Live At The Harlem Square Club

Wow. This was an ELECTRIC performance. I'd heard a few songs by Sam Cooke before, but I'd never given him a proper listen. This was outstanding. I love live albums and this must have been outstanding to see live. This entire album was absolutely rocking and Sam Cooke was a tour de force.

Now this is what I’m talking about - shagadelic baby

I don't like the live aspect of the album. I think it distracts from the music, and doesn't recreate the live atmosphere in my lounge.

Great voice and classic soul songs

This is such a great live album that it's like why would you even bother recording studio versions? Sam Cooke is absolutely on a roll and his energy - along with the energy of the audience - is clear and infectious in every track.

This is what a live album used to be and is supposed to be. Sadly Harlem Square was recorded in 1963, it wasn’t released until 1985. (7/10) FT: It's Alright, Bring it on Home to Me

What a voice, and what a set!

very cool

Not my cup of tea

Lot of Sam Cooke's popular songs were on this and live. Loved it.

Another live album. The music is good. The songs are familiar, the players are very good. The singing is decent. But it's yet another example of a recording that would have been better with some production. Do not need audience participation.

I would have loved to see Sam in person. What a soulful and talented singer. Great album!

My favorite moment on the album happens during "Somebody Have Mercy" towards the end when Swingin' Sam wails about how there's something wrong with him. "It ain't that leukemia," Sam answers. "That ain't it." This album never fails to put me in a great mood. It's just an all-around joy, and Sam Cooke is having such a good time that he encourages everyone in the audience (and by association, everyone listening) to keep the party going well beyond the final song. When the pandemic started all the way back in March, 2020 and it became obvious we were all going to spend an extended amount of time quarantining, I bought digital copies of this album and Sam Cooke at the Copa. It's not an exaggeration to say both albums got me through that first part of the pandemic. I longed to be at those performances with people singing every word and having the time of their lives. God bless the late Sam Cooke. Dude found a way to enthrall listeners who weren't even born - hell, people who wouldn't even be a dirty thought for decades to come - when he played the Harlem Square Club. That's the mark of a true legend.

This was pretty incredible. I am realizing how good a live album can be. This was such a very alive performance, and hard to imagine that it was shelved for 20 years for being too "raw." I loved it.

This one was a great listen. I had fun and Sam Cooke's vocals were right on the mark! I have my handkerchief ready!

This was just great. Soulful and energetic. One of the best.

Growing up my parents had several Sam Cooke records that I used to commandeer and play on my record player (I think manufactured by Fisher Price). I was singing along to “Chain Gang,” “Cupid,” “Twistin’ The Night Away” and “Having a Party” from a very early age. I was very excited to have this live album come up, and after listening I’m not disappointed! Sam Cooke is incredible and this is one hell of a One Night Stand. It’s a grittier performance than his studio albums that really surprised me - an amazing performance in front of a really exciting, raucous audience! Besides wishing it was longer (where is “You Send Me” - there’s just that tease at the end of track 7 - and “Another Saturday Night”?) I loved every minute of this.

I know Sam Cooke but had never heard any live recordings. This is an absolute belter. An amazing band and his voice is sixties soul perfection. Had to play this twice as didn’t fully focus the first time and wanted to make sure it really was that good. This is how music should be - full of energy, emotion and refined talent let loose on great tunes. Loved it.

Raw and tight - the live versions are far superior to the studio recordings. What a voice. You feel that Sam was constrained on record.

Never been a big fan of the live album, rather have a studio record. The album is good though. Great voice and some good songs. Favourite songs: - Feel it (don’t fight it) - Twistin’ the night away

It’s Sam Cook. It’s got to be great.

would give it a 5 if it was not "live". I feel the quality of the recording is not great

I'm not a big fan of live albums, but I might make an exception for this one. Where I know Sam Cooke normally from his smooth and somewhat boring studio work, this is something entirely different. There's a lot of soul, swing, power and music in this. It sweats, it cracks, and his voice is great. If I would now have to recommend someone to listen what Sam Cooke is, I'd refer them to this album, and not to any of his studio albums. It has changed my perspective.

muito bom

This recording has all the attributes of a good solid live album. The recording is clear and upfront, the crowd is engaged, loud and present (not too screamy loud, like a Beatles concert), the vocals are raw and emotional, the songs don't sound exactly like the studio versions, a great setlist and it actually sounds like a live concert. This surprised me because I had only heard the studio versions of Cooke's songs and live they are transported to another level. The raw, raspiness of Cooke's vocals is reminiscent to Rod Stewart's vocal delivery and obviously Stewart was heavily influenced by Cooke. Stewart's cover of Twisting The Night Away is clearly a tribute to Sam Cooke. I love this record, one of the better live concert albums out there, it's crazy it took so long to get a proper release!

fucking swinging

Cupid is going to be stuck in my head for the next couple of months. I am completely okay with that.

Best Sunday morning.

I'm always wary of albums with the tracklisting on the cover, but this one's pretty good. Read the Wikipedia page and the guy was a scumbag. Next.

Songs had me up grooving

This is the second live album from Sam Cooke, recorded in 1963. The record company thought the album was too raw and potentially damaging to their image, so they kept it in their archive until release in 1985. Sam Cooke was firstly a gospel singer that transitioned into soul and pop music. This album displays his talent as a singer and crowd entertainer - as he gets them to sing along. This album is regarded as one of the best live soul albums. It revealed a rougher Sam Cooke that was exploding with soul and gospel energy. I agree that the live recording must have been a lot of fun to witness and listen to, but this music has aged over the years and is not my cup of tea. To each their own, I still think it's a great live album.

What a fantastic voice. Sounds like a fantastic performance.

Apresentação ao vivo de soul bem expressiva.

Just smooth and fun to listen to

Back to 1960' Harlem. Love it.

Nice horns, not my musical taste probably would not listen again.

Super fun. But, well, a live recording from the 60's, so also somewhat frustrating. It did send spotify off on quite a tear of fantastic music.

Absolute classic

Lo trovo abbastanza noioso.

first listen sounds like an electric crowd

The energy and vocals really make this a great live album. Really enjoyable. Favorite Songs: Feel It (Don't Fight It), Twistin' The Night Away, Bring It on Home to Me, Somebody Have Mercy

Sensational voice. It's a fun album, but the songwriting isn't all that interesting to me, so I'm torn. A lot of the songs are the the band jamming between 2-4 chords in the same order for the entire song. The medley was a bit more interesting, with dominant 2nd and 3rd chords. All the tracks are good on their own I'd say, but they're all so similar to one another that as an album it doesn't have much impact on me. My verdict: fun, enjoyable music to dance to, but not impactful to me as an album. I really liked the sax solo in Twistin' Even though I didn't love this album I'll always love his song "A Change is Gonna Come"

Aww. This album was sunshine on this gray, snowy day. My favorite track was Medley: It’s All Right / For Sentimental Reasons. When the audience started singing along at the end, my heart melted. SO, my fun fact about this album is that even though it was recorded in 1963, the record label thought it would be damaging to Cooke's pop image because it was too "gritty and raw", so they archived the recordings. It wasn't actually released until 1985, when an exec found the tapes and made sure they be released asap. And now it's widely regarded as one of the best live albums of all time.

Absolute heaven. Imagine being there that night.

soulful genius, swinging and raising the roof

A lovely live recording bursting with energy. Cooke clearly enjoys being a conduit on center stage, leading the crowd in call-and-response refrains while providing a healthy dollop of banter on top.

The album with the studio version of For Sentimental reasons was definitely 4 stars.

The king of R&B, killing it throughout the entire album. Brilliant, and perhaps the best live album I've ever heard.

Such a fun listen. Even during the songs you can hear the crowd hooting and yelling. It makes it feel more authentic and not just a worse quality recording of the actual studio songs like many live albums sound like. 7/10

Sam Cooke is great. Understatement of the year. I don't understand why the editors of this list have a problem with best of albums while also including several "live from a night club" entries. I want to hear the music, not the banter between artist and crowd. He had plenty of studio albums. At least one of those should have made the cut instead. Best track: Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons

7'5/10

zwischendurch tolle, aufwendige elemente. für mich aber nur was zur berieselung nebenbei

Eh ganz cool. Nebenbei voll ok, würd ich mir aber so nicht anhören

ganz nett. in so am Club irgendwie sicher nice. So aber nebenbei Mukke

Great fun, some nice classic rock and roll

'Course I Feel the Feelin

4.5/5. Very raw performance, lot of energy. Very very good.

This was really great, was pleasantly surprised!!!

How have I not heard this album before. Feel It is a banger. Excellent setlist. Very danceable.

Joyful and soulful, made me want to dance. Incredible rapport with the audience.

fuck soul and rnb

Holy shit. I have been sleeping on Sam Cooke. This album is so amazing, definitely one of the best live albums I've ever heard in my life. If not the very best. His vocal quality, his interactions with the crowd...what a gifted performer. The magnetism shines through so well that it feels like you're there even without a visual. Amazing. Definitely would re-listen to the entire setlist.

Nice, some great songs, some too naive. Not an album I will find myself listening to in any circumstances

A tour de force from one of the greatest male vocalists of all time.

Liked his music just it a fan of Live recordings

ooo a live album, good for sam cooke! I listened to a little bit but I'm not a big live album guy.

I count Sam Cooke among the greatest soul singers of all time, and he's responsible for one of my favorite songs ever written, "A Change is Gonna Come." That's not on here though. This is a live album that I believe predates that song entirely. Why the list makers chose this is beyond me. Sure, it's a great live performance, but if you're only going to include one Sam Cooke album how can you overlook his crowning achievement? And why are guys like Sam Cooke and James Brown limited to one, live album on this list while we get unlimited nondescript British rock albums? Sus. Sam deserves better. Favorite tracks: Feel It, It's All Right, Somebody Have Mercy, Twistin' the Night Away. Album art: Wow, a picture of Sam onstage. Hooray. 3/5

7/10

So cute and merry

Amazingly good. So much energy and spontaneous live feel but also polished and delivered with pinpoint accuracy.

can only describe as "swinging"

A much more raucous album with some extended versions of familiar classics. Cooke is very lively and gets the crowd involved. A thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable live set.

Good quality Soul loves it.

Quality stuff, engaging live too

A Change didn't come. :-( I think I prefer the studio albums. Still, Sam Cooke, what a star!

I always forget just how good his voice was. Pure sex, pain, romance, lust all condensed into one voice. Great live album. Best Tracks: Cupid; Medley: It's All Right / For Sentimental Reasons; Twistin' The Night Away

no

bit stop start, doesn't quite carry through

Well, I feel similarly to this album that I feel about the majority of live albums, in that listening to the live recording doesn't simulate the live experience for me. This album has more character than a lot of the live rock albums that I've heard because of the amount of character that Sam brings to the show and the audience participating in the show. Given that the original songs weren't recorded in tremendous quality in the first place, it's hard to fault the live recording quality. Given that, this is a cool listening experience. The recording being done in a club rather than a stadium just feels more intimate. It adds a lot to this recording. Somehow I feel more like I'm there than a normal recording. With that being said, some of Cooke's banter would be best left in the 60s, like the casual reference to domestic violence (though in his defense, he said not to hit your wife), and his odd reference to leukemia in the middle of Somebody have mercy 4/5

One of the great live albums of all time - and yet they sat on it for 20 years before releasing it?!? Madness. What a voice, what a man, what an album. I'd have given everything to be in the audience. Bliss.

Catchy, didn’t like the live audience part

Tellement bon, un plaisir fou a ecouter cela. Ca vaut le detour et une reecoute. Un super artiste et album et d’habitude je n’aime pas top le live en audio. 5*

👍

Naw

I like live albums like this where you hear the raw performance, some are recorded live and 'enhanced' in the studio. This is a good archive of a performer that did not get to stick around to prove his value as one of the greatest singers around. Bonus points for King Curtis blowing on the sax, you can tell the influence he had on players like Clarence Clemmons. 3.5/5

Yo, this dude and his band bring it on this one

No me gusta el swing.

Ég hefði viljað vera á þessum tónleikum.

Great discovery. 5/5

tasty jazz

Strong as an oak, comes from a time I’d love to be a fly on the wall of dance halls back in the day.

Good fun.

good vibes, vill ligga m sam cooke

I never knew there was a king of soul until now. And I did see why Sam Cooke was crowned the King of Soul. Whew! Right after the King of Pop I got to listen to the King of Soul! This album is exploding with energy. And it's not even rock. It's soul! Cooke's raspy vocals, the dynamic band, and the audience interaction all powered the album. I'm not a big fan of live albums, but this one is definitely one of best of them. It might get repetitive after a while. But it has a solid pace. It's a nice thirty plus minute party album.

This album is fire! 🔥🔥🔥

Love Sam Cooke. Lots of little laughs

Over a decade ago i downloaded a live version of Bring It On Home To Me from a livejournal community. I never knew the source. Today i found it!

It does an incredible job of making you feel like your actually at the club. Usually, when I hear live albums, its more contemporary rock bands playing in stadiums. While the experience is different, it never really makes you feel like you're there like this album does.

Amazing albums from a legend

High energy and Jazzy. Pretty simple themes but super fun listen while riding in Asilomar. Banger

Raucous, fast paced fun. This style of music feels a bit repetitive now but the energy really makes up for that

Rätt kort och gott album, inte allt för långdraget och otroligt livlig energi som verkligen kommuniceras. Otrolig publikkontakt för tidigt 60tal. Bra 'geometrisk' balans i lurarna gällande instrumenten, Sams röst ligger liiiite till höger vilket är lite störande men ingenting man tänker på om man inte anstränger sig. Lite tråkig och statisk inspelning där visserligen sången plockas fram snyggt men instrumenten smälter ihop och fastnar lite i de lägre registerna. Definitivt den största nackdelen med albumet men är väl rimligt för en liveinspelning från 60-talet, lite synd bara när sången plockas upp så fint och har stundvis strålande ljudbild. Perfekt balans mellan publik och artist, strålande track list och ett medley i mitten gör det till ett toppen livealbum. Perfekta låtval, perfekt energi, perfekt längd. Undermålig kvalitet sabbar ett annars helt perfekt livealbum.

Probz pretty cool 1963, men inte jätteintressant idag (fight me)

Det svänger katten! Blev förvånad över att det var så kort. Var rädd att det skulle vara för live-stämning men det körde på bra. Är det CA att vilja va med?

Enjoyed it. Fun performance and like the live crowd environment. That sax was great.

Good for a listening, probably won't listen again.

this is very fun

Enjoyed this quite a bit. Fun album

Really fun album. Looking forward to listening to this again.

This energetic show features heavy Chubby Checkers and Isley Brothers influences along with 1950's soul and R&B in general. Sam Cooke's delivery is incredibly charismatic. One of the great joys of this performance is just how much fun Cooke and his audience are having. It sounds like an absolute frenzy. Cooke's voice seemingly does not tire. It is truly a remarkable performance.

3.5/5 i'll have to relisten!

eh - not my style but kinda neat for 1963

Soul at it's best here. Probably the best "Live" soul album. Real raw soul at it's live best. You can hear the influence of Sam here on Rod Stewart et al. Brilliant sax on "Somebody Have Mercy" but my Favourite here is definitely "Chain Gang" Top Notch Influential Soul Music.

Rating: 10/10

Absolute class.

Incredible album. Such a fun performance.

Problematic gaur, gat ekki notið tónlistarinnar.

Enormt stemningsfuldt! Ikke nødvendigvis fordi det er god lyd, men stemningen når helt ud igennem højttalerne. Det er bare skide fedt.

klassisk old school soul

Så svinger det, soul, kærlighed, simpelt, live

It's okay, I guess? Not something I expected to say about a live album by one of the most exciting soul singers at the height of his powers. He does the hits and it all sounds very professional by which I actually mean that he sounds a bit like he knows his taxi is standing outside of the venue ready to take him to the next club where he will do the same set. 6/10

Man he's on fire here. So good to hear some familiar tunes of his given a lightning bolt shock of energy. The band are cooking, he's throwing all he's got at it, and the audience are lapping it up. What a legend. Love it.

I'm still not sold on live albums being in this list... but this is better than most of the late 60s/early 70s garbage it usually throws at me. And the guy wrote his own songs, so that's a plus - this sorta soul rock stuff is usually "standards". 3/5.

Straight out of the first act of Goodfellas. Nice vibe. Don't think I'd revisit but the energy is great.

Misschien dat je hier bij moet zijn geweest om het echt op waarde te kunnen schatten?

Mjah, best leuk een keer gehoord te hebben. Maar wel een beetje veel van hetzelfde.

Niet onaardig maar toch echt niet mijn ding om vaker te luisteren.

Energiek, swingend en een fijne stem.

Not usually a fan of live albums, and don’t usually feel like I’ve missed out on anything, but this sounded like a hell of a night. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke. His voice is absolutely unbelievable.

Gospel, soul and pop mixed together in an intimate sounding live album. Great stuff

Great stuff. Would have liked a bit more.

Great voice, and sounds like he was an excellent performer for the crowd

Great voice.

Loved listening to this and feeling like I'd been transported to Harlem in the 60's. His voice sounds even better live.

This is another one where I think I would've benefited from listening to it when hanging out with friends instead of walking to my boring geography class and then while looking over my homework for the week. It's a lot of fun, but it is a lot of the same. I seriously wish that live albums weren't a part of this list, but whatever, this was pretty good, if very repetitive.

Бодрый, динамичный, отражает дух эпохи. Немного становится скучным и однообразные к середине.

Really great for a live album! Several hits, great vocals and energy, great ad-libs and crowd interaction. Would definitely listen again!

3.5 for sure but which way to go... I really like this style of "oldies" for lack of a better term. And the energy in the live performance make it a lot of fun.

I could listen to this every single day

America, 60s, Soul + Funny, Dancin = Male, Live - Old-fashioned, Alike {1/10} [3/5]

Fuckin and fuckin and fuckin and fuckin

A tight, exciting live set full of energy

Great stuff! Really enjoyed the energetic performance and the music was a good time as well.

Es pot respirar el carisma de Sam Cooke a l'escenari, encara que sigui escoltant-lo enllaunat gairebé 60 anys després. Tota una personalitat del soul. I quina veu. I quina banda. He de dir, però, que fa poc em va tocar el 'Live at the Apollo' de James Brown... I bé, les comparacions són odioses...

Pedazo de directo. Un torbellino de soul sin descanso...

I would dance to this . Why not. Also Sam Cooke is a very amazing singer in the soul genre. I can imagine him singing this live when I am listening to this. I felt like I was transported to the 1950s

Jazz. Great concert vibes.

Nice live jazz album, traditional value, classic 50s sounding black album

Sounds like the best party ever

Wow. Familiar with many of Sam Cooke's songs, but not with this album. Love the grittiness and power, plus it's easy to hear how incredible he was as a performer. I read the Wikipedia entry on the album and then the one on Sam Cooke. Fascinating and tragic personal story. Back to this album: can absolutely hear why this album is consistently high up on so many lists. Can absolutely hear how his sound influenced countless artists who followed.

Fun, energetic, and wild.

Great fun to listen to on a Sunday afternoon.

Electrifying, urgent and insistent sweat dripping live show carried by great performances from the band and Cooke’s showmanship. His voice is smooth like butter, but also raw and guttural, simultaneously sacred and profane, whipping the audience into a frenzy. If I could fire up the old DeLorean, this is the live show I’d go all the way back to 1963 to see.

Amazing look into an icons best live recording. It really give you a sense of the time and what he was to perform. As most live records from the time it was too short

Amazing soulful voice.

So much fun!! Some real bangers

Not the kind of music I'd probably ever ask for, but nice enough to listen to.

Pretty good classic songs. Missing something. Don't quite know what. Ok live album, sound quality isn't the greatest. Enjoyed it.

Favs: Cupid, Twistin' the Night Away, Bring It On Home to Me, Having a Party, Chain Gang Mehs: Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons I'm usually not much for live albums, but the energy of the crowd here and his crowd-work makes this one incredible (crowd-work is especially fun on "Chain Gang," a song my mom used to sing all the time). “Having a Party” and “Cupid” just make you feel good. Cooke's raw but smooth voice is a favorite. I always sit and feel impressed that this is his voice live. Great soul; great sax.

Favorite Tracks: Chain Gang Cupid Twistin' the Night Away

“Live at the Harlem Square Club” by Sam Cooke (recorded in 1963, released in 1985) Sam Cooke was great. He is rightly called the “King of Soul”. Now here’s an album that, to be generous, gets beneath the manicured artificiality of studio production and provides a raw, free expression of live performance. But it still has the weaknesses of all live recordings, which are considerable. So as an album, it fails on a fundamental level. Nevertheless it does offer a glimpse of something beautiful. “Live at the Harlem Square Club”, as a collection of songs, serves as a partial answer to the question “Why is soul music called ‘soul’ music?” Cooke’s songs are soulful, which is to say they magnify the passions. Each song is focused on a particular feeling, without the distracting consideration of counter-feelings, equivocations, internal contradictions, rational coherence, or systematic analysis. Hence they do not prompt deep or complex thought. Most frequently, they avoid treating of the feelings of others as well, so while they are intense, they are conceptually simple. But most importantly, they lay bare the passions. “Don’t fight it, we gonna feel it.” In other words, don’t let the mind or the will get in the way of the emotions. The lyrics of these songs provide a discursive foundation for a wonderful musical elaboration that evokes feelings in the listener. The best expression of this may be found in the second track, “Feel it (Don’t Fight It)”. He knows exactly what he’s doing. Sometimes there is a bit of a mismatch here, like Cooke’s verbal intro to “Chain Gang”, which he says is “designed to make you feel good”. I’m sorry, Sam, but a song about men sentenced to hard labor doesn’t exactly make me feel good. Rather, it makes me feel sympathetic, and perhaps angry at the possible racial inequities and other potential injustices. I’m not particularly enthusiastic about the virtues of ‘re-education through labor’, as practiced in Stalin’s gulags, Mao’s laogai, or American chain gangs. This is not to say that virtues cannot be found and cultivated in these contexts. But that’s not the first thing that comes to mind (or soul). If I had been present at the live concert, I would have been reluctant to join in the festive “Hoh ah, hoh ah”, as Cooke encouraged the audience. Solzhenitsyn was rarely in a festive mood. Musically, these tracks are far, far inferior to their studio versions. It’s painful to listen to “Cupid” or "(I Love You) for Sentimental Reasons". This inferior quality is not merely a function of the unavoidable limitations of recording in a live setting. It is also reflected in the vocal and instrumental flubs (and the seriously out of tune guitar and saxophone) which cannot be corrected through dubbing or ‘one more take’. The key feature of live performance is live presence. You can’t (yet, anyway) capture that on a recording. [I recently watched a virtual attempt at this with a mini-concert event by Ariana Grande on the interactive online video game Fortnite. It was, to say the least, disappointing.] Cooke’s jabbering between (and even during!) songs pitifully begging the crowd to get more ‘into it’ is embarrassing. But even worse is his ad lib (at 2:53 on “Somebody Have Mercy”): “Somebody have mercy and tell me what is wrong with me (I ain’t got leukemia, Hah-hah).” There’s a reason why RCA Victor kept these tapes in the can for 22 years. I’m sure the 1963 audience got the feeling. But I wasn’t there. 1/5

Sam Cooke inspired the great rock bands, and I like his band, songs, and voice. But I do not like live albums.

Siento que cada que sale un disco en vivo prueba equivocados a los que insisten que no debiera haber en vivos en la lista (hasta ahora al menos). Crudo, fuerte, una fiesta completa y lleno de energía, es totalmente sorpresivo para lo que esperaba. A quien cree que no conoce a Sam Cooke, sí conoce a Sam Cooke, tiene una cantidad enorme de canciones clásicas de R&B y pop románticas y fue instrumental en el crecimiento del soul. Retaría a cualquiera a escuchar las versiones grabadas originales de estas canciones y compararlas con este disco. Es como si le hubieran quitado un bozal y la correa y ahora realmente se sintiera libre para ser él mismo. Pasa de canciones que suenan al muchacho de balada clásica de la época cantándole a la novia a un personaje activo, duro, que si bien sigue cantando esas canciones de letras romanticonas ahora lo hace con una voz mucho más real y rasposa, platicando con el público y sudando alegría pura. No, quizá no sean canciones que me hayan llamado mucho la atención en su gran parte desde antes, pero en estas versiones sin duda que es un disco que no solo vale la pena escuchar por su valor histórico sino por lo agradable del ambiente que puede crear. Por cierto Sam Cooke, una muerte extraña... quizá no era la mejor de las personas pero en este disco pasó de ser un músico que conocía y "respetaba por su importancia" a ser un proyecto que genuinamente disfruté.

En la presentación tuve una sensación de "qué pedo con este disco?" Y 6q cuando fue avanzando y entrando en ambiente la fiesta hasta me sentí en ese lugar. Esa agresividad en las canciones hasta en las baladas es brutal, el soul en general me gusta pero con este disco se voló la barda

Excelente álbum en vivo, con grandes canciones y mucha energía en todas ellas; sin embargo no me gustó hacía el final, cuando canta y a la vez “le dicta” al público cada frase de la letra, porque ya ni siquiera continúa con la tonada real.

bastante energico

Loved it.

Great album. A great voice with some top arrangements.

- Bring It On Home to Me - It's All Right / Sentimental Reasons - Nothing Can Change This Love

While I have mixed feelings about live recordings in general its clear when you listen to some that the musician we know from the studio is only a pale comparison to what they must have been in person. Beautiful stuff.

felt like being there! what a party!

7.5/10

I'm rating the album not the artist. Sam Cooke is one of the most influential soul singers of all time, the Bob Dylan of soul, but there's no way I could rate his work. What I will say is that this album does reflect his energy and enthusiasm. He sings some of his best songs, including Cupid and Bring It On Home. The recording is clear and crisp. But I feel like a voyeur overhearing Sam Cooke interacting with his rowdy audience. None of the songs are amazing by today's standard, just some are classics. But the majority does get repetitive and shallow. It feels more like I'm hearing Sam Cooke perform rather than hearing great compositions.

They say it's one of the best live albums, I dig it.

I'd heard Twisting the Night Away before, so it was a cool experience to hear the rest and get a fuller context. I liked the romantic jams.

So. Much. Soul. Loved it.

An energetic (if somewhat dated) performance with style and personality.

I didn't expect this to be this fucking awesome. Chain Gang is a real banger. I'm very impressed with this.

An amazing live album, crazy it wasn't released for ~20 yrs because RCA was scared of ruining Cooke's image.

Good songs. No need for the live album version

Great. Awesome live album. Bring it on Home is the highlight for me.

A fantastic performance and great songs. It brings home why he's regarded as such a legend. Still, for me, it was lacking anything to really hook me in. Just 10 minutes after listening for the 2nd time I've already forgotten about most of it, and I'm feeling no urge to listen to it again.

Proper music that

First time listening: 10/10 songs liked I rarely save live songs, so this won't add to my gigantic list, HOWEVER. I will save this album as a consideration to listen to constantly, because it's a beautiful treat to behold. The raw energy of sam cooke and the crowd play together so well. No songs saved

Fantastic singer, just not for playlist

I enjoyed it. I'm not really a big fan of live albums so that's the only real negative. High quality recording.

Nice upbeat soul/jazz music

Really catchy and so much energy, perfect for dancing to

Amazing album, truly. I felt the animation of the atmosphere as well as the late Sam Cooke. Emotional really

Oooooh fuck yeah this is gonna be good. I've heard songs from this but haven't done the whole thing all the way through. I liked it! I don't know if I'd listen to it a ton on its own really but I loved hearing the audience participation. Woulda been dope to be in that small club.

Must have been a great live experience, very soulful and passionate

Hoo boy, I'm not the biggest fan of live albums but I'll listen cuz it's on the list. Actually ya know what, this is good so far. I'm into it. This is just the first song. This was a fun album and it perked me up while listening since I've been stressed today. That deserves a 5.

Didn't do much for me.

A fantastic live album that highlights Cooke's magnificent charisma and vocal command. 8.2/10

Really fun album to listen to, full of messages about love, forgiveness, and trust. Though, I wouldn't do what Sam Cooke recommends and wake up your partner in the middle of the night to tell them you love them.

What a fun live album! Especially just after Frank Sinatra too! Sam Cooke is absolutely COOKIN'

Decent album, good live performance. Reminds me of James Brown, but probably will not listen again.

☆Notatki//Przemyślenia☆ ~Chciałabym iśc na taki koncert do takiej kawiarnii jak w latach 50/60🥺 ~KLIMAAAAAT CUDOOO ~Szanuje lata 60, serio

This album was good, I enjoyed the sound despite not usually listening to similar stuff. However I didn't like that it was a live show recording- there was too much sound from the audience and it was distracting. It also wasn't super memorable, although it was nice to listen to for a bit.

Meh

Only 8 years in the business. This album is raw and his showmanship skills are evident the way he interacts with the crowd. Love this album.

половина альбома состоит из доёбов солистом до публики. Заебал, честно. Причем я понимаю, почему так делается, и какую атмосферу это создаёт, но мне, как интроверту, эта атмосфера полностью чужда. Завали ебало уже и исполняй свои быдло-песенки, хватит в тамаду играться. Сами песни ниче так, впрочем, 5/10 по эмоциям

Лайв, по качеству исполнения подобный студийнику. Не будь звуков толпы - даже в студийноси бы не засомневался особо. Хотя, помнится, кто-то промышлял тем, что поверх сырых студийных записей просто звуки толпы накладывал. Но да не суть. Слышно, что Сэм Кук просто горит тем, что делает. Ни один трек не перетягивает одеяло на себя, и ни один выкинуть не хочется. А сам Сэм своими партиями будто стремится взять за яйца каждого посетителя клуба. Этот подход же из баптистских хоров пошёл, где через душевную энергетику существует стремление показать на чувственном уровне, что бох есть. И ведь негатива не вызывает, честный приём же. Когда веруны в качестве аргументации приводят существование "духовных переживаний", "особого опыта", что не доступны неверунам, хочется сказать что-то типа "Йоу, пацаны, го слэм". Сама суть искусства ведь восполнять все потребности внутреннего мира. Тут мы имеем, что мощный кусок верунской культуры откололся от своей основы и стал частью культуры общей, разумистической. Ну утратив при этом своего созидательного начала. И это очень хорошо.

под настроение чисто. у меня его не было

I like the small amount of Sam Cooke I've listened to (like on anthology collection, and my wife blasting "A Change is Gonna Come"). However, I hate live albums so not really the target audience for this. It sounds like it was on hell of a night. Sam gives it a raucous soul feel. Lots of hyping up the audience and getting everyone dancing. I can see the value of the release, since you don't hear this energetic, unrestrained style of singing on his studio material. Also interesting back story (recorded in 1960s, shelved until 1980s for not being friendly enough for white customers). I still don't really see the appeal of sitting around listening to a recording of a concert. And soul is not a genre that particularly does it for me.

Good, but dont love the recordings of live performances as much as studio recordings

Ugh. A live album. I like Sam Cooke, but this is still just a live album.

Chill, old school classic. 3/5

It started pretty decent, but every subsequent song got better and better, culminating with an amazing live version of Bring it On Home. Close to a 5, but a few "live album-isms" hold it back.

Loved this, would like the LP. Really upbeat, make you smile kind of music. Yay!

Ok if you’re in the mood.

One of my favorite live records ever. Sam’s got the audience in the palm of his hand.

What a voice this man has! Enjoyed the album, great vibe.

Loved this album also listened to more of his stuff and have listened to a lot more Sam Cooke than had previously thought.

from what i hearrrd it was just grweat for a live! album 4.0

Enjoyed as background music, but to listen to I found that I was distracted by the chatting etc.

Totally electrifying live performance, raw and raucous but still note-perfect — breathes new life into songs I've heard to the point of fatigue

This album is so good. I put it on and it was over before I even realized it. This thing really moves!

Enjoyed it, didn't expect to

Excellent

Good goddamn, I wanns be in that room, sloppy drunk, right next to the sax player. Josh may not be a live album guy but I'm hoping if there's any album that can convince, it's this one. Or maybe Cornell 77. I love that live albums recorded back in the mid 60s didn't isolate the music from the audience. Soundboard recordings sound great and clean but miss the whole premise of a performance for an audience, and this one is rowdy as hell. All I could wish is that his songs were a little more varied than the pop doowoppy swing stuff and this could be one of the best live albums around. B

Sam Cooke was definitely a showman, I laying to the audience and pumping them up throughout, seems like this would’ve been a fun show to be at. The energy is palpable in the build up intro of “Bring it Home” they’re eating out of his hand. The show seems to be relentless, once one song ends, the band picks up and starts playing the next one—the showman work ethic is apparent. Loved “Having a Party,” hypnotic and made you want to party. The album is fairly one note, but it’s surely toe tappin.’ I’ve always found Sam cook’s voice to be just okay, velvety, but lacking something other soul singers like Otis Redding have. But this show has a raspy edge to it that you can only barely usually hear. I think he’s got some more hits to come and this isn’t his best work. Fun album though. 3.

Fun energy, good time, would have been a fun show to go to

Lotta nice shouts

Can’t go wrong with a bit of Sam

Fucking love Sam Cooke.

It's fine, not my favorite concert to listen to, but I found it really funny that Sam Cooke would end every song by saying the song's name right after as a kind of inbetween songs talk

just an amazing live album. would be a 9/10 so 5 stars from me. bring it on home to me *adore*

Sounds a great gig to be at but the production makes it a difficult to rate highly.

i like live albums and this rocks, 10

Love a live album. This was really good, will definitely relisten. 8 for me

wow he has some energy!

"Don't fight the chip" (Feel it) "You know we sang so many notes So many fan songs We get it twisted a little while" (It's alright/ For sentimental reasons) La gente que fue a este concierto se lo tuvo que pasar SÚPER BIEN.

3/5

Another live album that is pretty darn fun, and doesn't overstay its welcome. Low 8.

A gold standard for live records. Soulful, fun, and the energy between Sam, the band, and the crowd is out of this world.

I love this album. 10

Really enjoyed this. Makes me want to get up and dance.

this is such a jam. I can't imagine how good this would have been live. You can feel the energy.

Schon nett, insgesamt eher so ein Partyding

I'm soul. This is soul. This is life

Un disco en directo con la calidad que se podía conseguir en 1963. Lo mejor la intensidad y el ritmo. Interesante pero poco más.

Now I'm getting this whole including live albums list, this one is amazing.

Oh hell yes. Best soul singer of all time.

Solid fun album with lots of great songs in a live setting. A touch of sexism from a bygone era, but overall a really enjoyable listen.

Man, this is so good. It's like you're there in the club listening to this amazing performance. Excellent.

One of those live albums where not only is the "room" present, but a huge part of the captured experience. Great performance, and infectious to listen to.

I love Sam Cooke but live albums are rough

4.5 - wow such incredible energy. great tunes and electric atmosphere. amazing

Very enjoyable smooth blues.

Brilliant exactly what you would expect

Lots of fun. What a great voice!

Heerlijk live soul album, wat een stem heeft die man

Nice to have listened to this performance in my birthyear. I can remember this music being played on the radio in my youth.

If I had a time machine, I'd go back to be at shows like this. How fun that must've been. Ahh time machines.

Pretty fun. Lot of energy, but some repetition (maybe that's just the genre and the time period). I did like the crowd participation--you can just tell everyone's having a great time.

7.5

I might be rating harshly, and I love me some Sam Cooke, but I feel there was nothing that stood out on this. Would have been amazing being there live.

So fun, so catchy. Sam Cooke is wonderful.

This is the album that convinced me that I like live albums. Breakneck pace, just an absolute amazing, iconic performance

Love it, would buy.

Has some of the sam cooke greatest hits. Chain Gang, Cupid, and more

This was fantastic. Sam Cooke has an incredible voice - so much soul and feeling going into every song. Well worth multiple listens.

Nice

yeeeess

Definition of jazzy

Bit repetitive and not my scene

I can only imagine how great he was live. Would have loved to see him

This was awesome

Better than I expected. Has a really enjoyable mood.

King of soul… very good live album!