Sam Dees - The Show Must Go On / Pure Pleasure

The best R&B songwriter and soul singer that most people have never heard of, Sam Dees has written songs for countless artists, including Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, George Benson,

the Temptations, Teddy Pendergrass, Millie Jackson, Jackie Wilson, the Manhattans, Regina Belle, KC & the Sunshine Band, Willie Clayton, and many others. He's also a pretty fine singer, having recorded for

the Chess, Atlantic, Polydor, and SSS labels, and he had a nice string of his own hits in the 1970s.

His 1975 Atlantic album "The Show Must Go On" has long been regarded by Southern soul aficionados as one of the best of the genre. Sounding a bit like a deeper-voiced Curtis Mayfield (in both style and theme),

Dees sings with assurance, wisdom, passion, and a whole lot of soul here. Songs like "Child of the Streets", "Troubled Child", & "What's It Gonna Be", share Mayfield's commitment to social commentary, and Dees

knows his way around a love song, too. It's absolutely essential.  - Steve Leggett/AMG   Sam Dees (voc, keyb); Glen Woods (g); David Camon (b); Sherman 'Fats' Carson (dr)

Title

Side One

1. Child Of The Streets

2. The Show Must Go On

3. Come Back Strong

4. Just Out Of My Reach

5. Claim Jumpin'

Side Two

1. Troubled Child

2. What's It Gonna Be

3. Worn Out Broken Heart

4. Good Guys

5. So Tied Up