The title for this blog has nothing to do with any song you’ll find on the soundtrack for the upcoming movie starring Samuel L. Jackson, the late Bernie Mac and the late Isaac Hayes. It’s simple: seeing the film – the hilarious story of two former members of a ’60s vocal group who have become bitter enemies and are thrown back together to mourn the passing of the group’s lead singer – is a reminder of the incredible talent of Mac and Hayes. While Hayes - who passed away hours after Mac under unrelated circumstances – makes only a special guest appearance, his presence on the screen is sure to strike a chord of sadness among many who appreciated the legacy and contribution Ike made to contemporary popular music as a songwriter, producer and stellar artist. Mac was a comedic force of the first order and as one of the main characters, he’s seldom off the screen, constantly dealing with Jackson who plays his particularly combative and seemingly bitter ex-musical partner.

There’s much reason for mirth as the two soul men reunite to attend the funeral of their former partner in musical crime (played for a brief few seconds by John Legend); their ‘adventures’ and antics make the film a comedic success, with some particularly memorable scenes including a salacious encounter between the two men and groupie mother and daughter at a motel on the road, a mad car chase in a vehicle known appropriately as the ‘Muthaship’ and a riotously out-of-tune show at a pit stop during their trek to the Big Apple.

The accompanying music is solid although the soundtrack itself includes a number of tracks that are not heard in the actual film although the revival of the James & Bobby Purify ’66 classic “I’m Your Puppet” with Legend, Mac and Jackson is one that plays well on screen and on disc. Of note: a cover of the perennial Judy Clay/William Bell ’68 with neo-soul notables Leela James and Chris Pierce; a revival of the Carla Thomas chestnut “Comfort Me” by actress/singer Sharon Leal, one of the film’s co-stars; and “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Is In),” a new take on a rare tune originally cut by soul veteran Bettye Lavette, reinterpreted by the inimitable Sharon Jones and her Dap Kings (known for their work with Amy Winehouse among others). I personally loved the truly humorous version of Isaac Hayes’ “Do Your Thing” with Leal, Mac and Jackson which is easily the film’s funniest musical performance.

Seeing Hayes and Mac in the movie is worth the price of admission while the soundtrack is a strong stand alone piece with the revival of some classic soul music pieces by current performers (including Me’shell NdegeOcello, Ryan Shaw and Anthony Hamilton).

David Nathan
A/k/a the British Ambassador Of Soul
Owner, www.soulmusic.com,
www.soulmusicstore.com