Plays Hits Made by Sam Cooke

AMG Review of Plays Hits Made by Sam Cooke

Bruce Eder
All Music Guide

This is about the only Sam Cooke tribute record -- other than individual songs cut by Otis Redding -- that one could imagine Cooke himself not only would have approved of fully, but might have enjoyed himself, had it been recorded under other circumstances. One could even visualize him dancing to the versions of "Shake," which does have a few echoes of "Night Train" in it, or "Twistin' the Night Away" or "Good Times." Curtis had known and worked with Cooke, and the singer's shooting death late in 1964 affected the saxophonist deeply, as it did millions of people. This album was the result, a dozen covers that blow away most any other Sam Cooke tribute album (including the still highly collectible Supremes' We Remember Sam Cooke). (out of print)