Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964

I was very impressed with this collection of many 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 group. It was during those formative years that he would hone his abilities and prepare himself for one of the most important periods in music history. He was entering "Popular" music at a time when Rhythm (Jazz)& the Blues along with Gospel was about to give birth to what would become known as Rock and Roll. Music giants were either already on the scene or about to burst onto the scene by the time Sam entered the fray in 1951. Ray Charles, Little Richard, Sarah Vaughn, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Miles Davis, The Crickets, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley, The Isley Brothers, etc. were taking music to places it had never been before. Then enters a young, handsome and talented Sam Cooke, he had the total package. Singer, songwriter, business smarts and the desire to be great. Writing songs with such meaning and having the abilty to perform them with such feeling that quite frankly has yet to be matched even until this day in my opinion. He was doing things that really had not been accomplished before by a Black artist and he was the first to have control over his songs and start his own production company. That blueprint would soon be followed by Ray Charles as well. 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! This was truly an important time in music, social consciousness, national and world affairs. This was the time when a new more agressive mentality was taking shape and when those thoughts and feelings were being put to music and sung across not only the United States but indeed, around the world. Sam Cooke was very much a part of that, during the late 1950's to the early 1960's before his tragic death, only Elvis was out selling him as an artist. He truly was an amazing man and one who has enriched the lives of millions for over half a century.

Want a real Sam Cooke collection? Look no further here. All his greatest hits, his early beginnings with the Soul Stirrers, rarely heard or lesser known songs are included in this 30 song collection. I picked it because it was worth it. Lots of artists over the years have interpreted Cooke's music such as Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Three Dog Night, The Band, John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, Steve Miller, Art Garfunkel and Seal, to name a few. Sam Cooke's very humble beginnings in 1951 actually concludes this disc["Jesus Gave Me Water"]. His Soul Stirrers period features his first penned composition "A Touch Of His Garment", which is drawn from a biblical verse that Cooke himself reinterpreted. His gospel-style influence would later be revisited on his last record " A Change Is Gonna Come" which was widely covered by many artists following his tragic passing in December of 1964. This classic was reportedly inspired by Bob Dylan's classic "Blowin' In The Wind". There would also be a connection with the Stones song-wise. Cooke's interpretation of "Little Red Rooster"[Written by Willie Dixon] was probably what the Stones' cover was based on. Cooke himself had recorded the original "Good Times" at the infamous RCA Studios in Hollywood months before the Stones' version had also been recorded there and would be released on their OUT OF OUR HEADS album in 1965. Cooke would also supply some dance-type songs such as "Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha", "Twistin' The Night Away", "Shake" and, of course, "Having A Party". "Cha Cha Cha" in particular was inspired by a holiday party Cooke's family had given and seized the idea of the song on the spot. Let's not forget the love songs featured here like "You Send Me"(His first biggest solo hit), "Cupid", "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons", "Win Your Love For Me", "Just For You", "You Were Made For Me" and "Nothing Can Change This Love". Sam Cooke was also noted for being the first black artist to have his own label-SAR Records, which he co-founded with writer J.W. Alexander. But it was for other artists to record for and not himself. We're not forgetting other main classics like "(What A)Wonderful World", "Chain Gang" and "Another Saturday Night". Cooke also does a rending of the Gershwin classic "Summertime" besides. For the greatest works of soul with blues, latin and choral arrangements blended together, Sam Cooke has never done it better and this collection doesn't get any better than this. While copies of this disc lasts, DON'T DELAY! Get yours TODAY!

Assolutamente consigliato

Love this album with a definitive collection of Sam Cooke's best. I can only wonder how much more music he could have created had his life not ended so tragically early. The only song I was a bit disappointed by was Summertime. I have it on a vinyl album done in the faster version. I prefer that upbeat tempo more than the originally slowed version which is what is included in this album. I love all the songs though. A great collection for any collector, especially if you are like me and prefer a tangible cd opposed to just the digital download. I just love handling the cds as they remind me of the old record days when you switched the music around physically and not just by computer. I am not knocking the digital collections, as I also collect and transfer my cds to my digital library, but there just seems more fun having the actual cds.

Un imprescindible

Sam Cooke… Le premier noir à faire une musique qui parle, qui a une âme. Enfin, à mon goût. Si, il y a Robert Johnson mais c'était du Blues et beaucoup plus tôt. Là, on parle de Soul, de Rhythm' and Blues. Excellente compilation donc, regroupant tous ses meilleurs titres et dans une qualité irréprochable. Indispensable aux amateurs à moins d'avoir les albums complets… Amusant aussi de faire la comparaison avec les version d'Otis Redding ! À découvrir pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas ; ça les changera de la soupe actuelle… Et pourtant, je suis plutôt un amateur de rock ! Mais quand il y a la qualité, la musique est belle quel que soit le genre. À méditer pour ceux qui restent "coincés" dans un style…

Lange Jahre dachte ich, etwas vereinfacht gesagt, dass Alben, die zunächst als LPs auf dem Markt erschienen waren, irgendwann dann auch auf CD erscheinen. Dass es aber auch sehr wohl anders herum geht, daran dachte ich kaum. Sam Cookes Album 'Portrait of a Legend' ist jedoch der Beweis dafür. Zunächst erschien 'Portrait ...' (offenbar als eine Art Ersatz für das 1986 erschienene und schon LANGE vergriffene 'The Man And His Music'-Album) im Jahr 2003 nur auf CD. Jetzt, 11 Jahre später und anlässlich des 50. Jahrestages von Cookes Tod am 11. Dezember 1964, wurde die CD als Vinyl-LP veröffentlicht und damit der Spieß gewissermaßen umgedreht. Kennern und Verehrern bietet diese Zusammenstellung auch als LP nicht allzu viel neues. Und doch könnte die Doppel-LP musikalisch und gestalterisch kaum schöner sein: Alle (aber auch wirklich ALLE!) wissenswerten Dinge, die es über die einzelnen Titel (musikalisch-biographische Hintergründe, welche Begleitmusiker spielen auf welchem Titel, u.s.w.) gibt u. die der ausgewiesene Cooke-Kenner und -Biograph Peter Guralnick schon 2003 für die CD zusammengetragen hatte, sind hier bis ins kleinste Detail auf den LP-Innenhüllen wiedergegeben. Die (ohrenscheinlich) ungekürzte Fassung von 'Only Sixteen' fehlt nicht, ebenso wenig, wie das Radio-Gespräch mit Magnificent Montague ganz am Ende der zweiten LP. Nicht ganz verständlich für mich und auch faktisch falsch ist die Tatsache, dass hier zwei (nachgewiesene!) Soul Stirrers-Titel, 'Touch The Hem His Garnment' (1957) und das atemberaubend schöne und tiefgehende 'Jesus Gave Me Water' (1951, zudem Cookes allererste Schallplattenaufnahme) einzig unter dem Namen Sam Cooke firmieren. Es sind hier die Soul Stirrers als Gruppe zu hören, NICHT allein Sam Cooke. Ganz prima finde ich allerdings, dass diese Veröffentlichung Cookes Eltern gewidmet wurde (Charles und Annie May Cook). Insgesamt eine GANZ, GANZ wunderbare LP-Veröffentlichung also, die gerade in dieser Form SO VIEL hermacht und die für Kenner und Einsteiger gleichermaßen gut geeignet ist.