A Joyful Sound, Kelly Finnigan (Colemine)

This Bay-area singer, songwriter and producer is dedicated to the sounds of 60s soul in a similar way to the folks at Daptone, from which arose such artists as Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. I had never heard of him until this album crossed my path recently, and now I wanna hear more. The sound is wonderful, evoking not so much Motown or Stax/Volt as the thousands of independent-label soul records from about 1963 through the beginning of the 70s, and that sound is applied to 10 original songs (the title song, an instrumental, opens and closes the album). "Heartbreak For Christmas" is a great midtempo album starter, and "No Time to be Sad" is a fine vocal group ballad in the style of such acts as the Delphonics and the Intruders. "Just One Kiss" is a funky dance number, "Waiting on the Big Man" is a downtempo vigil for Santa Claus (love the count-off with "sugar plum fairy, sugar plum fairy," something John Lennon did on an early take of "A Day in the Life"), "The Miracle Is Here" is a punchy midtempo croon that evokes Curtis Mayfield, and "To Be Young at Christmas" is a slow number imagining a child's reaction to Christmas. "The Only Present Is Me" is a Christmas love ballad, "Santa's Watching You" is a funky rewrite of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" but with a little more paranoia mixed in, and "Merry Christmas To You" is a solid soulful climax to a fine original Christmas album. Currently in preorder status, not out till next week, click the cover to link the Amazon page.