Soul Man—Sam & Dave

#365Songs: June 25

Forget everything you’ve ever thought or heard about the song “Soul Man.”

Forget The Blues Brothers. Forget C. Thomas Howell. (This should not be difficult.)

Forget about Booker T. & The MGs. Forget about “Green Onions.” (This is more challenging, but you can do it.)

Forget about soul music. (This will be almost impossible. But do it.)

Erase the chalkboard of your mind. Evacuate the buildings of your ears.

Now, listen to “Soul Man.” But don’t just listen to “Soul Man.”

Listen to the guitar part.

Not the searing horns.

Not the percolating bass.

Not the driving drums.

Not the luxuriant and impassioned interplay of the two extraordinary voices.

Just listen to the guitar part.

Just listen to the goddamn guitar part.

Just listen to the guitar part.

Because this is the greatest rhythm guitar part ever recorded.

And this is a special distinction.

Rhythm guitarists are a very, very special group.

They are like knuckleball pitchers.

They are blessed with a gift no one else can quite understand. They themselves don’t even understand it. But it is a gift.

That a lanky-ass, six-foot white cat from Willow Springs, Missouri should happen to be one of the greatest soul music instrumentalists and songwriters in the history of the genre almost defies belief. The list of songs he co-wrote and played on is simply staggering; among them:

634–5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)
Green Onions
In the Midnight Hour
Knock on Wood
Mr. Pitiful
(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay

That. Is. Crazy.

Steve Cropper was earned his fair share of accolades over the years, including a couple of Grammys.

But that moment when Sam Moore shouts out, “Play it, Steve” is really all you need to know about the Telecaster-totin’ rhythm guitar master.

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