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Review: Sam Moore: Overnight Sensational

The Sam formerly in "Sam and Dave" makes his bid for solo stardom

About.com Rating 4 Star Rating
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By , About.com Guide

Cons

  • Mariah Carey's wordless dog-calling vocal on Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe" is the only gratuitous and unnecessary cameo.

My review

When reviewing Sam Moore for Blues Revue magazine recently, Sam told me that he was upset by reports that he was "looking for a new Dave" by making this CD with an astonishing array of guest stars. American Idol judge Randy Jackson does indeed surround Sam with an impressive array of vocal (and instrumental) support on this, his first solo CD to be released in its own time, but the superstar pairings are only there to showcase Sam's talent, like a setting for a rare and nearly-forgotten jewel. The general sound of Overnight Sensational is pop-soul, as befits Sam's history, but the wide range of material is what really proves Moore's interpretive ability -- and, not coincidentally, his commercial viability. A project like this absolutely demands a strong musical presence at its center in order to keep the appearances from seeming like stunts. Sam demonstrates that over and over, turning everything from New Jack Swing to straight country into classicist soul informed by the call-and-response of gospel. And while you see Sting and Bruce Springsteen and Travis Tritt and Mariah Carey in the credits, what you hear is the sound of several talented band sidemen stepping forth on a sweaty stage. His force is still, somehow, that potent.

Tracklisting

1. I CAN’T STAND THE RAIN
(Donald Bryant/Bernard Miller/Ann Peebles)

Special appearance by WYNONNA
courtesy of Curb Records
Guest background vocals by BEBE WINANS
BILLY PRESTON: Hammond B3

2. BETTER TO HAVE AND NOT NEED
(Homer Banks/Thomas Bingham/John Colbert)

Special appearance by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
courtesy of Thrill Hill Records
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN guitars

3. BLAME IT ON THE RAIN
(Diane Warren)

Special appearance by FANTASIA
courtesy of RCA Records

4. LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE
(James Alexander/Zelda Samuels)

Special appearance by JON BON JOVI
courtesy of Island/Def Jam Records

5. AIN’T NO LOVE
(Paul Carrack)

Special appearance by STEVE WINWOOD
courtesy of Epic Records
STEVE WINWOOD: Hammond B3

6. IF I HAD NO LOOT
(John Bautista/Willie Harris/Ice Cube/Raphael Saadiq/Anthony Wheaton)

Special appearance by VAN HUNT
courtesy of Capitol Records
Special appearance by NIKKA COSTA
courtesy of Virgin Records
Special appearance by BILLY F. GIBBONS
courtesy of ZZ Top

7. IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE
(Jack Nance/Conway Twitty)

Special appearance by VINCE GILL
courtesy of MCA Nashville
Special appearance by MARIAH CAREY
courtesy of Island/Def Jam Records Group

8. DON’T PLAY THAT SONG
(Ahmet Ertegun/Betty Nelson)

9. NONE OF US ARE FREE
(Barry Mann/Brenda Russell/Cynthia Weil)

Special appearance by STING
courtesy of A&M Records
Featuring Guest percussionist SHEILA E.

10. RIDING THUMB
(James Seals)

Special appearance by TRAVIS TRITT
courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment
Special appearance by ROBERT RANDOLPH
courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

Musicians/ROBERT RANDOLPH: pedal steel guitar

11. WE SHALL BE FREE
(Garth Brooks/Stephanie Davis)

Featuring guest vocalist PAUL RODGERS

12. YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL
(Bruce Fisher/Billy Preston)

Special appearance by ERIC CLAPTON
courtesy of Reprise Records
With special appearance by ZUCCHERO
courtesy of Universal/Italy

Musicians/ERIC CLAPTON: guitar solo
BILLY PRESTON: piano

Bonus Track
13. PLENTY GOOD LOVIN’
(Sam Moore)

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