Review

THE ORIGINAL SOUL MEN – SAM & DAVE

As the title suggests, Sam Moore and Dave Prater are legendary “brothers in soul” and join beats with Otis Redding, Arthur Conley and the mighty Booker T & the MGs who, other iconic musicians and artists, were members of the Stax/Atlantic family.

From the opening bars of the frenetic 'You Don’t Know Like I Know,' through to the anthemic 'Hold On! I’m Comin’' and the totally compulsive soul classics 'Soul Man' and 'I Thank You,' this long over due DVD brings to life a fitting reminder of how it was.

Thanks to performances culled from, among others, London in 1967 and the African American tv programme 'Shades Of Soul,' we’re transported into a time where soul was soul, and singers gave full value for money. There’s so much here that needs a mention like the 22 vintage concert and tv performances spanning 1966-1980; interviews with Sam Moore, Dave Prater’s widow Rosemary and others, and… well, the sheer excitement of their live performances and the true Stax/Atlantic sound that carved a huge niche in music’s history make this DVD such compulsive viewing.
Words SHARON DAVIS