Sam Cooke's reputation as a brilliant singer is sometimes maintained in spite of some of his records, not because of them. Hugo and luigi, his rca producers, often drowned cooke's stunning pipes in an ocean of inappropriate orchestras and choirs. But compare their single version of 'chain gang' to the stripped down, gently swaying, and considerably more heartfelt live version on live at the Harlem square club; no doubt about it, Sam Cooke was a master, and if his producers had been a bit more sympathetic, his stature would be even higher now than it is. Recorded in Overton,Miami,Florida in 1963 a Black club in a black Neighbourhood, just over a year before his murder, this 10-track set puts Sam Cooke in front of a small combo and just let's the man go. Every track is a small masterpiece of soul phrasing, and the band is more than up to cooke's vocal prowess. Listen and be amazed. Bruce Elder writes 'it's one of the greatest soul records ever cut by anybody, outshining James Brown's first live album from the Apollo theater and easily outclassing Jackie Wilson's live record from the Copa.' in 2003, the album was ranked number 443 on rolling stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Still love everything the guy ever did A TRUE LEGEND!
AMM
The Tasters!
17 comments:
Always enjoy live type music because it really shows what an artist can do away from the studio. Looking forward to this cd. Thank AMM.
Thanks for bringing us the King of Soul, thanks again!!
Great Review Thank you AMM
Another CD from the fantastic Sam Cooke that I don't have. Thanks for reviewing this, I can't wait to hear it. TOP TOP TOP REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great review of a great show.
Great review thanks for sharing
Thanks AMM. Lucky for us & Rod this was captured.
A legend who created a pathway for more fine soul singers to emerge and a dam fine album Thanks AMM
Cheers Pedro
thanks for this one of my all time best ever and was too deep to release at that time and backed with great King Curtis band incl Cornell Dupree!
He was live as good as in the studio. Thanks for review, P.
Great upgrade to flac, thanks amm!
Thanks AMM for this fine artist singing live Reb
Thanks AMM for another brilliant delivery. Cupid is my all-time favorite.
Thanks for the review AMM looking forward to the live performances
Thanks for this review
Very nice review, great artist. Thanks.
one of the very greats, with 9 or plus favorite tracks of all time
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