Sharon Jones (May 4, 1956 – November 18, 2016), was born Sheron Lafaye Jones, in Augusta, Georgia, Her mother moved to Brooklyn, soon thereafter, however Jones was sent down south for a few months every year to stay with her family. As a child, she and her brothers would imitate the songs and dances of James Brown, who shared their home-town. Like many rhythm and blues entertainers, she began performing in church at a very young age. As a teenager in the early nineteen seventies, she began singing outside of the church in talent shows and with local funk groups. Later she would make her living with a combination of sporadic session work as a mostly anonymous voice on various dance records (sometimes credited as Lafaye Jones), singing with wedding bands, and a handful of day jobs which included stints as both a prison guard at New York’s notorious Riker’s Island, and an armored car guard for Wells Fargo Bank. In 1996 she was called in to sing back-up at a Desco Records studio session for 70’s soul legend Lee Fields.
The original incarnation of the band, the Soul Providers, were formed in the mid nineties by Philip Lehman and Gabriel Roth AKA Bosco Mann. The Soul Providers began recording an album consisting of James Brown inspired instrumentals and vocal collaborations with Deep Funk legend Lee Fields. It was during these sessions that Roth and Lehman discovered vocalist Sharon Jones after she recorded backing vocals for one of the Lee Fields tracks. They were impressed enough to record a solo track with Jones entitled "Switchblade", a track that had originally been intended for a man to record. This track along with another Jones solo, "The Landlord", were included on the Soul Providers debut release Soul Tequila, released circa 1996 on the French label Pure Records (defunct). Lehman and Roth then started a new label in Brooklyn, New York. Desco Records was born taking its name from Desco Vacuum, a vacuum cleaner store in West 41st Street underneath which they utilised the basement as studio space and an office to administer and distribute the label. Sugarman 3 organist Adam Scone just happened to live upstairs in the same building. The Soul Tequila album was then reissued as a vinyl only LP renamed Gimme The Paw. The record, which featured Lehman's pet dog Spike on the cover, only kept one of the Sharon Jones collaborations, "Switchblade", omitting "The Landlord".
Having established a scene in New York of performers, Desco aimed to showcase a stable of artists with revue style shows and concentrated on releasing vinyl 45 records by a number of artists including Sugarman 3, The Daktaris, The Mighty Imperials, Naomi Davis & The Knights of 41st Street, Lee Fields, Joseph Henry and Sharon Jones, who backed by the Soul Providers who had become the Desco house band, released three 45's on the label. Desco Records were gaining intrigue and reputation for quality amongst soul/funk collectors and enthusiasts. Many people who bought the early records were unsure that they were modern recordings as recording dates were deliberately omitted from the labels and were often marketed as being released in the 1970s. Two other Soul Providers albums were released, an instrumental soundtrack to a mysterious Sam Lung Kung-Fu film, The Revenge Of Mr Mopoji, credited to Mike Jackson And The Soul Providers and a Lee Fields solo album Let's Get A Groove On where the Soul Providers provided the backing.
In 2000, due to a growing difference of opinion, Lehman and Roth decided to go separate ways and both set up new labels. Philip Lehman set up Soul Fire Records (now defunct, the back catalogue is handled by Truth & Soul Records). Gabriel Roth went on to start Daptone Records with Sugarman 3 saxophonist Neal Sugarman. The Soul Providers split and a new band, the Dap-Kings formed. The band was consisted of label owners Roth AKA Bosco Mann on bass and Neal Sugarman on Saxophone, plus original Soul Providers: guitarist Binky Griptite, organist Earl Maxton, percussionist Fernando Velez and trumpeter Anda Szilagyi. Joining them were original members of the Mighty Imperials whose album, Thunder Chicken, was the last release on the Desco label: tenor saxophonist Leon Michels and drummer Homer Steinwess.
Having secured a summer residency at The Boite, a club in Barcelona, Spain, the band recorded an LP, Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings in 2001. A few hundred copies were pressed, so that sales during the residency would provide financial backing on what would have otherwise been a financially disastrous trip. With promotional copies reaching notable funk DJs and reviewers, the album gained a significant reputation and was officially released as the first LP and CD on Daptone Records in 2002 to universal acclaim amongst enthusiasts.
An exhausting schedule of international shows then followed to promote the album and it quickly became clear that promotion of Sharon Jones would be key to the success of the Daptone label. Whilst trying to build upon the revue style stable showcasing and trying to record other groups and artists on the label, other projects have to a certain extent been sidelined in favour of building on the success of Sharon Jones. Expected albums from Lee Fields and Naomi Davis have so far been victim to a lack of time, funds and energy a small independent label has. Neal Sugarman's own band Sugarman 3 who have themselves released several popular albums including one on the Daptone label, Pure Cane Sugar, have also been somewhat sidelined.
Following the album, three 45's of note, not included on the album where also released. "What If We all Stopped Paying Taxes", released in 2002 just ahead of the U.S. Election, was a militant anti-war statement denouncing the Iraq War. "Genuine (parts 1 & 2)" in 2004 was an uncompromisingly hard funk record which firmly kept the interest of enthusiasts and their cover of "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", released in 2005 but which was apparently recorded for a KFC commercial in 2002 but was never used.
By this time there were a few personnel changes, as organist Earl Maxton and trumpeter Anda Szilagyi officially became members of Antibalas, a New York based afrobeat band. Whilst Maxton was not replaced on organ, Trumpeter David Guy was recruited on trumpet. Also from the Budos Band, Thomas Brenneck, a second guitarist was added. In 2003 the Daptone Recording Studio, complete with a sixteen track analogue tape machine was open for business. It was originally intended to record two albums back-to-back to speed up the next release process. However during the final sessions of the first of these albums, Gabriel Roth suffered serious eye injuries in a car crash on his way home from the studio. This led to a break in the recording process and ultimately plans to limit the sessions to only one album. Their second LP and CD, Naturally, was then released in 2005. This album was a more broad based album than the first (which almost completely consisted of funk numbers) and included a mix of both soul and funk influences. The sleeve notes, written by Gabriel Roth, provided some insight into the vision behind the music, "Somewhere between banging on logs and the invention of M.I.D.I. technology we have made a terrible wrong turn. We must have ridden right past our stop. We should have stepped down off the train at that moment when rhythm and harmony and technology all culminated to a single Otis Redding whine. That moment of the truest, most genuine expression of what it means to be human." The production and recording values of this album were also noticeably crisper than that of the first - attaining a sound similar to the kind of production standard achieved by James Brown at his height, rather than the slightly duller "scratchy 45" sound of the original album. With, again, international acclaim amongst enthusiasts and a steadily growing base of both fans and now imitators, the band embarked on more extensive international tours and promotion of the album.
Leon Michels left the band soon after the release of Naturally to help start a new label Truth & Soul Records on the back of a solo LP that was originally intended to be released on Daptone, Sounding Out The City, credited to El Michels Affair. The label would also fill the void left when Philip Lehman closed the Soul Fire label and moved to the Bahamas, leaving the scene altogether. The back catalogue of Soul Fire would then be handled by Truth & Soul Records who, along with Soul Fire often used many of the same artists in their stable, such as Lee Fields, Homer Steinweiss and Thomas Brenneck but of whom Leon Michels had been the biggest collaborator. Michels replacement in the Dap-kings came as Ian Hendrickson-Smith, a local saxophone player who has released several jazz albums under his own name.
The Dap-Kings were then hired as session musicians on a number of projects associated with New York based DJ/producer/recording artist Mark Ronson. Most notable of these is their extensive inclusion and somewhat unheralded contribution to Amy Winehouse's album Back to Black (2006). Six of the album's eleven tracks feature various members of the Dap-Kings with two notable hits from the album, Rehab and You Know I'm No Good, extensively featuring the Dap-Kings. A further engineering credit goes to Gabriel Roth and several tracks recorded at Daptone Studios are mis-credited as "Dapking Studios". Again various members of the band feature on Ronson's second album, Version (2007), providing contributions on all but one of the album's fourteen tracks. The Dap-Kings then became the backing band used on Amy Winehouse's first U.S. tour. In 2007 the Dap-Kings worked with British singer Ben Westbeech to record a new version of his song "So Good Today"; it was released to mark the first anniversary of Brownswood recordings, the label Westbeech is signed to in the UK. Sharon Jones lends her vocals on one song "The Way We Lived", on Wax Tailor's second album "Hope & Sorrow", released in April 2007.
In late 2006, the band recorded a third studio album, entitled 100 Days, 100 Nights, it was released on 2007-10-02. A single, which is not included on the album, entitled "I'm Not Gonna Cry" was released in April 2007 and featured the same uncompromised funk style of the earlier single, "Genuine".
Sharon died November 18, 2016 of complications from pancreatic cancer, aged 60.
I Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Is In
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found my mind in a brown paper bag within
Tripped on a cloud, fell eight miles high
Tore my mind on a jagged sky
Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
Watched myself crawling out as I was crawling in
Saw so much till I broke my mind
Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in, yeah yeah yeah
See what condition I was in
Hey yeah baby, see what condition I was in
I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
Saw so much till I broke my mind
I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Someone painted "April fool" in big black letters on a dead-end sign
I had my foot on the gas since I left the road and I blew out my mind
Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I dropped in, check out this condition my condition was in
I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Hey, check out the condition, oh, my condition
Yeah, oh what condition my condition was in
Oh, check it out
I got to see what condition it's in
Hey, I got to check out my condition and see...
Just make sure it's all right now...
The song "I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In" by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings is about the experience of taking drugs and the effects it has on the mind and body. The singer of the song wakes up after a night of drug use and feels disorientated (found my mind in a brown paper bag within), leading them to want to check what state they are in (hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in).
The second verse continues this theme of feeling lost in the midst of drug use. The singer pushes their soul into a deep dark hole (a metaphor for drug use), but watches themselves crawling out as they are crawling in. They feel tight and unable to relax, and they see so much that it breaks their mind. The bridge of the song describes the singer being on a reckless drive while in this state, blowing out their mind in the process.
Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the dangers and consequences of drug use, and the desire to check in on oneself to ensure they are okay.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning with the sundown shining in
I woke up early in the morning when the sun was coming up
Found my mind in a brown paper bag within
I was feeling confused, disoriented or lost, as if my mind was trapped in a sealed bag
Tripped on a cloud, fell eight miles high
I felt like I was flying or floating, as if I was high up in the air
Tore my mind on a jagged sky
My thoughts were erratic or fragmented, as if I was trying to piece them together from a broken or jagged image
Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I came by to check on my mental or emotional state or well-being
Pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
I felt like I was in a very dark or depressed place, as if my soul had been pushed or dragged there against my will
Watched myself crawling out as I was crawling in
I felt like I was trapped in a cycle of despair or misery, as if I was trying to escape from a hole while also falling back into it
I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
I was feeling tense or anxious, as if I couldn't relax or let go of my worries
Saw so much till I broke my mind
I experienced or witnessed so many things that it overwhelmed or confused me, to the point of mental exhaustion or breakdown
Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in, yeah yeah yeah
I reiterated my intention to check on my emotional and mental state or well-being
See what condition I was in
I wanted to find out exactly how I was feeling, thinking or coping with my situation
Hey yeah baby, see what condition I was in
I expressed my curiosity and desire to know my own condition or state of mind
Someone painted "April fool" in big black letters on a dead-end sign
I felt like I had been misled or deceived, as if someone had played a trick or a prank on me and made me realize that I was stuck or going nowhere
I had my foot on the gas since I left the road and I blew out my mind
I was moving fast or recklessly, as if I was driving a car and pushing it to its limits, and it led to me feeling overwhelmed or confused
Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
I was far from home or from a place where I could find help or support, and I had no resources or backup plan to rely on
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I was headed towards a big or important destination, as if I was ascending or rising up towards it, but I wasn't sure where exactly it was located
I dropped in, check out this condition my condition was in
I arrived somewhere suddenly, as if I dropped or fell into it, and I wanted others to see or know about my mental or emotional state or well-being
I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I repeated my purpose or intention to check on my own mental and emotional state or well-being
Hey, check out the condition, oh, my condition
I asked others to pay attention or take note of my mood, thoughts or feelings
Yeah, oh what condition my condition was in
I expressed my curiosity or concern about my own state of mind, emotions or well-being
Oh, check it out
I urged others to look for themselves and see what was happening with me
I got to see what condition it's in
I admitted that I needed to know how I was feeling or coping with my situation
Hey, I got to check out my condition and see...
I emphasized the importance of checking on my own mental and emotional state or well-being, as if it was crucial to my survival or success
Just make sure it's all right now...
I expressed my hope or request that everything would be okay or resolved soon, and that I could feel better or at peace with myself
Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@risatungol
I woke up this mornin' with the sundown shinin' in
I found my mind in a brown paper bag within
I tripped on a cloud and fell-a eight miles high
I tore my mind on a jagged sky
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
… I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then i followed it in
I watched myself crawlin' out as i was a-crawlin' in
I got up so tight i couldn't unwind
I saw so much i broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
… Someone painted "april fool" in big black letters on a "dead end" sign
I had my foot on the gas as i left the road and blew out my mind
Eight miles outta memphis and i got no spare
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
… I said i just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Yeah yeah oh-yeah
@GardenGirlD76
So missed beautiful Sharon Jones! Bittersweet to hear this beautiful voice, but still awesome!
@oxman5571
Now that is the good stuff. I'm listening to the album today and this alone made it worth the purchase.
@chrismackenzie7252
Let's all just abide and appreciate this.
@gregc7699
Sharon Jones is sorely missed what a legend truly one of the greats
@edricklouidor2362
Missing you Always Ms. Jones Rip !!!!
@ericcando2903
Bringing new life to an underrated classic!
@Chapusse
The bass line is 10.
@alandasher8789
thats some soul baby! rip
@danielkobis147
From the new Sharon Jones & The Dapkings album, with unreleased songs from the past, but very great songs !!!
@phak74
Ho Sharon, how we miss you