1966 - December: Sam & Dave “Double Dynamite”

Sam Moore and Dave Prater were known as Sam & Dave, a huge soul act from the late 60's.  They were known as The Sultans of Sweat, The Dynamic Duo, and Double Dynamite.  This album is their second studio album out of Stax Records, also called Double Dynamite.

Sam & Dave are considered one of the greatest live acts out of the 60's, and a lot of musicians cite their influence on their work, including some you would expect like Al Green and Michael Jackson.  There are also a lot of musicians who were influenced who were significantly removed from the R&B genre like Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Steve Winwood.

Sam & Dave got their start in church in gospel choirs.  They met on the gospel music circuit and sang together in small clubs where they developed their sound based on a call-and-response approach to music from the gospel tradition.  They were discovered at the King of Hearts nightclub in Miami in the early 60's, and signed to Marlin Records at first.  They eventually made it to Atlantic Records in 1964 from which they were loaned out to Memphis-based Stax Records.  Stax had a lot of offer Sam & Dave, including the Stax horn section called the Mar-Keys, and their house band, Booker T. and the M.G.'s.

Bruce brings us this icon of soul, and friend of the show John Lynch joins us for this discussion.

 

You Got Me Hummin' Leading off the album, this single was written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.  Sam & Dave took this hit to number 8 on the R&B charts, and number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.  A number of other groups would do this song, including Freddie Fender and the Pointer Sisters.  Its highest charting on the Billboard Hot 100 was number 52 by Cold Blood.

Just Can't Get Enough This is a deeper cut, though I imagine just about any Sam & Dave song could be familiar with the number of covers or singers inspired by their songs.  This one has some lyrics that might be difficult to sing today - "The more I get the more I want.  It makes me feel good 'cause you never say don't.  I just cant get enough."  

Sweet Pains This track is another deep cut.  This one takes a description comparing love to pain, a path that would be echoed in John Cougar's "Hurts So Good," and Sade's "Sweetest Taboo."  "Sweet pains, feels good."

When Something Is Wrong with My Baby The big hit off the album was their only ballad single.  Hayes and Porter wrote it, and you have both Booker T and the MG's and the Mar-Keys horns playing on it.  A bunch of people have covered this song, including Jonny Gill, Charlie Rich, and in 1990 Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville did well with it.

 

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Marching Theme to the motion picture "Follow Me, Boys!" This Boy Scout themed movie starring a young Kurt Russel was the last film Disney Studios released prior to Walt Disney's death.  

 

STAFF PICKS:

Mellow Yellow by Donovan Rob kicks off the staff picks with a psychedelic hit.  Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan took this song to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Some thought the song was about a type of drug, but it was actually about a...well, let's just say it is an adult toy.

Talk Talk by The Music Machine Wayne's staff pick is a garage band one-hit wonder.  This song would use some techniques which were novel at the time, including the use of a fuzz box on the bass line, and tuning the instruments down a half step to produce a heavier sound.  

If I Were a Carpenter by Bobby Darin  Brian brings us a song written by Tim Hardin and popularized by Bobby Darin.  It hit number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, Darin's first hit in three years.  The lyrics question whether an elegant woman would be satisfied with a man who was merely a carpenter.  Darin had passed on two songs, "Do You Believe In Magic" and "Summer in the City," both of which would be hits for the Lovin' Spoonful. 

You Keep Me Hangin' On by The Supremes Friend of the show John Lynch brings us a big hit for Diana Ross and the Supremes.  It would also be a hit for a long list of cover artists including Vanilla Fudge, Phil Collins, Kim Wilde, and Rod Stewart.

 

NOVELTY TRACK:

Winchester Cathedral by The New Vaudeville Band This novelty song doubles up as Bruce's staff pick.  It was a number 1 hit in the United States and would win the Grammy for the best contemporary song in 1967, beating out singles from the Monkees, the Beach Boys, and the Beatles.

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