CD - Sam Moore: Overnight Sensation

Following releases from the likes of Bobby Purify and the Country Soul Revue, here's another return to recording from an R&B great from the 60s. Sam of course earned his reputation and his major successes as one half of probably the greatest of all soul duos. The vast array of talent who took the time and trouble to duet and play on this album testifies to the high regard in which both Sam and his recording legacy are held.

The good news is that by and large the supporting talent augments rather than detracts from Sam's performances; and the first thing to say is that, despite the fact that he's now in his 60s, the soulful and gritty tenor voice is still very much in evidence. Sam & Dave's recordings didn't necessarily showcase the protagonists vocals anyway, so this is a chance to hear just how fine a singer the man is.

The choice of material is a little variable, but there are enough good choices to make the odd obvious pick ('I Can't Stand The Rain') less intrusive than it might otherwise have been. Production is fresh and contemporary but traditional soul fans will relish the use of horn sections, churchy backup singers and Hammond organs, all of which link the old with the new and prove you can still do this sort of thing in 2006 and stay current.
Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Winwood, Sting, Mariah Carey, Vince Gill, Paul Rodgers, Robert Randolph, Van Hunt and Eric Clapton are amongst the guests, along with Billy Preston, who makes one of his last recording appearances before his untimely death earlier this year. The scale of the stellar accompaniment could easily have made Sam a supporting guest on his own album, but this has on the whole largely been avoided.

Standouts for the Shades site are 'None Of Us Are Free' (with a fine supporting performance from Sting, it has to be said), which is at least the equal of Solomon Burke's version on "Don't Give Up On Me"; the soul standard 'Don't Play That Song', which features a great contribution from Bekka Bramlett; the Paul Rodgers assisted 'We Shall Be Free' and the sentimental but affecting Conway Twitty penned 'It's Only Make Believe'. But to be honest, it's a consistently strong effort from Sam on only the second solo recording of his career.

I have seen one isolated review that argued that the recording was "over produced plastic pop from one end to the other" - well, it certainly isn't the sound of Stax, but then it isn't 1965 either. Buy with confidence if you're a fan of great soul vocals but don't expect a replica of a sound from 40 years ago.

October 2006