Soothe Me - Sam and Dave
- unclestylus
- Jul 28
- 3 min read

Sam and Dave were, thus far, the greatest soul duet ever. Sam Moore died on January 10th last, and Dave Prater back in April 1988. They first performed as a duo in 1961, recorded a bevvy of classic tracks including their signature song "Soul Man", and established themselves as one of the best live acts of the time. They played their last concert on January 31st, 1981, in San Francisco, and after they walked offstage, they never spoke again.
Their interplay in performance, swapping vocals and improvising harmonies, calling and responding in true gospel fashion, was legendary, Sam taking the higher Jackie Wilson / Sam Cooke style vocal with Dave's rich, lower register bouncing back. Perhaps the fact that they hated each other (Moore claimed they didn't speak to one another offstage for over ten years) contributed to the sense of competitiveness that is there in their singing. Their already fractious relationship worsened in 1968 when Prater shot (and injured) his wife during a domestic argument, something Moore never forgave him for.
It is ironic that the incredible tension and excitement built up in their performances may well have been generated by an electricity between them that was fuelled by mutual loathing, especially as their particular style of soul music was based on the call and response patterns between a preacher and the audience in African American evangelical worship ie: gospel music.
Indeed many of their greatest songs are based on gospel standards. "Soothe Me" is no exception. Originally written and performed by Sam Cooke, who started out as no mean gospel singer himself (see https://www.unclestylus.com/single-post/2017/01/30/touch-the-hem-of-his-garment-the-soul-stirrers and https://www.unclestylus.com/single-post/2017/02/01/trouble-in-mind-the-soul-stirrers ) he lifted it from his own adaptation of a gospel standard, "Lead Me Jesus".
Here is the gospel original performed by Sam (Cooke) as lead singer of the Soul Stirrers:
"When I was a sinner,
I sinned both night and day
but since I met this saviour of mine
he washed my sins away......
....When I met my saviour
I met him with my smile
he washed away my sins and opened up my eyes
now he walks right by my side..."
While the words are different, the tune, phrasing and sentiments are are almost identical, in effect substituting Jesus for his "baby", so that she has converted him to her.
"....how I used to ramble,
how I used to roam
but since I met this baby of mine
all I do is stay at home....
....I used to have a lot of girls
have them big and small
but since I met that baby of mine
I don't want no other girls at all...."
Allegedly recorded live at one of their gigs (which, back in 1966, would account for the hiss) you get an exquisite taste of their electric exchanges, they're definitely straining with each other as much as against each other, trying to outdo each other, but positively, in the interest of the song and performance.
How refreshing to hear them laying their differences, hatred, and God even, aside to fashion a passionate harmonious paean to love, and its effects.
"Soothe me baby, soothe me
soothe me with your kindness,
for you know your powerful loving
is soothing to me."
It's a message to those in the lands where the gospels began, as well as those nations in the west, that profess, officially at least, belief in those gospels, that needs to be heeded now and quickly.
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