Daptone Records, the perennial champions of '60s and ‘70s era funk and soul, has gone sweet. After 20 years of putting out hard-hitting records with legendary singers Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley — as well as a dozen other groups — the Brooklyn-based independent label has launched Penrose Records, an imprint of contemporary bands dedicated to performing the ballads, sweet soul and midtempo tunes made famous in Southern California.
Sweet soul music – also known as lowrider oldies on the West Coast, rolas and souldies – are typically early ‘60s-style tunes that emphasize vocal harmonies.
Most songs are slow-to-midtempo, many are ballads, and the sub-genre is generally stripped down compared to the highly produced Motown hits of the time..
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