The Dap-Kings was a Soul Revival music group started in 2000 by Bosco Mann and Neal Sugarman.  The Dap-Kings were also the house band for Daptone Records and played on other artists’ records released on Daptone Records.  The idea for the group was to record Soul and Funk songs that sounded like they were recorded and released in the 1970s.  The studio was built using analog equipment to give the music a more authentic sound.

Bosco Mann knew of Sharon Jones from her work providing backup vocals for other groups he was familiar with.  Sharon Jones became the front singer for The Dap-Kings.  Their early records were released as vinyl 45s and LPs, further adding to the confusion as to when the songs were recorded.

Starting with the third album, The Dap-Kings started charting on Billboard’s Soul and Pop Album charts.  By the fourth album, The Dap-Kings’ albums were charting in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Soul charts.

In 2013, Sharon Jones was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  After chemotherapy treatments, and the cancer going into remission only to return in 2015, Sharon Jones died of cancer in 2016.  One more album of already recorded material was released after her death, and after that, the group broke up.

The Dap-Kings go out of their way to sound like Funk and Soul music of the 1970s.  And their Christmas CD from 2015 is no different.  Some of the songs on here are easily recognizable, familiar Christmas songs.  But it is only through listening to the words of the original Christmas songs that you realize they are Christmas songs.  The arrangements and groove lines are not like your typical Christmas songs.  There are many groups out there that have Christmas records that don’t sound like traditional Christmas records, and you can add Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings to that list.

More often than not, recording artists will step away from their regular arrangements and add other instruments they don’t normally use when recording their Christmas songs.  Instruments such as lush string orchestras, additional choral singers and softer arrangements usually define these kinds of additions.  Not so with The Dap-Kings.  They stick to the current members and their musical talents only to produce a ‘not so typical’ Christmas album.

But as common with most Christmas albums, this Christmas release has 11 songs spread out over 38 minutes of music.  Half of the songs are familiar Christmas songs, albeit recorded with non-traditional arrangements.  The others are original Christmas songs with unique arrangements as well.

Let’s start with the CD artwork.  The CD comes in a cardboard case and the artwork is limited to just what is presented on the front and back.  Sometimes CDs released in a cardboard case will have a pocket that contains a small booklet of information about the band and perhaps other information such as recording dates.  That is not the case here.

The cover of the CD shows The Dap-Kings dressed in red suits with white shirts and thin black ties.  The Dap-Kings were a mixed-race musical group of eight members.  They are standing around a decorated Christmas tree.  A couple of the band members are standing behind the tree holding up a banner that should normally read Happy Holidays, but in this case, the banner reads Dappy Holidays.  Some band members are holding Christmas presents and one is holding a set of bongos.  Sharon Jones is featured out front, made to look like she is handing you a wrapped Christmas gift.  A couple of female backup singers dressed in black are placed off to the left of the band.  The setting for the photograph features white walls and a white floor.

The front cover has a Christmas green border that is larger at the top of the CD with the CD title appearing in white lettering and the band name appearing in red.  The font used for the CD title and the band name is similar to a Western styled font seen in old TV shows.  Off to the left, below the CD title and band name is a list of the songs in very small print.

The artwork on the back of the CD is simple.  It features the CD title and band name at the top with the Daptone Records logo beside.  There is a numerical track listing with writer credits given below each song title.  Typical production and copywrite notices are featured near the bottom.  All is presented in black and white.

As the CD opens, the back of the front cover shows a Hanukkah candelabra and each band members’ face is used as the flame of the candles, with Sharon Jones’ face taking the middle candle.  Their first names appear above their faces.

Song title and writer credits are given, band members’ faces are shown with names, but there is no information as to recording dates or techniques.  Because of all the unique original Christmas songs on here, a lyric sheet would have helped immensely.  I’m finding myself looking up the lyrics to the original songs so I can read along while the song plays as to better understand what the song is about.  That’s okay, I don’t expect a lot of information on every CD.

The CD begins with 8 Days (Of Hanukkah), a Soul song that describes the 8 days of Hanukkah.  The song opens with a count up from one to eight, and after an introductory set of verses, counts back down from eight to one as Sharon Jones begins to describe each day and the treasures it brings.  The song’s lyrics reference a lot of Jewish traditions, and the overall theme is eight days of love.  The arrangement features a sax driven syncopated melody.

The 2^nd song, Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects, has Sharon Jones questioning her mother as to how Santa could bring her toys at Christmas if there ‘ain’t no chimneys in the projects’.  Her mother assures her that Santa can do magical things.  After falling asleep, a chimney will appear and, in the morning, she will see all that magic appear.  Of course, after getting older, Sharon Jones realizes that Santa Claus was really her mother.  Regardless of the song’s title, the song speaks of love in a strong way.

The 3^rd song, White Christmas, is easily recognizable as the Classic we all know, but the arrangement swings pretty hard.  Although the lyrics are familiar, and easy to sing along to, the melody uses a heavily Soul influenced approach to this Christmas classic.  The vocals also exhibit a lot of Gospel influence as Sharon Jones and the backup singers belt out the lyrics.

The 4^th song, Just Another Christmas Song, is a great original Christmas song.  The song describes itself as just another Christmas song by incorporating familiar Christmas song titles and references from a lot of Christmas songs into the lyrics.  The arrangement features a heavy saxophone melody as the backup singers harmonize the title repeatedly.

Silent Night is the most recorded Christmas song, but I don’t know of any that sound like the Dap-Kings’ version.  The lyrics are easily recognizable and delivered in a soulful and endearing manner, but the arrangement is not anything like the one most of us are familiar with.  The song opens with sleigh bells that stay throughout, and the melody is achieved with piano and a strong brass section.  Sharon Jones’ vocals again showcase Gospel influences.  If it wasn’t for the lyrics, this song would not be recognizable as Silent Night.  It is a terrific Chicago Blues influenced take on this Christmas classic.

The 6^th song, Big Bulbs, features double entendre lyrical references to something other than Christmas ornaments.  The arrangement is lighter than most of the other songs, but it still hammers away.  The rhythm is maintained with repetitive guitar chords while a trumpet blares the melody.  The vocals declare that the Christmas ornaments can be seen from far away and that there must be a great Christmas party taking place inside tonight.  This song will get some double takes from many listeners, but it’s a harmless, humorous original Christmas song.

Please Come Home For Christmas has the most traditional arrangement of any of the songs.  This Charles Brown penned Christmas song from 1960 was written as a soulful Christmas song and The Dap-Kings’ version doesn’t stray too far from the original.  As is so often featured with this song, tolling bells introduce the melody.  Sharon Jones delivers the lyrics in a soulful manner while the backup singers echo her vocals.  This arrangement again features Chicago Blues influences.

Funky Little Drummer Boy is definitely the song we are all familiar with, and the melody stays true to the original arrangement, but this is a Soul driven classic.  It’s perhaps the best song on here.  The rhythm is carried with a snare drum and Latin percussion congas while the horn section provides background texture.  Sharon Jones and her backup singers deliver the lyrics in a traditional manner.  The drummer and the horn section carry the melody at the end of the song.

Silver Bells also stays true to the arrangement we are familiar with in the beginning, but after the introductory verse which features heavy piano, the tempo doubles up and The Dap-Kings swing the melody with a rocking rhythm.  The tempo of the lyrics doesn’t stray off too far from the original, it’s just the combination of the fast-paced arrangement and the vocals that makes this unique.  The syncopated harmonies add an extra festive feeling.

The 10^th song is another Dap-Kings original Christmas song.  World Of Love speaks of a desire to show the world that all its problems could disappear if everyone could see how a world of love would wipe out all the sadness.  The tempo is moderate, and Sharon Jones delivers the lyrics soulfully.  This is the first time that a string orchestra is featured.

The last song on the CD is a Dap-Kings instrumental take on God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.  Their version, titled God Rest Ye Merry Gents, is a horn driven arrangement of this traditional Christmas hymn.  It is well done and features the brass section in all its glory.

The Dap-Kings use syncopated rhythms and horns to put their own unique touch to Christmas songs.  This is a funky, soulful Christmas CD.  I am glad to have it in my collection, but I would be careful as to when I played this.  The crowd for this unique Christmas record is a group that appreciates new things and gets bored easily with the usual and expected Christmas music fare.

Even the familiar Christmas songs that stay close to the original arrangements are given The Dap-Kings’ treatment.  This harkens back to 1970s Blaxploitation Soul music.  The arrangements are fierce and loaded with brass instruments.  Sharon Jones and the two backup singers obviously have Gospel roots, and it is expressed very well in all the vocals.

This CD is going to appeal to a small group of people.  I don’t think older people will appreciate this as much as younger people, especially at Christmas time when so much is anticipated with traditional seasonal sentiments.

As is common for many of these new 21^st century revival groups, the original Christmas songs are the standout songs on here.  All the songs feature The Dap-Kings unique style, but that is exponential on the original songs.  When you compose new Christmas songs, the possibilities can be endless, and The Dap-Kings showcase that possibility very well.

Be prepared, this is a funky, soulful Christmas CD loaded with original songs that harken back to the days of classic 1970s Soul music.  It was the original mission of the founders of The Dap-Kings, and they have showcased that very well with this, their only Christmas CD, recorded in 2015.

I always look at these unique Christmas CDs for what they are.  I like to collect Christmas music because there is so much out there to collect.  That means that some are going to be very different from the norm.  That does not mean that I will force this on anyone in a large Christmas gathering.  I will save this for small groups of friends or family.  I have a few friends that stray from the norm, and I play this at work more often than the Classic Christmas music that they tend to turn their heads from.

The name of this CD is It’s A Holiday Soul Party, and that is definitely what this CD is.

I give this CD :

****