The formula is established now: take an old blues or soul star and give them a modernising makeover - taking care not to uproot them too much from their time-tested territory - complete with a gallimaufry of guesting friends and admirers whose various audiences, it's hoped, might cross over to the heritage side of the tracks. It worked for John Lee Hooker, and provided a jackpot for Santana, but whether it will do so for Sam Moore is open to question. Moore was one half of Sam & Dave, by common consent the most dynamic soul performers of their era, and there are plenty of latterday heavy-hitters who fancy playing the Dave Prater role, from Jersey boys Bruce Springsteen (on a sterling version of Don Covay's "It's Better to Have and Not Need") and Jon Bon Jovi (on Bobby Womack's urgent "Lookin' For a Love"), to Mariah Carey, Stevie Winwood, Eric Clapton, Paul Rodgers and Sting, along with a surprising number of country singers such as Travis Tritt, Vince Gill and Wynonna (on a creditable version of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain"). Not all the material is as well chosen, but Sam is never less than his usual electrifying self.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "It's Better to Have and Not Need", "Lookin' for a Love", "I Can't Stand the Rain"
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