“Soul Men,” hmm, yes. Looks like masterpiece theater, right? The soundtrack to this winner hits shelves November 4 on Stax Records (at least that’s fitting). Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the R&B music comedy hits theaters nationally on Nov. 7.
The MGM/Dimension movie stars Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac, along with modern R&B superstar John Legend portraying a fictitious group called The Real Deal. This popular singing duo went their separate ways and never spoke again until death of their former group leader (Legend) “reunites them and sends them driving cross country for a tribute concert at the legendary Apollo Theatre, they will have only five days to bury the hatchet on a twenty-year-old grudge.”
Stax Legend Issac Hayes, who died ironically a day after Mac in August, makes a cameo in the flick. Hayes’ version of 1971 classic, “Never Can Say Goodbye” is among the main tracks on the soundtrack, which also features covers of James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet,” Carla Thomas’ “Comfort Me” and Hayes’ “Do Your Thing” (someone should be paying us for this post, blech).
1. “Soul Music” – Anthony Hamilton
2. “I’m Your Puppet” – John Legend, Bernie Mac & Samuel L. Jackson
3. “Private Number” – Chris Pierce & Leela James
4. “Water” – Me’Shell Ndegéocello
5. “Never Can Say Goodbye” – Isaac Hayes
6. “Boogie Ain’t Nuttin’ (But Gettin’ Down)” – Bernie Mac & Samuel L.
Jackson
7. “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)” – Sharon
Jones & the Dap Kings
8. “Memphis Train” – Ryan Shaw
9. “Comfort Me” – Sharon Leal
10. “You Don’t Know What You Mean (to a Lover Like Me)” – The Sugarman 3 featuring Lee Fields
11. “I’ve Never Found a Girl (to Love Me Like You Do)” – Eddie Floyd
12. “Do Your Thing” – Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson & Sharon Leal