Sam and Dave - the Definitive Soul Collection

Sam and Dave gave us some of the finest soul music of the 60's and this 2-CD set brings up 30 of their best tracks, from the biggest hits to some more obscure, but no less great, numbers.

I wasn't familiar with "A Place Nobody Can Find", but what a terrific groove! "Goodnight Baby" is a soulfiul ballad, "I Take What I Want" is highly danceable, "You Don't Know Like I Know" was a fine hit with an insistent beat that you can't help but swing to, they slow is down for "Blame Me (Don't Blame My Heart)", and pick it up again for the infectious, hook-laden smash hit "Hold On! I'm A Comin'". More variety, from the quieter "I Got Everything I Need", the upbeat swinger "Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody", the mid-tempo "I Don't Need Nobody", the pulsatingly sexy "You Got Me Hummin'", the doo-wop-ish "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby", slow-ish soul in "Small Portion of Your Love", "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" and "May I Baby" before closing Disc 1 with a live version of "Soothe Me".

More of the same kinda greatness on disc 2, opening with the incredible "Soul Man" (man, what an amazing groove!), "Broke Down Piece of Man" (always loved Southside Johnny's take on this one), "The Good Runs the Bad Away" (funkiness!), the oft-covered and phenomenal "I Thank You", the funk-soul of "Wrap It Up", the upbeat soul of "You Don't Know What You Mean To Me", the slower "This Is Your World", more funkiness in "Can't You Find Another Way", another ballad in "Still Is the Night", soul-pop in "Everybody Got to Believe in Somebody", super groovaliciousness in "Soul Sister, Brown Sugar", more soul pop in "Come on In" and "Born Again", James Brown stylings in "Knock It Out of the Park" and finally, an odd version of Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds' "Don't Pull Your Love".

Overall, a solid set of excellent soul, although at just about 80 minutes total between the two discs, this could easily have been a single CD collection or is could have bee expanded more. In any case, it's all good stuff!