Daptone Records has built its reputation not just from feeding the flames of midcentury soul music, but by seeking out performers whose gifts might otherwise be lost to time, and then throwing a big ol’ spotlight on them. And one of the latest and greatest in this long line of Dap-superstars are a trio of women, blessed with huge voices, from about 50 miles outside Memphis — known to friends and neighbors as Ester, Angela and Della, and to the rest of us as The Como Mamas.
The Mamas put out their Daptone debut back in 2013, an all-a capella set of real-deal church music called Get An Understanding. For their next go-around, though, the three belters linked up with “The Glorifiers Band,” a session group of Dap-players led by label founder Bosco Mann, to lay a healthy amount of heavy, meat & potatoes R&B under their testifying. The resulting album Move Upstairs, mixes and mashes various modes of soulfulness — sacred and otherwise — into a frenzied collection just about hot enough for any summertime potlucks, tag sales, or front-step-sitting sessions you might have coming up.
What’s more: the jewels of Como, MS are all-set to debut their video for album cut “Count Your Blessings,” which takes us on a tour of the ladies’ hometown from the fire department to church and back again, with plenty of time to hang with the extended family in between. It is joyful; it is awesome; and we are happy to premiere it for you today here on Tiny Mix Tapes.
The Como Mamas also support the nonprofit Music Maker Relief Foundation, which works to support Southern musicians and preserve their legacies, “ensuring their voices will not be silenced by poverty and time.” Read about the foundation — and maybe back them up — right here. And grab your copy of Move Upstairs now from the Daptone shop.
Move Upstairs tracklisting:
01. Move Upstairs
02. Out of The Wilderness
03. Count Your Blessings
04. He’s Calling Me
05. 99 and A Half Won’t Do
06. Almighty God Mighty God
07. I Can’t Thank Him Enough
08. So Good To Me
09. Glory Glory Hallelujah
10. He’s Mine
11. I Know I’ve Been Changed
More about: The Como Mamas
