Reviews (page 7 of 14)
7.3/10. The best song was its all right/ Sentimental Reasons
Twisting the Night Away
Mr. Soul in the raw. You can feel the excitement and energy in that club with every note.
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.
Excellent
great voice
Sam Cooke’s spontaneous laugh is the highlight.
This sounds like such a fun party. Normally I don’t care for live albums but this one is worthwhile. You can feel the energy from the crowd. I’ve never heard that captured on record quite this way. His crowd banter is great too. I love his voice.
I hate live albums... but I love this album. It doesn't feel like a concert. It feels like they recorded a 50s sock hop. It feels like a community event, a local dance where everyone is just having the best time. The vibe of this thing is incredible. It's just such a good time. It transports you to a time and place so incredibly well. More live albums need to do this, capture a moment in time. It would make more of them worth listening to. Anyways... Sam... his voice is incredible. That man could read the yellow pages and I'd be transfixed. And he's charming as hell. He commands the audience, is in conversation with the audience. It's so entertaining. The ad-libs and banter are wild. There's one leukaemia ad-lib... only he can pull that off. Or the advice about not hitting your partner (he landed on the right side of history on that one). It only works because Sam Cooke is pure charisma. The backing vocals he coaxes out of the crowd are incredible. They sound better than studio recorded vocals on 1000s of record. The sound of the record in general is just so warm. The sax! The sax! So good. I think my only criticism is that the album is missing one of my favourite Sam Cooke songs, (What A) Wonderful World. Perhaps it hadn't been written yet. I wish he had done it in this room, on this album. Woulda been amazing. Some highlights: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons - Just 2 beautiful songs rammed together. That sax! Those backing vocals are just lovely. Twistin' The Night Away - it's just fun as hell. makes you wanna dance. Great sax solo. Bring it on Home to Me - it's a classic. And it's so massive and dramatic and powerful on this live performance. wow. Having a Party - again those backing vocals... it's just pure jubilation. To be honest... they're all pretty great. Not a bad track in the bunch. It's a strong 4 for me (might grow to a 4.5 over time).
Same Cooke is a brilliant artist and a very energetic performer. This album doesn't have the audio quality that his studio albums have, and this means that Sam Cooke's voice sounds a lot more raw. Can't say this album really has any of his hits on it, there's a lot of classic Soul repertoire on here. No one like Sam Cooke to interpret these songs and bring them alive though. I find the songs fun, but Sam Cooke nevers really wows me like he can in the studio or with some of his other live performances.
Not for me.
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
Love that this was initially deemed "too loud, raw, and raucous" to be released (as Wikipedia reports)--this made me reappreciate Sam Cooke BECAUSE it was so raw and fun and real. It's a live album that really feels live.
This was an awesome old school album and I love Sam cooke! So good all around
Great voice - enjoyable half an hour or so
Pretty good for a live album though it did seem like Mr Cooke was in a bit of a hurry to get things over and done with!
Normally, I don't like live albums that much, but this one is great, mainly because Sam Cooke is one of, if not the best soul voice there is. This performance is raw and authentic, and it's just a joy to listen to his voice in a live setting.
Pretty solid live album. Can almost feel the energy he brought to the performance.
Would have attended the Live at 1963
7/10
Great set of live soul, rnb, doo wop and two versions of Feel It for some reason, call and responses, the twist, sprechtgesange interludes, a piano being beaten to within an inch of its life. I take back what I said about live albums on the James Brown live review. This is almost as good as the real thing.
Gotta say, really enjoyed this live banger, solid album
It's a live soul album and it was good.
Listened for the first time ever and I also admit I didn’t know who Sam Cooke was! The music felt absolutely amazing and truly immersive as if I was right there experiencing the concert live!
such an enjoyable and fun live album with big band, early funk influences, and just an overall energetic vibe!
Great album! Energy is super high and the vibes are good. Music is obviously great as well! 8.1/10
An electrifying and transparent recording provides a window to the past. This record effectively transports the listener back to a 1963 club and saturates with its aesthetic, crowd participation, and organic performance. This here is what it's all about, folks.
Oh what I’d pay to attend this concert
Amazing. I wish I was there more than anything but straight vibes otherwise.
His energy is infectious
YES AUGH 🤤
Liked the live album format more than i expected. pretty freakin legendary performance. such a tight set.
Of all the live albums I’ve had so far, this is the first one that made me wish I’d been there. Sam Cooke clearly had charisma to burn along with being an incredible singer-songwriter, and the audience sound like they are having so much fun. No listening to endless solos in a respectful/stoned silence for Sam and his fans. Loved it.
Electrifying live album.
Loved these soulful oldies.
Sam Cooke had one of the very best voices in all of music, and simply oozes charisma and charm. The album suffers slightly from period-appropriate flaws with the production that mutes the instrumentation a bit, although it also provides some sense of verisimilitude. Truly great showcase for a truly great talent.
Ja: nie lubię soulu. Także ja: Nie mogę wyjść z podziwu nad tym satynowym głosem, lekkością i klimatem. To nie jest płyta, którą kiedykolwiek włączę sama z siebie, ale gdy już się pojawi to będę się rozkoszować każdą nutą. 7/10
Interesting live album. Good old time R&B/Soul.
Some classic soul, what a great voice
I love these songs. Bring it on home is an all time fave and I love his version of the Tennessee Waltz - the live recording didn’t do much to augment. Classics.
Great live album, full of life and character. He sings like he feels it. The audience is loving it. You almost feel like you're in the room. Would relisten.
I thought I would hate this.. but I'm into it. Wish I was at this concert!
Nichts für mich
Rating: 5.0/5 Short Review: It’s not just live—it’s alive. This album breathes, bleeds, and makes you want to throw your dignity on the floor and dance in it. Favorite Track: “Bring It On Home to Me” – sounds like he’s tearing his chest open mid-note and handing you the still-beating heart. Consistency With Me: 9.6/10 Why: I respect restraint, but Sam is proof that sometimes going all in emotionally is the most precise thing you can do. He doesn’t hold back. I aspire to hold back less. (Also, I cannot sing. At all.)
4/5
The live recording isn't great but Cooke is.
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
5/5 - Classic, unbeatable Soul, with a capital-s - Reflective, emotional grooves - Live crowd adds to the vibe - Sam was the Man.
That's some damn fine Soul Music right there.
Sam Cooke, good. Too much crowd noise on a live album, not good. I bet this was a hell of a show though. He's got such a distinctive voice. After listening to 70s Marvin Gaye albums in this project, something might be said for 60s R&B. Cupid is a great R&B song. Advising your audience not to hit their wives is a solid move. Twistin' The Night Away was one of his bigger hits...I prefer Cupid or A Change is Gonna Come. Bring It On Home to Me is another great song. A good album by a legend.
OH yeah
Great artist great songs!
Very nice
This is an excellent record!
First of all I don’t like live albums and second of all this is not exactly my type of music
Very good album. Not usually a fan of live albums but this is a top notch recording. It feels very organic. Amazing when you consider it was recorded in 1963. Oh and did I mention that Sam Cooke performs on the album? Lots of classic songs from a more innocent age.
A happy and fun live album, lovely vibes
It's not really my thing musically (too R&R) but it's a good live album with some classics, which (not always the case back then) Sam Cooke has written himself. Hence it deserves a 4 for me.
I've never liked live albums unless I've seen the performer
Unbelievable vocally. Gritty, soulful, powerful. In terms or the voice this is everything you could want from a live album. This will perhaps be considered blasphemous but some songs can be a little repetitive at times. The nature of the genre, along with a likely deliberate decision to incorporate repetition for the purposes of the live show, means parts of the album do become a little monotonous. But the energy of the performance does counter this. Getting the crowd singing along. Brilliant. Overall an enjoyable album. I listened 4 times through in the end. 12 bar blues in the DNA with a mountain of soul on top. A winning combo. 8/10
This album is the best live album I've listened to. Sam Cooke's enthusiasm is infectious and it's difficult not to tap your feet to the beat. The album is also only +- 35 mins long
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
Me gustó la voz del chabón pero la música la sentí muy normie. No era ni jazz, ni blues ni swing ni nada
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.
A definite Paolo Nutini influence
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.
This was fun! Really enjoyable and an easy, engaging listen for me :)
Don't really like live albums but did like this one. Lot's of energy and fun.
dont like
Lots of fun. Wish I could’ve been at that show.
This is pretty enjoyable live album
Worship at the feet of Sam Cooke
Beautiful
Liked this quite a lot. R&B is not my go to but really liked the passion on this one. He was definitely into it.
Sosososo good. Had such a good time listening to this. Super energetic and I love Sam Cooke’s voice
Two awesome live albums in one week. This is what a live album should be. Good enough production and sound, some crowd elements but not too much, the artist having fund and putting on a show. Would have been a great show to be at.
ANOTHER live album...... This was fine, I just don't like them
It's cool but im not really enjoying it
Really liked the sound and musicianship but had trouble staying engaged throughout.
Great energy but music didn't pull me in. I think you had to be there.
:/ why is this on here homie..
Great fun album
Sam can make anything soulful. Great recording for a live record from the 60s. His voice is in fine form and the band swings. Unfortunately the fast live energy doesn’t translate super well to a recording- some songs need more room to breathe a little.
Powerful performance from a legendary singer
I love Sam Cooke so much. Beautifully stunning voice and such fun to listen to. Best live album I've ever listened to.
That was high energy! I'm not much of live album guy, but all these songs are classics and it's fun to hear a different version than what the radio plays.
Would have liked to be there
5/5
I would've loved to be there. What an atmosphere!! Also appreciate how he says the lyrics just before the audience need to sing them so everyone can take part. Wish they did that at all concerts. His voice is also just immaculate and it's all so fun
#110 - This is absolutely great, I'm so glad someone recorded it and I wish I could've been there!
I take this vibe, 4/5
This album was just full of soulful joy and good vibes! This sounded like one hell of a concert. It’s not music I typically listen to but I would definitely listen to this again if I needed something to bop to and something to lift my spirits. Nothing but good vibes here!
No doubt about it, Sam Cooke had an incredible voice.
Uiteindelijk ook maar naar de 2005 reissue geluisterd, omdat de 1985 variant echt nergens te vinden was. Deze varianten zijn echt significant anders, dus ga nog wel een keer op zoek naar het origineel. It was still good tho, geweldige stem en wat betreft dat een live album, ik vind dat wel echt wat toevoegt aan dit album. De nummers voel veel meer levendig en ik denk dat de kale studiopnames me minder hadden bekoord.
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.
Fantastisch album. Ik ben normaal niet van de live albums maar dit is echt 10/10.
Nog een album wat voor mij als te veel van hetzelfde klinkt na een paar nummers helaas. Wel erg lekker swingend.
Oei een live album. Als ik de artiest/nummers voor het luisteren nauwelijks ken gaat dat er bijna altijd lastig in bij mij. Dit album is geen uitzondering. "Je had erbij moeten zijn". Yeah... Zat wel even op het puntje van mn stoel toen die schorre ranzige sax in kwam zetten aan het begin 👌
Would have been such a vibe
Honestly this one is just good. He definitely earned the name Mr. Soul.
Best Song: Bring it on Home to Me Such a cool piece of music history and borderline Sam Cooke's greatest hits. 5/5!
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.
Electric live performance, raw and raucous but still note-perfect. Sam Cooke goes at a break neck pace. We were robbed of him way too soon
Absolutely banging! Young confident relentless soul. Superb! If a little showbiz in the bits between.
Not bad at all
Reminded me of little Richard lol lot of fun crowd interaction
So talented, gone too soon.
AMAZING!!! HIGH ENERGY, EUPHORIC SOUL MUSIC. FULL OF JOY. Stop what you’re doing and go listen to this album.
THE ENGERY! THE LIFE! Sheesh. People used to go to dance halls like this huh? This is why I love live albums so much. Especially older ones. No way to manufacture that energy. You know folks in the crowd are losing their shit and twirling their handkerchiefs when he says twirl. Sam Cooke is like the demigod of partying. This album is jumper cables up to my soul. FEEL IT 🔥
Great vibes and great live show flow
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
Tiene pinta de haber sido una noche muy divertida...#fomo.
Love this one sooo much
Another outstanding voice on a live record. You can just feel that Sam Cooke has an effortlessly cool stage presence here. The live mixing isn’t the best, and the crowd sounds muddy the songs a bit, but this is an electric performance that I was really into. I thought I was a bit over live albums on this list, but when they’re of this quality keep them coming.
6/1001 :: Sam Cooke - One Night Stand! (Live At The Harlem Square Club) Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: Strong 4, Light 5 Fav Tracks: Bring It On Home To Me, Having A Party This show happened in 1963 in Harlem (NYC). My guess is the crowd was 95% black (or more at that time) and if you asked anyone who went; it was probably the best show they ever saw. Listening to the recording you can feel the energy in the room. Yelling, dancing, drinking and twisting the night away was had for sure. I’m not a Sam Cooke aficionado but I know some tracks. Love Bring It On Home To Me and he seemed like a gracious host here garnering crowd participation and singing his ass off. All that said, I’m not a huge live album guy unless the recording is really great and the performance is tight. This is not that at all. It’s very loose and there’s a lot of crowd noise which gives you a good feel for what happened at the show but takes away from the recording a bit. I did like the album better the 2nd time around and even dabbled in a 3rd listen and it kept my toe tapping. Overall while I could see my self snagging a Sam Cooke greatest hits this album is not something I would buy or probably reach for again.
Harlem puro
Mr Cooke is outstanding
Classic songs delivered in what sounds like an exciting live show.
Sam Cooke is easily one of my favorite vocalists. Great album!
Great album, amazing performance. The sheer presence of Sam Cooke is almost physical, even across continents and half a century. It’s still a live album though, and I fundamentally do not think it belongs on this list. Great listen though.
Pretty good
Would listen to the album again
A great set from a fantastic writer and performer.
Great live soul record. The energy of Cooke and his band is incredible. Almost seems like he was hopped up on something because he just never stops for a breath.
Apparently RCA shelved this for two decades for being too raucous and raw. Thats exactly what I love about it. Sam Cooke's voice is beautiful, one of the best I've ever heard, and A Change is Gonna Come gives me chills every time I hear it, but his studio stuff is super polished. This is a totally different side of him. Feels like you're in the middle of the room where it happened. I love the banter with the crowd, and the band sounds terrific. An amazing living document from an era lost to time
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.
to many this is the definitive Sam Cooke album. it's always interesting when a live album holds that distinction. Sam Cooke, granted, rose in the era before albums became the dominant release format, and this performance ties a lot of his best singles from the early 60s up in a little package. albeit the energy here is a lot scrappier, and more appealing to rock sensibilities. god does it make for a compelling mix. hard to beat Sam Cooke. deserves to be one of the 1001? for sure!
Electric live performance rarely have I felt more in the room
Cool live album and was definitely a great night.
Bring it on home makes this a 5/5, the rest is just gravy. Love the energy of this album.
Uplifting and fun but didn't jump out to me as thought it might
Absolutely wonderful, live music is the best He has such a great stage presence
Good listening. Not my cup of tea really. 2/5
This album was recorded in 1963, but not released by the record label until 1985, apparently worried that this performance would damage Cooke’s reputation as a pop singer. Well, to put it bluntly, RCA are idiots. This is a fantastic performance - raw, unfiltered and soulful, bantering with an enthusiastic crowd and full of energy. Definitely one of the all time great live albums.
Great musician, great voice, great energy, great live album. But we can sometimes feel a little too much of the live setting, the crowd cheering all the time and almost covering the music. The quality of the recording is not the best but it conveys the raw energy at least.
Sam Cooke cooks.
I'd heard covers of many of these songs before, but never sung by Sam Cooke himself. Loved his voice. Loved the performance. The only negative was a few of the between song cuts. Some were quite jarring. Makes me wonder if a full concert recording exists of this show, and if so, why hasn't someone released it. Faves: "Cupid", "Somebody Have Mercy On Me"
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.
This man could move mountains with that voice, not just is the music good but how he engages the audience is such a treat to listen to, the little quips the ways he goes off in some way during the song, the audience reactions, the energy. Everything about this is awesome
Sam Cooke's voice is a one of one. It's perfect and buttery. Rich and full of life. Truly my favorite vocalist of all time, he was gone way too soon! Fun hearing him in a live setting, I really enjoyed this album.
One of the best live albums I've ever heard. Cooke crushes it here, working the crowd and delivering a sizzling performance. Absolutely worth a listen.
Sam cooke is always a good choice
Man, I wish I was at this show. Guessing I would have woken with a hangover and the knowledge that I experienced something great. The pacing from the band throughout is fast, and the energy in the room is fantastic.! The crowd is clearly stoked. Super fun record. I honestly didn't know what to expect and it appears I slept on Sam Cooke. Good stuff. I will spin this again.
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.
live albums are rarely good and this one is not an exception. maybe it's just a fact of the recording, but it sounds like sam cooke is absolutely dying on his ass up there. the crowd doesn't respond to him at all and it's uncomfortable to listen to
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
# Playlist Track - Bring it on Home to me # Notes - Pretty fun! - The record quality isn't great, but it's pretty interesting.
3 out of 5. Damn good love album.
Sam cooke is a legend- the jealousy of not seeing this live is why it's getting a lower ranking. Chain Gang ( a banger). This music is influential and impactful... pure joy
Ehkä paras livelevy minkä olen kuullut. Tiiviissä ympäristössä, melkein pubimainen fiilis.
I recognized one song here, Twisting the nigh away. This was a classic, just not my vibe.
He’s talented, but it’s just not my thing. I’ll give it a two because of twisted the night away!
This album made me want to dance! I especially loved the It’s All Right/For Sentimental Reasons medley!
I suspect if you are a Sam Cooke fan, you will enjoy this.
Fantastic. Still biased towards live and live recorded albums, but lots of fun lots of energy.
He has an awesome voice and this whole album is a bop. Definitely enjoyable to listen to and felt like a party
Artiste inconnu. Belle énergie (+1) et interaction avec le public, mais les morceaux ne sont vraiment pas intéressants ni originaux : trop répétitifs, trop basés sur le chant, très rares chorus ... Et l'enregistrement n'est pas terrible. J'ai eu du mal à aller au bout. =>2/5
שירים שאהבתי: Soul twist (introduction) & Feel it, Chain gang (גרוב רייד מגניב), It's alright (סם ממליץ בחום לא להרביץ לאישתך), Twistin'
This is great! You can hear everyone enjoying themselves, the vocals and energy are wild, and the production is rough and therefore great for a live show. Audience participation is amazing, and this is a night I'd have loved to be at.
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.
5* What am I, fucking stupid?
Never thought I could enjoy something so happy sounding
Greatsounds! 5/5
Very rock and roll. Accessible and enjoyable.
I'm not a live album kind of guy, but this is a rare exception. Bursting with energy and, yes, soul.
Sam was an absolute rockstar. This was my first time hearing this and the power of his delivery is just incredible. The whole band has power but the character in Sam's voice is timeless, and is no doubt the true ray of sun throughout this album. I mean this was club music at the time and they went fucking hard. Swingin'. Swingin' for sure. Sam's wails are absolutely monstrous on some tracks, and if not for him then the horns are doing the wailing. His voice is certainly one of the more gravellier voices of the swing era, it could just be the strain from how he likes to shout these songs but holy shit it is powerful. Not to mention all the songs are fairly catchy and well written for their own right. The crowd and him have a chemistry that makes this an incredibly unique live album. It's a damn good time and due to the density of the recording it feels like you're in the room with them.
An energetic, fun performance with good recording quality.
Do not love this era of music. So could not appreciate the skill and musicality
2 1/2 Fun but not great.
Aww man. Unfortunate that the label withheld the recording and released it 22 years. Criminal behavior from RCA. That being said. It is like travelling back in time. I love that you can hear the crowd throughout. Great playing great singing. Can't complain.
A perfect soul album and a really fantastic live album (the sound is great, which I generally think is rare in live albums, and so much energy).
Another gone too soon artist. Thoughts of what could’ve been accomplished by an artist more music had been created. Cooke was just a flawed man but man could he sing. This album is a good example of what he brought to the world.
Glas nije po mom ukusu. I previše zvukova iz pozadine, nije mi se svidelo.
I have very little to say because this is maybe one of the greatest live records ever committed to wax. I’m thrilled that the version that’s stuck around is the original, full of crowd noise and dancing, as much an instrument as the rest of the band. This whole set is killer, Sam is on point vocally, and the band is shambolic in the best way. It’s just pure fucking fun, and that sets it apart among a lot of live albums.
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.
What a voice. Solid live performance by all involved
nice but nothing memorable
Beautiful live performance.
Not a bad song on the album. While I usually dont care about live sets, this one has me bopping and tapping all the way through.
This was a great experience, amazing and distinctive voice. Will definitely listen to him more!
Enjoyed it. Best song: Cupid.
A live album always feels like a tough listen. What I will say is when it comes to they golden year of soul, you can feel the energy in the room and it would have been amazing to be there. Cooke's voice is amazing and doesn't faulter at any point. Chain gang is such a great song and was already a regular listen. Big Sam Cooke fan, would score higher if it wasn't a live album.
High energy and killer saxophone. Incredibly fun
I want to be there, in that very room, tipsy, dancing and laughing with my nearest and dearest, fuck it, even my furthest and farthest. This may be one of my favourite live albums, so immersive, the crowd, Cooke’s laughing, it’s so clear he loved his job. The pure joy in that room is unmatched, electric and beautifully infectious, so removed from the world around them.
6/10
Some good live soul. Sam Cookes voice is always really nice to listen to. I also really liked the general energy of this album. Feels very of its time. 8/10 Favourite: Bring It on Home to Me Least Favourite: None
Explosive vocals that somehow achieve a soaring growl and deliver 1000 volts of raw charisma, backed by a hot hot RnB band that's really cooking: wailing horns, clean bluesy guitar fills, hopping bass. Most of the songs aren't that even that great, but really who cares with these incendiary vocals?! What a performance.
Album is fine it just doesn't stand out compared to today's music. I do however appreciate the album within the context of when it was recorded and the history of its release.
sounds like it was a good show Will I listen to again: 22%
Fun listen and energy from the live
Amazing
Great Album . Sometimes too much Talking but that’s his stylw
zabavno!
Day513 - this could have been longer and i still wouldn’t have gotten enough
So this might be my favourite live album of all time. It's such an infectiously fun listen that you end up feeling envious for all the people who got to have that experience live in the crowd that day. It's intimate, it's personal and Sam Cook's skills as an entertainer really shine, to a point where over 60 years later it feels like he's right there in the room with you. He transforms these songs into entirely new versions, where you can tell he's finally been allowed to let loose and play them with the energy and power they so deserve. And the way the crowd participates and has fun with it makes it feel like an absolute special moment in time preserved in a neat little capsule for us to enjoy. Every time I listen to this I like to imagine what it was like being there that day and I wonder what went through Sam Cooke's head after he finished this set. Was he aware that he and his band had just performed an historic show? Usually when I review the album's I've generated I'd have notes and a rating for each track, but here it's genuinely impossible to do so. This is a show, a whole event condensed into album form and should be enjoyed in its entirety. The positive and joyous energy this album gives me after I've listened to it is completely unmatched. If you're ever in the mood for a party just ask Mr. Sam Cooke and he and his golden voice and invincible charisma will provide. Just perfect in every way. This has had me dancing on my own in the middle of the night multiple times. Literally twistin' the night away. 5/5
My one complaint about this is that it’s too short and the band is playing in like double time compared to the studio recordings. Sam must have had a hot date that night.
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 :)
Eh, not my jam. Enjoyable but just not for me. 2/5 stars.
This was great, and Sam Cooke is better than Taylor Swift.
I made a mistake only giving 3 stars to a Duke Ellington live album, and I won't make that mistake again. Sam Cooke has a strong voice, and the live album amplifies his persuasion on the audience. I'd probably give the studio recordings for these songs 4 stars, but the live album makes it a strong 4.5-5star record.
4/8
A fun blast from the past! Great energy and crowd engagement from Sam Cooke. Foot tappin' music that melds together.
Excellent collection of classic soul and R&B songs. Sam was an excellent vocalist and the backing band is a group of highly talented individuals. It is a shame that Sam's life was cut short. I give this a 5 star rating but I am going to knock it back a star do to the overall sound of the recording.
Great Energy.
A delight. Fun and energetic.
the music feels really alive for some reason. despite the history during those times, the air feels joyous and bright.
Decent enough album, very decent album for a live album.
didn't do anything for me but equally i feel like it would of been amazing to actually be there
What live albums should be, a window into the party some people had, no wasted time, no excessive banter, no encore. Enough to make you move, and wish you were there.
This is a very solid, outstanding quality live album. It's crisp and clean while also sounding raw and that's everything you want in a live album. Standouts were "Feel It (Don't Fight It)" - kinda creepily titled, considering the events surrounding Cooke's death, but good song - "Twistin' The Night Away," and "Somebody Have Mercy" I quite enjoyed this listen actually. I'd have killed to be in that audience. All the songs were swingin' and the energy is great. This is like a 9/10 album for me. The only thing holding it back I think is the lack of variation; everything is very good, but also kind of the same type of song and I got a little tired of it by the end.
This live album was recorded in 1963 but was not released until 1985, because the record label felt it would be bad for Cooke’s image. Fortunately someone found the tape and it was released after 22 years. Naturally the sound quality in 1963 was inferior to today’s standards, but the album gives the feel of being there. Since Sam Cooke was shot in 1964 there’s not much of his live music available. This gets a high rating for its historical significance.
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
Love love love. Theirs is nothing to not love about Sam Cooke or this album. Loved the crowd interaction and how great he sounds live.
Wonderful. Sam Cooke was a talent taken from us far too young. Here he wows an initially reluctant crowd with a mixture of his hits and other classics. His crowd work is second to none as well. Definitely one for the collection.
beautiful voice painting a seductive picture of a better world.
This was amazing. Sam Cooke is a great performer and all of the songs were great.
It was good.
Best: Bring It on Home to Me
great perfomer !
Fantastic live album from an artist I have clearly not spent enough time with!
i guess i don't like soul music
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.
Makes me so happy
three stars!
it ain’t that leukemia 🕺
It’s an album I would have never listened to outside of this. It’s the type of music that I would never sit down and listen to, since it feels way more like the kind of music you go to see live and dance to. It feels like a “top 100 performances you wish you could have seen live.” But, that being said, it was also pretty mind-boggling how good he sounds live. And feeling the crowd through all the cheering and laughing… so nice. Really liked this one the line “it ain’t that leukemia” and then laughing during “Somebody Have Mercy” was fucking weird, but when I googled it there’s a whole wikipedia page for the song that says the line “tell me what is wrong with me” created speculation and rampant rumors that Cooke had leukemia, which was false… feels like I am still missing everything between point A and B, but that was a wild moment Bring it On Home to Me blew my mind. What a ballad. And when he says “I know I laughed HA HA HA when you left” the laugh part REALLY reminded be of Robbie for some reason lol
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!
Listened to it like 3 or 4 times, energy is insane and it's so fun to hear the people freaking out. Went to a concert last night and was thinking about this album and how I was wishing every concert was just 30 minutes of nonstop intense bangers... I think the only thing preventing me from putting it at 5 for right now is that this kind of music resonates most with me when the TUNES are really undeniable and for some reason despite listening several times the melodies and hooks didn't stay with me that much. This might be a skill issue on my part tho! Fav song: Feel It (Don't Fight It)
Generally, I wouldn't be able to tell what good soul/R&B is if I had it blasted in my ears, so I'm no authority to judge this album and my grade is in no way a reflection of the quality of it. I must say though, this was so fun and whimsical to listen to and vibe along to. So despite it being a genre I don't normally reach for, the overall experience of listening to it was quite enjoyable!
Love me some Sam Cooke. DO NOT like this live performance.
R&B/soul. Pretty good. Energetic and fun throughout.
So much fun to listen to. You really get caught up by Sam's charisma, even just through the audio. Happy to have listened to, but it's just not the type of album I will return to.
Sounds like a party!
Fantastic joyous dancing music!
A classic. I loved it. Wish I was in attendance. A great time
not my usual but pleasant
There’s a real sense both of the energy in the room and also of Sam Cooke’s ability to communicate with an audience, to create a sense of connection. The band are red hot and there’s a lot of improvisation and ’question and answer’ type conversation between Sam and the band, and between performers and crowd. You’re also struck by Sam Cooke’s voice, instantly recognisable but smokier than the records demonstrate; he has an earthy, sexy vibe which the studio works never quite captures.
Contagiously energetic performance
1,5
I don't quite get why live albums are on here
Good - probably wont be back.
3.5 85%
Love this album!!
One of my favorite genre of live album where it’s someone who sounds incredible in studio and then we hear them live with rawer vocals and less clean instrumental and it’s suddenly transcendent. Very very few pop acts these days could ever hope to make a live album like this these days.
10/10 I've found that I keep coming back to this album and so I'm revising my original 9/10 to a 10. I originally described this album as being both classy and an unexpectedly fun listen. The joy in this performance has continued to infect me with every listen, but having read more about Cooke's life I think this is now tinged with a little more of a bittersweet feeling. The energy of the crowd and Cooke himself are frenetic and jubilant, the rawness of the recording and Cooke's performance combining to feel like an incredibly precious insight into the real Sam Cooke. As much as I love Sam Cooke's studio work, now that I have discovered this album I feel like it's all overshadowed by this live recording. Music at its best can transport you to another time, another place, and another emotional state, and this album is one of the most powerful examples I can think of: it's brought me to tears multiple times, and listening to this while singing along with the live crowd is just an incredible experience. To pick out a few of my favourites, 'Feel It (Don't Fight It)' is an effortlessly seductive performance, 'Chain Gang' is a powerful anthem with an irresistible call and response, 'Bring it on Home to Me' demonstrates a little more of the complexity in Cooke's relationships, some more incredible crowd work, and somehow sounds incredibly contemporary, and 'It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons' remains my favourite song on the record, evoking the strongest emotional response. Listens 5+
I generally don’t like live albums but this is great
A fun album to listen to. You can really feel the vibe of 1960s soul music. The performance highlights Sam Cooke’s charisma and his interaction with the audience. His backing band is also excellent. The reason this album gets four stars rather than five is the recording quality. The songs were recorded live in vintage quality — while it definitely captures the magic of the club atmosphere, this particular sound makes it harder for me to include songs from this album in my playlists. It's the kind of album that's fun to play in full every now and then.
great energy, great songs, great live recording
I liked a few things but not really the whole thing.
Happy energetic music. It all flowed together and sounded a bit like a variation on the same theme, but overall, a pleasurable listen.
Sound like it was a lot of fun being there, and that energy comes through in the recording.
Enjoyed it...felt like I was there. "Do you mind if we dance with your dates??"
Uh Sam Cooke - das git so gueti Luune! Und tanze würd mer au gärn. Das erinnered mich a Chicago, wo de Thomas und ich aafangs 90er in än Blues Club sind...und die einzige Fremde gsie sind😂
tönt wie e seeehr igspielti band. feel it isch etz seeeeehr basic. nööd viel als song. sini stimm isch super. chain gang schono cool haha. aber etz au nöd meeega en geile song? er bringt s publikum zum stöhne dasch no cool. es goht afoch wiiter keei pause. huere zug druff. cupid isch au acht mol s glich. sini stimm isch super aber jäääh. bim medley giter uuuhuere gas wooow sini stiiimm. jööö wie d crowd mitsingt. twistin the night away seeehr cool. super groovy. evefybody get take the handkerchief round haha. nothing can change this love isch sooo cool mitem ewige intro. d lüt wönds uuuunbedingt ghötr.
BIN SOOO READYYYY live at the harlem shake??? ER HET SO E UNGLAUBLICHI STIMM d crowd tönt so herzig hahahahaha ja ich wett romantisch werde sam es isch echt raw aber echt geil, hans gfühl isch e rechti party gsi es isch soo schön ommmg bring it on home to me UND SENN NOTHING CAN CHANGE THIS LOVE bin nööch amene 5i aber weiss es iwie nanig ganz, ich bin hii und daa au abdriftet aber die stimm, die stimmig AHH DOCH
I clocked 1963 and live album as two red flags and I was very wrong
Great energy, infectious.
Live at the Harlem Square Club is widely considered one of the greatest live albums of all time, and with Sam Cooke’s unfiltered nature and raw energy, for good reason. It displays his ability not only as a musician, but also a performer. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout. Though I did find that on some tracks like It’s Alright/I Love You, Cooke’s entertaining of the crowd got in the way of the performance. However, as the track continues, he unleashes his full vocal ability. Cooke puts on a brilliant show, and on this recording, he’s absolutely on fire. His voice is gritty, passionate, and dynamic, conveying emotion like few others can. He elegantly plays off the crowd’s energy, combining dialogue with singing. His band provides aggressive, rhythm-focused backing, adding to the intensity and rawness, creating an undeniable ‘60s authenticity. While I feel Live at the Harlem Square Club is to be taken in as a whole experience, tracks like Cupid, Twistin’ the Night Away, and Somebody Have Mercy are perfect for any setting due to their unique, unrefined liveliness and less focus on crowd interaction. The low-quality production of this record creates a special feeling, almost like you were there yourself. 8/10
Beautiful voice and great charisma and the band plays real nice too
You can just feel the energy permeating from this, like sweat from everyone dancing in that club. If you close your eyes you can put yourself there. Usually not a huge fan of live albums but the setting of this is undeniable. Very cool moment in history
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.
What an energy bomb, such a positive and uplifting album. Sam manages to engage the whole audience, together with us, into a hell of an experience. Sam mixes a great, powerful voice, which dominates the sonic scape, with a great deal of showmanship and positive energy. Right from the first seconds we are drawn in. Not one seconds goes by without energy and happiness, as Sam calls out to the audience. This energy doesn't fade for the whole duration of the album, no matter if the songs are slow ballads, or more uplifting twisters. The lyrics talk about love, feeling good and being happy, living with a soul. This album is the essence of the genre in that regard. The saxophone solos are another standout feature of the album. When Sam gives the queue to go for the solo, the sax takes the front stage perfectly and screams like it's nobody's business, with clear and melodic phrasing. Literally every solo on the album is phenomenal. Even though this is a live album, it really doesn't lack in the mixing department, which is a great sight. Live albums can often come of as weak and unbalanced, but here this is definitely not the case. Even the audience sounds are great, they are heard somewhere in the background, but they don't get in the way of the music. Great album, I haven't heard of Sam Cooke before, but I see why they call him the king of soul.
Wow really fantastic. I stopped what I was doing when I realized I was trying to hum along. Catchy, open, really old (63) but not cheesy. Great bright tunes with some brass. I got a well of emotion to his voice and passion
Can’t go wrong with a little Sam Cooke.
A good live performance by one of the greats of soul
Not my scene but great voice
Great energy and presence on this one, just how a live album should be. A performance, not just playing the hits.
Such a beautiful voice.
Pure energy. Perfect performance.
good jams, not necessarily a live album person, but still good
Soulful and energetic. So many classics. The live recording is very clear.
3/10
-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!!
Cooke tears through about twenty songs in about 35 minutes, sounding almost manic as he pumps up the crowd and sings every song at full power, and it's terrific. Massive live-performance energy as he goes through the hits, and there are a lot of hits. Cocaine is a hell of a drug!
I love old live albums like this. It was fun to hear Sam Cooke really in his element, as well as to hear the crowd yelling and cheering him on. The band was flawless and their transitions from song to song were incredible.
Love it, high energy. Will be returning to this.
Energetic
Solid, I know this isn’t his best too.
Uau. Fui otário, galera. Hoje, quando peguei esse disco, fiquei emputecido. Até mandei mensagem pro meu sócio, Boleta, reclamando: "Pqp outro album ao vivo hoje kkkkkkk ta chato ja", enviado ás 11:11 do dia 25/04/25 Reclamando porque o album de ontem tambem foi ao vivo, do The Who. Mas engoli todas as palavras deliciosamente... Esse disco do Sam Cooke é impressionante! Fiquei sem palavras o ouvindo. Que album eletrizante... Do começo até o ultimo milésimo. Da pra sentir a energia daquela noite, da pra sentir que ninguém ficou parado, da pra sentir que o cara conquistou a platéia de forma magistral. Que voz!!!! Meu Deus. Que Soul absurdo. E a banda IMPLACÁVEL!!!!!! Isso SIM é um álbum ao vivo, porra ! PRECISO comprar esse disco em LP ou CD imediatamente. Amigos... Twistin' The Night Away... que performance!! Eu faria de tudo pra estar lá naquela noite em Miami, pertinho do Saxofonista, quando o solo esquenta, com varias cervejas no sistema. Perfeição. 5/5
It ain't that leukemia that ain't it. Great big band, lots of horns, amazing, Marty McFly wished he ripped this off
A beautiful moment in music history.
Of the live albums I’ve had to listen to for this list, this album at least had the energy and crowd interaction to make it feel worth being a live album. It was a nice listen, but it mostly reminded me of seeing a band perform on a cruise ship. There’s a lot of talent from the band, but it feels like they’re playing to a room that’s more focused on drinks and other activities. Closer to the end of the album the feeling starts to fade, but it was just kind of an uncanny observation.
Listening to "One Night Stand - Sam Cooke live at the Harlem Square Club 1963" is a mixed experience. While the performance by Sam Cooke is undeniably great, the low quality recording of the live performance leaves much to be desired. I bet being there that night would have been an unforgettable experience, and it's wonderful that there is still something to remember it by.