Sam & Dave [Collectors' Choice] [PA]

Performer: Sam & Dave
Distributor: Infinity Entertainment Gr

Notes: Liner Note Author: Bill Dahl. Originally released in 1966, this 12-track collection gathers both sides of the six singles Sam Moore and Dave Prater recorded for the Roulette label between 1962 and 1964. Less dynamic than the duo's legendary sides for Stax and Atlantic later in the decade, this is nonetheless fine early 1960s deep soul, highlighted by the excellent "Listening For My Name." Roulette didn't release this album until 1966 -- two years after Sam & Dave's last Roulette single. They had become a household name via Stax Records when this hit the market. It is definitive Roulette, containing both sides of their six singles for the label. Roulette featured Dave Prater's baritone/tenor more prominently than Sam Moore's vibrant gospel tenor -- Stax featured Moore. They recorded "I Got a Thing Going On," "I Need Love," "No Pain," and "Keep Walkin'" at Criterion Studios in Miami for Henry Stone. And according to Moore, they first dropped on either Marlin or TK Records (the Rolling Stones' labels). Their first Roulette release, "I Need Love," written by Moore and Sam Early (not Prater as credited) went unnoticed. A nondescript "No More Pain" did no better. Through Morris Levy (the nefarious owner of Roulette), they kept busy gigging with no hits. According to Moore, "Jackie Wilson hung around the studio and sings background (uncredited) on many of these tracks." A third release, "She's Alright," failed miserably. Only the flowing "It's So Nice While It Lasted," where Prater and Moore's voices blend soulfully, had any juice; it almost broke in 1963. Roulette released the charmer again in 1966 to ride the wave of their Stax hits. [Collectors' Choice reissued their 12-track edition in 2009.] ~ Andrew Hamilton

The definitive '60s soul duo, Sam & Dave had both top-flight songs and one of the world's funkiest and most supple backing bands. The high-energy soulfulness of their performances has been copied by just about every bar band in the country, but never equaled. Their signature tunes "Hold On I'm Comin'," and "Soul Man" are part of R&B history.

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