Most of the obits will talk about “Soul Man” (as they should), but Sam & Dave dropped so many gems, many ripe for (re)discovery. As a young pup, my introduction to their blissful magic was the moment in ‘The Blues Brothers’ when “Soothe Me” segues into “Hold On, I’m Coming” and mine surely weren’t the only set of innocent ears who heard something new, essential, necessary. (Props to Belushi and Aykroyd for helping a new generation get hip to so many old, unfairly neglected masters — and remember, this was peak Disco era when even VIPS and GODS like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin were old news, oldies acts, relegated to the commercial dustbin).
But if I were to point to my personal favorite, there’s no other choice but “A Place Nobody Can Find” which showcases both Sam and Dave’s distinctive voices, and the uncanny perfection of their harmonizing: peak instance of sum greater than the parts (and on a masterpiece like this, every part is a diamond; the sum is Bigger than Everything). The chorus? Ebullient, effortlessly cool, soulful, sublime. More Perfect than Any Human Has Any Right to Hear. Bless these geniuses to whom eternal gratitude is the least we can offer.
Back in the day I’d heartily recommend picking up the immortal “The Best of Sam & Dave” (which I owned on cassette, like every savvy listener circa 1980-something) but now this magic is available everywhere, all the time. Stream it and get an instant fix.
RIP Sam Moore.
