José James' upcoming album, 1978: Revenge of the Dragon, set to release on May 16, 2025, via Rainbow Blonde Records, is a vibrant homage to the transformative energy of the late 1970s. Building upon his previous album, 1978, which celebrated the glitz of Studio 54, this new project delves into the raw, underground spirit of downtown's Mudd Club, blending jazz fusion, funk, punk, and cinematic influences from kung fu and Blaxploitation films .
Sound & Concept
Recorded live to tape in one take at Dreamland Studios—a restored 19th-century church near Woodstock, NY—the album captures an unfiltered, high-energy performance. James describes it as "hot," akin to a Friday night out at the Mudd Club in its prime.
Tracklist & Collaborators
The album features a mix of four originals and four reimagined classics:
Side A:
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Tokyo Daydream (feat. Taali)
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Rock With You (feat. Takuya Kuroda)
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Rise of The Tiger
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They Sleep We Grind (for Badu)
Side B:
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I Thought It Was You (feat. Ebban Dorsey)
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Miss You
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Inside And Out (feat. Ben Wendel)
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Last Call at The Mudd Club
The ensemble includes José James and Taali on vocals, BIGYUKI on keys and analog synth, Jharis Yokley on drums, with bass by David Ginyard and Kyle Miles. The brass section features Takuya Kuroda on trumpet, Ebban Dorsey on alto sax, and Ben Wendel on tenor sax .
Visual Companion
Complementing the album is a kung-fu short film titled Revenge of the Dragon, complete with training montages and plot twists, paying tribute to the genre's golden year, 1978, and Bruce Lee's cultural impact.
Lead Single: “They Sleep, We Grind (for Badu)”
The lead single is a hypnotic groove steeped in dub, funk, and sampledelia, inspired by Erykah Badu's social media mantra and martial arts videos. James channels influences from George Clinton to J Dilla, creating a decades-collapsing cut powered by an "ugly groove" .
This album promises a dynamic listening experience, blending genres and eras with José James' signature style.
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