Sam Cooke CD?

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Mojo Filter
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Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Mojo Filter » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:17 am

I'm looking to explore into the Sam Cooke catalog. I've never paid much attention to his music in the past, but with a lot of great comments about his music on forums etc i want to take a chance on buying CDs of his music.

Of course, I've heard some of his songs, mainly the hits. But apart from a greatest hits compilation, can anyone direct me to a great CD of his music?

Thanks.
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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby jbgude » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:17 am

Sadly, not all of Sam Cookes 25 + Albums have come out on CD due to copyright control and other issues. Today, you can find most of his songs on Youtube: from where you could make an educated choice.
Difficult to recommend a particular album, without knowing your preferences, as for e.g. I could recommend an Elvis' 50s album or someone else a 60's and yet another a 70's.....

Sam recorded for RCA and some other labels - but you cannot go wrong with a Box set. Most of his material is very good.(IMO) Among his more acclaimed albums are " Live at Harlem Square" , Live at the Copa & "The Man and His Music".


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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby John » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:31 am

Mojo Filter wrote:I'm looking to explore into the Sam Cooke catalog. I've never paid much attention to his music in the past, but with a lot of great comments about his music on forums etc i want to take a chance on buying CDs of his music.

Of course, I've heard some of his songs, mainly the hits. But apart from a greatest hits compilation, can anyone direct me to a great CD of his music?

Thanks.

This seems like a pretty good introduction to his music.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Absolutely-Ess ... R3768S55RH


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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Mister Moon » Wed Sep 19, 2018 10:19 am

Mojo Filter wrote:I'm looking to explore into the Sam Cooke catalog. I've never paid much attention to his music in the past, but with a lot of great comments about his music on forums etc i want to take a chance on buying CDs of his music.

Of course, I've heard some of his songs, mainly the hits. But apart from a greatest hits compilation, can anyone direct me to a great CD of his music?

Thanks.


To me, his best work was the earliest, when he was the lead tenor singer of the Soul Stirrers. They recorded for Specialty, with Cooke as part of the group, between 1951 and 1956. This stuff is truly superlative. Not that he was a worse singer later in his career, but his huge singing talent was never again showcased as clearly.

This 3 CD set includes everything that's available so far from this period, even his first solo, non-gospel, recordings, also done for Specialty (the undubbed versions of most of these few solo tracks are available on an Ace CD, which is also a good opiton as an introduction - see link below too) :

https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Cooke-With-The-Soul-Stirrers-The-Complete-Specialty-Recordings/release/4418492

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/in-the-beginning


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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Mojo Filter » Wed Sep 19, 2018 1:51 pm

Ok, thanks for the replies.

Well, not sure about a box set for someone who's music i'm not too familiar with outside of the hits. For me to buy a box set there has to be a lot of good stuff - taking a chance on a box is a gamble, especially if there's not enough that i might not like.

The one that MM put a link to looks quite interesting, though gospel music doesn't really hit too many chords with me, but it's quite early stuff, so.....

John's one is a PD release and it's quite cheap too. So if there isn't much on there i'm not keen on it won't be much to cry about, money wise.

Thanks again. Shall be looking into it.
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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby John » Wed Sep 19, 2018 2:43 pm

Mojo Filter wrote:Ok, thanks for the replies.

Well, not sure about a box set for someone who's music i'm not too familiar with outside of the hits. For me to buy a box set there has to be a lot of good stuff - taking a chance on a box is a gamble, especially if there's not enough that i might not like.

The one that MM put a link to looks quite interesting, though gospel music doesn't really hit too many chords with me, but it's quite early stuff, so.....

John's one is a PD release and it's quite cheap too. So if there isn't much on there i'm not keen on it won't be much to cry about, money wise.

Thanks again. Shall be looking into it.

I reckon your best bet is to go here and take a listen. There are full albums you can listen to, and even download, if you have the right software.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sam+cooke



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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Matt Helm » Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:13 pm

Oh my Sam Cooke...what a wonderful world, a very good way to start is always the GREATEST HITS/BEST OF etc...https://www.amazon.de/Portrait-Legend-S ... S05ZJH2DRa real pearle is this box-set https://www.amazon.de/10-Original-Album ... =sam+cooke
...& the hottest ever "cookin'"on the "live track" https://www.amazon.de/Live-at-Harlem-Sq ... ive...take it, it's a gas, Matt


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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Mister Moon » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:28 pm

"Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963", first released in 1985, is of course an essential record. Cooke and his audience are on fire, and it's not too far away from the vibe you get listening to his gospel recordings.

But the concert should be released in unedited form. I have the original issue and it's heartbreaking to notice how sloppily most of the songs were shortened for release.

Bring it on home - to me !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CljbTjUVlPg



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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Matt Helm » Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:00 pm

Thank you Mister Moon for the interesting info, new for me about the unedited release of the Harlem 1963 show ,...Sam was really one of a kind, i love his voice and music, not everyday btw,....but he was a voice-stylish singer and an intelligent entertainer too! thx, Matt ;)


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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby javilu » Fri Sep 21, 2018 2:02 pm

I recommend "The man and his music".

https://www.amazon.com/Man-His-Music-Sa ... B000002WB4

*It has the best 28 songs by Sam, all killer, no filler.
*The sound is beautiful, nicely mastered.
*It is official from RCA and not one of those shitty PD releases.
*It can be had for a very low price.

Go get it!
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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby John » Fri Sep 21, 2018 3:54 pm

javilu wrote:I recommend "The man and his music".

https://www.amazon.com/Man-His-Music-Sa ... B000002WB4

*It has the best 28 songs by Sam, all killer, no filler.
*The sound is beautiful, nicely mastered.
*It is official from RCA and not one of those shitty PD releases.
*It can be had for a very low price.

Go get it!

Yup, that's the one Sam Cooke CD I have too.



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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Matt Helm » Fri Sep 21, 2018 4:40 pm

...and it was my very first Sam Cooke CD too...it was an expensive birthday present in 1986....and it's still in my collection, yes ;) ! Matt



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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby ClausH » Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:29 pm

A Portrait of a Legend is the ideal starter disc.

If you want more, I would recommend In the Beginning which Mister Moon also mentions.
The box set The Man Who Invented Soul covers the 1956-1963 period quite nicely and Night Beat and Live at the Harlem Square Club are included on disc four. https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Cooke-The-M ... ter/370889

Keep Movin' On covers the last 18 months or so and there is no overlap with the box set. https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Cooke-Keep- ... se/2902111



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Re: Sam Cooke CD?

Postby Matt Helm » Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:27 pm

Yes ClausH... the official Sony SAM COOKE CD Box is a real gem; thx for the input,...forgot this beauty CD-Box in my collection..., Matt


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