Classic Soul Song Reimagined as Rocksteady/Dubbed by Boston Ska Band
In celebration of the holiday season, Boston-based ska, rocksteady, and soul band The New Limits have revisited their cover of William Bell’s classic soul track “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday.” First recorded in 2017, the band utilized their core 4-piece rock band lineup to make a streamlined, groove-heavy track with a triumphant ending worthy of the celebration of the holiday season. With a new lead vocalist and a revitalized horn section, the band saw the opportunity to record the track again, showcasing the band’s bigger sound.
The new vocal and horn parts, recorded at The Record Co in Boston by the band’s own Miles “Baze” Blackwood Robinson, help give the new “Extra Cheer” version of the track a renewed energy distinct from the 2017 recording. In addition to both versions of “Everyday”, the three-track EP is rounded out by a dub of the 2017 version of the track engineered by Jayson “Agent Jay” Nugent (The Slackers, Crazy Baldhead) at Stabby Road Studio.
In 2017, The New Limits knew they wanted to get back into the recording studio following the production and release of their self-titled debut album earlier that year. The hard part, however, was picking a season-appropriate cover the band could agree on. Understanding that the majority of holiday classics are either corny or dated (who roasts chestnuts over open fires, especially in Allston?), the band chose to look back at potential covers from the soul artists that continue to have an influence on the band’s sound.
“Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” was originally released as a single by William Bell in 1967 on the legendary Stax Records, home to famed performers like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Written by Bell and Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. and The MG’s fame), the song has seen a few cover versions throughout the years by acts like Carol King and Hall & Oates, however, it’s not seen nearly as many as other well-known holiday standards. The New Limits hope to add to that legacy, employing traditional Jamaican rhythms to create a unique take on the song.
Another big draw was the non-denominational aspect of the song’s message; in lieu of celebrating one specific holiday, “Everyday” is instead a celebration of being together with loved ones, an underlying theme of the holiday season. The idea of inclusion represented by the track is something the members of The New Limits care deeply about, and as such that idea featured heavily in their decision to release their own take on the tune.
Listen to this EP on all major streaming services.
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube
The New Limits are a ska, rocksteady, and soul band from Boston, MA, active throughout New England since 2013. Along with this special holiday EP, the band has released one full-length record and one four-track EP.
Praise for the New Limits:
“Stax artist William Bell’s wonderful [2017 mix of] “Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday” is given a terrific rocksteady treatment by The New Limits here”
– Steve Shafer, Duff Guide to Ska“The New Limits were certainly raised on the tunes during the heyday of American ska; however their take on the genre is no carbon copy.”
– Skaboom.com“This is a band the scene can be proud of and should carry as contemporary heroes”
– Steven Bauer, ReadJunk
For fans of: The Slackers, Westbound Train, Deal’s Gone Bad