holiday release). Put them all together and you've got nearly half the album in your hands!
Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band - The World (Is Going Up In Flames) : No Time For Dreaming
Visit his website, his label Dunham Records, and become his friend on MySpace of Facebook.
2 comments:
Glad to see this guy getting some attention. I am a volunteer DJ at WERU Community Radio 89.9 in Blue Hill, ME. Discovered an advance EP of the upcoming CD last month. Played 3 songs on air that day. A cross between Otis Redding & Wilson Pickett. "How Long" was my fave cut. Sizzling! "The Telephone Song" was great, too.
- Elaine Shute
I couldn't agree more Elaine. It's great that after sticking with his dream for so long, it might actually pay off for him.
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