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The Complete Specialty Recordings of Sam Cooke
Barnes and Noble
The Complete Specialty Recordings of Sam Cooke
Current price: $29.99
Barnes and Noble
The Complete Specialty Recordings of Sam Cooke
Current price: $29.99
Size: OS
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They were known as
when they did the 1951-1957 recordings on this three-CD, 84-song collection. It's billed to
with
, though, as it's the ultimate collection of sides he recorded as a member of the group for
, along with seven tentative secular
sides he did for the label as a solo singer in 1956.
doesn't sing lead on all of
' tracks, though there are plenty of his leads to hear throughout the set; he shares lead duties with
, although by the end of his time in the outfit,
was taking most of the solo leads. There's also one cut,
on which
shares lead with
(two alternate versions of the song are also on the set). Even if
isn't always the solo lead, however, he's a big presence on all of these sides, which represent both an important summary of his career prior to achieving
stardom and a major body of
music. While much of the material is
(with
contributing some originals), the arrangements do evolve, including some drums, organ, piano, bass, and electric guitar at various points. The link between
,
, and
becomes evident to more secular-minded listeners, sometimes strikingly so in
's phrasing, which, even on songs as far back as 1953 (
), contained clear antecedents to his vocals on his first breakthrough
hit,
Naturally those antecedents are heard strongest on the seven 1956 solo cuts that represented his first
ventures, and although these are on the innocuous side, they're enjoyable foreshadowings of his
years. Numerous alternate takes and three 1955 live songs (with good sound) complete the most comprehensive portrait of
's
years. Note, though, that the version of
-- a Top 20 entry in the wake of
-- lacks the overdub on the hit single. ~ Richie Unterberger