Reviews (page 10 of 13)
I like it for what it is! I wouldn’t seek if out, but I appreciate how fun it is and how Sam Cooke paved the way for music
Groovy
He sings well enough, but i don't like live albums
Sam singing all the hits and sounding like he has the audience eating from his hands. Gives a good overall impression of what it may have been like to be present. But, some clumsy editing and less than sparkling quality makes me think it could have sounded better. 3.5 rounded down.
good
So much energy and a wonderful warm, soulful, energetic and smooth performance. It's super cohesive adn I like how you can hear the audience noise, this is clearly super meaningful for them. Songs are delivered with love and passion and instrumentation is tight. I agains truggle with live albums but this is a ripping performance
Great raw sound
Good blues
Okay. Nice
Good energy. Would be better for actually seeing live.
This record documents well the ecstatic vibe that Sam Cooke and his great band are able to create in the live situation. Feelgood soul, from start to finish.
Great soul records are always welcome! This one was was recorded just under few years before his untimely death. Lots of classic tracks, but I did expect to hear lots more soul tunes and not rock 'n roll. However, enjoyable listen, his voice was amazing.
Джазовый альбом Не очень сильно понравился но все равно круто
Joar.
Ziemlich cool, aber kein WOW
Another live album that isn’t impacted negatively by it! Great voice I would have loved to be there it sounded like such a fun time. Chain Gang was a great song I hadn’t heard before and obviously Bring it On Home to Me was fantastic as well. Really liked this one Sam Cooke is amazing.
I will definitely need to revisit this someday.
Easy listening, good.
wuaaaa moc hezke uplifting album, jak kdybych tam byla
great soul music, but not a particularly great album, neither structurally, nor production-wise
Music was fine, just really boring.
not something I would add to my personal collection, however, for this being shelved for 20 years before it came out is a crime. I understand Cooke wasn't trying to be a huge pop star, but this certainly would have put him in another level given the raw vocals he brings.
I love Sam Cooke. And these songs are great. But live albums from this era are just not my favorite. The banter with the audience almost feels unreal and the audience almost sounds like they’re not listening to him. Then the songs are mostly played very quickly and it’s just a list of them. Musically I enjoyed this and I would have loved to have been there, but from the perspective of listening as an album, it’s not my favorite.
Gritty, raw, & lively
The jazzy vibes are impeccable, and the raspy voice really adds to the effect. Despite this, it’s not really my style of music, but it is overall enjoyable and pleasant on the ears :>.
“darling i’m never lonely” groovy crowd interaction lovely a sincerity and straightforwardness i find hard sometimes would listen again
Not my thing. Like with many live albums if I was familiar with the original recordings I would behave have gotten more from the live album. Full of energy
Nice songs, good singing. Disrupted by live audience participation
Him telling the audience the words to his song just before he sings them is not cool.
As far as live albums go, this was a fun one. Nothing memorable but enjoyable.
Enjoyed that one.
January 1, 2026
Fun to intentionally listen to some music I wouldn't intentionally seek out a lot of the time. I'd heard quite a bit of Sam Cooke before, but I really should make a point of seeking out live recordings, especially of older music. Really brings a new dimension to the recordings.
Good and groovy but similar sounds for each, cool to hear live version. Sam Cooke rocks but I probably wouldn’t just throw this on
Interesting. Not really my genre but I'm Always open to something new
Another quick and easy classic live album. Still don't really have a strong opinion or know if these should be on here but I understand the concept of the album was a bit different back then. 6/10
Pretty good; didn't know or listen to Sam Cooke before this, but I liked what I listened to. I found myself responding to "Chain Gang", so the live album engaged me.
it’s pretty cool. the energy is great, but I’m not picking these over studio versions probably ever. Live albums are tricky, but at the end of the day, it’s still Sam Cooke and I still love him
Back in the olden days, when I obtained all my music via YouTube ——> MP3 conversion, I had this album on my iPod. Because I had downloaded all the individual tracks from YouTube, the transitions between the songs were not correct and were rather jarring. I spent many many many precious irreplaceable minutes of my life tinkering in iTunes, trying to get the tracks to start / stop at the exact right moment to be seamless, like the true album experience. It took forever. On this listen, I still caught myself wincing when I knew the songs were about to end, expecting a split second pause in the middle of the transition. That’s lasting psychological damage. And then when I did get it absolutely perfect, I got this album which is just kinda meh to me for the first 50%. I really like Sam Cooke quite a bit and think he’s probably a top 10 vocalist; I was trying to download this album for a reason, but it does not get all the way there for me. I have no doubt that the show would have been a great time and the electricity from Cooke and the crowd are undeniable, but pretty much every song in the first half sounds the same to me, before we slow down in the second half and everything has more character. I love that saxophone on Somebody Have Mercy. The saxophone, famously, is the sexiest instrument. So, mixed bag, but rounding up to a 3.
بداية موفقة حبيت بس كأنه زار شوي
Fascinating. I love Sam Cooke. I never listened to more than a track or two live though, so this was a real eye opener. His vocal style feels more like a screaming little Richard than the smooth, soulful Sam Cooke I'm used to. His mc work also feels surprisingly amped up - like James Brown or something. The studio records are some of my absolute favourite sounds in recorded music, so I'm struggling a bit with this rough rowdy live band sound. I'm conscious that I've digested Sam Cooke in a way that was sanitised for a mixed audience before and this is him in his element. It's great, but it's a surprise for me
I love Sam but this is not my favourite
really good, I would actually listen to again which surprised me!
Great album, added two songs to my playlist I'd say a 6/10, It had so many good songs but they were not my type
Good. Not great.
ehhh
Not really my taste but did enjoy the energy of the live show.
fun!
This isn't really my style of music overall, but this is great. So full of life and passion and it's impossible not to get into it.
Loved the transitions, love Sam’s energy, The jazz and soul were strong here, love these Cooke songs are banger, felt like I was there at a concert which was cool. Songs were weaved together well with happy in beginning and then sad and relatable relationships with it ending on a happy note. Love my Sam Cooke.
One Night Stand- Sam Cooke Great intro track with trumpets and all Good transitions Good music, but…flat? I guess I’m more used to cinematic spruced-up production. I can appreciate this, though Great end to “don’t fight it feel it” I can feel Cookes permeating energy I don’t like it’s alright, but the end is solid Songs feel lyrically repetitive Love the energy, music is mediocre The operator Interlude on somebody have mercy sounds really good Even when it seems like he wants to let the music go quiet an build something, Cooke keeps interjecting with adlibs Overall: Lyrics-3.5 Instruments-8 Voice-7 Sound-5 Energy/vibe-9 Versatility-3
I really enjoyed the transitions between tracks. The live nature of the album gives way to the hype and energy in the performance. Good sax and jazz. I really the intro into don't fight it feel it. Sam knew the crowd wanted to hear twistin' the crowd knew he was waiting to play it it was a good vibe all around. I also really enjoyed "Having a party".
Not my usual type of music however I recognised chain gang and forgot I liked it! Didn’t finish the rest of the album
need to relisten
cool album
Started listening to this in the car and I wasn’t sold. On my Bose headphones, the sound is much more dynamic and it feels like I’m there. By the end of the album, I was dancing and singing along and I wanted more! Guy’s got soul!
Better than i was expecting. Pretty good.
Really good album
3/5
Unremarkable as a live album, but just to imagine Sam casually working through the highlights of his career is pretty thrilling.
I felt like I was transported to this big party in the 60's. I had never heard of Sam Cooke until now. I'm not a soul guy but the atmosphere and big energy made this an experience. The album grew and grew on me and I was exhausted listening to Sam keeping the party going.
Noch mehr alte Musik.
solid
Just fun & classic; makes you nostalgic for a time you weren’t around for [aesthetically.]
3/5
I can imagine if I were in the audience, it would be the most enthralling show I'd been to. But the sound quality isn't great, and it just didn't kick me in the nuts like so many other great live albums have.
Not so bad
Sam Cooke is a legend, but this live album is just fine. Best Songs: Feel It, Chain Gang, Bring It on Home to Me Worst Songs: Having a Party
Het is zeer aardige muziek, maar ik merk weer eens dat ik niet zit te wachten op dit soort oude live opnames. Ik zag er tegenop om het aan te zetten en ik ben eigenlijk ook wel blij als het er weer op zit. Ondanks dat het me toch ook wel meevalt. Ik hou gewoon van kwaliteitsopnames die je oren strelen in plaats van ietwat schelle, drukke, ongepolijste clubopnames. Ome Sam maakt zich af en toe wel heel erg druk ook. Veel clipping door z'n geschreeuw. Ik denk dat ze anno 2025 live opnames met studiokwaliteit kunnen maken, maar dit soort oude opnames klinken toch wat bootleggerig van aard. De muziek is prima in orde en boordevol echte ouderwetse soul, maar ik zet het toch slechts op drie sterren vanwege de live-vorm.
Primeiro álbum ouvido da lista!!! Twistin' the Night Away foi a minha favorita do álbum. Gostei muito da voz de Sam Cooke, eu não o conhecia e foi uma surpresa agradável!
I really enjoyed this album. I enjoyed hearing the scratch in Sam Cooke’s voice. The tunes swing along nicely and the light touch makes this a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
Love the clear passion and energy in his voice and hearing the crowd's response. Had me looking up the studio-recorded versions. After hearing the recordings, I'm feeling like the magic was really in the performance with the live crowd. I see why this particular Sam Cooke album was pulled.
After reading the Wikipedia entry, I was expecting great things from this live album. Unfortunately I felt a bit disappointed. I enjoyed Cooke's voice and songs, but I felt the much-vaunted audience interaction was a bit less than I expected. Perhaps the mix I listened to was one of those with the audience somewhat lower in the mix than the first release.
Sounded like a fun show. Would have enjoyed being there, but probably don't need to listen to the recording again. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Feel It (Don't Fight It), Twistin' The Night Away ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it well enough for a live album.
- Feel it is so good! I’m already pleasantly surprised with this album - I love that it’s a live album too. So special - What a Voice - Bring it on home to me sounds rlly familiar. I like it! - Same with nothing can change this love!
A top notch performance by a top notch showman (and band). As a live album it has to be one of the best ever. As far as the actual songs...meh. They work fine as party tunes, I guess, but there is just not much there once you move past Sam's contagious energy.
It's not bad. I would like to hear this in a studio though, not sure live recording techniques were so good in 1963 I feel like there is a tinny-ness to the sound. More than a 2 less than a 3, but rounded up assuming it sounds better cleaned up in a studio. 3.
соул ну такое
Cupid is a cracking tune - but I prefer the studio version. Great singer. Seems like a jolly good time at the club. I wouldn't buy a ticket, but if someone had a spare I'd tag along.
Sam Cooke is another artist that I've been indoctrinated into by my step father playing it non stop. It isn't really my thing, but it's pleasant enough. I keep saying I don't think live albums should be here, but this one does feel kinda special. Sounded fun and Sam Cooke felt like he was genuinely enjoying it. 3 I think. Sam Cooke and cat Stevens Fall into the same category in my head and I think I prefer cat and I gave that 3.5
3.5
3.0
What a voice and a great live album. Doesn't have his better known songs on it either. Worth a listen as it sounds like it was recorded in a tiny club with a great crowd.
It was okay. It was as the Wikipedia stated a bit raw and gritty. I did like that about though, in this day and age when everything is so polished.
Love Sam Cooke. Don’t love the live sound in this recording, and all the jivey intros. 3.5
very fun listen! i wish i were there!
It’s wonderful. Full of energy, belting tunes, razor sharp performance - belting. But I’m still knocking points off for live albums that aren’t reimaginings of the songs cos it’s cheating if it’s basically a greatest hits set
Dude had some pipes.
I like Sam Cooke, I liked the songs, but I absolutely hate a live album.
Would have loved to be there. Not the best album music and audio quality wise, but up there in terms of energy and fun. 3.5/5.
Very fun, amazing energy
A great live album recording should make you feel like you’re there and Sam Cooke’s stage presence draws you right in. Beautiful throughout
One of the better live albums on this list so far.
I enjoyed this. I think I’d listen to his studio albums over this but it’s still good.
I have heard of Sam Cooke, particularly for the song a Change is Going to Come, but that’s the only Sam Cooke I know. Update: I still only prefer that song.
This was fun to listen too - I especially enjoyed the live versions of familiar songs, like Chain Gang and Cupid but I can't get as excited about it all as Sam Cooke does. It captures these early soul/R&B club gigs very nicely but it feels like more of a historical document than a record I'd put on and listen to. And, dare I say it, it all sort of starts to sound the same after a while.
Really cool hearing Sam Cooke do these classics in a tight set with the energy of a live and intimate crowd. Lets you hear a side of him that doesn't come through in the studio recordings. Massive respect for him as a live performer, gone too soon.
Good. I'm not really a live album guy and this didn't do anything incredible for me. Solid voice but every song kinda sounds the same.
Hed mi nöd abgholt. Zu alt, aber gseh mi doch im hintergeund oke zu dem sound biz vibe. Darum gibi na 3 trompette
6/10
Sam Cookes Live at the Harlem Square Club zeigt ihn ungewohnt roh und leidenschaftlich. Die Energie ist mitreißend, doch die Tonqualität und Kürze des Sets trüben das Erlebnis etwas. Ein spannender Blick auf seine Soul-Seite – aber nicht für jeden Geschmack.
Much imitated, for better or worse
Sam Cooke knows how to party and make the ladies swoon.
Bra trøkk. Ikke helt min sjanger.
The opening really draws you in to feel like you're part of it; more than other live albums do. Here for an evening of fun music to dance to.
Atmospheric. A great showman.
Impossible not to enjoy today’s I’d imagine, honestly jolly music, high 3 for me
An enjoyable listen. Very raw, emotional, and soulful. Sam Cooke talent shines through clearly, but I don't connect with this music. There is a simplicity to the instrumentals and the lyrics that doesn't warrant repeated listening for me. The track "Cupid" bumps the entire album up one point for me. The bass line and his vocals were simply beautiful.
A very surface level fun album, but I don't think being a live album did this one any favours compared to other Sam Cooke releases I've heard. Not a huge variety across these.
Sam belts it out here for the Harlem Square Club, but too much of the crowd competes with him and the band, distracting from his performance. Awesome music, but I wish they'd turned down the crowd mic or filtered it out.
Un álbum excelentemente interpretado. La voz de Cooke es perfecta para el estilo soul de la música, y la grabación en vivo, aunque no es de muy buena calidad, captura la energía del ambiente, lo cual es muy relevante para el estilo de música. Al mismo tiempo la música a nivel compositivo y temático es extremadamente trillada. Llena de clichés en sus letras, progresiones armónicas y rítmicas. Esto no le quita valor, pero claramente no es un álbum innovador o muy original. Es más bien un producto de la época. Además es interesante escuchar a un cantante como Sam Cooke, quien de manera trillada habla de amor en sus letras, siendo que al mismo tiempo a tenido acusaciones de violencia y abuso en el marco de su asesinato. Un hombre producto de su época también?
R&B from 1963 … Nostalgic - knew a lot of the songs, and can still do the twist!!!
Top track: Chain Gang / Twistin' The Night Away
Charming. Less uptight than a lot of early 60s music
Very raw performance, surprised me.
This is a decent album. Not my favorite Sam Cooke. 3 stars
Great voice and the audience is loving it. Doesn't blow my mind or anything though, just sounds like a good time set to some fairly standard soul music.
Swingy
I really wish it didn't have to be a live album. Songs are great but the sound is not Best Song: Feel it Rating: 7/10 Stars: 3
Not many actual songs I loved off it but it’s got a consistently good sound
Respect how good they sound live
There’s some muddy sound and audience distractions here, but “Cupid”—by itself—is enough to get the album to three stars. I’d give this 3.5 stars if I could.
Good album
Excellent! Great to hear that oldies singers were much more entertaining and real when live. Hard to believe this recording showed Sam Cooke as too gritty to release at the time.
Enjoyed this a lot. Found the whole thing very charming and really felt the vibe of the club
I enjoyed this! I think minus a few stars because uh oh some pretty yikes-y lyrcis
Am leaving but Keep the party going..
Sam Cooke gave a live performance on January 12th.
I like Sam Cooke - I have the same issues with this live album as I did James Brown. Music is good, but so much is crowd interaction and it's only half an hour long. Would have preferred listening to the studio versions
nice old school Great as a live album
What a voice!
This sounds exactly what you’d think it sounds like. He sounds great, but it does sound old and a it repetitive. Could be nice in the background but doesn’t really do it for me
Exquisite pipes, this guy, and a big band sound to boot. However, I don’t find myself getting lost in it like I would like.
I really need to re-learn how to have fun. There's so much going on in this album and it sounds like such a good time, but the energy of the album just isn't hitting me the same way it is everyone in the crowd. Sam Cooke seems like the kind of person to have every single woman in a 150 meter radius screeching like they just watched Jesus come down from heaven for the first time in thousands of years, and you can hear that at some points in the record. For me, It's way too bubblegum. It's a great album, and I wish I could feel it more, but it just isn't my kind of fun music.
Great songs, but not the best version of them.
Good vocals nice vibe very produced tho
i wish there were more live albums on this list. to me it counts more than B-side comps would count. you get this version of a song that can only happen once, string enough of those together and its sometimes better than the recorded compositions. i like sam cooke, some of these are classics and this is prob the best he's ever sounded. its got that great feel of a small place that would be insane to see him at. great energy all the way through. the whole band sounds awesome. the life this breathes into these tracks is amazing. 3/5, but damn close.
3. Not a big fan of live albums.
Sam Cooke’s 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘚𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 captures him in raw, fiery form, but the recording quality leaves a lot to be desired — understandable given the limited means of taping a club show in 1963. Had he performed this same set a decade later, it might have sounded entirely different, but history didn’t allow for that. What remains is a fascinating glimpse of Cooke’s power on stage, even if the sound doesn’t do him full justice.
Pretty cool little live album, was a nice listen. 3 stars
I really liked the first song, and then I felt like he kept playing it again and again, would have liked a bit more variety. Was fun to hear him interacting with the audience. Favourite song: Feel It (Don't Fight it) Least: Bring It on Home to Me
Great live energy Dated ('63 Obvio) but well done, quality music. Fun record 3 outta 5
3. Like in the intro, it's no secret that Sam Cooke is "Mr. Soul." This live performance had smooth transitions between songs and an overall good vibe but it didn't really work for me as an album. This was a recording of a live performance, and the pacing/order of songs doesn't really make sense as an album. Many of the songs sound very similar.
Das Konzert wurde im Januar 1963 im Harlem Square Club in Miami aufgenommen, blieb aber über zwei Jahrzehnte unveröffentlicht. Erst 1985 erschien es, und zeigte Sam Cooke von einer Seite, die sein Image als glatter Pop-Entertainer deutlich erweiterte. Der in den USA geborene Sänger, der zuvor mit Hits wie „Cupid“ oder „Chain Gang“ bekannt geworden war, präsentiert sich hier rau, leidenschaftlich und unmittelbar. Die Aufnahmen vermitteln Club-Atmosphäre: man hört das Publikum jubeln, Cooke feuert es an, die Band treibt ihn unermüdlich voran. Besonders die Versionen von „Bring It On Home to Me“, „Twistin’ the Night Away“ und „Having a Party“ zeigen seine Fähigkeit, Soul und Rhythm & Blues mit packender Bühnenpräsenz zu verbinden. Der Mitschnitt unterscheidet sich stark von seinen Studioalben – weniger poliert, dafür voller Energie und Nähe. Gerade das macht den Reiz aus: Man spürt, warum Cooke als einer der Väter des Soul gilt, der die Brücke zwischen Gospel, Pop und R&B geschlagen hat. Unterm Strich ist es ein intensives Live-Dokument, das sowohl musikalisch überzeugt als auch historisch bedeutsam ist.
Iconic voice, some great tunes, but the live version just feels like it’s the same song the whole time continuously. It takes away the character and clarity that the studio versions have. Good, but will never listen to it again.
Rating: 3.1 Live albums do not sway me. There is nothing on a live album that is better than anything that’s been put to record in a studio. Except for that one album. You’ll know when I get to it. Sam Cooke is good.
It’s been a long day, but I have now eaten lunch. A fake donair was the dish du jour. Still tasty but can’t hold a candle to a real Halifax donair. If only I could live there. God. I will never forgive the system that turned my childhood haven from afterthought to sought after gentrification magnet for insufferable Ontario socialites to flock to like maggots to a corpse. Ah well. I’m stuck renting in this prairie wasteland while dickweeds who can’t pronounce Tatamagouche soak up the shores my ancestors landed on centuries ago. Anyway. What are we talking about? A live album that everyone on the internet describes as happy. I’m reinvigorated, albeit a little mournful about Nova Scotia. Try to lift my spirits fellas. Soul Twist/Introduction - That saxophone is doing exactly what I would imagine a “soul twist” sounds like. Hell of a welcome for the young man. Feel It (Don’t Fight It) - Oof a little sloppy off the start there. Don’t fight it, gents. Alright, we’re in the pocket. A small pocket where your keys fall out. This song is kind of like that. Disappointing. He kind of won me over with the performances. Chain Gang - This was a favourite when I was young. First exposure that I had to Sam Cooke. This is a more raw performance obviously, and creates a different level of enjoyment. Very good song. Cupid - What a natural voice. This is another absolute classic chorus. The live music is really impacting me here. Medley: It’s All Right/For Sentimental Reasons - Yes, wake up your significant other out of a dead sleep and look at them (unblinking) and say “It’s All Right.” Just say it again if they’re confused. Oh, and I hate medleys at concerts. I saw Carcass in 2013 and really wanted to hear Reek of Putrefaction. I mean, who doesn’t? They put it as part of a medley where they only played the opening strains. I mean that is the most sickening part, but still. Anyway. “Carcass” probably isn’t a word that appears frequently in reviews of this record. Twistin’ the Night Away - Song that is very “of the time.” Enjoyable. Cute. Somebody Have Mercy - Somebody. Anybody. Buddy is going to the bus station. If anybody needs the gentle hand of mercy, it’s a public transit commuter. Greyhound?? Oh no. Bless this man. The only people riding Greyhound buses are serial killers and potential victims. Bring It On Home to Me - This thing brings the fucking house down. What an amazing song and it’s just delivered in such an electrifying fashion. Incredible. Nothing Can Change This Love - Can’t fully say anything different about this track. It’s a comedown from the previous song Having a Party - Sounding like a party and a raucous way to end off this very strong performance. This isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse, but I got a lot of the energy that was put into this record. The live recording in 1963 is what really grabbed me. It felt like you were there, and you really just got swept up in the moment. When attendinggn a good concert in real life, decent songs are fantastic and fantastic songs, shake you to your very core. I won’t say this album shook me to my core, but there was a lot to like here and I feel as exhausted as if I was there that night. I assume I’d stick out in 1963 Harlem, but much like my beloved Nova Scotia, Harlem in 2025 is probably one of the most gentrified places in North America. Don’t we love progress?? See ya energy and passion, we need microbreweries and chain brunch spots. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Chain Gang, Cupid, Somebody Have Mercy, Bring It On Home to Me
The crowd noise really adds to the energy of the performance. 3.5
Not a huge fan of live albums but this one was pretty good. Reminded me a bit of the James Brown Live at The Apollo record also on this list. RCA being worried about releasing it and hurting his image seems so paranoid compared to what is released nowadays.
I only know 2 or 3 of Sam Cooke’s hits which are kind of basic and radio-friendly. But in this live show, he’s on a whole different level. Soul back then had so much class: raw, stylish, and Cooke’s voice is just insane. “I don’t want you operator! I want my babyyyy!!!” Then I found out he died in shady circumstances, with a story about kidnapping and an attempted assault… well, this record still rules, but all these romantic lyrics suddenly sound very fake.
Toe tapping live soul album and a really tight set with very little nonsense. Not my usual genre but this felt like an excellent time capsule. Probably more open to this following heavy listening of the Sinners soundtrack
Good live album, seemed like a legendary high energy set.
Le live ne m’a pas emporté… peut être de mauvaises co dictions d’écoute après une garde + canicule mal tolérée… Il faudra découvrir l’album studio mais le jazz est connu pour être bon en live
One good song. Better for background vibes
7.3/10. The best song was its all right/ Sentimental Reasons
Twisting the Night Away
Great voice! Unfortunately the pacing of this album sucks. The small amount of crowd interaction is next to nil. I did like how he messed up a song and without skipping a beat, he said, while the band is still playing, "let's start that again" and they just kept going. Great recover that could only been done by an experienced performer. Over all the album was only ok.
Not bad, a guy clearly loving what he does.
great voice
Sam Cooke’s spontaneous laugh is the highlight.
It’s a live jazz album which are two things I usually don’t like. This gets 3 stars because his voice is beautiful I just wouldn’t reach for it again
Great voice - enjoyable half an hour or so
Pretty solid live album. Can almost feel the energy he brought to the performance.
It's a live soul album and it was good.
Interesting live album. Good old time R&B/Soul.
Some classic soul, what a great voice
I'll give this a 3. Sam Cooke is great. I'll give him more with a studio recorded album if there is one on this list
Very nice
Not typically a fan of live albums unless I was there. However, 3 stars for Sam Cooke just being Sam Cooke. Velvet voice. Better album is a greatest hits collection than a live album. IMO
Me gustó mucho, sigue la misma onda yankee pero está zafable pa escuchar, hay un par de joyitas en el disco. Ya te das cuenta en los primeros 15 segundos la tonalidad de piel.
No es mi estilo pero cumple con lo que promete. Música estilo gospel, rocksito pegajoso
Lots of great energy here, and you can see why he was popular. It's a different side of him than I know from the radio, for sure. I didn't really love any of the arrangements, tho. It felt like a lot of show without real emotion. I'm sure it was fun to be there, and it's interesting as a document, but I guess it's not what I enjoy about Sam Cooke.
Amazing voice. Smooth and silky, and while I often love the energy in live albums, I don’t like it here. I just want more of Cooke’s vocals - that’s it. Not all the background noises and so forth. But oh my, he just roars!
Not the kind of music I'd pull up regularly but I enjoyed hearing this. Lots of energy; would clearly have been dynamite to experience live. I got a little burnt out on it halfway through though.
Low fidelity old timey soul
Working on a five point scale, it's a solid 2.75. Love Sam Cooke, just not a big fan of live music in general; it typically cannot compare to the quality of the music recorded in the sound studio. I would offer though, in this case, it may be more a reflection of the available technology of the day.
Odd opening for a live album. His voice is so classic and it holds up well live on stage. I have NO idea why this made the list though, it's just his best songs live, nothing revolutionary or groundbreaking there. The songs maybe have different percussion and tempo and some crowd participation but otherwise seem pretty straightforward. "Chain Gang", "Cupid", "Twistin'...", "Having A Party" and of course "Bring It On Home" solidified his status as a great vocalist. Enjoyable but not worthy of T1001. 3 stars as it's solid and fun from top to bottom. You heard a master of his art doing his thing in front of a live audience.
ANOTHER live album...... This was fine, I just don't like them
It's cool but im not really enjoying it
No doubt about it, Sam Cooke had an incredible voice.
Ik had liever een studio album gehad, maar ik vond het best swingend en het nodigde uit om meer van deze artiest te gaan beluisteren. Het voelde toch een beetje als een andere tijden muzikale aflevering, waar ik wel een zwak voor heb.
I've got a soft spot for oldies. I have to knock this one down a peg since it was a live album and I feel like live albums shouldn't be included on a top albums list. However, this was a great album. A lot of energy from Sam and the crowd. Wish I could have been there. 3/5.
Not bad at all
I really wanted to love this more than I did. There’s no question Sam Cooke’s voice is one of the all-time greats, and this live performance captures a rawer, sweatier, more impassioned side of him than the polished studio stuff he’s often known for. You can feel the energy coming off the crowd, the way they scream and shout at every little vocal run like he’s setting the place on fire. And I do like hearing that rougher version of Cooke—it’s like catching him loosen his tie and just let it rip for once. But for me, the recording itself doesn’t quite do the performance justice. It’s a bit murky, and at times the balance feels off, like the band’s buried under the noise of the room. I also found some of the song choices a little safe. I get that this was Cooke reaching back to his gospel and R&B roots, but I guess I was hoping for a setlist that surprised me more. It’s a really solid live record and has its moments
Harlem puro
Classic songs delivered in what sounds like an exciting live show.
Pretty good
great vibes, straight to the point, incredible performance! not sure i’m getting back to this because of the live poor recording quality but it was a fun experience
This is decent. Sam Cooke had a good voice and great stage presence, im just not too crazy about this style. The production also isn't very good, it's chaotic and impenetrable, his voice overpowers everything. You can hear the guitar and drums a bit but it's a bit exhausting, and the album isn't even that long A good listen but I doubt I'll come back to it again Highlights: Twistin' the Night Away
Not a fan of live albums but it was still a solid album.
Cool live album and was definitely a great night.
Uplifting and fun but didn't jump out to me as thought it might
That was a fun experience, one of the better Live albums ... like you were there.
This man has some energy This would have been wild live Not 100% my jam, but i do appreciate it still
Sam Cooke has an amazing voice. Otherwise, this is fine, but not really my style of music.
While listening we were trying to puzzle through why *this* album was held for 22 years as the record company thought it was "too gritty and raw" to be released.
this did not activate my live album rage. I like sam cooke the normal amount.
This was fun! I liked the last track a lot and I appreciate that the crowd actually seemed to be having fun and engaging because if a live album is going to have a crowd they should at least be lively.
Solid soul album. Live albums for me are always a detractor but a good listen regardless
3 out of 5. Damn good love album.
I recognized one song here, Twisting the nigh away. This was a classic, just not my vibe.
I suspect if you are a Sam Cooke fan, you will enjoy this.
שירים שאהבתי: Soul twist (introduction) & Feel it, Chain gang (גרוב רייד מגניב), It's alright (סם ממליץ בחום לא להרביץ לאישתך), Twistin'
Great showman - not my style musically, but very fun hearing the relationship between performer and audience on Medley. Can't deny the talent also, and great voice, so 3 stars it is!
Good early rock and roll. I'd probably enjoy a better sounding recording, but this live album does convey some of the energy of a live performance in front of a crowd.
Very rock and roll. Accessible and enjoyable.
An energetic, fun performance with good recording quality.
2 1/2 Fun but not great.
High energy and fun, but I'm not a big fan of the style, or soul music in general. Would be cool to see live or listen to when I'm in the right mood.
nice but nothing memorable
6/10
sounds like it was a good show Will I listen to again: 22%
Great Album . Sometimes too much Talking but that’s his stylw
zabavno!
again, i wish i could rate this 3.75, it was really enjoyable and i love that it was a live recording, just hearing everyone talk in the background and hearing him introduce the band was so cool :)
Great Energy.
Decent enough album, very decent album for a live album.
2 live albums in a row!? I must be cursed. This one was a little more enjoyable than the Cheap Trick one, I guess because it's more jazzy which seems more inherently "live" (idk). Like, there's actual crowd interaction, which I don't want to listen to, but at least it makes sense what the appeal is. Feels 50sish to me, like Drifters vibes. If it weren't a live album I would like it! Highlights: 'Cupid'
Sam Cooke Belting out songs live. Crowd was kind of dead, but great vocals
Best: Bring It on Home to Me
great perfomer !
Not really the way I want to listen to Sam Cooke. The audience is having a good time but distracting to me. I see that there are three versions of this album with varying degrees of the the audience in the mix.
Pretty good/decent classic soul/jazzy music. Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons is good. Bring It Home to Me and Nothing Can Change This Love as well, with the latter having a great tenor sax solo. Good upbeat album.
three stars!
Let me first say that I'm really glad this rating system is out of 5 instead of out of 10. I feel like differentiating between albums with that sort of granularity is sort of beyond my capabilities, so this works well. Live at the Harlem Square Club was good honest fun. It was upbeat, catchy, and Sam Cooke has great crowd control. I did, about halfway through, find myself getting a little tired of the taste, though, which ultimately is what I think knocks it down for me. Otherwise, this was a fun listen in the style of music I generally like, and I was glad to be shown it!
Good - probably wont be back.
3.5 85%
I liked a few things but not really the whole thing.
I like it just as much any other blues or soul album I’ve listened to. It’s nice but not that enjoyable as a genre for me. After listening to two songs it feels like I’m listening to the same thing over and over again. But one good thing is that the singers have great voices so at least it’s a moderately enjoyable album but I’d give it a low rating because of the repetitiveness.
A good live performance by one of the greats of soul
Not my scene but great voice
good jams, not necessarily a live album person, but still good
-Sam Cooke has an absolutely phenomenal voice. listening to this really did make me feel like I was in a Harlem jazz club in the 60s, smoking a cigarette and ordering a whiskey or something -it didn’t all stand out to me that much, but I would like to listen to it again because his voice gets better with every song -Favorites are Chain Gang and Nothing Can Change This Love
So much energy and SOUL! What a voice!!
Solid, I know this isn’t his best too.
Super
Not a " Live album guy " but this was good! Can't go wrong with Sam Cooke!
Är ju egentligen en liveplatta men bara för att jag är så jävla snäll så blir det en trea.
Great vocal work by Cooke, you can feel the rawness of his singing and his ability to connect with the crows. That being said, beyond Cooke's exceptional singing, not much else was a standout.
I love Sam Cooke almost as much as his drummer loves his cymbals. Sounds like everyone is having a great time.
Wild, very intense atmosphere, however, it sounds like it’s the same song tenfold.
I love these songs, but I don’t know if a live record is the way to showcase them. Seems like his voice is a bit rougher than in the studio?
It's unfair that I also got James Brown's live album this week and overall preferred it. This is certainly good - great energy and great songs from a great musician. But the production wasn't very good, which I found distracting.
A lively listen, interesting that it was done live. Favorite song off the album is probably Chain Gang
Good, I imagine this would have been amazing in the venue seeing it live. A little dated and lively given the context I'm listening to it on a Tuesday Morning at 10am. Probably wouldn't listen to this live version, but will listen to more Sam Cooke. I listed to some more, but studio recordings rather than live. Preferred it a lot more, I rarely like live recordings unless it’s a performance that’s intended to be that way like tiny desk.
Couple of great songs on this like 'bring it home to me'. Clearly Sam Cooke was a quality entertainer. Not my favourite genre but good for a casual listen.
Bring it on Home to Me, what a fucking tune. Covered by the Animals and Jimmy Barnes, but I’ve never heard Cooke’s live version before. It sounds amazing (not withstanding the long as shit call and response lead in). You can hear from the hysterical crowd how completely he commands that room. As a relic of that era’s soul scene this is clearly an important listen. It’s not enough to make me a full fledged soul convert, but I’d gladly ‘twist’ to Feel It (Don’t Fight It) at the next sock hop; segregation be damned.
Sam Cooke is great, but the audio quality on this one made it challenging to fully enjoy.
First time listening to a Sam Cooke album. I was familiar with several songs and understand his talent. Love his voice and might try listening to a studio album rather than a live version. Enjoyable though.
Blir lite skränigt. Men många bra låtar
Gut gemacht, Stimmung kommt rüber, nicht zu lang.
It was ok....
Some good swingy songs and infectious crowd energy, but the music itself wasn't super notable to me
nice
Uplifting album!
Twas fine.
The first round I gave this album was while I was trying to put orders together and it just wasn’t the right vibe. I actually thought I would rate it pretty low based on that listen. But then I popped it in my earbuds at work and enjoyed it a lot more. Classic jazz/blues sound, and gives me that cozy retro feeling. Sam Cooke is a singer everyone should have in their repertoire. Listen again: probably Purchase for my collection: if I found it cheap Favourite Song: Cupid
Kul inspelning! Förvånande bra ljudkvalitet med tanke på när inspelningen gjordes. Sam Cooke har ju en jävla pipa. Kanske inte ett album jag kommer lyssna på många gånger men väldigt kul att höra!
Enjoyable album. Contains many classical songs that I did not know were by Sam Cooke.
The sound quality of this live album doesn't do Mr. Cooke any favors but the inherent soul in his songs comes through clearly.
Very good.
I’m confused about why this is so highly rated. It was good, enjoyable, but didn’t blow my mind, was kind of just another pretty good live album :/
Fav: Chain Gang Least Fav: Somebody Have Mercy
Nice classical rock ’n roll with good live crowd energy.
3.8
Heard some Sam Cooke songs before. What a sweet, heartwarming album 3/5
It was fine, nothing that really grabbed my attention. Wouldn't relisten
Soul album which fails in a fundamental Level as it doesn't measure up to the manicured artificiality of studio production. While it provides a raw, free expression of live performance, it features all the considerable weaknesses of all live recordings. This makes it difficult rate it highly.
Handwerklich very good But a Bit Boring
nice jazz album not smth i would listen to often but it was pretty chill and nice
Good old-fashioned dancing music. I can imagine how it would fill a dance floor.
2/19/25
I listened to it while working and actually that was good but I didn't pay attention to it but sometimes it was really catchy I was moving my body and enjoying, I'm sure that's a pretty good album but wasn't enough focused sorry.
I'm not sure how I feel about live albums. Audio quality is lower, we hear the crowd, we hear the fuck ups, which is fine when you're actually there, but just listening to it is meh imo. Actually there are 0 fuck ups in this one it's quite impressive Last one was cool, him playing with the crowd was fun to hear
Sam Cooke is incredible. I do not think this was a necessary recording to hear of his.
"Don't fight it, we gon' feel it" is the intro and it's apropos. It's a lively romp through some soul tunes. Sam's got a voice, and I'm not sure this is for me, but it's a good recording. Favourite: Cupid
Lekker livealbuk maar de opnamekwaliteit maakt het wel dat je er minder van kan genieten
Solid Jazz album with some very consistent songs and almost no skips Favorites- Cupid, Nothing can change this love Least Favorites- Somebody have mercy
Espero mucho de todo lo que sea Soul honestamente, no me gustó sin embargo no creo que sea malo. Rating: 5.0
Couldn’t bare to give this album 2 stars, it’s Sam Cooke! But this album went by uneventfully for me.
In 2025 it's funny listening to a crowd get as pumped up as they do, based on nothing but talent and charisma.
That's one manic cat singing up there, 3/5
groovy!!
An enjoyable album from a classic soul, singer, but ultimately a lot of forgettable songs.
Great MC ;-)
Veldig kult! Masse energi gjennom de korte30 min platen er. Chain Gang It’s all right Twistin the night away
I didn't really know what to expect. His energy is really fun. So is his voice. It's very joyous. The sax player was really good. But I think Sam Cooke's voice is what really brought this to life for me. A bit too old-timey for me though, i think. But i did enjoy this.
3, wow dude can sing and wonderfully perform live. Couple awesome tunes
Eh, it's whatev but I don't, like, hate it though...
Pre-listening thoughts: Second live album from the 1960s in 3 days. What is happening Post/during listening thoughts: well I will say between this and B.B. King, my opinion on live albums has changed. It's pretty cool getting to feel like you're at a concert you would never be able to attend. It's a neat form of preservation. I was kind of hesitant that live albums would have structure or good sound quality but I have been pleasantly surprised thus far. Sam Cooke is incredibly talented. Also whoever is on backing vocals is really hitting those harmonies. The crowd engagement is fun to hear. Once again, the music is slightly repetitive. I enjoyed this. 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: once again idk. Live albums are a diff territory in my brain Fav tracks: Chain Gang, Cupid, and I love Bring it On Home to Me but hot take don't love the two min long slow intro Least fav tracks: n/a
Old time Rock n roll
Classic oldies. Not my thing
This was good, but I wasn't in love with the live performance. It felt rushed and not very intimate.
Good, soulful music but the format of this record was a bit weird. I wish they would have let the concert just play out instead of adding pauses in between songs. That ruined the flow a bit. It also seemed a bit forced and rushed. I'm not sure why that is, but I just couldn't get past that.
Nice oldies soul. Good performance but just not my cup of tea.
Sam Cooke's Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 album artwork captures a raw, electrifying essence that hints at the live performance's energy. While visually compelling, the design feels slightly dated and lacks the crisp, modern graphic sensibilities of contemporary album art. The color palette effectively communicates the gritty, intimate club environment, with its warm tones suggesting the passionate performance within. However, the typography and overall composition could benefit from more dynamic arrangement. The artwork successfully evokes the album's mood but falls short of being truly groundbreaking. It's a solid representation that serves its purpose without pushing significant artistic boundaries. Album artworks rated: 30/1001 The music is actually really nice.
Yeah it was okay
Very good. Me likes.
Nice songs, even though structury and chord-wise there are sound-a-likes. The recording is really nice, feel like you really want to be at that concert. Sounds so fun!
Fun and full of energy. Not super familiar with the genre, so songs feel repetitive and they all start to sound the same.