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Soul Man (song)

"Soul Man"
Single by Sam & Dave
from the album Soul Men
B-side "May I Baby"
Released September 1967
Format 7", 45rpm
Recorded 1967
Genre Soul
Length 2:40
Label Stax/Atlantic
S-231
Writer(s) Isaac Hayes
David Porter
Producer(s) Isaac Hayes
David Porter
Sam & Dave singles chronology
"Soothe Me"
(1967)
"Soul Man"
(1967)
"I Thank You"
(1968)
"Soul Man"
Single by The Blues Brothers
from the album Briefcase Full of Blues
B-side "Excusez Moi Mon Cherie"
Released December 1978
Format 45rpm single
Genre Blues rock
Length 2:55
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Isaac Hayes & David Porter
Producer(s) Bob Tischler
The Blues Brothers singles chronology
- "Soul Man"
(1978)
"Rubber Biscuit"
(1978)

"Soul Man" is a 1967 song written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, first successful as a number 2 hit single by Atlantic Records soul duo Sam & Dave.

Co-author Isaac Hayes found the inspiration for "Soul Man" in the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In July 1967, watching a television newscast of the aftermath of the 12th Street riot in Detroit, Michigan, Hayes noted that black residents had marked buildings that had not been destroyed during the riots – mostly African-American owned and operated institutions – with the word "soul". Relating this occurrence to the biblical story of the Passover, Hayes and songwriting partner David Porter came up with the idea, in Hayes' words, of "a story about one's struggle to rise above his present conditions. It's almost a tune [where it's] kind of like boasting 'I'm a soul man'. It's a pride thing."

Sam sings the first verse, with Dave joining in the chorus. Dave sings the second verse, with Sam joining in the chorus. Sam sings the third verse, with Dave joining in the chorus. This is followed by a brief bridge section by Dave and then a coda, in which both Sam and Dave repeat the title phrase a half-step up, before the song's fade.

Issued on the Atlantic-distributed Stax label for which Hayes and Porter worked, Sam and Dave's "Soul Man" was the most successful Stax single to date upon its release. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States during the autumn of 1967, and number two in Canada. "Soul Man" was awarded the 1968 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental.


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