Jalen Ngonda: Doctrine Of Love Vinyl LP

Why you'll love it

This Daptone pressing comes with an MP3 download card and was made in the Czech Republic. It follows his acclaimed debut Come Around and Love Me, and lead single "Anyone In Love" reached No. 21 on the UK singles sales chart.

This edition

Download card included
Pressed in the Czech Republic

About the album

Jalen Ngonda found Motown at age 11 in his dad's record collection, by way of The Temptations' "My Girl," and never really left. He grew up in Wheaton, Maryland, then took a one-way flight to Liverpool to study music, and has been building a soul career from England ever since.

Doctrine Of Love keeps the Daptone house sound warm and close, with Vince Chiarito producing alongside Michael Buckley, who also wrote the arrangements. Ngonda's falsetto glides over "Anyone In Love" and the title track, "Mr. Train Conductor" and "Burning Temptation" bring the rhythm, and side B moves through "I Can't Ever Leave You," "Hannah, What's the Matter?" and "Good Good Love" before "Taken Out Of The Picture" closes the show. It's all tight horns, chiming guitar and harmonies straight out of 1966, sung by someone born in 1994.

Rolling Stone called him the leading soul revivalist of the decade, and he won Soul Act of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards in 2025. He's also opened for Lauryn Hill and Martha Reeves, which is a better CV than anyone working here can claim.

Also at Kops: more Jalen Ngonda on vinyl · browse 70s Soul On Up