Customer Reviews

What Have You Done, My Brother?

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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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.

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

This is Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens' record label debut on Daptone, an independent based in Brooklyn and specializing in 1960s-styled soul and funk. It's terrific: hugely danceable, vocally rich and lyrically deep all at the same time.

The overall sound is a unique and immediately accessible mix of 1950s gospel (the Blind Boys of Alabama and pre-pop Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers) and 1960s soul, funk and r&b (Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers and Booker T. and the MGs).

The lyric themes are timeless, and the music is joyous and uplifting, with Naomi's gritty and powerful voice of experience leading the charge. Keyboardist Cliff Driver, Naomi's on-and-off accompanist for the last three decades, does an excellent job of directing the band, as well as playing organ and piano. Daptone head and bass player Gabe Roth produced the album on all analog equipment, keeping the audio clean, clear and direct.

The whole thing is delivered straight from the heart, without a trace of irony, reflecting the personal convictions of Naomi and the Gospel Queens, as well as the love of the music by all involved.

In the end, this is a classic American party record with a message that doesn't get in the way of the fun, whether you play it on a Saturday night with your friends, or listen to it on your way to church on a Sunday morning with your family.

This kind of music is a bit out of my normal repertoire, but it's so good that I can't stop listening. Can't wait for more.

Wow! I've got to join in the praise for this amazing album - another winner from the Daptone label. I'm not a fan of gospel but this album is so much more than that. It is a stirring mixture of gospel,soul, r+b with a little funk too!Naomi's voice is so real,rich,and so heartfelt and strong - she really sings from the depths of her soul.(even though that sounds like such a cliche it is true here)So do the 3 Gospel Queens who take over lead vocals on a couple of tracks.
What a thrill that music like this is still being made.Thank you Naomi and thank you Daptone records.If you are checking out this album , you are probably already a fan of label-mate Sharon Jones , but you should also check out britain's Ruby Turner's cd "I'm travelling on".

My three year old son loves Track 2,6 and 7. We have listened to it everyday!

I'm glad his taste in music is evolving and I don't have to listen to, "The Wheels on the Bus" 50 times a day anymore!:)

Keleigh Crigler author of Preacher's Kids