Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers [EXTRA TRACKS]

Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Specialty
• ASIN: B000000QME
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,770 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #35 in	Music > Blues > Traditional Blues
  #58 in	Music > R&B > Classic R&B

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
While Sam Cooke certainly made beautiful music in the pop realm, his greatest sides were those made with the Soul Stirrers. When Cooke joined the group in 1950 at the age of 19, he'd already spent 4 years singing with the Highway Q.C.'s. The Soul Stirrers lead singer, R.H. Harris, who quit just before Cooke's arrival, had spent almost 25 years molding the group into gospel stardom through an innovative use of two lead singers matched with utmost energy and sophistication. Cooke initially sang in a style similar to Harris's, but soon took off into his own unearthly realm, writing spine-tingling songs like "Nearer to Thee," "Mean Old World," and the brilliant "Touch the Hem of His Garment," then singing them in his soaring, inimitable style with perfect control of phrasing and enunciation. This is an awesome collection, a record to listen to many, many times--to grow old with. Save it for those days when you need absolute proof that true grace does exist. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Music from a Master., September 4, 2002

By	peterfromkanata (Kanata, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

There is not much to add to the existing, excellent reviews. It's hard to believe that this music is 50 years old--it still sounds fresh and vital, with the young Sam Cooke shining on this wonderful music. He really had a unique voice, and his sad, early death robbed the world of a huge talent.
This music has lost none of it's magic, and no serious collector of gospel, R and B, Soul should be without such a marvellous CD.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and powerful, December 14, 2001

By	Lynn Walker (Providence, RI United States) - See all my reviews

When R. H. Harris left the Soul Stirrers, many people expressed surprise that someone as young as Sam Cooke was asked to take his place. They changed their minds quickly, Sam had the voice, the charisma and the determination to make him a star. Gospel lost a great star when he turned to popular music, but he has left a wonderful legacy for all music lovers. His Gospel roots show his very best work, a voice both sweet and powerful. His call-and-response with Paul Foster brings two masters together in perfect complement of each other.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers, October 17, 2000

By	Andrew J F Tiernan (Brisbane, QLD. Australia) - See all my reviews

This record is a must for fans of Sam Cooke and fans of singing in general. There are 25 songs on the CD, 20 of which are Gospel. All the songs are good but my three favourites would be "How Far am I from Canaan, Be with me Jesus, and Jesus wash away my Troubles (this one brings home just how good a singer Sam Cooke was)". I would also recommend the two CD set "Sam Cooke's Sar Records Story" which has a full CD devoted to Gospel recordings made on Sam's label, finishing with the most beautiful version of "That's Heaven To Me" sung by Sam Cooke himself.