'Soul Man' (1967) is an exuberant Stax soul hit by Sam & Dave, co-written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Its title was inspired by the phrase 'soul' as a proud rallying cry of the 1960s. The song’s driving rhythm and brassy call ('Play it, Steve!') — directed at guitarist Steve Cropper — made it instantly recognizable. 'Soul Man' became a #1 R&B and Top 10 pop hit, celebrating black culture and resilience. The song’s legacy lives on in pop culture: it was famously covered by the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) in 1980, and later inspired the title of the 2008 comedy film *Soul Men*. Its upbeat groove ensures it still packs dance floors today.
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