Customer Reviews

Best of

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sam Cooke recorded wonderful music but these recordings are not given justice on this CD. This is almost the same track listing as the LP of the same name and layout. This CD was put out when CD's first hit. Consequently, it is not really mastered for CD (although it says it is remastered). The volume on this CD is very, very, very low. There are no dynamics. There are only 13 songs (one is an alternate recording). Clearly, this disc does not take advatage of the sonic possibilities of the the CD, nor does it take advantage of the amount of music CD's can accomodate. The 1998 release, Sam Cooke-Greatest Hits, has 20 songs and is really mastered for CD.

There's a timeless quality to Sam Cooke's music. And while he's been imitated from Dr. Hook and the Animals to Rod Stewart and Art Garfunkel, they've never matched the soulfulness of these originals. It's too bad the 2-disc collection The Man And His Music (1986) is out of print. While The Best Of does a fine job of covering his early commercial peak (1957-1962), it overlooks his gospel music and his post-1962 output. This is a fine collection and I have it on vinyl, but if you're upgrading to a CD release, go with 1998's Greatest Hits which includes everything on this album (except "Summertime") plus an additional nine songs.

I grew up with this album, and I recall some of my greatest memories listening to it on vinyl.

My mother and I, always came together for Sam.

Years, later, I got my hands on the rare, The Man and His Music, and I am a bigger fan. Now, I have the Rhythm and the Blues and some of his 50s recordings.

I think this is required listening for anyone who needs to be transported to simplier times.

When I was a teen growing up in Kansas City in the 70's this was the only Sam Cooke lp available for years. I think for that whole decade this was the only album available of Sam's secular recordings. RCA or should I say Allen Klein just didn't bother releasing anything else except this album. Consequently when I purchased these albums I played the heck out of them and after they got real poppy and scratchy sounding I would go back to the record store and buy another copy. This one album was always available with no problem. But it served it's purpose for me-songs like You send me,Chain Gang,Sad mood,I love you for sentimental reasons,Twisting the night away, all turned me into a major Cooke fan and regardless of the quality it sure feels good to still see that ole yellow background with Sam's smiling face. I come from the hunger period of record collecting where quality never was paramount over just plain being able to find the record and being able to listen to it.That my friend was the pure joy of it all. This cd is still worth the price of admission.

A remastered edition of this album was released in 2005, with three bonus tracks, but with the alternate version of "Summertime" removed.

This is a good CD, but a lot of the tracks have been so commercialized that it is hard to ignore. Still, songs like 'Summertime'have that Sam Cooke soul-stirring feeling, which makes it worth skipping over songs like 'everybody likes to cha-cha-cha'. Buy it.

Quality of sound is not the best and the number of tracks a wast of money.
I would recommend to you Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 [Original recording remastered] Sam Cooke Format: Audio CD with 30 songs and audio remastered.

A MUST HAVE FOR THE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR SUCH AS OURSELVES. THIS ALBUM IS GREAT. I REALLY ENJOY THIS ALBUM FOR SONGS DONE AT THE ARTISTS YOUNGER YEARS. AGAIN A MUST HAVE FOR THE MUSIC COLLECTOR.

It is true that this cd has a poor remastering job and the playlist is lacking. This cd has been remastered again for the 21st century with more songs on it but there is only one reason to buy this older version of "The Best Of Sam Cooke", that reason is 'Summertime'(alternate version). This song was the flip side of one of Sam Cooke's hits during the late 50's and a soul hit in Chicago. This is the recording that everybody in Chicago would do the Cha Cha to. Sam Cooke recorded 'Eveybody Likes To Cha Cha Cha' a couple of years later but that song could not hold a candle to 'Summertime' with the haunting background vocals and some of Cooke's coolest backphraising vocals. It seems that this recording has been long forgotten and has been excluded from all of the Sam Cook hits re-issues except for this cd. This version of 'Summertime' is the REAL best of Sam Cooke and the only reason to give this cd 5 stars.

Since more thorough compilations now exist, many with better sound, this CD is not worth looking into, and only those seeking a slim collection of hits on a single disc should investigate. No liner notes.