Sam Cooke - Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers
|
List Price: Our Price: $21.58 You Save: $8.40 (28%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $20.45 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers
Free Music Review: Remarkable collection
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating document. Presented in chronological order (aside from a few live songs tacked on to the end), it charts the growth not just of Sam Cooke as an artist, but the slow birth of secularized soul from 50's gospel roots. All the recordings sound great, and credit most be given to the folks at Specialty for preserving the masters - outtakes included - with such obvious care. The earliest material here, from 1951, would probably be considered "pop gospel" for the time. It flows nicely, isn't much for histrionics and makes for smooth listening. If you didn't know better, it might take you a song or two before it becomes obvious that it's Sam Cooke singing, and not just some guy who maybe sounds like him. But by 1953, Cooke's vocal style is impossible to mistake; he dominates the songs, and when Paul Foster pops up now and then, the contrast between his "blacker" gospel voice and Cooke's velvet tone is amazing - and it's not that Foster isn't amazing too, by the way. By the third disc, the line between gospel and pop has become utterly blurred - a song like "I'll Come Running Back To You" has as good a claim to be the first "soul" song as any. It's obviously gospel-influenced, and the lyrics are ambiguous enough that you could make a claim for it being a gospel tune, but . . . something, somehow has changed. Aside from historical importance, it's a riveting song and possibly Cooke's single best performance.The attractions of this box are its completeness, great sound and nice packaging. If you're inclined to by anything of Cooke's beyond a simple greatest hits collection, I'd urge you to buy this package - there isn't really one single-disc distillation of this material that covers all the bases covered here, so by the time you buy the two or three that might, you'd pay about as much as you would for this.
There are only a few rare packages that convey so beautifully an important aspect of important American music, whether it's the Nuggets box or the Anthology Of American Folk Music. This is clearly in the league; any music fan with expansive tastes should own it.
Free Music Review: It's Finally Here!! Sam Cooke at his best (?)
Hit: 5 Stars
In the last few years the work of Sam Cooke has gotten more attention. Not only for his soulo work but also what he did when he was with the greatest gospel group of the 1950's: The Soul Stirrers.
There have been some albums which had some of his gospel stuff but there were always songs missing. Now Specialty decided to put all his gospel stuff on three CD's and add a nice booklet with an exstensive history of the group.
Some people may find it somewhat hard to realize but for a long time Sam was bigger in the gospelfield than the popfield. Some even say that his best work was as a member of the Soul Stirrers.
The booklet gives detailed information on the recording sessions and they placed the songs on the CD's in chronological order so you can hear the development.
Besided being a very gifted singer he also was good songwriter as you can hear on these CD's.
The best addition is three songs from a live show in the LA Shrine Auditorioum with songs that go on forever and when they really shout.
This is definitely a CD to have if you are interested in gospel, Sam Cooke or the birth of soul in general.
This is the ultimate Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers collection.
Free Music Review: The human voice at its apex
Hit: 5 Stars
Sam's best singing is right here. In fact, there's a purity of tone and
spirit in this music that transcends almost all other recorded singing.
Mahalia, Aretha, Ray, Van, Ella, Elvis, Frank...immortals all, but I know of nothing in their canons that can match the combination of tone, timing, phrasing, and joy that Sam delivered with the aptly-named Soul Stirrers.
This music carried me through some of the roughest days of my life, always reminding me that love is omnipresent. Many a time I've cried listening to Jesus Gave Me Water, That's Heaven To Me (does it get sweeter than this?), and other sublime tracks by the Soul Stirrers, and ended up feeling thoroughly cleansed. There are also some exceptionally funky jams created by the vocal interplay of these four insanely talented singers that will make you dance and smile just as long as you'd like.
Sam and the Soul Stirrers made some of the very finest music I have ever heard. There is clearly some sort of God or Spirit in our world; no man could make sounds this moving without some help from a deeper realm.
Free Music Review: Essential Collection....But what's with the pricing?!
Hit: 5 Stars
This wonderful collection showcases the legendary Sam Cooke while he was in the process of discovering the style he would soon change pop music history with. The brilliance of the listening experience, in my opinion, happens in the details. Listen to the way that Sam instinctually fills in the pockets of the songs, with the rest of the Soul Stirrers providing a beautiful, consistent back-drop. Even when Sam is not the lead vocalist, his ability to turn a phrase and ornament a melody is uncanny. Again, the real treats are in the details.
But what's with Amazon's price changes? I have borrowed this collection from friends and libraries for so long that I finally decided to buy it for myself, but the price keeps jumping from the very reasonable $19.99, to the not so reasonable current price of $29.99. Granted, $30 is pretty standard for a box set, but what I'm confused about is the price fluctuation. Why does that happen?
Free Music Review: Close Your Eyes And Listen
Hit: 5 Stars
To the voice that kills all others from Elvis to Sinatra.In my honest opinion Sam Cookes gospel recordings leave his secular work far far behind. From the first to last track this is a lesson in musical history.
Thr last 3 songs taken from the shrine concert live will dispel any doubts that Sam Cooke was only a smooth singer . Man he proves here that he can shout better than Otis, Al Green, or Wilson Pickett.
At last he seems to be getting the dues he so rightly deserves , but don't take my word for it . Buy this set and listen without prejudice. If you are not truly amazed then you shouldn't be listening to Sam Cooke , maybe Liberace would be more your cup of tea