Recommended by Gargantua

Soul Man

Original - Sam & Dave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iba3yGaW43E

Cover - The Blues Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnaSRhMB_qo

Going with the original here, I don't think the Blues Bros add enough to it.

I feel compelled to just give this one to Sam and Dave as they truly deserve it, but I'm not gonna do it. The Blues Brothers took the song and didn't change it, not even some of the musicians and that's what gives me pause here. Duck Dunn and Steve Cropper had, after 10 years, perfected the rhythm parts so much, that when the Blues Brothers did the song, the guitar parts and the bass parts were even more outstanding than they were on the original.

I'm also giving props to Aykroyd for some nice baritone backing vocals which added to the songs coolness factor.

I've got to give this one to the Blues Brothers strictly for the hometown pride factor. Not that the Sam and Dave version isn't great on its own, but I'm only a few blocks from the honorable Richard J. Daley plaza (where they got that Picasso), and that movie was a huge part of my childhood.

I feel like the Blues Brothers version just has more depth to it. Maybe it's like VG said and the musicians had the chance to mature and perfect their parts. I don't know if I can put my finger on it. Great song, either way though.

Like them both, but going with the original by Sam and Dave.

The Blues Brothers to edge it out.

I couldn't hear anything that made either pull ahead of the other so I'll throw my vote to Sam & Dave for making the song in the first place.

The heart ignores what the head comprehends.

Not to mention the ears...

That said...

The Original -- Sam & Dave, despite some compelling reasons to vote differently.