Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Really great album. You can really feel the passion in Sam's voice and even the instruments.
That's not my taste in music. But wow - interesting music. Great musician
Infectious energy and joy. Sweaty, soulful and sweet.
Very cool
I enjoyed this a lot. Light, fun! I will likely put him in my rotation!
8/10
Actually really enjoyed this, a lot more than I thought I would. He was obviously putting on a good performance. The atmosphere came over well, yes if I see it on a music stall yes I probably will buy it. Definitely a 4.
Enjoyed every song. Chain gang had a great sing along Cupid was really good
Awesome
Perfect uptown live modes
Enjoyed!
Driving and lively.
Live At The Harlem Square is considered one of the best live albums for a reason. Cooke’s energy and vocals are fantastic. The production is a little airy but good enough 8.3/10
Top entertainer, great live album
I would enjoy this live
I usually don't like live albums but this was just seamless and fun
Lively, gritty, warm album. Great sound quality and crowd interaction. Big fan. Best song: (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting here, more live soul, funk, or jazz perhaps? But this ain’t that. This is proper rock n roll in its purest form. Really incredible live album, it’s hard to believe they waited 20 years to actually release this recording. Sam Cooke is clearly charismatic and extremely talented. I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected to. Musically it’s tight, soulful, and very fun to listen to. 4*
This endeavor is convincing me that my prejudice against live albums is misguided, as we have another fantastic one in this 1963 recording of the peerless Sam Cooke. His vocal talent is every bit as strong live as it was on recordings, and the musical quality of this performance is very good. More valuable than that, though, is that this recording gives the listener a sense of Sam Cooke as a performer and personality, which is particularly valuable considering that his life was tragically cut far too short. It’s a delightful listen and you can’t help but smile as Cooke charms and captivates his audience. 8/10
Great energy. Great songs.
I tried to "Feel It (Don't Fight It)". But maybe not hard enough at first. Or maybe I don't love soul music enough to fully appreciate this very early album in the genre--at least right away. Don't get me wrong, I quickly understood that the grittier sound of this live recording sounds so authentic that it can provide great emotions to all Sam Cooke fans. The thing is, I would rather get acquainted with the studio output of the legendary soul singer first. Live versions are rarely good entry points, are they? And apart from pretty "(What A) Wonderful World", or moving a "A Change Is Gonna Come" (not in this album, but that most people have heard in film or TV soundtracks)", I'm afraid l don't know much about Cooke. If the man is the legend that soul fans say he is, isn't it a better idea to first discover what he sounded like on the radio? Those cuts on this live album, admittedly groovier that "Wonderful World" and "Change", document awesome performances. The songs on the first side seemed are all interchangeable in my ears. And yet this record received a 3.78 global score on this app, which is rather high as far as its usual 3/5 grade goes. I started to wonder: "What is wrong with me?" As I finished writing the words up there, "Somebody Have Mercy" began playing. And that's how it goes : "Somebody have mercy, baby, and tell me what is wrong with me". I swear that I had never heard that song before (or didn't consciously remember it). It was a nice serendipitous moment, and I guess that song is gonna stay with me because of it. Then "Bring It On Home To Me" followed, and unless I'm mistaken, the intense, mesmerizing introduction to this version of the live ballad is absent in the studio rendition, that I discovered on the list of Cooke's most played tracks on Spotify. Another cut that's gonna stay with me, I guess. And so will "Having A Party". It's tribute to good songs "on the radio" bring me back to the start of my review. Something's going on with this album. Its last leg sound incredible, which is, I guess, quite logical if you follow the template of a live show. Leaving the door open to this one, then. Leaving it wide open... 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've went over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 431 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 256 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 316 l
Not bad at all.
So much fun to listen to this. Sam Cooke was a phenomenal talent taken way too soon.
There's a good sized contingent that just don't like live albums then. Who knew? Feels like your missing out on that feeling of eavesdropping on a unique moment in time when a piece of magic is worked between performer(s) and crowd. This is a very good example.
This was really good. The music is a bit dated, but being love just adds so much.
I love Sam Cooke and have never listened to any of his live albums. This was a fun listen--the gritty soulfulness of his voice comes through in a way that studio albums don't capture. The medley with "For Sentimental Reasons" and "Bring it On Home" were special delights. I listened to this album twice and would definitely revisit it; it's not my favorite of Sam Cooke's (and not in my top live soul albums), but a great album nonetheless. I dock it one star because it makes me jealous that I wasn't there.
Side 2 takes it from a 3 to a 4 star rating
2 Sterne für die Musik. 2 Sterne für sein Entertainment und die Art das Publikum mitzunehmen und zu begeistern, da wünscht man sich einfach im Publikum zu sein. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Keine
Least amount of fluff in any live album I've listened to. Great energy all around
Good energy
A surprise today. Really enjoyed it though
Surprised at how much I liked it despite being live. Very upbeat
I don't normally like live albums, but the energy here is great.
Chad. Probably the best live album we’ve had here and probably the best there is.
A superb singer, writer, and all around performer.
live zoals live moet zijn
Loved it. Plus the crowd involvement was quite nice. Solid 4/5.
I'm not sure I've ever heard anybody work a crowd like this guy does. Electric performance, really good stuff.
Raw and urgent. Some of these songs actually feel somewhat rushed and peaked. Very charming crowd work and electric room sound but I might prefer a studio "chill" version of all these song. Of course I feel like I'm missing context but I find myself preferring something like Live at the Apollo for a document of a live performance.
Love this album. Only reason it’s not a 10 is because there aren’t many standout tracks. But it still has really good energy and is one of my favorite live albums. 9/10
A really great live album from one of the greats. I’m glad this was recorded before his death.
Pretty good. Delightful vibes. Amazing voice.
A great document of a really solid performance. Everyone is firing on all cylinders here and the crowd loves it.
Pretty good, and it would’ve been amazing to be there in person. Sam’s voice seems a little more rough than studio recordings, which I guess I prefer. But still a solid 4!
Я был настроен на самые легкие 2 звезды в моей жизни, но очень удивлен по итогу. Это звучит в меру стандартно по меркам жанра, но с какой страстью это всё исполнено! Лучшая песня - Bring It on Home to Me.
Imagine being horny and heartbroken in the 60s and then Sam Cooke comes to town with this thing...
I mean its Sam Cooke, dude has a great voice, Chain gang is a great song that really hits different.
Fun!
Juhlat! Hienon tasaista laulua läpi keikan, ei katoa vire vaikka sopiva raspi pysyy. Bändi soittaa hyvin, mutta Cooken karisma yltää kaiken yli koko ajan. Nautittavaa! Hyvät biisit, joista tosin parhaiten jää mieleen ja toimii hitti Having a party.
So. Much. Energy. What would this guy have done if he had lived long enough to listen to 70s Stevie, Funkadelic, Sly Stone, the Beach Boys, Hendrix?
Vilken röst och vilken entertainer. Det är precis så här ett livealbum ska vara. Omöjligt att inte ryckas med och bli glad av denna. Som vanligt önskar man att man hade varit där.
sensible fun
Despite (or perhaps because of?) the simplicity and similarity of these tunes there’s something I find so pure and joyous about this type of music. It kinda makes me wish I was growing up in the 50s and early 60s, twistin’ every night away. The live setting and crowd noise gives the songs a huge boost of energy, and there’s an almost religious euphoria (without being too cultish) to the soul-iest bits, like Bring It on Home to Me. I was also pleased to learn that Cooke wrote everything himself, rather than filling his set with covers of standards, as often seemed to be the case in gigs of this era. 3.5 / 4
4.5
This was a bit…. Rougher around the edges than the studio performances I’ve heard. But the audience is into it. It’s fun.
Girlllllll I could feel this concert through my screen
great jazz piece
Very fun and some infectious energy. Cooke's presence could be felt on every track, and I couldn't help but smile, dance, and sing along as he encouraged the crowd in the performance. I did feel a lot of the songs felt too similar at times, but this is a great listen and dance album that doesn't overstay it's welcome. Top tracks: Chain Gang, Medley: It's All Right, Bring It on Home to Me
The crowds enthusiasm really gives this album a leg up - it's a really fun snapshot into how a live venue must have sounded at the time. Some songs have become a bit dated, but generally a fun album. 4/5
Yeah great songs obviously! Wish it wasn't a live album, what's the point?
A legend, gone way too soon. Imagine what could have come in his later years. This recording sounds urgent, soulful (of course), and tight. What a talent.
Sam Cooke’s talent is absolutely undeniable. The only downside to the album is that it was recorded when live recordings (live in front of an audience) didn’t have the best quality. Other than that, Sam controls every bit of the show and leaves you wanting more.
Another great live album!
What the heck was that
Fun energetic live soul/R&B pop performance, really fun
Good stuff!
Highlights: Feel it (Don't Fight It) Twistin' The Night Away As soon as I put this on I could picture the crowd, the energy was palpable and infectious. Listening to this gave me a sense of what Sam Cooke was like as an entertainer, and made me a little sad I would never get to experience it myself.
What an incredible gig!
Classic Sam Cooke
very dated an 'showbiz', but a fantastic voice and some top songs.
I was already familiar with this album and really enjoy it. It's great, high energy. It's hard to believe this album was in the vault for over 20 years before it was release. It's excellent!
6/10 Not bad! First one of the 1001. Made me smile. Made me dance. Medley: It's all right was best.
I was expecting Jazz for sure, based on the cover, but it's definitely more a blues album. I enjoyed the hell out of it. Found myself tapping along most of the album, and it kept pulling my focus, regardless of what else I was trying to do. My dad was big into the blues, so it felt a little bit like riding around in the car with him, which was a nice bit of nostalgia for a Thursday morning. Not the type of music I'd normally listen to, but definitely felt like if it was 1963, I'd be having a great time in that club. Quite the backstory to Sam as well, who knows what else we may have got if he hadn't died so young. I would definitely listen to it again, but I don't think it'll be an album I come back to often, as it's really not the usual genre I listen to.
Sound quality is a bit of a miss but what a party this would have been to go to live. Still enjoyed it
C’è un gran bel carisma qui ma sto considerando se essere severo o meno
che festa gigantesca, un concentrato di gioia infinita da ascoltare nelle giornate buie per tirarsi su di morale. anche solo per questo, sarebbero cinque stelle, se poi si aggiunge il carisma e la voce si raggiungono vette altissime. una chicca.
fun! but why so many live albums?
The man had energy. Halfway through I felt a bit bored, but it picked up again. I can see why they didn't want to release this to not alienate the white pop audience
Sam Cooke makes ya move. More of this yes please
Good jazzy blues album
YA! 4/5
Unbelievable performance. Sam's voice is top-notch. I wish there were a few more true standout songs, but very little to complain about. 4.5/5
- Another artist I wish I would have had the chance to hear live. It would have been amazing. The recording is not great so I can only give it a 4 but, man what a show this must have been. -
really fun ! sounds like a blast and just makes me want to go see some fun live music !!!! :)
I can picture myself partying my ass off in some sleazy bar, listening to Sam Cooke spew out some bangers. I'm normally not a fan of live albums, but I enjoyed this fun party anthem album. Favorite Track: "Cupid".
Sam Cooke the GOAT. Live albums are interesting, and his speaking voice was unexpectedly scratchier than his singing voice. I like his recorded sound better but the fact that he's still great live is impressive.
One of the greatest voices in music history!
Man alive. What a singer. What a gig.
Loved it, reminded me of my childhood and the music my parents would listen to.
Love Sam Cooke but he was definitely on something on this one. Still stellar, though.
Amazing live album the vocals are so good.Really liked all the tracks especially nothing can change this love
Very good
Me ha gustado
I love live albums from this era. There's a level of showmanship that's absent today for the most part that makes these performances vibrant.
We've listened to a lot of live albums in this project so far, and when I've enjoyed them it's often been more so because it's enjoyable to listen to a lot of good songs maybe played with a bit more energy. But this is the first we've done where the liveness feels central to the album - the performance isn't perfect, but it only enhances the feeling. The sweat practically drips from the walls on this album, and does maybe what only the best live albums can do: make me wish I got a chance to see this guy live.
4☆/5 08.17.2024
In the early 80’s I read a book called Nowhere To Run : The Story of Soul Music by Gerri Hershey. It included 2 stories about Sam Cooke that I’ve often retold over the years. The first recounted how Cooke’s beautiful voice & good looks changed the way gospel music was received in the southern church circuit traversed by gospel groups. Cooke was 19 when he took over as lead singer of the Famous Soul Stirrers, and in Hirshey’s book, both Wilson Pickett & Aretha Franklin recall the effect Cooke had on the young females in church. As Pickett said : “Them sisters fell like dominoes when Sam took the lead. Bang. Flat out. Piled three deep in the aisles”. And Aretha recalled how there was a strange seating shift in the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father led the congregation. Whenever Cooke & The Soul Stirrers turned up, suddenly the young people, who always left the first rows for the elders, began crowding up front to see him. The other story from that book is extremely disturbing. Solomon Burke recounts how he & Cooke were dragged from their motel room in Shreveport, Louisiana by the local police in the middle of the night, taken to the fire station, made to undress and sing for the assembled cops. As Burke says in the book : “He never did get over it”. In my opinion, Sam Cooke had one of the finest voices in popular music. He was one of those who provided a bridge from gospel & r&b to the hugely successful soul music explosion of the 60’s. The pity was that his death in 1964 meant that he never got to see it. This 1963 concert was recorded but never released at the time, because RCA considered it too raw for his pop audience, who were used to his silky smooth vocals.(Remember RCA? They didn’t know what to do with Elvis half the time, either). It wasn’t released on vinyl until the mid-80’s, which is when I first heard it. The original 1985 mix contains a louder audience response, creating a "claustrophobic, frenzied power". A new mix created for the 2000 box set, The Man Who Invented Soul, turns the audience elements down, cleaning up Cooke's vocals as well as the music. I can understand why they did that, because the audience noise on my vinyl copy is constant. But it’s also very exciting.I don’t play this album a lot. I prefer the Soul Stirrers stuff & the smooth pop hits Cooke had later in his shortened career. But let’s face it, like Aretha, he could sing the phonebook. And it’s worth listening to just for the excitement of it all. What a voice.
My room is buzzing with energy, it's a full revival in here right now! He captivates the audience with the charisma of a Southern preacher, drawing them into his world at every moment. It's absolutely electrifying!
Another great live album from the 60s. I have realized that where BB King Live at the Regal pulled a more traditional blues artist into R&B - Sam Cooke - better known for pop/R&B - let's his blues shine through. And shine it does. Bring it on Home is an absolute master class - teasing You Send Me to remind you where he came from but not where he is...or was - but moving the audience inab different direction. And wrapping things up with Having a Party - not sure if that bringing church to the party or bringing the party to church. Either way - the energy in the room is palpable. 4.5/5.
I like swing.
What a vibe, front to back. Feel like I'm taken back in time while listening to it.
What a showman, what a voice, what a crowd. There might be tighter performances on record, but the energy from the venue is overflowing. A live album that makes me wish I could've been there, as good live albums should. Highlights: Chain Gang, Medley, Somebody Have Mercy, Nothing Can Change This Love
Enjoyable. Most songs sound the same but good. 3.5 rounding up.
Not typically my taste, but the rhythm was killer
I’m really enjoying it, it probably sounds great on vinyl too
The best live albums makes you wish that you were there, that it was a unique, magical moment. This is on of those albums.
Passionate RnB with a strong delivery, Sam Cooke knows how to put a crowd on fire!
Sam Cooke is a name I’ve heard and I know he’s well respected as a musician, but I hadn’t heard any of his music until now. So, let me start by saying that the music the band played as the album opened and led into Sam Cooke’s introduction caught me off guard—but I loved it. Talk about funky, odd, strange, and playful. If anything, I wish that music had gone on longer. As for the rest of the album, it was raw and full of energy. You can tell it was recorded in an intimate setting with a smaller crowd, and both the audience and the band were engaging and feeding off one another. I was pretty far out of my element with this artist, but I’m definitely going to check out more of his discography.
Smooth mellows
Another live album, but I enjoyed this one and it captures a live feel more so than albums that just happened to be recorded at a performance but were otherwise indistinguishable from a studio recording aside from worse quality. I’d never heard of Sam Cooke before this (at least by name) but he has a powerful voice that kept going til the end of the album. He’s a great singer and I like how he engages the crowd. From the start I thought of the band from Animal House and then “Twistin the Night Away” came on, which justified it completely. A great rendition too. This album was fun. Not a bad track on it and the “live” part of it is finally a plus rather than a detriment.
Smooth
It’s too bad this album sat on a shelf for 22 years. Cooke shows that he knows how to party, changing up each song just enough to make it a unique experience and keeping the crowd involved. Slightly higher rating for the spirit captured in the album.
What fun, live Sam Cooke!
Now this is soul.
A superior performance. Sam Cooke is a legend. Live horns, classic songs and energy.
Lovely live happy vibe
The vocals, the instrumentals, the ENERGY!! What isn’t there to say about this album? It’s super enjoyable from start to finish and keeps the energy up the whole time, a feat I wasn’t sure possible. Alas, I must save a 5 for the best of the best, but this was still very enjoyable.
Excellent live album. 4.5/5
I didn’t recognise the name Sam Cooke, but I definitely recognised Twistin’ The Night Away. This is one of the rare live albums that come up in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Usually, I’m not the biggest fan of live albums, but the ones in this project have generally impressed me. Gladly, Sam Cooke is not an exception to this rule. He has such a nice voice - possibly lacking in training but brimming with soul. This made for a very nice drive.
What a performer Sam Cooke is. He's got the audience in the palm of his hand over this entire record. Incredible. His voice is great and the performance is full of energy. Not a 5 star record for me though, objectively amazing but personally only 75% amazing, some songs didn't move me much
Banger
Non male, ma non indimenticabile. Bella 'Twistin' the night away'
Sam Cooke is fantastic. Not my favorite of his, but he's still great.
8/10. Enjoyed it
July 6, 2024 HL: "Chain Gang", "Cupid", "Twistin' the Night Away", "Bring It On Home To Me" Great listen; even with the 2005 "remaster" it still sounds like a bootleg tho
Wish I could’ve seen him live. Great voice and energy
I had forgotten that my mom used to play Sam Cooke on the living room record player when I was a kid. He's got such a great voice, and these are classic tunes.
Lots of fun, all the hits and more! A great singer and entertainer in his prime, with a solid band and the audience eating out of his hand. It feels more like a historical record than a ground breaking album, but still fun nonetheless.
Love this! I have never heard Sam Cooke live before, only ever the typical songs played on the radio. It feels like a cool atmosphere to have experienced.
Brilliant album. I really enjoyed this. these songs sounded great live. I will be listening to this again. Favourite song: Cupid and twisting the night away live were excellent Least favourite: all good. Album artwork: Good cover
Sam Cooke is a name I’ve heard and I know he’s well respected as a musician, but I hadn’t heard any of his music until now. So, let me start by saying that the music the band played as the album opened and led into Sam Cooke’s introduction caught me off guard—but I loved it. Talk about funky, odd, strange, and playful. If anything, I wish that music had gone on longer. As for the rest of the album, it was raw and full of energy. You can tell it was recorded in an intimate setting with a smaller crowd, and both the audience and the band were engaging and feeding off one another. I was pretty far out of my element with this artist, but I’m definitely going to check out more of his discography.
Funky
Always thought of Cooke as more of a crooner, but this set bangs at times. Great backing band, unmistakable charisma and a virtuoso performance. I’m a convert!
That smooth voice. I hear lots of joy in it. Lots of classic tracks here including Chain Gang and Twisting The Night Away.
Classic oldies style.
Love the music, love the voice but there is something about live albums that doesn’t translate to listening for me and I always end up imagining how good it would be to have been there
Irgendwie mag diese Musik
Love the energy.
Like, not life changing but vibey as hell
Really enjoyed this! Listened while Darlo and I were taking a walk on Friday morning and found myself bopping along consistently.
Enjoyed this one.
Easy to listen to; hard to not start moving to the beat. His singing comes so naturally. Must have been an experience to be there when it was recorded.
Neat live intro Sam Cooke sang I don't know much about history Distinct album sound, noticed immediately when it was over
this was great
god i love sam cooke live performances hitting as hard as the studio recordings is hard to do right but he does it
A really good album. Loved Chain gang, It's Alright/For Sentimental Reasons and Nothing Can Change This Love.
normally i hate live music albums but im actually a fan of this one
The best crowd reaction and sing along I've ever heard on record. Sam Cooke had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. An incredible performance of 1950s and 60s rock-'n'-roll. The energy in the room is palpable. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Medley: It's Alright / For Sentimental Reasons Date listened: 22/05/24
Pretty good.
Feel good listen 8.5/10
Soul album, very nice performance, Sam Cooke's voice gets u moving, the lyrics are inspiring ngl
very enjoyable, 4/5
Such a powerful and charismatic voice. Engaging performance sound quality issues aside. Though I don’t prefer live albums, you can tell that the crowds energy really heightens the experience. 4.1 stars
Great live album, what a voice
One of my favorite soul albums of all time! It is not a perfect record, but Sam Cooke's voice never sounded as great as in this one. Also, the way the band plays with the songs is just great.
Listened to this during a light leg day. I liked the album length. Probably my favorite live album on this list because of the audience and live band and his energy. Not my thing but enjoyable.
Really fun listen! Love the energy. The Wiki story about it being too raw and gritty shaped the way I listened to it, and I think it made me enjoy it more. Bad boy energy ya know? 8.5/10
7/10 - The random "I ain't got leukemia was crazy" in somebody have mercy. Every song was so groovy. He sounds so into the music which is just amazing to hear. Some of the songs it was annoying to hear him talk to the crowd or the crowd talking back since it takes away from the music.
Sam Cooke is great too, and Live at the Harlem Club is a fun listen, great tunes, great energy, timeless and soulful and memorable and all of that. I think we've had better live albums that capture a more iconic moment and with greater showmanship, but an easy 4.
This is great fun, he's having a whale of a time and so are the audience. A lovely infectious energy, but it's missing something that stops it getting a 5, think the songs are a bit too samey maybe? 4/5.
A lot of great live performances, really took me back
That's some mighty fine crowd work, boss.
The man has some pipes and is very talented. I can appreciate this soul music for what it is.
Like heavy metal for the 60s
Love his voice. Sounds great live. Liked being able to hear the crowd singing along 4 ⭐️
Ég væri svo til í að hafa verið uppi á þessum tíma og að búa þá í New York og geta farið á svona skemmtanir. Kannski er ég bara að rómantísera hvernig lífið var á þeim tíma en þetta er bara svo skemmtileg tónlist til að fara og hlusta á, helst á pínulitlum skemmtistað í kjallarholu, hópurinn sitjandi í kringum lítið borð og bara að njóta. Ég set þetta aftur á þegar andinn kemst yfir mig. Ég þarf bara að kaupa mér harða stóla og lítið kringlótt borð.
Loved the energy. Sam Cooke has an incredible voice
Enjoyed the liveliness of the album. The entire thing felt alive, but without a factor of nostalgia it did feel dated and blended together.
Great Album! Very well recorded to a live album from 1963. Sam was a great show man!
Great voice
I'm still not sure live albums belong on the list, but this is a good one if they do. It shows the close links between soul and rock & roll, especially when artists chose to play faster louder versions of their famous songs. Also shows how great Mr Cooke was at interacting with an audience, and making them part of the show. The sound quality is a bit patchy at points, but not so bad it spoiled my enjoyment - if anything it added to the "live and loud" feeling of the show!
pretty fun
all a bit samey samey but good vibes
that was pretty fun.
I actually loved this one. Short but sweet. I think I preferred this a lot to something like lady soul bc it was live and you could really feel the energy and the songs were also just great.
The audio is a lot nicer than the James brown live album I reviewed a couple days back, the crowd doesn’t get in the way of the music but still makes you feel like you’re really there. Just a very fun album, I don’t think you could feel bad listening to this.
Sam cooke is one of those artists who has incredible charisma in his live performances. While nothing mind blowing, this was really fun and energetic performance and im always a sucker for live recordings where people are singing along.
Love Sam Cooke,.missing a few hits but great performance
Highlights: Feel It, Twistin' The Night Away, Somebody Have Mercy, We're Having A Party. RCA thought this was too raw and gritty. They were wrong. The label was gutless about releasing it, wanting to preserve Sam's on stage persona. Sure, the sound quality isn't spectacular (perhaps a single mic job?). You can barely hear the horns and guitar, which sound lush when you get to hear them clearly. Sam's voice is crisp and oh so slick. But in saying that, it's likely to be one of the best live recordings of the early 60's. It's down-to-earth compared to Cooke's tv performances. Crowd is loud, the band is playing mightily, EVERYONE is having fun. I wonder if James Brown took notes from Sam Cooke... Overall: 7/10
Just a great time overall.
4/5!
4 - this was really great but awful sound recording, not a fan of live albums when it’s that bad
I love Sam Cooke’s music, seemed rushed at the beginning of this live performance but it evened out nicely and the grit of the live part of it was endearing
Sam Cooke is my favorite soul singer. However, I've never listened to the album before today. This recording is the Sam Cooke that I love. The raw, road worn version playing in front of an audience that just adores him. He is on fire here. This a must listen for anyone regardless of what genres you like.
This was funky af. I really rate Sam Cooke
This is rowdy Sam Cooke! I love how much energy is in this one. I've listened to a lot of Sam Cooke songs, and I'm always drawn in by how smooth his vocals are and smooth the music. This feels like some real rock and roll. There is a ton of energy in this record, you can hear the crowd in some songs and the band is going for it with every song. However, Sam is next level. His voice is coarse, which is kind of wild. It reminds me Twist and Shout by the The Beatles when John's voice is shot. Bring it On Home To Me is the obvious winner on this record. I don't love the recording quality, its not great, but its also not terrible.
pretty great stufff
This is a classic. Obviously it has that older sound, but overall I think this album stands the test of time. The whole thing was good, nothing made me want to skip a track. I think it helped that it was a live album as well. This is a good selection for this journey.
Never listened to this specific album before. Awesome! Sam Cooke is so good.
Amazing album to listen to in 1 session. Listened to all but didn't download all.
RAW. An entertainer so enveloped in his love and passion of the music he's performing. Absolutely essential soul. An interesting inflection point on the movement of popular music to focus on and include African-American artists and their influences but still preventing them from presenting themselves as such.
Great live recording
had a brilliant time at my 60s prom! one of the best live albums i’ve ever heard.
Doesn’t have the usual issues with live albums Quite like Sam Cooke
Lekker swingy en 2 echt wel bangers
Big fan, reminds me of half of a dozen Martin Scorsese movies (I can hear ray liotta saying "I always wanted to be a gangster" over like any of these songs. Def old timey but maybe I'm just an old timey kinda guy.
There are some live albums that make me feel insanely jealous that the audience got to be there. This is one of those. They got their damn money’s worth! Sam Cooke is revered by vocalists for his vocal attack. He has that clear-throated, powerful tone. It’s confident and compelling, just forces you to stop and take notice. Damn, this would’ve been a fun dance floor.
now normally i would rate this a little bit lower as i am still not too keen of this genre, but where this album shines is the fact that it's live. and it's not just a normal live album, both cooke himself and the roars of the crowd breathe so much life into this album. the way he engages with the crowd and everything, if i was there in person i would be clapping and singing along too.
This was such a fun listen. I love Sam cookes voice. Bring it on home to me was my standout.
4.25
I love these old live records from the 60s where they didn't record from a mixing board but set up microphones in the room and picked up what they picked up. Great energy from this record. I know this album has been called one of the best live albums ever recorded and although I don't know that I would go that far, I do think it's a great example of what this kind of performance was like back in the day. A really fun album that shows how great Sam Cooke was as a performer. It's so short though, I don't know that I would give this more than like 3.75/5. I'll give it a 4/5 since 3/5 isn't enough.
Sam Cooke is a prodigious popular soul singer and performer. His live album "One Night Stand - Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963" is powerful and authentic. This album puts the listener in the Harlem Square Club, a lively and packed club in downtown Miami.
Only really gave 4 instead of 5 stars cuz its the first album out of 1001 and im trying to leave room for what might be coming. But I was having a great time dancing around in my flat to this
A really fun night with some old classics! So much energy here. Really enjoyed it!
Gewoon heerlijk live album zo.
A great soul album. It would have been great to be there with a drink in hand.
The other albums I’ve listened to haven’t been that good, but this live album was pretty good, and I enjoyed listening to it.
You can feel the energy in the room!
The live audience made me think of how everyone listening to this music is living their own complicated life that is just as interesting if not more than my own. And for 36 minutes and 33 seconds, at least one of the times I smiled or laughed or sighed I would guess that, probabilistically, someone else shared that sentiment with me in that moment. I loved how the tracks seemed seamless like the artist was constantly belting and hyping up the crowd, like a party that never stops.
God, I would love to hear this on vinyl with a good set of headphones!
Never heard this album. I have heard of this artist.
Schöner Soul und R&B.
Crowd took a bit to get going but he managed.
Much needed antidote to what I had to listen to immediately before this.
Engaging. Energetic. Enthusiastic. Entertaining. Gritty, gravelly, great. What a fun album. Good stuff Mr. Cooke!
Nice live album. Funky souly.
I can't think of another live album that makes you feel like you were there. The energy, the sound, the vibes, are all the right ones. Sam also keeps us on our toes by engaging with the crowd. The way he transitions from crowd work to his tunes is uncanny.
How incredible would it have been to be there.
Not what I was expecting; I've been listening to a lot of Sam Cooke of late, but he's definitely at the more polished, pop end of soul. But this? Here's the raw, rough-edged, testifying Cooke, the performance belying his gospel background. So radio faves like 'Cupid', 'Twisting the Night Away' and the excellent 'Chain Gang' are maybe a little less ragged but pulse with a rare energy. Oh, and King Curtis is skronking away on the sax! This is tip top, a side of Cooke I wasn't familiar with; glad I've now become acquainted.
Good fun, fast and easy. Now knowing the background though - this record makes a lot of sense - as in 2024 we tend to take live gig noises for granted - heated and almost punk like for the time for Sam Cooke must have been quite a heart attack for his label. Screw them.
Classic singer. Legendary songs.
Good vibes. Not sure GOAT tier
I'm often guilty of writing off live albums as non-essential, or companion pieces, or cash-ins… but that's certainly not the case here. Of all the live recordings I've had on this list so far, I'm not sure any of them have oozed energy, charisma and passion quite like Sam Cooke's "Live at the Harlem Square Club". Released in 1985 but recorded in 1963, it instantly transports any listener straight into a smoky, sweaty club in the middle of 60's Overtown, Miami. It's an absolute treasure trove of live music, and one that fans of Sam Cooke and his contemporaries should be very grateful for. Throughout his career, Cooke nailed a melodic fusion of 50's rock and roll with smooth, silken soul. That's evident here, but the bombast is wonderfully dialled up. Sweat drips, hips shake, distortion crackles and vocals rasp, all with a very satisfying crunch. The live setting lends Cooke's vocals - and the band around him - a wild untethered thrill, like listening in 3D. The energy is palpable from the very start, as we hit an absolutely knock-out run from "Feel It (Don't Fight It)" to "Chain Gang" into the more-mellow-but-still-persuasive "Cupid". From there, we enjoy the carefree chaos of "Twistin' the Night Away", a slow-burning intro kicking off a sublime rendition of "Bring It On Home To Me", and the all-out jubilation of "Having a Party". The audience are hanging on Cooke's every line, but never feel too intrusive, instead contributing wonderfully to proceedings. Listen to the swelling chorus of "For Sentimental Reasons", the call and response at end of "Having a Party", and even "Chain Gang" (a live simulation of a gang of slaves never sounded so… fun). Cooke had already been dead for over twenty years by the time of this album's release, but would have only been fifty-four. He was gone far too soon, but this album is a perfect way to preserve his legacy, capturing the sound of a vital and vicarious artist in his prime.
Listen at: 07/02/2024
This album felt like a breath of relief after the albums we’ve had. I really liked the sounding of this. I usually don’t like this type of vibe but given the amount of time it was (short) and that it was actually pretty good, I conclude I really liked it.
It's a great album and Sam Cooke is an exceptional performer. My only critical comment toward it is that I just don't typically care for live albums. I think it would've been better had it been a studio album.
Full of classic Sam Cooke in an awesome environment 4 stars
It's OK. Not keen on live albums generally and thought this one a bit samey. Not a bad listen and I probably wasn't in the mood when I listened to it. Sam Cooke is a respected artist so worthy of 4 stars regardless
Feel good, romantic twist n shout live show energy boom
I’m not usually a fan of live albums but the energy on this is fantastic. Such a great performance. Highlights: Feel It, Cupid, Having a Party.
Now this was a pleasant surprise! I expected smooth soul music, but what I got was more akin to 60s garage rock. At least the first tracks. Then it slowed down a little and got too smart for a while, before it finished on a high. Will definitely listen to again!
No filters, no effects, just raw talent and beautiful vocals. Mic’ed up like you are set in the front row, close your eyes and imagine you are there.
Such a wonderful album — full of great songs and energy and Sam Cooke.
This is probably the best live album I've ever listened to, I feel like I could literally imagine myself right there in a bar with Cooke pelting out bangers.
incredible! i hâte live albums but i liked this
Sam Cooke - taken way too early Sounds like it would have been a party to be there live
This album is so fun. Excited, passionate, soulful vocals by Cooke that absolutely live up to his legendary reputation as a singer and performer of the early 60s. Sure, there isn’t much variety, but this is to be expected for a live album released during this period. Tracks like Feel It (Don’t Fight It), Twistin’ The Night Away, and Chain Gang, among others, are honestly just a blast to listen to. You can definitely hear how Cooke was influenced by 50s blues/rock and how he would leave a legacy for decades to come. Really, the only thing preventing this from being 5 stars is the fact that it’s not really meant to be listened to as an album. Such is nearly always the problem with live albums. It would’ve had an even bigger, louder, prouder effect live – but as an album it loses some steam when the performers aren’t actually present.
Immediately thought of Flounder, Dday and Dean Worner. Can’t deny the power of the roots of modern rock and roll
extremely good vibes
good but wasn't in the mood
Still sound fresh. You can feel the energy of 1960s New York. Love it.
Prolly my favorite so far
Live albums are rarely great imo. A few stand out and exhilarate me. Mostly, it's poor recordings of the studio tracks. Sam Cooke a naturalcooked this one! I swear I've never felt so in the moment listening to a live recording before. If I closed my eyes, I was there. Plus a phenomenal performance by Sam Cooke, he was such a natural. Thank you for this enlightenment.
Although rightly known for the late-career civil rights anthem, 'A Change is gonna come', Sam Cooke's repertoire was largely made up of occasionally twee versions of standards or show tunes, foisted upon him by management in those pre Civil Rights Act days. (Sadly, due to his untimely death, Sam never got to experience those changes!) However, this live album of a performance to a largely African-American audience is quite a revelation. No longer merely an entertainer, this is a sweaty and electrifying performance with Cooke in proto- soul God mode. Urging the audience on, he runs through a relatively brief set at breakneck speed, backed by a stellar band which includes fellow murder victim, King Curtis! A great performance and a thrilling live document, it's just a shame that the aforementioned 'Change...' doesn't feature.
doidera.
8.9/10 DAMN BOY DAMN
special
Unless you're a card carrying member of the KKK, you love Sam Cooke. This was hit after hit of good vibes music. I feel putting on some Sam Cooke at any time could turn my frown upside down. The only reason it's not a 5 is beause I prefer studio versions of these songs over the live recordings. 4.8
A fun listen and great to hear the interaction between Cooke and the audience throughout. Would be solid to put on during a party and just let it play all the way through.
too much audience chatter but great set
Sam Cooke mostraba en vivo una de las mejores voces de todos los tiempos, especialmente indicada para el "soul" más cadencioso y melódico. Destacan los solos de saxo interpretadas por King Curtis en "Somebody Have Mercy". El disco acaba en alto con una épica y jubilosa "Having a Party".
Holy shit this IS raw. He’s more amped up here than I ever imagined he could be. I always envisioned some lounge bar crooner that exudes cool, but this is on par with Little Richard more than Dean Martin or Sinatra. Not that this is bad - it’s excellent in most ways, just unexpected. His backing band seems to have fun with what they’re given, but a little dry. Most drum beats and bass parts sound the same.
Tolle rohe Live Atmosphäre und Performance. Da wäre ich gerne dabei gewesen, um die Night away zu twisten.
That man has energy, must have been an amazing show to be at
The way the band flows from song to song is really fun. He has such command of the band sound and flow. All songs are classic swing and soul, a real fun listen.
Great to hear these oldies in album form. Listening the way Sam wanted them presented makes them more appreciable, less gimmicky in 2024
Haven't listened to Sam Cooke quite some time. Enjoy this quite a bit. Always liked his music
Great sax! Bluesy jazz
I typically don't enjoy live albums, but in Sam Cooke is quite energetic, and it makes this quite enjoyable.
These are songs that most of us know as American classics and they are just great. If I closed my eyes I could imagine the excitement of this concert. Having said that, live albums are not my favorite. I am totally going to go back and listen to the studio versions of these and more again.
This would have been a site to see - Sam Cooke being true to himself and letting the music flow from that full band out into the crowd. I hate that his life ended too early and that this wasn’t even released for 2 more decades, but it is a gift for us now and future generations. Thank you, King of Soul, for your contributions to the world of music.
Really fun and groovy. A good 8/10
Great to hear some early rock and roll/blues with big band influences, highlights are Cupid and Chain gang. 8/10
Superb selection of songs, performed with an almost fervent anarchic energy. The garage rock recording style does impede on some of the polished soul warmth however. A great performance, but perhaps not a great album.
The Album was very good. I thought that it really wasn’t “raw” as the reviews and wikipedia said it was. The rawness label was most likely due to the album being recorded in the late 50s early 60s and we are now desensitized to “raw” albums. Other than that, hearing the performance energy of Sam Cooke was phenomenal. Great 1st album of my journey.
Honestly pretty surprising for a 60s live album. Unlike any Beatles or James Brown show, you can actually hear the audience care about the music instead of screaming the entire time. They also sing along and they AREN'T out of tune, which is genuinely surprising. It helps that Sam Cooke is just such a good performer.
Fun album. Hadn’t heard it before. Enjoyed it a lot. Will listen to it more. I really like old ‘live from a club’ albums like this where you can hear the audience and the singer riffs w the audience and band. This is right up there w Jerry Lee Lewis’ Live at the Star Club.
I enjoyed this live album. I typically have to be in the mood to listen to this type of soul music but even out of the mood I enjoyed this. I especially liked the “who is this? The operator. Well I don’t want to speak to the operator, I want my babyyyy” line. I also enjoyed the OC line of “I don’t have leukemia line” and uhh plus one star for making me “grab my hankie “
Rätt bra faktiskt.
01) Feel It - 8,5 02) Chain Gang - 9,0 03) Cupid - 10,0 04) It's Allright/For Sentimental Reasons - 9,0 05) Twistin' the Night Away - 8,0 06) Somebody Have Mercy - 8,0 07) Bring It On Home To Me - 8,5 08) Nothing Can Change This Love - 8,0 09) Having a Party - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,61 (86/100) It must have been a fun night at The Harlem Square Club.
Rating: 4.3
The true potential of a live album is capturing the authentic spirit of the performer. In that sense, this is a perfect album. Cooke’s gravelly-yet-smooth voice glides playfully over the ebullient crowd in such a pleasing way. It makes zero sense that this album wasn’t released until the 80s. Given Cooke’s untimely death and the circumstances surrounding it, the record company’s position that they were “preserving Cooke’s image” feels very phony, but Q-Tip did mention industry rule #4080.
His slightly hoarse vocals made me long for the smooth effortlessness of his studio recordings, but regardless, this is solid gold. Wish I could time machine myself to this concert. 4.7
Wow.. their voice, might be the first soul album I've actually enjoyed, I'm extremely impressed
Perfectly sat at the soul / pop / blues boundary. Makes you wish you were there in the room nursing one whisky too many
70/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 Really cool live album.
Another lovely live album
A really good album. He was a seminal artist in the evolution of soul and RnB music. He broke down barriers. His voice is superb, and this album shows it was not manufactured in studios. I've always loved Sam Cooke's music.
Great happy energy + classic songs.
This show sounds like it would have been fun to be at. Great performance and sound
This went very hard. 60s live albums just have a different energy to them
Yeah this definitely snapped. Ty ben for letting me know in chat. A lot of saves. Good energy, fast paced, catching rips. I really enjoyed.
Good listen, not really my cup of tea though
Loved this!!
Love it
Really good live album showcasing Sam Cooke's great energy and how he performed to an audience. I loved how he encouraged them to sing along, telling them the next lyric to sing, and just overall sounding like he was having a great time. Favorite song "Bring it on home to me". Other highlights "chain gang", "twisting the night away", and "having a party". Overall a fun, energetic, entertaining album
Mr. Soul don't miss.
great
Legendary performance. Top tier showman and great vocals. A really fun listen
vibes through the ROOF
Great songs
This is so good. Love live albums. It would have been fun to have been there.
Really good!
Really enjoyable album. Reminds me of Animal House. Probably not a multiple listen but certainly fun.
Wow , no wonder they call him the King of Soul… solid live performance of a legend.
I'd never listened to any Sam Cooke as a block like this, only as part of a radio or playlist. Boy, was he a performer. A couple awkward transitions (hard to tell if it's editing or done live) keep this from being a 5 as an album for me, but I can't imagine how much fun it must have been to actually be at this show.
Nice
Bra
Deze lekker van genoten met een dikke stout.
Love a fun swing/soul album. Normally I like live albums like this but the crowd work can get a little annoying. But the vibes are good.