Dan Penn “Make Somebody Happy for Christmas” (Pine Bros, 1979)

Описание: Dan Penn “Make Somebody Happy for Christmas” (Pine Bros, 1979)

I was pretty excited to discover that Dan Penn had put out a Christmas single, considering how many great songs he’s been involved in over the years, mostly tunes that came out of the Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals. This is the guy who wrote “The Dark of the Street” for James Carr, “Do Right Woman” for Aretha Franklin, “Cry Like a Baby” for the Box Tops, “Far From the Maddening Crowd” for the Drifters, “It Tears Me Up” for Percy Sledge, “I’m Your Puppet” for James and Bobby Purify, and “Rainbow Road” for Arthur Alexander. Oh, and he also produced all the Box Tops songs, including “The Letter.”

So you can see why I had high hopes for this. But here’s the thing, the handful of recordings he’s made as an artist have always been eclipsed by other artists performing those songs. His voice is fine, but not great. Then again, when you have people like Aretha and Percy Sledge singing your songs, of COURSE it’s better when they do. Nonetheless, Penn and his earthy southern delivery serve this song, which has grown on me each time I’ve listened to it.

Then there’s the B-side… co-written by the great Spooner Oldham, who co-wrote many of Penn’s most enduring classics, this song is just head scratching to me. I can’t tell if it’s just a goof or a total misfire. It’s a weird one, but not in a way that feels on purpose.

So here’s a rarity by the great Dan Penn, who is still out there in his glory - shout out to you, king!

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