Sam & Dave
'The Original Soul Men'
Universal/Historic Music DVD
UK Release Date: 5th May 2008

Wow! never before in the history of soul music collecting have we been treated to such fantastic documentary/performance DVD's featuring the ultimate in rare TV footage as we have seen in the last few years. This latest edition from Universal Music digs deep into the Memphis soul archives and delivers a blistering DVD crammed full of nostalgic performances from the duo labelled 'double dynamite' the legendary sixties soulsters Sam & Dave. A most fascinating insight into the lives of these two prolific Memphis based singers who, during the 1960's commandeered the soul and R'nB charts with a string of hit singles and perhaps more importantly their presence as electrifying live performers on the famous Stax/Volt tours of that period.

This DVD features numerous interviews with those who knew the guys best. Al Bell from Stax Records, guitarists Steve Cropper
and Donald 'Duck' Dunn from the Stax house band Booker T & the MG's, as well as Dave Praters wife Rosemary. Whilst sadly, Dave died some years ago we still have Sam Moore to give us the low down on what must have been a fantastic musical career during soul music's most endearing period the 1960's. The duo were noted for their electrifying stage performances most notably on the 1967 Stax/Volt tour in Norway on which they can be seen performing some of their hit singles at that time. In fact when you watch that concert its hard to decide who is the best artist on the bill. Whilst the late Otis Redding should have been top billing if it is to be judged on performance alone then Sam & Dave could easily have qualified for that accolade over and above Otis, Arthur Conley, Eddie Floyd and the Markeys.

Being a collector of vintage video performances I thought I had the ultimate rarity in a decent quality full length clip of the duo performing a rendition of Jerry Butler's classic 'Make It Easy On Yourself' convinced that this clip alone would never again see the light of day - how wrong I was as it is included here showing off the guys on a rare orchestrated ballad in glorious colour. You'll find almost of all of their hits somewhere on the package including their 1967 smash hit 'Soul Man' and from the same year 'Hold On I'm Comin', 'You Don't Know Like I Know' and the Sam Cooke penned 'Soothe Me' taking the viewer on a non-stop nostalgia trip never to return.

Sam & Dave's music whilst being gospel driven from the soul was pure raw soul and funk from the heart. You won't find lush strings and orchestration here - just gut driven raw soul just as it should be. What's great about this compilation is the mixture of lip synched and lice performances especially with the Sam & Dave band present as they dip and step and deliver some stunning brass breaks on their songs in a manner not too unsimilar to Kool & the Gang. If you want some real nostalgia check out their live version of 'Soul Sister, Brown Sugar' for starters, before moving on to 'I Thank You' (a track never played these days) .

Other performances include an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show and full length appearances performing 'You Got Me Hummin' 'Lucky Ol' Sun' 'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby' and a fabulous live version in colour of 'I Take What I Want' complete with original go-go dancers and brass section.

In terms of a standout track well, there's one that took my fancy being the 1967 'I Don't Need Nobody (to tell me about my baby) although to be fair EVERY track is a winner and as for the bonus disc - you'll just have to buy it to find out what's included.

A DVD of the highest quality and a worthy of inclusion in anyone's collection. Soul music performed how it should be. Experience two masters at work here.

Rating 10/10.

Disc 1.

Soul Man 1967
I Take What I Want 1966
You Don't Know Like I Know 1967
Soothe Me 1967
Road Runner 1967 (Sam & Dave Band)
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby 1969
Hold On I'm Comin' 1967
You Got It Made 1967
You Got Me Hummin' 1969
I Don't Need Nobody 1967
Soul Sister, Brown Sugar 1969
Lucky Ol Sun 1969
Make It Easy On Yourself 1970
Born Again 1969
I Thank You 1969
Lucky Ol Sun 1969 (with Mike Douglas)
Baby Don't Stop Now 1970
Soul Man 1980
You Are So Beautiful 2007 (Sam Moore)

Disc 2.

Soul Man (the Blues Brothers) 1977
I Take What I Want 1969
Secret Agent Man 1966
Your Gonna Need Him After A While (Ruth Davis & Brother Joe May) 1963
We Will Understand It Better Bye And Bye (The Davis Sisters) 1963
I Am A Pilgrim (The Soul Stirrers) 1963