What Have You Done, My Brother?

Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, Naomi Shelton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 26, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: DAPTONE
• ASIN: B001XT7MGM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,991 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 debut album from the acclaimed Soul/Gospel vocalist. Naomi Shelton is no ordinary Gospel singer. Though she, like many others, grew up singing with her sisters in their Alabama church, she has also spent much of her life in the Soul clubs around New York, and her 45s have long been revered and prized by Funk DJs around the globe. Now, with her first official full-length release, it's clear that her singing is equally influenced by both facets of her life. This is Soul music: informed by the church, perhaps, but Soul music nonetheless, relatable to all. Which means that What Have You Done, My Brother?, an uplifting record that conveys Naomi's energy, her excitement, her love of music, her compassion, is no ordinary album. 12 tracks. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise the Lord, it's finally available..., May 30, 2009

By 

B. Bowman "Double B" (Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Have You Done, My Brother? (Audio CD)

I have been waiting for this to be released since seeing Naomi Shelton in concert four years ago as an opener for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. She was billed as Naomi Davis then, and I was immediately drawn to the quality of her voice and her music. Ever since, I've been waiting for her first full length album to be issued, and after all these years it's finally here! I have to say, it was worth the wait. This album captures the same energy I have seen in her live shows, and contains elements of gospel, R&B, and the blues. As always, Naomi's voice is unique, weathered and worn, but never tired. While this music may fall under the gospel category, and does contain a few religious themed songs (the traditional "Jordan River", "I'll Take The Long Road", "Lift My Burdens", "I Need You To Hold My Hand"), there are secular themes present as well, such as the Iraq War and the drug trade in the U.S. on "Am I Asking Too Much?", which is by far one of the catchiest songs off this disc. I also have to mention, that while many of the songs have moments that bring a lump to my throat, the song that gets to me the most is "I Need You To Hold My Hand", sung by Gospel Queen Cynthia Langston, truly a beautiful voice and song! (The other song where Naomi Shelton does not handle lead vocals is "He Knows My Heart", sung by Bobbi Gant, another of the three Gospel Queens. Also as a point of interest for fans of Sharon Jones, the liner notes state that she also contributes backing vocals, as I have seen her do at several Naomi Shelton concerts.) The album closes with Naomi singing an excellent rendition of the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come", which is the perfect ending to this album. If you are familiar with the work of Naomi Shelton, this one is a must have. If you are interested in an inspiring, funky, bluesy, and uplifting listening experience, I would highly recommend this.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Naomi Preaches the Good Word of Soul, June 2, 2009

By 

Ben Hernandez Jr. (Southern Cali) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Have You Done, My Brother? (Audio CD)

Whether you've ever cracked open The Bible or not, Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens' album, What Have You Done, will give you an appreciation of raw soul that transcends piety. Speaking of virtues, Shelton's raspy, but controlled pipes command the tracks well, amplifying the righteous messages that each song touches upon. Backing Shelton are the Gospel Queens, who serve as the perfect companions for the call and response vocals, as well as complementary instrumentation from various Daptone musicians. While each track serves well individually, personal standouts include the title track, "What Have You Done," and "Am I Asking Too Much." Both songs are capable of triggering a soul clap, while slow burners like "He Knows My Heart" and "By Your Side" exude a soulful sincerity reminiscent of 60s gospel legends like Sam Cooke. What Have You Done is able to successfully encapsulate this vintage sound, which could easily be mistaken for a dusty gospel LP freshly plucked from a record store.

For more funky soul reviews, check out: www.45addiction.com

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous recording, June 18, 2009

By 

Leigh Meryl Attridge "Leigh Meryl" (Beverly, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What Have You Done, My Brother? (Audio CD)

Unbelievable tone & quality to Naomi Shelton's voice - just a wonderful cd overall. Highly recommend