The release of the musical comedy Soul Men is a bittersweet moment in cinematic history. It marks the final film project of both
Bernie Mac, one of the film's co-leads (with
Samuel L. Jackson) and
Isaac Hayes, who contributed a track to this soundtrack album. They both passed away within days of one another after the film wrapped. The soundtrack for Malcolm D. Lee's film is a mixed bag of newly recorded soul classics, some modern gritty funk, and a couple of neo-soul jams with a variety of vocalists with some interesting instrumental combos backing them. Look no further than
John Legend with both
Mac and
Samuel L. Jackson performing the
Dan Penn-
Spooner Oldham classic "I'm Your Puppet." Despite the attempts to make it sound vintage with a slew of the industry's finest in the studio group, it still comes across as more Los Angeles than Memphis. Better is
Frank Fitzpatrick's "Soul Music," featuring
Anthony Hamilton fronting the Bo-Keys. The vocals were recorded in California, but the music is pure Memphis soul grit. Likewise the
Booker T. Jones-
William Bell cut "Private Number," performed by Chris Pearce and
Leela James, where at least the instruments were recorded at
Willie Mitchell's Electrophonic Studio in Memphis.
Hayes' contribution, a stellar reading of
Clifton Davis' "Never Can Say Goodbye," was recorded with his own band in Memphis as well. Other highlights include the loose and funky cover of
Steve Cropper and
Eddie Floyd's "Water" by
Me'Shell Ndegéocello,
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' killer version of
Mickey Newbury's "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," and
the Sugarman 3's "You Don't Know What You Mean (To a Lover Like Me)," with
Lee Fields fronting the band. The latter two selections aren't original to this soundtrack, but it doesn't matter since they work beautifully in the context of both the album and the film. The set closes with a deep funky take on
Hayes' classic "Do Your Thing," with
Sharon Leal,
Jackson, and
Mac backed by a band that includes
Patrice Rushen on keyboards. It goes on too long, and neither
Mac nor
Jackson can sing worth a damn (though
Mac is at least in key), but it hardly matters.
Leal gets down and the cats don't get in the way much. Like the film, this set is very much a good-time listen that has somewhat limited musical benefit, but perhaps enough vibe and verve to get it across to those who were captivated by the movie. ~ Thom Jurek