Jones, Sharon and the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way - New CD

another essential outing, grabbing you from the get-go, really grabbing you with both hands on that third cut "Better Things to Do," and never letting go, solid from go to whoa with several highlights that really drive the message home, focusing on the hard times, but also focusing on carrying on, climbing out and lifting above.  If you just got (or ever got) a lesson in learning the hard way, give this one a spin. -- winch

fourth album, I Learned The Hard Way debuting at #15 on the Billboard 200, hitting at #2 for Independent albums and #6 for R&B/Hip-Hop albums. Steeped in the gilded and gritty sounds of gospel, soul, and funk, the nine-piece act continues to electrify fans, disc jockeys, critics, record collectors, and journalists the world over with their heart-felt sound. Their devotion to soul music is clearly demonstrated on the band’s critically acclaimed albums. In addition to …Hard Way, the band has released Soul Time! (2011), a compilation of rare and previously unreleased tracks, 100 Days 100 Nights (2008), Naturally (2005) and Dap Dippin’ (2002) all on Daptone Records. Their albums recall an analog era of iconic studios like those at Motown and Stax Records and have thrust Jones and the Dap-Kings into the multimedia limelight.