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Some Key Cooke ClassicsShine On Me The Soul Stirrers were one of the country's leading gospel groups a long time before Sam Cooke was brought into the fold. This collection comes from several 1950 recording sessions, at the pivotal point just before famed lead tenor R.H. Harris left the group and Cooke came in to take his place. The Complete Specialty Recordings of Sam Cooke A fairly comprehensive three-disc collection of Cooke's work with the Soul Stirrers, including multiple takes and out takes from the recording sessions that spanned from 1951 to 1957. In addition, there are several examples of Cooke's early stabs at pop music. Biographer Daniel Wolff's liner notes trace Cooke's growing confidence as a singer in the studio. Sam Cooke Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 A wide-ranging sampling of Cooke's entire recording career, combining his gospel and pop hits on one disc. The liner notes, written by biographer Peter Guralnick take you on a "Cook's Tour" of the performer's prolific output, from his religious roots, to some catchy pop confections, and finally culminating in his captivating civil rights ballad, "A Change is Gonna Come." Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story 1959 - 1965 A two-disc history of the record company that Sam Cooke founded with fellow performers J.W. Alexander and Roy Crain ("SAR" stands for "Sam, Alex and Roy"). As Cooke cranked out his own hits for RCA, he used SAR to record a variety of other artists that he wanted to promote. On the gospel side, there are the Soul Stirrers, R.H. Harris, and Cleveland's own Womack Brothers. On the pop side, there are Billy Preston, Johnnie Taylor, Mel Carter, and the Valentinos (the pop alias for the Womack brothers). Sam even gives a couple cuts to his brother L.C. Bonus material includes some out takes of Cooke instructing musicians in the studio, along with the demo recording of Sam's pop debut "You Send Me." Night Beat Many writers cite this blues concept recording as Sam Cooke's best album. Recorded in February of 1963, Night Beat is a very smooth, spare production that highlights Cooke's voice without the clutter of back-up singers and the sound effects of chain gang workers. Sam's take on Charles Brown's "Trouble Blues" is stunning. One Night Stand - Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club Rocker Rod Stewart cites this album as one of his "favorite live recordings of all time." It captures Cooke in the raw and raucous atmosphere of a Miami night club in January of 1963. This is not the slick Sam Cooke that mainstream America saw on TV. This is a lively soul review shot through with a heavy helping of gospel fervor. Sam Cooke at the Copa These recordings from July of 1964 documents Sam Cooke's triumphant return to New York's famed Copacabana night club, after having bombed there six years before. The Copa was the Carnegie Hall of American popular music in its day. It was the place that most performers dreamed of playing, and Cooke admitted he hadn't been ready when he first tried. These performances, with their smooth, finger-snapping style present a stark contrast to the rough power of the Harlem Square date. |