Sam Cooke - One Night Stand: Live at the Harlem Square Club 63
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Free Music Notes for One Night Stand: Live at the Harlem Square Club 63
Free Music Review: Worthy Remastering of Essential Music
Hit: 5 Stars
After reading all the reviews, my wife bought me both the old and the new version of this CD, along with Peter Guralnik's new biography, "Dream Boogie," for the holidays. (I had the old version already on vinyl.) So I've had an opportunity to listen to both versions side by side.
It seems clear in the new version that the primary goal of the producer was to bring Sam Cooke's voice as far out in front of the mix as possible. The good news is that this goal is accomplished. The details of his voice are much more exposed, as if we were listening to the microphone closest to him, and one can indeed hear more -- his phrasing is clearer, the rawness is more noticable, even a few missteps are much more evident. (It sounds like he starts the wrong song at the beginning of Cupid, and then covers by stopping himself and talking to the audience. But the new version makes the muff, and his evident amusement, even more clear than the original.)
The bad news is that, as some reviews point out, making the lead vocal more prominent obscures the crowd at times and, less forgivably, King Curtis's saxophone and the rest of the band.
The easiest way of characterizing the difference between the two versions is that the original is probably closer to the way the show would have sounded if you had been in the audience at the back of the hall. The new version is what you would have heard at a mixing board through your headphones, turning Sam's mike all the way up. (Not that there was one necessarily at the time.)
Which one is better? The differences are subtle, and ultimately you can't go wrong with either -- this is an essential recording for any well rounded collection. For me, though, this recording is most valuable as a document of Sam Cooke's voice and live performing style, rather than his interaction with the crowd or what the band happened to be doing at the time. (You can find much better King Curtis recordings elsewhere anyway.) So I give the nod to the remastered version.
Free Music Review: Sam really Cooks on this one!
Hit: 5 Stars
Of course there is no such thing as a bad Sam Cooke recording. That is about as rare as a good idea from G.W. Bush! But I digress. I have the original cd "Live at the Harlem Square Club 1963," and admittedly, this is an improvement over the murky sound of that recording (this cover is a lot more attractive too, designed to simulate how it was probably intended to look had RCA released it in 1963 instead of 1985 when it finally came out). Plus, since that was originally on an album, I'm sure that the trimming of some songs was necessary. So if you have the original, it's worth it to get this anyway. The extended versions are mind blowing!
Now for the contents. This is an amazing recording of Sam au natural live and sermonizing in a Miami ghetto juke joint on January 12, 1963. He is truly in his element here! He whips the crowd into a frenzy when he gets ready and soothes them like a master when he is in the mood. Everything is clearer.
I would have to disagree slightly with an earlier reviewer about the sound of the audience. I hear the crowd loud and clear, especially during what is to me this cd's best moments. When Sam gets the audience to sing along with him on "Bring it On Home to Me," "For Sentimental Reasons," and "Having a Party," there is a truly communal feeling and mutual bonding with Sam and his audience that is really touching. Aside from rare exceptions such as Alicia Keys' recent "Unplugged" Cd, you rarely hear this kind of vibe on modern live recordings or even see it at concerts anymore.
But enough said, since this is a limited release, suffice it to say-GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!
Free Music Review: should get more than 5 stars!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the live album to outdo all other live albums. I am a head banging, rock and roller, guitar nut and this is still the best live album ever!
The main reason that it is great is b/c Sam Cooke works the audience. The cd builds up steam as the songs go by. This is a snowball rolling down a hill that gets bigger and bigger.
He talks to the audience, works the ladies, entices the men, pumps up his band, etc. The songs are almost a "best of" situation. Chain gang, having a party, twisting are all awesome!
You know how great the cd is? The recording has serious limitations. There are no highs and no lows. Horns, guitar, bass, drums are all mixed way towards the back but Cooke's singing and talking are way towards the front. It does not matter and should not influence anyone's listening pleasure.
A great comparison is to Otis Redding live at the Whiskey a Go Go. That is a good concert, fantastic sound recording and the band seriously rocks. This blows that away.
This is not only the best concert cd but also, it is obvious how other entertainers and djs modeled themselves afer Sam Cooke's style.
What a shame that this tremendous performer died in his prime.
Whoever reads this take note...I am no soul music fanatic. I am a Lez Zep. Who, Nirvana, guitarnut type of guy. THAT is how powerful that this work is b/c it most definetly rocks more than "live at leeds", "get your ya yas out", "Song remains the same", etc.
Free Music Review: ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS EVER!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is soul at its very best! No matter how many times I listen to this album, I NEVER get tired of it. Sam Cooke went on to inspire thousands of musicians and, after hearing this album, you'll know why. Since the new movie "Ali," starring Will Smith, has been released on DVD and VHS, a lot of people wonder about the beginning where the actor portraying Sam Cooke is performing. Well, this recording is exactly where they got the idea for the beginning of the film.
Of course, my favorite is "Bring It On Home To Me." Sam delivers his music with all the fervor of a gospel sermon and beat of a pop/doo wop song. Then, there are also the usual hits, from "Cupid" to "Twistin' The Night Away."
If you're looking for a soul album to start a collection, this IS the ONE!!! It'll keep you moving!!! The sound is no longer mono, making it all the more enjoyable. The fact that Sam could get the place jumpin' is exactly why he was such a great entertainer. You can feel the high energy and the fun of that evening back in 1963 oozing out of the stereo every time you listen to this album. James Brown may be the Godfather of soul, but Sam Cooke is the father!!!
Free Music Review: Tremendous live album
Hit: 5 Stars
After reading the below reviews, it appears the original LP version was better. But since I have not heard that record, I'll go with what I have and it's this tremendous live CD. Yeah, some of the sound could be better and so forth, but it really, really captures the night club feel (apparently the LP did even more so).
This is a side of Sam I hadn't heard. I have many of his hits packages and his smooth work and apparently his "Live at the Copa" CD has a polished lounge club type feel. Not this. "Harlem Square Club" is party central! It's Sam being gritty, raspy, and getting into it -- and man, I love that laugh!
Even if it's not remastered like the experts want here, giving this three stars or less is an insult and will steer people away from this legendary singer and to something worse. We should be encouraging people to buy Sam Cooke, not take them away from it.
This is a get down, party, have fun album! Who cares if the fifth cymbal isn't up to snuff -- I didn't notice. This makes you get up and get down!
Sam at his best.