By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.153) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 04:24 pm: |
I just picked up the best sounding Sam Cooke CD I have ever heard. It's a new hits compilation called "Portrait of a Legend". It is on the ABKCO label, but 18 of the 30 tracks are licensed from RCA and Specialty, so it covers his whole career. In addition to most of the hits, there is a 1951 Soul Stirrers track called "Jesus Gave Me Water" that gave me chills it was so great. It's just been released as a hybrid CD/SACD, and I can recommend it just based on the sound of the regular CD layer. It is priced at $18 before discounts.
There are apparently also new remasters of "Ain't That Good News", "Keep Movin' On", and "Sam Cooke at the Copa". I haven't heard them yet, so I don't know if they are as good. Now that ABKCO seems to be back in the business of actually releasing stuff, we can cross our fingers (safer than holding our breath )and hope that they will stop sitting on the Cameo-Parkway catalog.
Regards,
Ken
By Reese (12.15.168.115) on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 05:14 pm: |
I saw these in TOWER yesterday. Later on, I saw an ad that included Sam's album TRIBUTE TO THE LADY as a new remaster as well. Unfortunately,its not being released in the US. Does anyone know why?
While we're talking about Sam Cooke, ABKCO also released a DVD this week "SAM COOKE: LEGEND". It originally aired last year as part of VH1's Legend series. But this new DVD has footage not included on the televsion broadcast. The songs have been lengthened, and some new interviews areincluded, including a very brief section with Sam's father.
Also, as part of the DVD extras, they've seperated all of the interviews. So if you just want to hear Aretha's thoughts on Sam, you can select her. Or you can select Bobby Womack. Or Lou Rawls.
In any event, its a very good DVD. Both the audio and video qulaity is superb. I've already watched it twice.
By Davie Gordon (212.159.94.2) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 06:52 am: |
Here's a link to Abkco's website which should give you the info. on the new releases
http://www.samcooke.com
Here's the link to the best Sam Cooke fan website
http://www.geocities.com/martynb88/cooke.html
Enjoy !
Davie
By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 07:03 am: |
I ordered the DVD yesterday. I saw the original show on VHI-1 last year and I really enjoyed it. Look forward to seeing the extras.
By SB (205.186.129.31) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 11:36 pm: |
Thank you all for posting those links. I don't know what it was that made me mention Sam Cooke to Ralph in the Pic Fave Slow Tunes thread - and then ultimatley declare he was the Greatest Soul Singer in mine eyes in STUBASS's thread - but now I understand it - for it has become clearer to me.
I see now, that I'm going to have to start collecting his works. I used to hear my grandparents and parents play his music when I was a young girl - and now in retrospect - I realize that in my young eyes - he was music. The songs I used to hear him sing stayed with me all of my life. I've realized, that I know most of all of the words from many of his songs - and I'm a little amazed by it.
I especially loved reading the posts by the folks on the Sam Cooke Fan website. I've decided, that I will never change my mind, like I joked about in STUBASS's Greatest Soul Singer thread. I am glad I didn't take the fact back - that he was the greatest to me. I have nothing but love for him and his music. And I'm grateful that I've rediscovered the memories of him.
Ova 100,000 folks showed up for his funeral in Chicago. Wow! Truly astonishing and amazing to say the least. And how about the posters that spoke on how they witnessed him defy the police and continue to sing when touring down south, after being told by them to leave the stage? What he was actually doing by continuing to sing, was to stand up for himself and his race. He was not going to let nobody turn him round.
I saw that special about him months ago on VH1 - and I cryed. I was so touched by the documentary - and felt then, that he truly personified what Soul music was and what a real man was. He sung R&B and gospel like there was no tomorrow - and he sung it from the depths of his Soul.
Sam Cooke, for his time, was the Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali of what a Soul Singer was - and he sung soul stirring music. And he sung w/a gospel group called the "Soul Stirrers" too. And he was tight w/the aforementioned men and icons. Too - too much.
He was ahead of his time. And he died to soon. Yet - God must have needed that Angel home. God wanted him to "Bring It On Home To Him."
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 04:09 pm: |
SB:
My late father was a Baptist minister who at one-time was based in Pittsburgh, PA. He knew Sam Cooke & his family when Sam was a young man and singing in the Soul Stirrers. Although he felt that Sam should've stayed in Gospel music, Dad was proud of the accomplishments Sam made in his life - owning his own publishing company (Kags Music) and record label (SAR Records); passing on his knowledge to younger performers (the Womack Brothers/Valentinos) and taking ownership of his RCA/Keen masters (which are now in the hands of Sam's manager Allen B. Klein, who oversaw the Legends documentary & recent CD reissues).
Sam was indeed ahead of his time. He had to be - in order to pave the road that others have since followed.
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By SB (205.186.134.47) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 05:09 pm: |
Hey KevGo - thanks for that. I read where Sam tried to pull a fast one whilst still in the "Soul Stirrers", group. Upon realizing that he had the desire to sing outside of Gospel and sing R&B & Pop, he snuck and made a song under the alias "Dale Cooke." He was busted straight away, because his gospel base and fans found out about it, because they recognized his voice. The producer/manager of the "Soul Stirrers", group let him go because of it. LOL! I bet they wished they had recognized a little sooner what a Gem he was.
My mother told me yesterday - that she and my father went to Selma, AL for Christmas in 1964. Two weeks after Sam had been killed. She said there was a pall over the entire city - and that my father's cousin could hardly be consoled, and that she would play nothing but Sam Cooke records the entire holiday - and no one else. Sad but true memories indeed.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 05:21 pm: |
SB:
My father told me similar situations such as your dad's cousin. Sam's death placed a chill in the air at that time, especially the circumstances surrounding his killing that is still disputed by several fans.
As far as Sam's leaning towards pop, even his label boss at Specialty Records Art Rupe (who made millions from the sales of Soul Stirrers records)wasn't too keen on Sam recording tunes with white singers on background. So, Sam walked out & Bumps Blackwell (Specialty's A&R chief) went with him. At this time a young delivery man who was standing in the lobby caught Rupe's eye and was asked did he want a A&R job, which the young man accepted. The delivery boy was Sonny Bono.
Until the day he died, Sonny had Sam Cooke to thank for starting his career in the music biz!
(PS - the song that started the fight between Sam Cooke & Art Rupe was "You Send Me").
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By dvdmike (68.72.175.49) on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 06:53 pm: |
A bit of trivia, the studio they were in when they got fired by Art Rupe was Radio Recorders in Hollywood, where Sam cut some of his Keen hits, as well as some his previous sessions with the Soul Stirrers.