I don’t know if we’ll ever get a Sam Cooke vinyl box, but make sure you pick up the 2003 hybrid-SACD discs - most of which can still be found on eBay: Keep Movin’ On, Portrait of a Legend, Ain’t That Good News, At The Copa (multi-channel!) and Tribute To The Lady.
Clark, I think you once provided a list of the Sam Cooke singles that had unique takes or versions not on regular LPs of the time. Do you still have it in a form that can be posted?
I'm more than tempted to pick up all of these LPs, and at £15.99 for most of them - surely I cant lose?! The uDiscover Music Store I've already got a strong UK pressing VG+ copy of Copa from 1964...
Boy, I don’t. As I recall, the singles with the most obvious differences were “Good Times” and “Feel It” and “Lonely Island.” But there are other variations and alternate takes found on a few obscured albums and in the 4-CD “The Man Who Invented Soul” boxed set. And of course there are three mix variations of the Harlem Square Club album.
I grabbed a copy yesterday too. A little cheaper for Canada, but not by much. I've got re-pressings of three of the Keen albums on some crappy Italian PD label, so it'll be nice to hear the tracks from proper sources, even if they're not on records. Especially looking forward to the booklet and the artwork.
Yeap. I was looking around the website's and noticed a lot of them didn't have them, or they were 'out of stock'. Combined with the fact it's an ABKCO release, whom I don't have faith in keeping them in print. Also, lot's of material here I've never heard. It's difficult to find Same Cooke material and when you do, it's the usual 'best of' compilations. I'll look forward to hearing these in their album format too.
What's going on with the programming for the Keep Movin' On set? It omits "A Change Is Gonna Come" and the title track. What's the point of putting this compilation on vinyl if it omits the two most important tracks?
My copy of the Keen set came from Amazon.uk. Even though the CDs are in cardboard sleeves, the discs themselves are in anti-static inner sleeves that are inside the cardboard (similar to many Japanese CD releases), and everything arrived in pristine shape. No cardboard lint, no scuffs. The box itself is beautiful & this set is a high-quality presentation throughout.
That must be an error in the listing. I notice the last side has only three tracks listed, which seems unlikely, and the product description says the album “contains his most important and influential songs – not least A Change Is Gonna Come.” My guess is somebody fouled up copying and pasting the full track list.
No, Night Beat wasn’t an ABKCO SACD. It was a Sony CD that came out a bit later. I wouldn’t recommend it.
Analogue Productions did an SACD of that album. Sam Cooke Night Beat Hybrid Multi-Channel & Stereo SACD
https://imgur.com/a/641gdbE I won this autographed slip in an online auction several years ago. Sam had a few different autograph styles, including both upper and lower case lettering. Could I get a community opinion on its authenticity?
Do you have hundreds of $$$ for anything close to NM copies of the LP discs? They're so rare, I've seen 3 beat up examples in 50 years of record collecting. Even 45 RPM singles of many are hard to come by in VG or better condition in East Tennessee for any price.
It's a shame that no one has ever done a collection of his single sides. It would be near impossible to do now because of the dual licensing. Question - just confirming. (Note: I do not have an SACD player. I spend the money for hybrid discs for the remastering.) I truly enjoy Portrait Of A Legend. Is the Analogue Production Best Of worth getting and doubling up on those songs?
I was a bit luckier than you, and have been collecting for just a tad longer. Not too many years ago, 45 RPMs by Sam were of little interest to many collectors and you could aquire many for just $1 each in very good shape with patience. But now, the prices have increased due to on-line sales and the fact that many consider records an investment (I think they are wrong)
The style is certainly consistent with Sam’s signature but it looks like it was written very very slowly and evenly and carefully, which are telltale signs of a fake, of course. There’s none of the typical signs of an authentic autograph — varying pressure, in particular. But I’m no expert on these things. It might be worth seeing if you can get a professional opinion. Hope it’s the real deal!