Band of the Day (10.13.09): SAM COOKE
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Artist:
Who?
While he's often been branded an easy-breezy, summer-night soulster, early-'60s crooner Sam Cooke was secretly a struggle-bearing badass.
And I care because?
- Profound sentiment meets emotion. While classics like "You Send Me" me are the perfect soundtrack for puppy-dog love, tunes like "A Change Is Gonna Come" offer a powerful reminder that the preface to any celebration is struggle.
- He sort of invent soul. Infused with a deep, yearning spirituality, Cooke's deeper discography manages a dire earnestness that largely eludes his more "classic" radio cuts.
- He never loses the beat. Whether raising his voice in protest of delving into a sugar-dipped ditty, Cooke manages to be uncompromisingly sweet, unflinchingly optimistic, and utterly inspiring.
Stream Live at the Harlem Square Club and Night Beat below; watch a live perofmrance of "Twistin' the Night Away" from the Jerry Lewis Show, and explore his albums.
Comments (2)
Though I have many Cooke records and I recognize his contribution as a label owner/businessman, as well as his singular instrument,his crossover moves included some pretty so-so material. That said, his gospel stuff + A Change is Gonna Come is more than enough to secure his greatness.
Love Sam Cooke. Still really interested in finding out who they will get to play him in the biopic.