Sam Cooke - Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964
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Free Music Notes for Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964
Free Music Review: Portrait of a LEGEND indeed
Hit: 5 Stars
Legend - a word used to denote persons of extraordinary status in our society. What better way to describe the incomprable Sam Cooke and the body of his work as presented on this fine CD?
This CD offeres all the "Greats", even the often omitted "A Change Is Gonna Come" which was Cooke's magnum opus and proverbial "Swan Song" all at once as it was the last song he released prior to his brutal murder in late 1964.Anyone with an appreciation for Soul music or just great tenor voices will find a gold mine in this or any of Sam's recordings.
Granted, there are some rather insipid tunes that Sam recorded but they too have merit in that they are mere reflections of the popular trends of the time. Sam wrote and recorded a great volume of songs in his short life but this compilation ranks among the best and will be a valuable addition to both the collection of avid fans and anyone simply interested in the Sam Cooke legacy.
Sam's final words to us were "A Change is Gonna Come" and with the ever declining quality of today's popular music, collections such as this will provide a change indeed.
Free Music Review: Excellent Compilation
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD compilation gives a fine overview of the career of Sam Cooke, from his early recordings as a Gospel singer through his breakthrough as a pop-artist whose style and song-writing gradually changed from pure-pop till what we now recognize as the beginning of soul-music.
The CD clearly documents that Cooke was a unique singer and a very gifted song-writer. Most of his big hits from the late 1950's are included; all of which are fine in their own rights, but for me it's the second half of the collection that shows the real artist Sam Cooke. Without being strictly chronological many of his greatest late recordings are to be found in the second half. Here the man "who invented soul" and the inspirator of later artists like Otis Redding can be heard.
The last album to be released in Cooke's own lifetime "Ain't That Good News" ( probably his finest ) is very well-represented and tracks like "Shake", released posthume, give a hint of what great things Cooke might have lived to create, had things not turned out so meaninglessly tragic one sad December night 1964.
Free Music Review: A superb collection of a great soul singer
Hit: 5 Stars
No less a person than Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records (who twice failed to sign him) describes Sam in the accompanying booklet as "the best singer who ever lived" and what this collection does in excellent SACD sound is show why.
Covering the whole range of his career from his early spiritual recordings in 1951 with the Soul Stirrers, via his Speciality label records (where he fell out with Art Rupe the owner for using a "white" rather than an R&B sound) through to his triumphant personally written and co-produced RCA recordings and resultant great hits which appealed to everyone, one can see why someone like Rod Stewart holds this man in such high esteem.
In addition to the superb CD audio transcriptions lasting over 79 minutes in full, the liner booklet notes by a devoted expert such as Peter Guralnick with full data on recordings and musicians make this a priceless collection.
Fourty years on since his early death the CD title "Sam Cooke -Portrait of a legend" says it all.
Free Music Review: his BEST "Best Of"
Hit: 5 Stars
If you can only afford ONE single "Best of Sam Cooke" disc, this would be the one to go with. It covers all bases, every era of his recordings - many for the first together on one single disc, as Sam was something of a label hopper. From his beginings as a Gospel singer ( the uplifting doo wop/ gospel hybrid Jesus Gave Me Water, and the stirring Touch the Hem of His Garment )to his teen pop smashes ( Only Sixteen, You Send Me ) through his glory days as an interpreter of other people's songs ( just like the liner notes say, he takes Tennessee Waltz to a place where Patty Paige would barely recognize it ), ending with some his best songs ever, including the often covered A Change is Gonna Come. The smash pop hits are here, as well as a few choice album cuts ( Little Red Rooster is a true gem from his Nightbeat album ) and the RnB hits like Bring It On Home to Me. That he wrote most of his own material should not be forgotten, as it is a true testimate to his abilities. The man was a Legend, and this is his legacy.Free Music Review: Outstanding Collection from an Outstanding Legend
Hit: 5 Stars
I was very impressed with this collection of Sam's hits, it had a nice variety and included a couple of songs from his Gospel days as the front man for the "Soul Stirrers". I'd recommend that any real fan of his get that material as you see a 19 year old Sam cut his musical teeth as both a singer and songwriter with that band.
As for this album, probably the best overall collection of his material in sometime, although "Frankie and Johnnie" doen't show up. I've always been moved by Sam Cooke's music, he was one of the most incredible poets the world has ever seen and that voice was a Gift from the Creator of the Universe to each of us, his listeners.
He was one of the most important forces in music period of the 20th century and was taken from us far too soon. His final gift, "A Change is Gonna Come" was an incredible glimpse as to where he was about to take us. R.I.P. Sam, you're music, innovation & inspiration lives on in us your fans!