Sam Cooke

British singer James Hunter once recounted a story concerning the universal appeal of Cooke's music:

"I was on a train once, uh, comin' home from somewhere that night. And there was a few - lots of tired commuters, and somebody a few seats down had a... a whatcha call it...a little stereo playin' Sam Cooke stuff really softly on it there. And normally when somebody's got music going on in the train somebody gets irritated. But that trip, no one, there wasn't anyone on the train that didn't dig it."

I hardly need re-tell the oft-told tales of the legendary life of Sam Cooke. One only need initiate a brief search engine jaunt to bring up detailed articles of his life, career, and untimely death.

Still, even if unfamiliar with the specifics of Cooke's life, who hasn't heard his work? Classic tracks like "Bring it on Home to Me" and "Chain Gang" are mainstays on oldies radio. Here, however, we'll focus on lesser-known but equally sublime masterpieces from Cooke's storied canon.




"Just For You" from Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 (2003)




"Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)

"Sugar Dumpling" (Original Version) from The Man Who Invented Soul (2000)