Daptone Records

Daptone Records

Sub-label of Daptone Recording Co.

100 releases 9 sub-labels 2002–2026

About

Hard funk, soul, and afrobeat by current artists. Made-up of musicians and producers from the now defunct 1990s funk revival pioneer label Desco Records. Label is run by Gabriel Roth (with his alter-ego "Bosco Mann" doing most of the studio mix work!) & Neal Sugarman. It is home to artists such as Sharon Jones, The Dap-Kings, Lee Fields, Sugarman 3, Antibalas, The Mighty Imperials, and others. The majority of Daptone's seven inch singles have a generic blue record label. However, all singles are pressed in limited quantities of 1000 - 2000 copies and some in-demand titles have received a second press run with a red colored label after the initial first pressing had sold out. Mikey Post, in charge of Direct Sales & Distribution at Daptone, talks about their releases being continuously "in-print", as of February 2019: "We started barcoding our records in 2009, so anything released prior to that did not include a barcode, initially (ie. Budos I + II). However, I'm still pulling stampers from the original 'Mother' plates, so the dead-wax is no different from the first press to the stock in print today...There are very slight differences in the color of the labels throughout the years (as I print all of our labels on an offset machine with stock paper."

Top Daptone Records Releases

Make the Road by Walking
Make the Road by Walking
Menahan Street Band
2008
No Time for Dreaming
No Time for Dreaming
Charles Bradley
2011
Naturally
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2005
The Budos Band II
The Budos Band
2007
The Budos Band
The Budos Band
2005
100 Days, 100 Nights
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2007
I Learned the Hard Way
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2010
Changes
Charles Bradley
2016
Victim of Love
Charles Bradley
2013
Daptone Gold
Various Artists
2009
The Olympians
The Olympians
2016
This Is Daptone Records…
Various Artists
2008
Will I See You Again?
Thee Sacred Souls
2021
Thee Sacred Souls
Thee Sacred Souls
2022
The Crossing
The Crossing
Menahan Street Band
2012
The Mystery Lights
The Mystery Lights
2016
Nothing More to Say
The Frightnrs
2016
Black Velvet
Charles Bradley
2018
The Budos Band III
The Budos Band
2010
It’s a Holiday Soul Party
Sharon Jones & the Dap‐Kings
2015
Devil's Respite
Menahan Street Band
2021
The Starchaser
Menahan Street Band
2021
Burnt Offering
The Budos Band
2014
Thunder Chicken
The Mighty Imperials
2001
The Dynamic Sound of Sharon Jones & the Dap‐Kings
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2008
V
The Budos Band
2019
Long in the Tooth
The Budos Band
2020
Soul Time!
Sharon Jones & the Dap‐Kings
2011
Daptone Gold II
Various Artists
2015
Soul of a Woman
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2017
Discern / Define
Discern / Define
The Poets of Rhythm
2001
Practice What You Preach
Practice What You Preach
The Poets of Rhythm
1993
Purgatory
The Mystery Lights
2024
Got a Story to Tell
Thee Sacred Souls
2024
Give the People What They Want
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2014
100 Days, 100 Nights
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2008
Whatever It Takes
The James Hunter Six
2018
Hold On!
The James Hunter Six
2016
Heartaches and Pain
Heartaches and Pain
Charles Bradley
2011
Heart of Gold
Heart of Gold
Charles Bradley
2011
Soul Explosion
The Daktaris
1998
Australian Tour EP
Charles Bradley, Menahan Street Band
2009
Antibalas
Antibalas
2012
Rhythm Showcase, Vol. 1
Various Artists
2019
Look Closer
Saun & Starr
2015
Better Things
Sharon Jones & the Dap‐Kings
2010
What the World Needs Now
What the World Needs Now
The Sugarman 3
2012
Anthology 1992-2003
Anthology 1992-2003
The Poets of Rhythm
Orquesta Akokán
Orquesta Akokán
2018
The World (Is Going Up in Flames)
Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band
2007
Love in the Wind
The Sha La Das
2018
Sentimental Fool
Lee Fields
2022
All My Relations
Cochemea
2019
Move Upstairs
The Como Mamas
2017
Daptone Funk
Various Artists
2021
The Budos Band EP
The Budos Band
2009
Pure Cane Sugar
Pure Cane Sugar
The Sugarman 3
2002
What Have You Done, My Brother?
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens
2009
El Rego
El Rego et Ses Commandos
2011
Nick of Time
The James Hunter Six
2020
I Learned the Hard Way
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2010
Fu Chronicles
Antibalas
2020
More To Say Versions
The Frightnrs
2017
In Search of a Revival
The Olympians
2026
I'd Rather Go Blind
The Frightnrs
2015
All About Me
Jalen Ngonda
2025
Love You Like That
The Altons
2025
Daptone Mood
Various Artists
2022
Naturally - The Instrumentals
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2025
Little Boys with Shiny Toys
Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings
2015
Caracoles
Orquesta Akokán
2024
Casual Encounter
Doug Shorts
2019
Always
The Frightnrs
2022
Tattletale
Antibalas
2014
Illusions
Jalen Ngonda
2024

Daptone Records Artist Roster

Various Artists
Various Artists
18 releases
Other
Charles Bradley
Charles Bradley
14 releases
Person
Menahan Street Band
Menahan Street Band
11 releases
Group
The Budos Band
The Budos Band
9 releases
Group
Jalen Ngonda
Jalen Ngonda
7 releases
Person
Thee Sacred Souls
Thee Sacred Souls
6 releases
Group
TO
The Olympians
6 releases
Group
OA
Orquesta Akokán
6 releases
Group
Antibalas
Antibalas
5 releases
Group
The Frightnrs
The Frightnrs
4 releases
Group
TS
The Sugarman 3
4 releases
Group
Cochemea
Cochemea
4 releases
Person
Binky Griptite
Binky Griptite
3 releases
Person
Lee Fields
Lee Fields
3 releases
Person
Scone Cash Players
Scone Cash Players
3 releases
Group
TM
The Mystery Lights
3 releases
Group