No one else working today makes real soul records like Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. And now, in the great tradition of the big Motown acts and Phil Spector-produced groups, Jones and company have made a soul- and funk-ified holiday record to spice up the season. This album echoes those old-school sounds and rhythms: the version of “White Christmas” has a very Ike and Tina Turner/”Rollin’ on the River” feel. “Silent Night” has a smoky Chicago blues arrangement, and the tune “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects” channels the Hi Records Memphis soul sound. But Jones and band are a force in their own right. Every note and every moment on this record is for real, with Jones’ high-octane, earthy vocal at the core. With the addition of the awesome original “8 Days of Hannukah,” this release is a crowd-pleaser that should make the rotation at all the best holiday parties.
Engineers: Gabriel Roth, Wayne Gordon, Simon Guzman. Recording Studio: Daptone Studios (Brooklyn, NY). Mixing Studio: Penrose Recorders (Riverside, CA). Mastering: JJ Golden/Golden Mastering (Ventura, CA).
