A Good Day for Music

Number one song during the first part of November, 1967

Sam and Dave

Soul Man

Song that became an instant classic that was recorded at a the legendary Soul label, Stax Records. Stax was where Otis Redding, Wilson Picket and Isaac Hayes recorded their hit songs. Recorded by the label’s house band, Booker T. and the MG’s and would have had Booker singing on the track, however, he was away at college and couldn’t make the recording date.

The song is known for a line that was not in the lyrics, but will be forever associated with the song. The exclamation, “Play it, Steve!” refers to Booker T. and the MG’s guitarist, Steve Cropper, who said in interviews that it was done during the very first take and not repeated in any other takes. When all the song parts had been laid down, it was decided that the first take was the best version and left the unscripted local in the master. Steve has said that he didn’t think that it would be in the final edit, but the encouragement to Steve remains and has been included as an homage to Steve in the movie soundtrack to ‘The Blues Brothers’.