Various Artists – Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story 1959-1965 (1994/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 02:27:41 minutes | 2,99 GB | Genre: R&B, Soul
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Abkco Music & Records, Inc.
Sam Cooke’s SAR Records Story is a double-disc set presenting material recorded for the legendary soul singer’s own SAR label from 1959-1965, much of it produced by Cooke himself and including a few of his rough, unreleased demos. The first disc covers the label’s religious side, with a multitude of cuts from Cooke’s former group the Soul Stirrers (now with Jimmie Outler on lead vocals), plus a generous helping of songs by R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders and the Womack Brothers. The second disc covers essentially the same gospel-derived soul territory but with a secular bent, featuring future stars Bobby Womack (with the Valentinos), Billy Preston, and Johnnie Taylor, plus L.C. Cooke, Johnnie Morisette, the Simms Twins, and Mel Carter. All in all, it’s an excellent look at a lesser-known portion of Cooke’s career, and there’s some great, underappreciated music to boot.
Tracklist:
Disc 1 (01:08:57)
1. The Soul Stirrers – Wade in the Water (chatter) (00:12)
2. The Soul Stirrers – Wade in the Water (03:04)
3. The Soul Stirrers – I’m a Pilgrim (02:58)
4. The Soul Stirrers – Praying Ground (02:23)
5. R. H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders – Somebody (chatter) (00:07)
6. R. H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders – Somebody (02:11)
7. R. H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders – Sometimes (02:44)
8. The Soul Stirrers – Amazing Grace (03:21)
9. R. H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders – Pass Me Not (02:36)
10. The Soul Stirrers – Oh Mary, Don’t You Weep (chatter) (00:50)
11. The Soul Stirrers – Oh Mary, Don’t You Weep (02:51)
12. The Soul Stirrers – Since I Met the Savior (03:01)
13. The Soul Stirrers – God Is Standing By (02:19)
14. The Soul Stirrers – Lead Me to the Calvary (rehearsal) (01:23)
15. The Soul Stirrers – Listen to the Angels Sing (03:00)
16. The Soul Stirrers – Don’t Leave Me Alone (02:14)
17. The Soul Stirrers – Stand by Me Father (02:42)
18. The Soul Stirrers – Jesus Be a Fence Around Me (02:22)
19. The Soul Stirrers – Lead Me Jesus (01:53)
20. The Soul Stirrers – Free at Last (02:58)
21. The Soul Stirrers – Looking Back (chatter) (00:52)
22. The Soul Stirrers – Looking Back (03:01)
23. R. H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders – Born Again (02:07)
24. R. H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders – Wait on Jesus (02:16)
25. The Soul Stirrers – Times Bring About a Change (02:30)
26. The Soul Stirrers – Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone (02:39)
27. Womack Brothers – Yield No Temptation (chatter) (00:25)
28. Womack Brothers – Yield No Temptation (02:26)
29. Womack Brothers – Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray (02:27)
30. Womack Brothers – Somewhere There’s a God (02:13)
31. Sam Cooke – That’s Heaven to Me (02:52)
Disc 2 (01:17:00)
1. Sam Cooke – You Send Me (demo) (01:41)
2. Sam Cooke – Just for You (02:19)
3. Sam Cooke – Somewhere There’s a Girl (02:26)
4. Sam Cooke – You Were Made for Me (02:52)
5. Mel Carter – When a Boy Falls in Love (02:53)
6. The Simms Twins – Soothe Me (02:16)
7. The Simms Twins – That’s Where It’s At (chatter) (00:14)
8. The Simms Twins – That’s Where It’s At (02:05)
9. The Valentinos – Everybody Wants to Fall in Love (02:24)
10. Johnnie Taylor – Keep on Loving You (02:44)
11. Johnnie Taylor – I’ll Always Be in Love With You (02:13)
12. Johnnie Taylor – Baby, We’ve Got Love (chatter) (00:13)
13. Johnnie Taylor – Baby, We’ve Got Love (02:07)
14. The Valentinos – Baby, Lots of Luck (02:41)
15. L.C. Cooke – Put Me Down Easy (02:29)
16. Johnnie Taylor – Rome (Wasn’t Built in a Day) (02:33)
17. Billy Preston – Greazee, Parts I & II (04:21)
18. The Simms Twins – I Gopher You (02:21)
19. The Simms Twins – I Gopher You (chatter) (00:04)
20. Johnnie Morisette – You’re Always on My Mind (02:03)
21. Johnnie Taylor – I Need Lots of Love (02:44)
22. Johnnie Morisette – Don’t Throw Your Love on Me So Strong (02:40)
23. Johnnie Morisette – Black Night (02:37)
24. Johnnie Morisette – Damper (02:18)
25. Johnnie Taylor – You Can Run (But You Can’t Hide) (02:44)
26. Johnnie Morisette – Meet Me at the Twisting Place (chatter) (00:14)
27. Johnnie Morisette – Meet Me at the Twisting Place (02:52)
28. The Simms Twins – Good Good Loving (02:02)
29. L.C. Cooke – The Wobble (02:29)
30. The Valentinos – Lookin’ for a Love (chatter) (00:14)
31. The Valentinos – Lookin’ for a Love (02:28)
32. The Valentinos – I’ve Got Love for You (02:27)
33. The Valentinos – I’ve Got a Girl (chatter) (00:25)
34. The Valentinos – I’ve Got a Girl (02:13)
35. The Valentinos – Tired of Living in the Country (02:43)
36. The Valentinos – It’s All Over Now (02:51)