When the Godfather of Soul tells you to have a Funky Christmas, I just think you just need to have a Funky Christmas. Oh and there are lots of songs on this to tell you how to have a good Christmas. Starting off with 'Go Power At Christmas Time', this is upbeat, James Brown music. Now you expect hagh, not too much variation and that Booker T sound from Nat Jones, Maceo and Company. You get James Brown talking with the band, and saying "Hit It". It's music to make you smile, if you remember this from back in the day. Next is the Godfather singing a ballad. That's not a misprint, he's singing a ballad, his voice is not designed for singing ballads, but this song has pretty music. 'Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas' is a really wonderful song, I could hear Bobby Blue Bland singing this and sounding a bit better, but the Godfather is giving it his heart. "If a bell could ring and make the whole world sing"...then the chorus.

Back to the JB sound, on 'Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto', that's before Santa had to go straight to the Urban Market. It's a sweet song, with the JB sound, and a little sax interlude. James Brown singing 'Merry Christmas Baby' is one for the ages, unfortunately he just doesn't have the voice to showcase this type of song. He's a great performer, and a pillar of Soul music and R&B, but his voice is not right for these slow songs, even though his band sounds great on some. It pains me to say this, but on some of the ballads he sounds just shy of your drunk family member singing in front of the tree, only when he shouts does he even sound intriguing. 'Let's Make This Christmas Mean Something This Year' starts off with some wicked harmonizing a-la the mid 50's, or Martha and the Vandels. I like this, because I these girls sound like something you might hear right in church. They have good voices, that are just a tinge off, with James talking in the background, a rap of sorts. Just talking about all of the good things we could focus on in the year, reminiscing about the good past Christmas' as well. He comes in with the trademark scream, off key, and wrong, but it doesn't matter. This is a family song, despite all of the screaming.

'Soulful Christmas' is the perfect James Brown Christmas song, the music is that groovy music with Maceo and the walking bass. He can scream, hugh, ugh, aaaawwwwwwwweie, and talk, he is singing in the voice we're accustomed to, doing his patented James Brown thing. He's just saying Merry Christmas, and I Love You, oh and Good God. This is the perfect James Brown vehicle, it doesn't show his shortcomings as a vocalist. It keeps pushing the music and musicians on, even though they can't really differ too much in the music, they can put little twists on the music which are interesting. Nat King Cole's 'The Christmas Song' is a good song, but JB really doesn't do it justice, but it's kind of sweet that he tried it, however he is not the person who should sing this. The same is true of 'Sweet Little Baby Boy', the violins at this point are becoming annoying. I think if it were just him and the piano, that might be a better mix on this one.

Please Come Home For Christmas has the Godfather singing blues, and his singing is perfect, but the band is completely out of tune. Every instrument is sounding just a bit out of tune, especially the trumpet and sax. They just seemed to have pulled it together at the very end, but they're too loud, and damage is already done.

'Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay' is about as good as the Godfather's Ballads get. He finally seems to have gotten the mixing right with the mix of instruments, the right type of ballad. This is like a 50's sort of fast ballad, it's not too slow, doesn't rely on the great voice. The instruments are quiet enough on this so that you can here JB do his thing, and it just sounds nice all the way around. Finally a ballad that's a winner. 'Tit For Tat(Ain't No Taking Back)' is classic Godfather of Soul, period, another winner, just fun JB. Christmas In Heaven almost has a gospel sound to it, unfortunately the blaring violins make another out of tune entrance, too bad. At least it ends on a good note with Hey America, a classic James Brown sound, voice, horns, aaaaaaggghhhhhiee, huggh, talking and all (even in multiple languages and for multiple religions), now that's the recipe for a Funky Christmas.

I wish they had toned down those violins for much of this CD. This starts off great with 'Go Power At Christmas Time', but the ballads (with the exception of a few) slow everything down, and ruin the funky flow of the CD. However this is an overall JB experience. You're not getting much variation in music, or great singing voice, or even particularly great lyrics, just the heart of the Godfather wishing you a Funky Christmas. Hey and that man's heart is definitely worth the price of admission. I recommend this for those family gatherings and dinners, where people should be talking so much that they don't really notice the music. Except for the occasional JB shout which should immediately spur some one to break out the Mashed Potato, Funky Chicken, or at least the James Brown slide across the room. Have a Funky Merry Christmas!

I'm giving this 3.25 stars, rounding down to 3.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: With Family