Soul Music lit up my life in the Sixties. The Four Tops, the Temptations, Smoky Robinson, the Supremes, and dozens of other Motown artists made up my personal soundtrack in those years. But, Soul Music went away, the magic was gone. The closest thing in the next decade was Disco. And that soon faded, too. Once in a while, an R&B artist emerged who was soulful: Luther Vandross leaps to mind. Now, in the 21st Century, Soul Music seems to be making a mild comeback. It started with the ill-fated Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and continued with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ 100 Days, 100 Nights in 2007. Now we have I Learned the Hard Way and you have to pinch yourself to make sure it’s not 1965 again while you’re listening to it. Sharon Jones knows how to sing soul songs and the Dap-Kings know how to play Motown music. If you’re a fan of this musical genre, you’ll love this CD! GRADE: A-
TRACK LIST
1. The Game Gets Old
2. I Learned the Hard Way
3. Better Things
4. Give It Back
5. Money
6. The Reason
7. Window Shopping
8. She Ain’t a Child No More
9. I’ll Still Be True
10. Without a Heart
11. If You Call
12. Mama Don’t Like My Man
I am SO getting this CD. Even if I didn’t like this type of music (which I do), that is one classic cover!
I liked 100 DAYS, 100 NIGHTS, too, Deb. No one is making this kind of soul music anymore except for Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.
I’ll have to check it out, George. I’ve seen every one of the groups you mentioned in cencert more than once.
The NY TIMES had a rave review of Sharon Jone & The Dap-Kings in last Monday’s issue, Jeff. If they come to Western NY, I’ll be first in line to buy tickets!
This sounds great. I’ve been hearing soul is back and it was too long gone.
If you like Motown, you’ll like Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Patti!
Did you know that dapping is the elaborate handshake/slaps that bros do?
You are a fount of information, Bob!